Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is a harmful compound produced by gut bacteria. Elevated TMAO levels can significantly influence the development of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cancer, and fatty liver disease. Listen in this week as Dee explains which foods increase the production of TMAO in the gut, and how you can optimize the health of your gut.

References:

Li, X. S., Obeid, S., Klingenberg, R., Gencer, B., Mach, F., Räber, L., Windecker, S., Rodondi, N., Nanchen, D., Muller, O., Miranda, M. X., Matter, C. M., Wu, Y., Li, L., Wang, Z., Alamri, H. S., Gogonea, V., Chung, Y. M., Tang, W. H., Hazen, S. L., … Lüscher, T. F. (2017). Gut microbiota-dependent trimethylamine N-oxide in acute coronary syndromes: a prognostic marker for incident cardiovascular events beyond traditional risk factors. European Heart Journal, 38(11), 814–824. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehw582

Shan, Z., Sun, T., Huang, H., Chen, S., Chen, L., Luo, C., Yang, W., Yang, X., Yao, P., Cheng, J., Hu, F. B., & Liu, L. (2017). Association between microbiota-dependent metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide and type 2 diabetes. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 106(3), 888–894. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.117.157107

The term "planetary health" refers to the natural systems that are essential for the health and survival of the human population. A commission of leading scientists from 16 countries have developed a "flexitarian" type diet designed to optimize human health and environmental sustainability on Earth. Listen in this week as Dee explains the parameters of the Planetary Health Diet and how it can improve your health.

Reference:

Healthy diets from sustainable food systems: Summary report of the EAT-Lancet Commission. (n.d.). https://eatforum.org/content/uploads/2019/07/EAT-Lancet_Commission_Summary_Report.pdf

A study examining ancient mummies from various countries revealed that one-third of them had atherosclerosis (plaques in the arteries), a precursor to heart disease, regardless of following Paleo-type or Mediterranean-type diets. This ratio mirrors what we see in modern populations. Listen in this week as Dee uncovers how we can harness the power of diet to overcome our genetic predispositions and lead healthier, heart-friendly lives.

Reference:

Thompson, R. C., Allam, A. H., Lombardi, G. P., Wann, L. S., Sutherland, M. L., Sutherland, J. D., Soliman, M. A.-T., Frohlich, B., Mininberg, D. T., Monge, J. M., Vallodolid, C. M., Cox, S. L., Abd el-Maksoud, G., Badr, I., Miyamoto, M. I., el-Halim Nur el-din, A., Narula, J., Finch, C. E., & Thomas, G. S. (2013). Atherosclerosis across 4000 years of human history: The horus study of four ancient populations. The Lancet, 381(9873), 1211–1222. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(13)60598-x

A new study shows that a high-fat diet suppresses the expression of a protein called Jak3, which causes a cascade of inflammation that starts in the intestine, moves through the liver and on to the brain, ultimately causing Alzheimer's-like symptoms. Listen in this week as Dee discusses the results of this study and what it means for your health.

References:

Kumar, N., Mishra, J., Morales, R., & Kumar, P. (2024). Kinases in Gut-Liver-brain communication and neuroinflammation. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 300(3), 106750. https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(24)01223-7/fulltext

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone naturally produced in the intestines during meals. It helps regulate blood sugar and weight by increasing insulin, slowing stomach emptying, and promoting fullness. Medications like Ozempic® and Wegovy® mimic the effects of GLP-1 but can be expensive and have unpleasant side effects. Listen in this week as Dee explores research on foods and probiotics that naturally boost GLP-1, offering similar benefits without the high costs and side effects.

References:

De Silva, A., & Bloom, S. R. (2012). Gut hormones and appetite control: A focus on PYY and GLP-1 as therapeutic targets in obesity. Gut and Liver, 6(1), 10–20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3286726/

Hira, T., Trakooncharoenvit, A., Taguchi, H.;,Hara, H. (2021). Improvement of glucose tolerance by food factors having glucagon-like peptide-1 releasing activity. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(12), 6623. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/12/6623

Perraudeau, F., McMurdie, P., Bullard, J., Cheng, A., Cutcliffe, C., Deo, A., Eid, J., Gines, J., Iyer, M., Justice, N., Loo, W. T., Nemchek, M., Schicklberger, M., Souza, M., Stoneburner, B., Tyagi, S., & Kolterman, O. (2020). Improvements to postprandial glucose control in subjects with type 2 diabetes: A multicenter, double blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial of a novel probiotic formulation. BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care, 8(1), e001319. https://drc.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001319

Link to purchase GLP-1 Probiotic: https://pendulumlife.com/products/glp-1-probiotic

A study published in the British medical journal BMJ pooled data from 14 studies involving nearly 10 million people to look at connections between consumption of ultra-processed foods and various health outcomes. Listen in this week as Dee discusses the findings of this massive study and what it means for your health.

Reference:

Lane, M. M., Gamage, E., Du, S., Ashtree, D. N., McGuinness, A. J., Gauci, S., Baker, P., Lawrence, M., Rebholz, C. M., Srour, B., Touvier, M., Jacka, F. N., O’Neil, A., Segasby, T., & Marx, W. (2024). Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: Umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses. BMJ,384, e077310. https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-077310

Gugulipid, also known as gum guggul, is an extract of the resin from a West Indian tree that has documented cholesterol lowering properties. Listen in this week as Dee discusses the specific compounds in gugulipid that decrease elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, and the proper way to take this effective supplement.

References: Urizar, N. L., & Moore, D. D. (2003). Guguglipd: A natural cholesterol-lowering agent. Annual Review of Nutrition, 23, 303–313. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.nutr.23.011702.073102

Link to Guggul Supplement (2 capsules per day provides 75 mg guggulsterone*): https://amzn.to/3UWZDI0

In a recent study, researchers found that the diet of some ancient hunter-gatherers primarily ate plant foods, including beans and grains, with only a small percentage of meat in their diet. This new understanding contrasts with the meat-centric modern Paleo diet. Listen in this week as Dee discusses the findings of the study, and what it means for your health.

References:

Moubtahij, Z., McCormack, J., Bourgon, N., Trost, M., Sinet-Mathiot, V., Fuller, B. T., Smith, G. M., Temming, H., Steinbrenner, S., Hublin, J.-J., Bouzouggar, A., Turner, E., & Jaouen, K. (2024). Isotopic evidence of high reliance on plant food among later Stone age hunter-gatherers at Taforalt, Morocco. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 8(5), 1035–1045. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-024-02382-z