Gut Health, Inflammation, and Longevity [E072]

The Wellness Connection Show dives into one of the most important—and misunderstood—pillars of health: your gut. Dr. Bryan Joseph and Dr. Jason Hamed welcome Dr. Olivia Joseph to unpack how the gut and immune system shape your energy, inflammation, aging, and disease resistance—and what to do when digestion goes off the rails.

From reflux and IBS/IBD to toxins like glyphosate and atrazine, the team explains what the microbiome actually is, why “bad” bugs aren’t always the enemy, and how low stomach acid, weak enzymes, and malabsorption quietly drive fatigue and chronic symptoms. Most importantly, you’ll hear how to test (not guess) and build a targeted plan that restores balance—well beyond “just take a probiotic.

In this episode, you’ll hear

What the gut microbiome really is (good vs. “bad” bugs) and why balance—not sterilization—matters

The difference between IBS and IBD, and why reflux is usually too little stomach acid, not too much

How environmental toxins (e.g., glyphosate/Roundup, atrazine) damage gut flora and raise inflammation

Why aging lowers stomach acid and pancreatic enzyme output—and how to “retrain” digestion

Signs of malabsorption (e.g., high fecal fat) and what that means for energy, nutrients, and aging

The lab work that moves you from guessing to knowing: fecal calprotectin, zonulin/LPS, pancreatic elastase, sIgA, and a comprehensive Gut Zoomer

The gut-immune-brain loop: leaky gut, autoimmunity risk, mood/mental health, and estrogen detox

Smarter probiotic strategy (different strains for different jobs) and when to add butyrate + resistant starches

Simple blood markers to review on a CBC (eosinophils, neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio)

Why foundations (food quality, chewing, stress, sleep) still decide your long-term results

The takeaway? Your longevity lives in your gut. Use targeted testing to find the real bottlenecks (inflammation, absorption, flora balance), then layer precise supports—enzymes, strain specific probiotics, butyrate/resistant starches—on top of rock-solid daily habits.