Bonus Episode: Nutritional Microbiology (GUT HEALTH & DIET) with Dr. Miguel Freitas and Dr. Elaine Hsiao

The microbiome is back! In 2018, we chatted with Dr. Elaine Hsiao - a UCLA microbiome researcher– and learned all about the hot cauldron of your guts. In this 2025 update bonus, we chat again with Dr. Hsiao to get updates on the last 7 years of her research. We also stop by White Plains, New York to hang out with Dr. Miguel Freitas, lead nutritional microbiologist and director of the non-profit Danone Institute North America, and ask a million questions about good vs bad microbiota, how they simulate a human gut in a lab, what exactly is a pre-biotic vs. probiotic, why are they such good friends, how diet can impact not only your gut health but also your heart and your brain — and if friendly yogurt critters are robust enough to make the journey from your mouth to your toilet.

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Donations went to GiveDirectly.org/ologies and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

Links to things we discussed:

Research & Innovation

Yoghurt consumption is associated with changes in the composition of the human gut microbiome and metabolome

Prebiotic fibre mixtures counteract the manifestation of gut microbial dysbiosis induced by the chemotherapeutic 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) in a validated in vitro model of the colon

Yogurt and Cardiometabolic Diseases: A Critical Review of Potential Mechanisms

Dietary and environmental modulation for the gut environment: yogurt promotes microbial diversity while chloride hot springs improve defecation status in healthy adults

Yogurt consumption in relation to mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all causes: a prospective investigation in 2 cohorts of US women and men

Association of Yogurt Consumption with Nutrient Intakes, Nutrient Adequacy, and Diet Quality in American Children and Adults

Petition for a Qualified Health Claim for Yogurt and Reduced Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (Docket No. FDA-2019-P-1594) 

Extraintestinal Symptoms in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Are Associated With Stress Reactivity and the Gut Microbiome in a Sex-dependent Manner

Revised Estimates for the Number of Human and Bacteria Cells in the Body

Sex Differences in Gut Microbiota

Butterflies in the gut: the interplay between intestinal microbiota and stress

The House of Prayer. Illustrated by Maragret Ely Webb

Some of the Ancestors and Descendants of Samuel Converse, Jr

Florence Converse on Find a Grave

Converse Family Line

Carbohydrate quality and human health: a series of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Other episodes you may enjoy:

Microbiology (GUT BIOME)

Molecular Neurobiology (BRAIN CHEMICALS)

Fromology (CHEESE)

Scatology (POOP)

Gustology (TASTE)

Cardiology (THE HEART)

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth 

Transcripts by Aveline Malek

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn