If good gut health means having more good bacteria than harmful bacteria, then it makes sense that poor gut health is often caused by an excess of harmful bacteria. While these causes can quickly change the balance of bacteria in your gut, day-to-day habits also impact your gut health.   We're all familiar with the organs and structures that make up the gut. We also are probably familiar with the gut's role in digestion. But not all of us are aware of how our gut impacts our overall health, even when we think we have a “healthy” gut. In this episode, we are joined by a Family Practice physician and the Medical Director of Ruscio Institute for Functional Medicine, Dr. Joe Mather, to talk all about gut health, its issues, and how you can improve yours. He also shares tips on better dieting and the importance of probiotics.   Dr. Mather is a board-certified Family Practice physician and the Medical Director of the Ruscio Institute for Functional Medicine. He graduated from the Tulane University School of Medicine and the Tulane University School of Public Health in 2011 and completed his residency in 2014. He is passionate about delivering cost-effective and practical medical care with a focus on GI health and environmental toxicity. He spends a lot of time working with patients suffering from complex and chronic diseases. You will find him chasing his three small children, exercising, or playing music when he is not working with patients.   Learn more about Dr. Joe: Website: https://ruscioinstitute.com/   Grab a copy of Dr. Ruscio’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Gut-You-Michael-Ruscio/dp/0999766805 Show notes: [0:53] What’s Dr. Joe’s backstory? [2:49] What is functional medicine? [7:11] What are the things he commonly sees in people who come to him? [9:18] What are the biggest lifestyle issues that people need to address? [19:11] How gut health affects overall health [22:00] What are the gut destroyers? [26:58] What’s his advice for people about eating? [29:09] On probiotics [35:52] Where to find Dr. Joe [43:11] Outro   Links and Resources: Peak Performance Life Peak Performance on Facebook Peak Performance on Instagram