In the 12 fascinating lectures of Gut Health Explained, Dr. Gabrielle Fundaro shares the latest scientific knowledge about the trillions of organisms and thousands of species that live in your gut. You’ll learn how to navigate the evolving landscape of gut microbiome science while gaining a deep understanding of the intricate interplay between you and your microbiome.
Gut Health Explained
Examine the science (and pseudoscience) of gut health as you explore the infinitely complex human microbiome and its trillions of inhabitants.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Kim Kemal from
Science, with a good presenter
So much to admire here! Solid preso skills, keeps moving, clear diction. Really important: she debunks the pseudoscience, politely but definitively, no sneers but no equivocating. This is a real scientist, so if 'evidence suggests,' 'as far as we can currently prove' and the rest of truth-focus makes you break out in hives, if you want a definitive answer to all questions, for all time, not your kind of class; that's how a scientist talks and thinks.
She tackles every aspect of gut health that is currently being studied or speculated about. She is honest about the limits of rodent studies - we are not rats. Each mammal species has its unique biochemistry. Can't wait until all that rodent nonsense is on the dustheap of history and simulations are the gold standard; we need cheaper computing power; the interactions are as complex as modeling the atmosphere.
I have a PhD in this subject, I keep up with as much research as I can, and I learned a lot. She is particularly good at explaining the basics of the interacting body systems and there are enough graphics and CGI, etc. to keep you visually connected to the content.
Hooray! A real winner.
Date published: 2024-08-31
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Phids from
Don't know if I can "stomach" any more
I pick and choose to watch TGC content based on my general interest in a topic, even if my interest is in passing, as I know that really good courses feed my interest more and more as I watch. Sadly, that has not been the case with "Gut Health Explained". Granted, I have only watched three episodes so far (25% of the lecture series), but I'm finding it really difficult to stay interested.
For starters, the course does not seem to be well-designed. The absolute best TGC content treats topics systematically by deconstructing knowledge in a field and reconstructing it piece-by-piece so that no major stone is left unturned. This course, however, did not seem to be planned out as well as it could have been. For example, in early lectures it repeatedly addresses to the topic of "pseudoscience", which evidently is a big concern in this field. As someone who is interested in learning about gut health, however, I don't really care about pseudoscience. I'm much more interested in learning the nuts and bolts of the science itself rather than what others have to say. Why, then, present information about wrong information before simply presenting correct information? Also, why hammer home the message that there are so many unknowns about gut health? It makes it seem as if there's little point in learning about this topic if we can't get much concrete knowledge. If you want to get into topics like pseudoscience or challenges in the field, save it to the end after you've thoroughly explained the knowledge we do know.
The instructor's way of presenting was also underwhelming. This isn't necessarily a knock on her per se, but it could be the poor production direction of the TC, which seems to publish new lecture series in studio sets that are different from their normal ones. As far as I recall, there are a grand total of two camera angles given of the instructor, who stands stationary the entire time. To make it worse, she appears to be reading a script in a somewhat slow-to-medium pace. The lectures really came across as mere "talks" rather than, well, lectures. In other words, the content did not really attempt to "teach". There was only so much of this that I could take before I just lost interest. This was such a far cry from the old TGC content of 20 years ago in which professors would lecture without scripts from the podium, or even the content from 10-15 years ago in which professors would teach and walk around the studio set, even if they were occasionally reading.
In the end, I just lost interest. I gave it 3/5 stars just in case I was wrong and the series picks up in later lectures, which may entirely be possible. However, given that I there are so many other interesting topics offered by TGC, I don't think I'll stick around to see how "Gut Health Explained" ends.
Date published: 2024-07-27
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Kibr1 from
Get ready, get set, go…
I believe the strength of this course is it’s foundation of both inspiration of intrigue to the value, nature and personality of our gut - and the preparation of our minds to accept our guts as an intricate and intimate aspect of our wholeness. This wholeness; as is well crafted I believe, and articulately conveyed herein, leads us beyond the scope of this well researched dialog - to the realization that we now being more aware, must journey onward to finish the race for the longevity not only in our own lives in self care but too, for the genetic disposition we pass to our children and the importance of leadership in how they watch us delving in to healthy lifestyles or… not. That opinionated here, it is with great relief that we are informed that even in spite of our genetics, we can digest with ease, the nature that our world is continuously establishing networks of resources we may rest assured to be available to help coach our way to improved well being. We will finish the race… but - with what quality of life, and by what legend - living by truth or with lies?
