Colon Health Podcast

In today's episode, Alex Schneider,  president of the hotel division at Nikki Beach Worldwide, speaks with our host Robin Trimingham, and analyzes the need of luxury hotel business to transform from their traditional self-conception as hotel and entertainment venue, into becoming a multifaceted lifestyle experience.

There is a lot of different terminology surrounding weight-loss—overweight, obesity, BMI—but what does it all mean? Today, we're chatting with Dr. Rashmi Advani, a gastroenterology fellow with a sub interest in obesity medicine. She is sharing more about what an average day looks like as a gastroenterology fellow, the importance of healthcare access, and sharing some surprising facts and statistics surrounding GI health!

These days, you hear more and more about people practicing a gluten-free diet. Whether it's due to a diagnosis of Celiac's disease, an attempt to lose weight, or a non-Celiac gluten sensitivity, people are prioritizing avoiding this protein.   Today Jessica Lebovits, a Registered and Certified Dietician is chatting with us about what Celiac's disease is and busting myths about gluten-free diets. Tune in to learn more and also hear which snacks we think are better gluten-free!

We often chat about the gut-brain connection here on the podcast and how your mental health can influence your gut health. Many people are aware of gastroenterologists and therapists, but did you know that there is a position that marries these two worlds?   This week we're chatting with Dr. Megan Riehl, a GI Psychologist and Clinical Director of the GI Behavioral Health Program at the University of Michigan who specializes in the treatment of GI problems and anxiety-related disorders. Tune in for a fascinating look into a different approach to managing gut health.

Over the past several weeks, we have been diving into the world of ostomies and ostomy care to provide you with a wealth of resources to educate yourself and your loved ones.   This week we're chatting with Kerri Holman, a wound ostomy nurse who started her own wound care program in addition to working in a hospital setting. She's sharing a valuable pre-surgery checklist and helping you find a wound ostomy nurse near you!

With more than one billion people suffering from migraines worldwide, you would think we would have more solutions for this debilitating condition!    Dr. Tanya Paynter is a naturopathic doctor and migraine specialist that is shedding light on how you can experience migraine relief (hint: it involves improving your gut health!)  Tune in as we chat about hormones, diet, and how to finally attain some headache relief!

Have you ever been to a medical appointment and had several other people see you who weren't your doctor? The different roles within a medical care team can be confusing for a patient!   Dr. James Haddad is a gastroenterology fellow at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Today he's breaking down the different roles within your care team and also discussing the benefits of plant-based diets.

Representation in Healthcare is a major issue that the medical community is still working on addressing. With differences across cultures that affect how patients seek out and receive care, it's incredibly important to make sure that every community has the proper resources it needs to remain healthy.   Today's guest is Tina Aswani Omprakash. She's an MPH student and Patient Advocate that has been doing monumental work breaking down barriers surrounding IBD and chronic illness in South Asian communities. Today she's sharing more about the work that she's doing and the resources available to people in underserved communities.

A few weeks ago, we learned that it's possible to live a normal life without a stomach! This week we're diving deeper and learning more about what life is like without a colon.   Cody Maher is an actress and wellness detective that coaches people on how they can optimize their health. She's sharing her experience with ulcerative colitis and the colectomy procedure. Take a listen!

This past weekend, we had the pleasure of being guests at the Annual Scientific Meeting hosted by the American Society for Colorectal Surgeons! We got to speak with a lot of excellent surgeons and other people that exist in the colorectal health space and we are excited to introduce you to some of the cool people we met.   Our first guest sat down with us at the conference and we had a blast! Her name is Susan Burns and she is the former President of the United Ostomy Associations of America. She's sharing the importance of community and education when it comes to life with an ostomy and wants you to know that if you could do it before your surgery, you can do it after!

Our apologies, but we suffered from some technical difficulties this week! We think you'll still enjoy this week's episode and learn a lot :) Today we're speaking with Nicole Sconzo. She's a Licensed Medical Nutrition Therapist, Board Ceritifed Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), and has a Master of Science degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition (soon to be Doctor of Clinical Nutrition!). She's sharing how Medical Nutrition Therapy and a tailored diet can do so much more than just help you lose weight

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with colon cancer, it can be easy to become overwhelmed with a variety of thoughts and emotions. What we've learned from the guests on our podcast is that this stress can have significant effects on the body if not managed properly. How can you manage to stay resilient on what is often a long and daunting journey?   Today we're speaking with Dr. Kara Tatelbaum. She's a dancer, choreographer, pilates instructor, wellness and resilience coach, and an author. She's sharing how her husband's cancer diagnosis reinforced the importance of resilience and sparked her desire to share this with others.

