Are you on meds for acid reflux and indigestion? Do you take antibiotics or birth control? Do you enjoy artificial sweeteners in your coffee? Do you drink alcohol on a regular basis? These are all ubiquitous substances in our society at this point, but they are also posing a threat to our immune system. Multiple studies show that antibiotics, medicines, and substances like alcohol and sweeteners actually reduce the amount of stomach acid in your gut, wreak havoc on your gut microbiome, and actually increase the likelihood of getting hit hard by viral illnesses like COVID-19.  So what in the world can we do to prevent this?  Gastroenterologist, Dr. Robynne Chutkan, is back with her latest book, The Anti-Viral Gut: Tackling Pathogens from the Inside Out and that is exactly what she and Rip discuss today. Why are some people more susceptible to contracting these new viruses, and what practices can we do to minimize that risk and boost our immunity? Dr. Chutkan is a powerhouse of research and information in this interview, and they start with the basics: What exactly are the gut and the digestive tract? Why do so many suffer from dysbiosis, which is a damaged gut microbiome? What makes some of these commonly-prescribed meds so bad for our gut lining?  Once we learn “the why,” then we can take action and that’s what the second half of the interview is all about. Dr. Chutkan shares her Top 10 Guidelines to boost your defenses and overall health. It’s a jam-packed session of research and science, but also hope. Our bodies heal at an enormously rapid rate if we provide the assistance it needs. According to Dr. Chutkan. those key elements include plenty of dirt, sweat, and whole lotta veggies! Episode Timestamps 17:26 Why write “The Anti-Viral Gut” Now? 26:40 What are PPIs and what percentage of the population is taking these drugs to treat acid reflux and indigestion? 28:30 People believe (because of marketing) that their stomach is producing too much acid and so they need these meds. This isn’t always true. What’s actually the cause of the discomfort? 31:42 Digestion 101 - What are the gut and the digestive tract? 39:22 Short Chain Fatty Acids- What are they and why are they so important? 45:30 What happens when you don’t have enough short-chain fatty acids to provide energy to the cells of the gut lining? 52:55 Disbiosis of the gut -What is it and why is it happening? What did the American Gut Project show us? 1:05:11 Robynne’s 1-2-3  system for getting more fruits and veggies 1:07:45 Birth control pills, artificial sweeteners, and alcohol -How do those affect the gut? 1:20:55 The cascading effects of stress and lack of sleep on our microbiome and immunity 1:27:30 The OAF - The Open Air Factor - The importance of getting outside 1:29:35 Dr. Chutkan’s Top 10 List for health and longevity 1:49 Robynne’s ‘Ride or Die’  Guidelines for optimized health   Episode Resources Episode Webpage Watch the Episode on YouTube Order The Anti-Viral Gut Dr. Chutkan’s Website Follow Dr. Chutkan on Instagram @gutbliss Download our FREE Holiday Recipe Guide To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our broths and soups, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong ?? Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode