May 27, 2021
Today’s guest is Dr. Mahmoud
Ghannoum
Over 40 years ago, a lone scientist began exploring this critical, but neglected, inhabitant of the human body. Born and raised in Lebanon, Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum is Director of the Center for Medical Mycology at Case Western Reserve University, one of the top 25 medical research universities in the United States (according to US News & World Report).
He began his scientific journey in England, studying Candida, a species of fungi that, when allowed to grow uncontrolled, can cause Candidiasis, an infection that afflicts millions of people worldwide.
This provoked his curiosity about the whole area of fungal microorganisms in the human body. Through the next four decades of research, he discovered that while there was a massive rise in studies of bacteria, fungus was largely ignored. One reason is that fungal organisms tend to be highly unstable, making them extremely difficult to study.
For the longest time, Dr. Ghannoum’s work was known only to a minority within the scientific community. While many have heard of Candida, few people have any idea of the critical role that fungus plays in human health.
Through his research, Dr. Ghannoum established that fungal organisms constitute an essential part of the microbiome. In fact, in 2010, Dr. Ghannoum was the first scientist to identify over 100 native species of fungi in the oral cavity.
Like with bacteria, there are good fungi as well as bad fungi. And just as it was startling to discover that we need positive bacteria in our guts, most people today are shocked to learn that their health depends on flourishing colonies of helpful fungi.
In this interview, we discuss his story, factors affecting our gut health, the key role of fungi, lifestyle hacks you can make, the connection between the gut and the brain and so much more. And now, lets get to the interview.
- 40+ Years of experience
- 100+ Native species of fungi in the oral cavity first discovered by Dr. G
- 460+ Peer-reviewed papers authored by Dr. G
- 24,800 Citations of Dr. G in scientific papers
Here are some key points that I would advise you to concentrate on
- Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum is Director of Medical Mycology at Case Western Reserve University.
- What inspired Dr. Ghannoum to research fungi.
- BIOHM’s personalized microbiome testing kits and probiotic supplements are built upon Dr. Ghannoum’s breakthrough discovery that bad bacteria and bad fungus work together to create digestive imbalance. A balanced gut means a stronger immune system and BIOHM wants to help people maintain better gut health so they can get back to doing the things they love safely and confidently.
- Whats his opinion of the current understanding of gut health.
- Not all microbes in the gut are 'bad' and need to be eliminated. You need a healthy balance, an increase in the 'bad' will lead to digestion and health issues.
- Are there identifying markers for bad gut health?
- Dysbiosis is a condition when the gut bacteria become imbalanced. As a result, a wide range of digestive disturbance symptoms occurs, including diarrhea, cramping, constipation, bloating, and indigestion.
- Why do we crave sugary and unhealthy foods?
- Does our parent's diet affect the diet we will have?
- You do not need to eliminate all unhealthy items in your diet, you can still treat yourself but for 'moderation is the way', you can enjoy your treats but not an everyday occurrence.
- Where do we source our particular micro-organisms from - are we born with it or is it created by the environment?
- Focusing on being too healthy can be a bad thing. Play outside, let your kids get dirty etc. You need a mix of bacteria and microbes that comes from different sources. You can actually make yourself sick by being too healthy in your approach.
- Does the location of our birth, or our parent's heritage or culture, dictate the types of food we eat?
- An improvement in your diet can change your microbiome, and which in turn will help will benefit issues such as your sleeping and weight.
- How quickly a change in your health can happen by a change in your gut health?
- You should see an improvement in your gut health in about 3-4 weeks as you improve your gut health.
- Should the gut be more acidic or alkaline?
- What is digestive plaque and biofilms?
- What methods can you use to self-identify problems in your diet and gut health?
- Are we overusing antibiotics and disinfectants?
- How do pets and other environmental factors affect us?
- How should we adapt our food choices after listening to the interview?
- Why you should up the range of colors in your vegetables?
- What are good things to have in your kitchen to improve your diet quickly?
- Why you should be cooking more?
- Does walking after eating help our gut health?
- Purchase Garlic, ginger, turmeric, apple cider vinegar, berries for your stocks.
- Some lifestyle choices you should make.
- Are the gut and the mind connected? Does our diet and gut health affect our mind and mental health?
- How Biohm can test your gut health and improve your way of life?
- How your fecal matter can give a snapshot of your true health?
- What does he want people to take from the interview?
- How can you follow and contact the guest?