I recommend this course for anyone with that gut feeling, that it’s time to gain a better understanding of who we are deep down, get on the straight and narrow path, and rise above the many fallacies that lead us to further confusion, that would be taught with ease of communication for the novice seeking a well organized structure.
Would love to view more courses taught by this instructor.
Thank you for another great, course.
Date published: 2024-05-04
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Spook from
Very clear.
I bought this course when I saw it adventised as a new release. Gabrielle Fundaro is very clear. The course was well structured. It usefully explained false claims of gut health as well as clearly telling the positives. The background doctors surgery was slightly distracting. I found that when I completed one lesson I was looking forward to the next.
Date published: 2024-04-22
Rated 3 out of
5
by
rosie1952 from
Gut Health
I have been a Nurse Practitioner for 50 years. Gut health was never talked about in my training. Obviously this is a new field that is just now being explored and obviously we have few answers. The instructor discussed many studies that have been done and the results show little difference in many of the studies. The tried and true, eat little processed foods, exercise, sleep, and decrease stress seem to still be the foundation of good health. I would have like to have her include the subject of parasites on our gut health and overall health as that seems to be escalating in interest in the scientific community. I didn't get any really new information, except "we still don't know".
Date published: 2024-04-14
Rated 5 out of
5
by
RickMan from
Long Overdue
I enjoyed this course. It gives a no-nonsense approach to explain how much of the hyped products for sale and endorsed by celebrities and some physicians do not have science to back the claims being made. I really am pleased, as other courses I have seen are little more than a catalog of illnesses and rah--rah sessions for vaccines. This course is presented in a clear concise manner. Thank you!
Date published: 2024-04-11
Rated 5 out of
5
by
pat2024 from
Great overview
This apparently is a field of study with a long way to go. Yet, it is a field where companies making sales claims for products geared toward gut health do not acknowledge that. Lots of people spend lots of money on unproven products with questionable results.
For me, she effectively straddled explaining what hasn't been proven with the outlook that what we are learning will eventually improve the lives of many.
Date published: 2024-04-09
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Mithel from
Very Conventional
Gabrielle speaks clearly and presents well. Unfortunately this entire course amounted to "we know almost nothing". It would be nice if the entire medical profession admitted that it knows almost nothing, this course seriously downplays the experience that many practitioners have gained over the past two decades.
The first four lectures really hammered home the "we know nothing" point. This is a good point, depending on your point of view. Yes, as far as precision information our microbiota are still a major mystery. But in the past twenty years, experience has taught us a lot.
It's a real shame to throw out a massive amount of experience and practical interventions that do work with the standard dismissal of "more research is needed". Of course, we always need more research. But the benefits of probiotics, prebiotics (fiber) and lifestyle are well known. Also we know very well just how catastrophically damaging the usage of antibiotics can be.
This course can be taken in two viewpoints:
1) Yes, there are a lot of conflicting and bogus claims out there which are used to sell junk products and procedures. Definitely "buyer beware".
2) Our microbiota are critically important and if you want to be truly healthy, it's important to pay attention to your gut health.
Date published: 2024-04-07
Overview
About
Gabrielle Fundaro is an ACE-Certified Health Coach trained in motivational interviewing, sports nutrition, and the Monash Low FODMAP program. She holds a PhD in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise from Virginia Tech. Before launching her telehealth coaching business, Vitamin PhD Nutrition, she was an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Georgia Gwinnett College. She has spoken internationally on gut health and behavior change and has contributed to magazines such as Shape, Oxygen, and Reader’s Digest. She is the coauthor of The Science of Gut Health: What the Research Really Says about Your Gut Microbiome.