People are often familiar with the idea of inheriting different traits and conditions from their family members. Did you know that you may be predisposed to certain conditions based on your racial or ethnic background?    Today we're chatting with Dr. Kevin Tin, a gastroenterologist who is passionate about supporting underserved patient populations. He's discussing preventative measures we can take to guard our gut health as well as some advanced GI procedures and why someone might need to undergo them.

The stomach plays a central role in the digestion process. Whenever we're hungry, our stomach growls; if we aren't feeling well, we might have a stomachache. Have you ever imagined what eating and digestion would be like if you didn't have a stomach?     Today we're chatting with Karissa Eifert, an Interior Designer who had her stomach removed. She's explaining the diagnosis that led her to make this life-changing decision and sharing more about what it's like to live life without a stomach. 

Colorectal Cancer Awareness month is winding to a close! We hope that you've taken some time this month to share the importance of colon cancer screening and maybe scheduled an appointment for yourself or a loved one.    We're closing out the month with another refresher from Gastroenterologist Dr. Adam Moskowitz. Dr. Moskowitz is going to discuss the importance of a great diet when it comes to preventative measures for your gut health, how you can approach gut health as a family, and also some alternative ways to be screened for colon cancer. 

Whenever someone mentions allergies, we usually think about runny noses when the seasons change or varying reactions after eating certain foods; but, in this episode, we're exploring allergies in a new way!   On today's episode, we're chatting with Acupuncture Physician, Alternative Holistic Healer, Body Code™ Practitioner, Naturopathic Medicine Doctor, Creator of The Allergy Kit, Dr. Ynge Ljung. Dr. Ynge is sharing how energy medicine can help you find relief from your allergies and how restoring these imbalances can improve your gut and overall health. 

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month! We feel so grateful for all of you who listen to the podcast and hope that it is a helpful tool to spread awareness year round. Today's episode may be a refresher for some, but it's information that definitely bears repeating!   We're speaking with Gastroenterologist, Medical Director, and Assistant Professor, Dr. Jeffrey Crespin. Dr. Crespin is going over some of the basics for any new listeners (why are colonoscopies important? Who should be receiving them and how often?) and busting some myths that are out there surrounding colon and gut health.   

We have had a lot of guests on our podcast discuss the diagnosis of IBS and how to manage the accompanying symptoms, but there is a lot of confusion between the diagnosis of IBS and IBD! We wanted to make sure we set the record straight.    On today's episode, we're chatting with Amber Tresca, the creator of About IBD and the co-creator of IBD Moms. Amber is sharing her own journey following an IBD diagnosis and how that has led her to advocate for other IBD patients (both young and old!) as well as those who may care for them.

  More often than not, whenever bacteria come up in discussion, it's usually associated with illness or infection! How much do you know about the good bacteria in our bodies and where to get more of them?   On today's episode, we're chatting with Leslie Cannon, the creator of KePro. Through sharing why she created KePro, we learn more about the importance of having enough of that good bacteria in our bodies! 

When it comes to health education and teaching people what is going on with their bodies, the earlier we can learn, the better! How do we educate young children and teenagers about the importance of a healthy gut microbiome when we're competing with social media and short attention spans?   On today's episode, we're chatting with Dr. Rebecca Winderman who is known as KidGastroDoc on all social media. Rebecca discusses the importance of making health education accessible and meeting people where they're at!

We talk a lot about holistic healing approaches on this podcast: having a solid mental health routine, making sure you're addressing traumas, and researching natural remedies to address your symptoms. Have you ever felt like you're doing all the “right things” but something is still missing?   On today's episode, we're chatting with Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist Renee Bergmen. Renee discusses the importance of having a truly custom approach to your gut health journey through lab testing and things like your enneagram score. She also shares the importance of having fun along the way!

With the rising costs of healthcare and concern for the safety of certain medications, the search is on for natural ways to heal. Many people are turning to Naturopathic Doctors to guide them on their holistic healing journey.   On today's episode, we're chatting with Naturopathic Medical Student and Wellness/Life Coach Kayla Szampruch. Kayla shares more about healing from a Naturopathic perspective and also dives into the topic of menstruation (her specialty!) and how it ties into gut health.  

Gout is a chronic and progressive condition that affects 8.3 million Americans. With 90% of gout patients having conditions like obesity or high cholesterol making it more difficult to manage their symptoms, you can see that a tie between gout and GI health is evident!   On today's episode, we're chatting with author and gout expert Spiro Koulouris. Spiro takes us on a deeper dive into the world of gout and shares ways we can change our diet to improve our gout symptoms.

Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, and IBD occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body. This often leads people to experience a variety of different systems resulting in a sometimes long and painful journey to experience relief from what they're feeling.   On today's episode, we're chatting with Lindsey Parsons, a health coach that not only specializes in GI and autoimmune issues, but has experienced them herself! Lindsey shares how to navigate your healing journey as well as the role of a leaky gut in autoimmune diseases.

  The mind and body are very deeply interconnected—this is something that you hear often, but have you taken time to examine what this may mean for the symptoms you're currently experiencing? When we are suffering from physical symptoms, addressing some of the things we're experiencing with our mental health may not be our first inclination; but, today we're learning why that may be a mistake!   Laura Martin is an IIN certified gut health specialist that developed Healing to Happy after her own extensive journey navigating mental and physical healing. She's sharing steps you can take to embark on your healing journey that aren't intimidating and allow you to meet yourself where you're at. 

These days, it's very easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. Lunch breaks aren't just for eating, but for running errands and getting extra tasks completed. Typically, our focus is on productivity and not how this may be affecting our digestion. But, did you know that taking the time to chew your food and be mindful about eating can lead to weight loss? In today's episode, Evie Whitehead, a licensed Nutritional Therapist in the UK, is sharing all of the benefits of slowing down and taking time to chew your food. She's also sharing foods we can eat to help ensure we're giving our digestion systems the workout they need to stay healthy at all stages of life.

What's the first thing you think of when you hear ‘hypnosis?' Perhaps it's someone clucking like a chicken at a fair, or a swinging pocket watch with someone saying, “You are getting very sleepy!” While today's episode is rather hypnotizing, it's going to share a side of hypnosis that you may not have previously known existed.   Norman Plotkin is a nationally accredited hypnotherapist, author, public-speaker, and cancer-survivor. He's unveiling the truth behind hypnotherapy and how it could be the missing key you've been looking for to manage your gut health and improve your life.

  I think we've all heard the expression, “I've just got a gut-feeling about this.” How many of you can relate to having this “gut-feeling” about there being something wrong with what you are feeling in your gut?    Today's guest is sharing her journey of how following her intuitive gut-feeling about her own gut health helped her to change her life for the better. Marie Benoit is a LCSW and a trauma coach who helps women reconnect to their bodies and heal from past trauma through community and a multifaceted approach at her private practice at Unbound Women.  

Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer deaths, but studies have shown that this cancer can be preventable if caught early enough. Despite this being the case, there is still a discrepancy between how many people are being screened vs how many people SHOULD be getting screened in order to lower these statistics.    Dr. Paul Limburg, the Chief Medical Officer for Screening at Exact Sciences. He's sharing more about the Cologuard test and how it is not only making screening for colon cancer more accessible, but also paving the way for future advancements in cancer screening technology. 

We talk a lot about the importance of colonoscopies on this podcast, but did you know there are actually different ways this procedure is conducted? That's right—you may not have to go through the dreaded colonoscopy prep! Or, did you know that your colonoscopy might differ based on where you're at in the world?    Dr. Keith Siau is a gastroenterologist and researcher for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS trust. He specializes in colonoscopy training, quality control, and improving research surrounding endoscopy procedures. Today he is sharing more about the different types of colonoscopies and the advances we can expect to see in the near future! 

How many times have you gone in for your annual physical or maybe a sick appointment and you heard your doctor order a bunch of blood tests? Not only are you uncertain what each of these tests are for, but you have no idea how to interpret your results! Using chiropractic and functional medicine, Dr. Kylie Burton can help you figure out the why behind your health concerns using your "normal" labs.

Learn about how stress and nutrition can jointly shape our gut microbiota and overall health. Carly Lucchesi is a Registered Dietician of over ten years and Certified LEAP therapist. Carly shares more about the importance of approaching your health holistically, identifying your own unique triggers, and managing your stress for a healthier and happier life.

What you eat and what you put in your body is enormously important. Question your doctor. Do your research. And take power over your own health.

The colon is important, but it doesn't exist in a vacuum. What happens in your body before the large intestine starts is important to consider when it comes to the goal of good colon health. Let's talk about a very close neighbor to the colon – in fact a gatekeeper of sorts. I'm talking about none other than the small intestine. Celiac disease, celiac sprue, or sometimes referred to as gluten-sensitive enteropathy is a common small intestine condition that is thought to be under-diagnosed. You have heard of others subscribing to a gluten-free diet, but why is that? What is Celiac disease, what does it have to do with gluten, and how does it all come together for the colon. All that and more on this episode of The Colon Health Podcast, with special guest Jess Washington of The Gut Healing Ninja!

