The Whole View, Season 3 Ep 62: The Gut, Brain, and Stress Connection w/ Dr. Vincent Pedre

Welcome “America’s Gut Doctor” Dr. Vincent Pedre to The Whole View! This week, Stacy and Dr. Pedre discuss the science behind the gut-brain connection and how stress affects the Vagus Nerve. Dr. Pedre explains the importance of breathwork and how to breathe more effectively for our mental, emotional and physical health.

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Key Takeaways in the Gut, Brain, and Stress Connection

Introductions

  • Dr. Pedre grew up with his own health issues, going on over 20 rounds of antibiotics as a child and developing food sensitivities along the way.
  • Additionally, as a self-identified “truth seeker”, supplementing his education with functional medicine helped him dive more deeply into understanding the gut and gut issues.
  • Dr. Pedre founded Happy Gut Life over a decade ago. He’s devoted his career as a medical doctor to helping patients improve their well-being and quality of life by building the foundation of gut health that supports total physical and mental wellness.
  • His latest book, The GutSMART Protocol, is the culmination of his 20+ years of clinical experience and research as a functional gut expert. And unlike most one-size-fits-all prescriptive health books on the market, this book offers a personalized plan for each reader by first having them take the GutSMART Quiz, finding out their GutSMART Score, then using it to individualize their plans. Through it, learn how true wellness is achieved by the power of the gut-body-mind-spirit connection.

The Gut, Brain, and Stress Connection

  • How does our gut health impact our mood and anxiety, overall mental health – thus our overall physical health? Dr. Pedre discusses two main factors of the Gut-Brain Connection:
    • Firstly, through the autonomic system. The Vagus Nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It controls a lot of what’s happening in the background, innervating almost ever single internal organ. It engages in bi-directional communication, most of which point back up to the brain.
    • Secondly, postbiotic products or metabolites being produced by the gut. Probiotics produce & release postbiotics.
  • The Vagus Nerve controls activity in the brain through its feedback loop to the brain. Dr. Pedre notes that this becomes fascinating when you look at studies they’ve done on patients with treatment-resistant depression and how activating the Vagus Nerve can reverse that.
  • Furthermore, low vagal tone can also have an effect on us and gut permeability. You may have had an experience of this, like when you’ve felt stressed and lost your appetite and everything just sits horribly in your stomach.

Next Steps in Reducing Stress

  • But don’t wait for a crisis! Implement some of these early and find a functional medicine practitioner or other doctor to work with your gut and other issues.
  • As it relates to the gut-brain axis, Dr. Pedre recommends starting with the breath – it’s free and everybody has access. However, most people don’t know how to breathe properly for theraputic use.
  • In addtion, other ways to reduce stress:
    • Massaging tragus (on the ear) to activate Vagus nerve
    • Meditation
    • Hum/Vibration
    • Vision Board
    • Clean up diet

Studies, References & Products

Sponsors

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Note: Stacy and her guests are not medical professionals. This podcast is for general educational purposes and NOT intended to diagnose, advise, or treat any physical or mental illness. We always recommend you consult a licensed service provider.

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