With so much content out there, it can be hard to tell whats fact or fiction.
Read on for his take on everything from castor oil to probiotic sodas.
EatingWell:Lots of people turn to social media for advice on all sorts of medical conditions.
Photo:Courtesy Photo. EatingWell design.
Do you think this is helpful or harmful for folks looking to learn more about gut health?
Dr. B: Am I allowed to say both?
I think it’s a little bit of both.
I do believe that access to information is at an all-time high and there is value to that.
The challenge is that there’s so much information and there’s no gatekeeping whatsoever on it.
So this is how we get ourselves into a little bit of a mess.
And [social media] algorithms quite clearly prioritize controversy.
That’s the beauty of it.
First up, apple-cider vinegar: fact or fiction?
Dr. B: Mostly fact, but a little bit of excessive hype.
[Not all apple-cider vinegar is sold that way.]
So I like to start my morning with a tall glass of water with a splash of apple-cider vinegar.
Not so much that it’s really acidic, but just enough so that I can taste it.
EatingWell:OK, next topic: castor oil.
Dr. B: Oh dear.
I’m going to go with fiction on this.
I believe we have an epidemic of constipation in the United States.
And people are trying to address their constipation by consuming castor oil or other remedies.
EatingWell:So what about prebiotic sodas: fact or fiction?
Dr. B: I’m going with fiction.
The [fiber in the] prebiotic sodas are often the types that produce the most gas.
And when you combine that with carbonation, you’re setting yourself up for bloating in a bad way.
There’s better ways to get our prebiotics.
EatingWell:Lets talk about fasting: fact or fiction?
Dr. B: I’m going to say [fasting is] mostly fact.
So when you achieve energy balance, there are benefits that come from that.
What is the magic number of hours?
I think an intuitive approach is absolutely the right way to handle that.
And it’s the worst that it’s going to be late in the day.
What do you think about them?
Dr. B: I’m going to go with fact, when appropriately used.
And I don’t believe that to be true.
But that should not be the principal approach to addressing those issues.
We really need to start with a food-first approach, and focus on diet and lifestyle.
Get those things aligned, and supplements can help us to achieve our goals.
To me, one of the big questions that exists is prebiotics versus probiotics.
Prebiotics are food for the microbiome.
Probiotics are living microbes that have been proven to be beneficial for humans.