Trailer
01: What Is Gut Health?
Although the term “microbiome” began showing up with increasing frequency in scientific and popular literature earlier this century, scientists still don’t have a widely accepted definition of a healthy gut. Discover your expert’s functional definition of gut health as it relates to gut disease, diversity, and digestion.
24 min
02: Introducing the Gut Microbiome
Explore the human digestive tract to learn how this landscape shapes the microbial community—including such an extensively folded small intestine that its absorptive capacity is 600 times more than it would be as a straight tube. Learn how we first acquire our personal set of microbes, and how dozens of factors create each person’s unique microbiome, as unique as fingerprints.
23 min
03: How Researchers Study the Gut Microbiome
Like any other scientific field, the study of the microbiome begins and ends with the scientific method. But the scientific method is a slow process, and the microbiome contains trillions of organisms, thousands of species, and unknown numbers of subspecies. Learn how Koch’s postulates and the work of Dr. William Hanage at Harvard affect the study of the human microbiome.
25 min
04: How to Spot Gut Health Pseudoscience
Since following the scientific method of research can be a slow process and consumers want answers about the human microbiome right now, it’s easy for us to fall prey to pseudoscience. Discover how to recognize pseudoscience and its often popular terms that aren’t recognized by the scientific community, such as the ubiquitous “leaky gut.”
30 min
05: The Microbiome and Gastrointestinal Disease
Though it’s common for influencers and the popular media to label microbes as “good” or “bad,” science doesn’t bear this out. Each of us has a unique gut environment, and a particular microbe could be beneficial for one person but a pathogen for someone else. Although the picture is not yet complete, explore several relationships that have been discovered between microbes and disease.
19 min
06: The Microbiome and Immunity
Learn about the innate and adaptive immune systems that work to maintain gut homeostasis and protect against pathogens. These two systems work in very different ways, but they accomplish the same, larger goal. You’ll also explore the significant relationship between the gut immune system and that of the body as a whole.
19 min
07: The Microbiome and Metabolic Health
Our microbiome plays a crucial role in weight regulation and metabolism. Learn about relatively recent studies showing specific relationships between the microbiome and energy balance and weight in mice, especially with respect to fecal transplants. But before you run out to buy butyrate supplements, be aware that the effects haven’t translated to humans.
18 min
08: The Gut-Muscle Axis and Exercise
The gut-muscle axis is a fairly recent discovery in microbiome science. Learn how, through this pathway, the microbiome could influence muscle metabolism, age-related muscle loss, and even athletic performance. And while we’re a long way from turning the microbiome into a performance-enhancing intervention, we do know that fiber and physical activity are important both for you overall and your gut microbes.
15 min
09: The Gut-Brain Axis and Mood
Specific parts of the nervous system, the gut microbiota, and all the associated neurotransmitters and hormones combine to form the gut-brain axis. You might have heard the gut being called the “second brain,” and even the root cause of mood disorders. Explore the science behind the labeling of these two extremely complex systems. How much do we really know about the ways in which they interact?
23 min
10: Common Digestive Complaints
Everyone has bouts of GI distress from time to time, and while they might not be dangerous, they can be uncomfortable. If you do go to the doctor and get a clean bill of health—or the diagnosis of a functional disease like IBS—but you still have symptoms, what can you do? Learn how food intolerances, medication side effects, and even your exercise habits could be affecting your GI comfort.
25 min
11: Eating for Gut Health
Your long-term dietary pattern plays a significant role in both the composition and function of your microbiome. Discover which foods and supplements are shown by valid scientific studies to be best for your gut health. Learn about the DASH eating plan, the Mediterranean dietary pattern, ketogenic diets, fermented foods, and the time-restricted feeding plan. While they’re popular, do they help or hinder?
23 min
12: A Lifestyle for Gut Health
In addition to diet, learn how exercise, sleep, and stress impact your gut health. Discover the relationship between exercise and the production of metabolites that help regulate immune activity. Learn about the relationships between inadequate sleep and/or nightshift work and microbiome species diversity and stress and functional gut disease such as IBS.
17 min
