283 ‒ Gut health & the microbiome: improving and maintaining the microbiome, probiotics, & more

In this episode, we discuss: 0:00:34 - Colleen’s background and current focus 0:03:08 - The basics of the microbiome 0:12:37 - The study of the human microbiome 0:17:42 - Categories of bacteria, and the implications on health of the rapid evolution of bacteria 0:27:51 - Methods for measuring and understanding the microbiome, and key indicators of microbiome health 0:39:52 - The important role of fiber for promoting gut health through the production of butyrate 0:47:21 - The case for manipulating gut bacteria via fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) 0:53:25 - Dynamics of the microbiome: the gut-brain connection and how antibiotics, nutrition, stress, and more impact the microbiome's diversity and function 0:59:16 - Factors that influence the vaginal microbiome 1:03:46 - The effect of gut microbes on obesity and challenges with fecal transplants in people 1:06:25 - Beneficial strains of gut bacteria and strains commonly found in probiotics 1:16:35 - The difference between a probiotic and prebiotic, and how CFUs are a measure of the “active ingredient” 1:21:47 - Considerations about how probiotic strains are produced, and more on the meaning of CFU 1:31:12 - Mitigating the effect of antibiotics on the microbiome 1:39:58 - What do we know about the effect of artificial sweeteners on the gut microbiome? 1:47:02 - Why Akkermansia is a keystone strain with implications for metabolic health and an individual’s response to dietary interventions 1:58:14 - The essential steps necessary to develop a robust probiotic for optimal health support 2:01:45 - How Akkermansia helps control blood glucose, and potential implications of Akkermansia in weight loss, diabetes management, and more 2:22:46 - Pendulum Therapeutics’ commitment to rigorous product develop 2:29:54 - Details about the probiotic “Glucose Control” and other probiotics developed by Pendulum Therapeutics 2:38:43 - Further studies of Akkermansia that have been proposed or are underway

It really surprises me how many people choose to complain while given free information.

A very insightful session , given the complexity of our gut micro biome. It is just the dawn of an explosion of insights yet to be uncovered .

Ok Colleen is one of the clearest most precise most engaging biomedical science people I’ve ever heard. And the Hyena story at around 22:00 is a great story but serious Peter doesn’t even crack a smile 😂

"E. coli" = the species "Escherichia coli", written with the genus name "Escherichia" abbreviated (to E.). Therefore "E. coli" is not a strain (serotype) name, but the species name (the majority of which are not pathogenic). The strains are classified into serogroups & serotypes by antigens (O (somatic) , H (flagellar), K (capsular), F (fimbrial)), eg E. coli strain O104:H4.

This was awesome! I learned so much! Colleen was easy to listen to, she spoke clearly and intellectually. I especially loved learning how she built her company, the ups and downs one must go through for any kind of success. I wish her total success and I am going to her website right after this!

Peter is among top lists pod on health along with Huberman. I like his structured questions. Keep it up, sir. Thank you

Cancer survivor here (CDH1 mutation) and I recently started focusing on a diet high in butyrates. My ulcerative colitis flares have dramatically gone down in frequency and severity. I swear it has improved the quality of my life!

Inspiring! I struggled with gut issues for many years have been a fan of the BioGaia and Biotiquest products (with their history of research), and this Pendulum story is next level! It's incredibly exciting that the Microbiome is getting the mainstream attention it deserves.

Excellent information. Very well illuminated by colleen. Also like that she knows what she doesn't know and is confident in sharing what she does know

I was fortunate to have ppl around me that ate a diverse variety of fruits vegetables and herbs. I value eating this way. This episode has highlighted many reasons to stay focused on my diet as well as medication effectiveness, stress, travel stress etc… knowledge is powerful and transformational. Thank u 🙏🏼💜✨

What a fascinating episode and startup story. Thank you so much for doing this one!

Loved, loved, loved the episode! Thanks for the collaboration!

I listen everything that I can find about the gut health lately, I’m a lean person and people think that I’m so happy with myself but I struggle with overeating and bloating, basically with huge metabolism problems. I’m so shocked that we start learning things and researching actually only recently ! This shows us how undeveloped we are as society omg !

I stumbled on this unprepared for such an informative lesson. I got just enough to scrape the wound open. Learning new things is often like this, it prepares one to be keen to know more.

Excellent show Colleen please do more appearances and put this information about the differences in your products on your website. I didn’t ever understand that your glucose control product was meant for people that weren’t consuming sugar and I’ve been a customer of yours for years

Fantastic Pod!!! Wow.!!! So much to take in. Love Pendulum’s integrity and rigor.

I really enjoyed and loved this episode . Never miss an episode thank you Peter ❤

The books, “Herbal Antivirals,”, and “Herbal Antibiotics“ , by Stephen Buhner, gave me a great understanding of how bacteria lives, and recreates itself according to its environment. Everyone should read it.

Merci Ashok d'être là pour nous🙏💜