No, this is more of the same dogmatic nonsense that you claim to be cutting through. Microbiome science needs a thick and healthy dose of skepticism. You can't cut dogma with dogma. Stanford Medicine researchers tracked the gut, mouth, nose and skin bacteria of 86 people for as long as six years to try to gauge what constitutes a healthy microbiome, and they came up with barely anything other than "everyone's microbiome is unique like a fingerprint" with some spurious correlations. There's no definition of what a "healthy microbiome" or "unhealthy microbiome" even looks like. BUT there's a thousand overpriced supplements and price-gouging stool tests that will drain your wallet. You want real science, then stop looking at every-changing rainbows of impossibly complex bacteria populations and go look at fiber elimination studies like [doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i33.4593] that show reduction and elimination of fiber decreased gastrointestinal disease states. How many treatments can put ulcerative colitis into remission? Few are as effective as the elimination of fiber.
Thanks for weighing in, really appreciate this, especially coming from someone with your background. This is exactly the kind of dialogue I want here. You’re absolutely right that the science is still young, and much of the hype (and products) have gone beyond the evidence. When I quoted Dr. Anayanci it wasn’t to suggest we have all the answers, just to explore how different experts interpret the data we do have.
I agree that skepticism is necessary, and I appreciate your bringing up fiber elimination studies. I’d argue they highlight how nuanced this all is. So no dogma here. I’m not aiming for a single “truth”, just a space where there’s no one answer, and conflicting ideas can coexist…and we are allowed to sit in the grey. I welcome more of this kind of discussion. Keep it coming.
PS: If you ever want to jump in on one of these interviews or share your take in a guest post, I’d be all ears.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I want to clarify that I never suggested a healthy microbiome should conform to any particular standard. In fact, I wholeheartedly believe that each person’s microbiome is as distinctive and individual as their own fingerprint. Furthermore, unless there is a specific medical necessity, I would not advise the use of supplements. Although the study you referenced is certainly thought-provoking, I remain skeptical that eliminating all forms of fiber will genuinely foster better digestive health for everyone.
No, this is more of the same dogmatic nonsense that you claim to be cutting through. Microbiome science needs a thick and healthy dose of skepticism. You can't cut dogma with dogma. Stanford Medicine researchers tracked the gut, mouth, nose and skin bacteria of 86 people for as long as six years to try to gauge what constitutes a healthy microbiome, and they came up with barely anything other than "everyone's microbiome is unique like a fingerprint" with some spurious correlations. There's no definition of what a "healthy microbiome" or "unhealthy microbiome" even looks like. BUT there's a thousand overpriced supplements and price-gouging stool tests that will drain your wallet. You want real science, then stop looking at every-changing rainbows of impossibly complex bacteria populations and go look at fiber elimination studies like [doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i33.4593] that show reduction and elimination of fiber decreased gastrointestinal disease states. How many treatments can put ulcerative colitis into remission? Few are as effective as the elimination of fiber.
Thanks for weighing in, really appreciate this, especially coming from someone with your background. This is exactly the kind of dialogue I want here. You’re absolutely right that the science is still young, and much of the hype (and products) have gone beyond the evidence. When I quoted Dr. Anayanci it wasn’t to suggest we have all the answers, just to explore how different experts interpret the data we do have.
I agree that skepticism is necessary, and I appreciate your bringing up fiber elimination studies. I’d argue they highlight how nuanced this all is. So no dogma here. I’m not aiming for a single “truth”, just a space where there’s no one answer, and conflicting ideas can coexist…and we are allowed to sit in the grey. I welcome more of this kind of discussion. Keep it coming.
PS: If you ever want to jump in on one of these interviews or share your take in a guest post, I’d be all ears.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I want to clarify that I never suggested a healthy microbiome should conform to any particular standard. In fact, I wholeheartedly believe that each person’s microbiome is as distinctive and individual as their own fingerprint. Furthermore, unless there is a specific medical necessity, I would not advise the use of supplements. Although the study you referenced is certainly thought-provoking, I remain skeptical that eliminating all forms of fiber will genuinely foster better digestive health for everyone.