The Relationship Between Gut Health & Viral Illnesses | Dr. Robynne Chutkan

When it comes to gut health, the importance of the microbiome can’t be understated. Modern medicine tends to push antibiotics for every infection. But the truth is, antibiotics can actually make you more susceptible to viral illnesses. Antibiotics wipe out the bacteria in your microbiome– which are essential to keeping your immune system functioning properly. WELCOME TO THE DARIN OLIEN SHOW Dr. Robynne Chutkan wants to help us understand our gut health. As one of the most recognizable gastroenterologists in America, Dr. Robynne Chutkan knows a thing or two about gut health. Her latest work, The Antiviral Gut: Tackling Pathogens From the Inside Out, tackles the importance of the terrain of the gut microbiome. Dr. Robynne earned her Bachelors of Science from Yale, and her M.D. from Columbia. She’s also a faculty member at Georgetown University Hospital. As the founder of the Digestive Center for Wellness, Dr. Chutkan wants to make reliable, actionable, scientifically valid gut information more accessible for all. Something that really sets Dr. Robynne apart from mainstream medical thinking, she always put an emphasis on the importance of being healthy “from the inside out”. What this means is that the bacteria in your gut microbiome plays an essential role in your immune health. So when you go to the doctor for some sort of illness or infection and get prescribed antibiotics, although you may get better initially, you’re making yourself more vulnerable to viral illnesses. The bacteria in your gut is essential for keeping you healthy. And one round of antibiotics can wipe out up to ⅓ of the bacteria in your microbiome. In this episode, Dr. Robynne and I get into the basics of Germ Theory vs. Terrain Theory, and what it all means for gut health. Like me, she wishes there was a bigger focus on diet, lifestyle, and sleep for fighting illness, instead of prescription pills. You may have heard me warning about the effects of antibiotics on the microbiome, but Dr. Robynne explains and breaks it all down beautifully. While there’s nothing wrong in trying to prevent catching viral illnesses, as Dr. Robyn says, the health of the host matters. If you are unhealthy to begin with, a virus can wreak havoc on your health. But if you put an effort into building and maintaining your gut microbiome, your body will be able to fight off viral illnesses much easier. This is such an important episode, packed with actionable advice for anyone who wants to help boost their immune system. BREAKDOWN [00:04:45] The challenges of writing a book about gut health [00:07:30] Germ Theory vs. Terrain Theory [00:12:00] Empowering personal responsibility [00:16:28] How to improve elder care [00:28:37] The dangers of antibiotics [00:36:18] How to break the cycle of killing the microbiome [00:40:27] Why some people are more resistant to viral illnesses LINKS Check Out Dr. Robynne’s Website Buy Dr. Robynne’s Book: The Anti-Viral Gut Last Child in the Woods (Book mentioned by Dr. Robynne) SPONSORS Bite Toothpaste wants to replace all the products in your bathroom cabinet with sustainable alternatives. My favorite are their Toothpaste Bits. Instead of commercial toothpaste filled with toxic chemicals, Bits are clean, safe and effective– just bite down and brush. Plus they come in refillable glass jars, so no more plastic tubes! Try Bits or any of their other sustainably packaged personal care products for 20% off your first order with code DARIN20. Download Episode Transcript Here I hope you enjoyed this episode of The Darin Olien Show! If you want to support or follow the podcast, here's how: Subscribe, rate or listen on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher Follow my Instagram to keep updated on the podcast, weekly deep dives and other projects that I'm supporting (and the occasional Chaga appreciation post) Sign up for my Weekly Email to keep up with what I’m tuned into. For feedback or suggestions,