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer here in the United States, and the second leading cause of cancer death. According to statistics compiled from the American Cancer Society, it's predicted that 149,500 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 52,980 people will die from it this year alone. Despite the prevalence of colorectal cancer, there is still limited funding compared to other cancer research as well as large gaps in knowledge and understanding of this particular illness. Join me in conversation with Andrea Goodman, the Vice President of Patient Support and Research Strategy at the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Andrea shares more about the objectives of the Alliance and the work they're doing to equip everyone to support their own colon health as well as the colon health of their loved ones.

Maybe you live in a rural area of the country. Perhaps you have an idea for a tremendous event but want it to include only people from your social network. Maybe you just want to learn how to better serve in the efforts against colon cancer. Whichever might sound like you, the Colon Cancer Coalition is an organization worthy of looking into. The advocacy efforts and community involvement are remarkable, likely only surpassed by the humor of our three guests for this episode: Allison Rosen, Chris Evans, and Erin Peterson. Take a seat, share in a laugh, and enjoy the roundtable discussion about colon cancer, the coalition, and how you can make all the difference!

It has been said that the gut is where bacteria and your immune system meet. As you know, the natural flora which live in your colon are vital to achieving and maintaining good colon health. At the same time, having a healthy and strong immune system is just as important for your overall well-being. Today we explore the intersection between the immune system and colon health with, specifically, diet being a mediator between the two. Our guest is Toby Amidor, world-renowned nutrition expert and praised cookbook composer. During our discussion we will explore one of her more recent pieces: The Family Immunity Cookbook: 101 Easy Recipes to Boost Health. It's time you hit the kitchen and benefit from not just improved colon health, but as Toby says it: "healthy and wholesome CAN also be appetizing and delicious!"

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death when looking at collective data including men and women. While there has been a downtrend in diagnoses among older populations, unfortunately, there has been an uptick in diagnoses in younger patients. Reese Garcia is senior manager of research advocacy for Fight Colorectal Cancer (or, Fight CRC).

Can a low FODMAPs diet and intuitive eating help you manage irritable bowel syndrome? Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, is a nutrition therapist, certified intuitive eating counselor and nationally-recognized food and nutrition expert. She is author of Gentle Nutrition: A Non-Diet Approach to Healthy Eating, and blogger at The Joy of Eating.

When it comes to colon health, there are countless factors to be considered. Two hot button issues in recent discussion with the media are obesity and weight loss. The controversial nature of those topics should not take the focus of how these two things might relate to colorectal cancer. While the health and functional benefits of weight loss are well-known and long-documented, how it relates to one's risk of cancer and specifically cancer in the gastrointestinal system is going to be the focus of today's show. Join me in discussion with Dr. Dale Prokupek, a celebrated gastroenterologist out of Beverly Hills, California with affiliations with multiple prestigious institutions including Cedars-Sinai and UCLA. Together we will be exploring ways in which people can theoretically decrease their risk factors for development of colorectal cancer through everything from easy dietary changes to weight loss interventions – which might end up keeping you healthier and enjoying a longer life. Show notes and transcript at Colonoscopy.com

One of the more exciting developments over the past decade in the world of colon health is the ability to screen for colorectal cancer, or even precancerous polyps, without having to undergo a colonoscopy. There are a multitude of reasons why patients around the country take heavy pause when their physician first informs them “you're at the age where we need to start screening for colon cancer.” Some patients are worried it might be uncomfortable, others find the test embarrassing, perhaps some just feel it is too disruptive to their daily life.  Not of these thoughts are wrong; feelings are not invalid; they are felt and experienced indiscriminately. Nevertheless, it is very important to begin screening at the age of 45 – despite those feelings – and perhaps even earlier for higher risk patients. Therein lies much of the beauty of Cologuard: a painless, less invasive, convenient screening test for colorectal cancer. While colonoscopy performed by a board-certified gastroenterologist remains the gold standard of diagnosis, this alternate screening test is gaining attention and traction.  Ollie is a 46-year-old businessman who resides in southern California. He decided to independently pursue the Cologuard screening test after discussing options with his physician.

Unless you have been living under a rock, the three little letters “CBD” rings a bell. But what do you know exactly? This wildly popular substance has taken the integrative health scene by storm over the past decade, and it is time to sit down and explore how its claims measure up in the world of colon health. Get the scoop on CBD and what the research has shown thus far on this episode of The Colon Health Podcast.  Scott Hawksworth is an entrepreneur, CBD expert, podcast host, and founder of The CBD Guide. 

Colonoscopies are often the butt of jokes (no pun intended), but the numerous ways in which these important procedures can improve and save your life is no laughing matter. Learn a wealth of information about the colon and colonoscopies as two physicians “talk shop” on this episode of The Colon Health Podcast.  Dr. Kenneth Yang is a well-respected and celebrated board-certified gastroenterologist who practices in the greater Fort Worth, TX area. 

Dr. Dac Teoli introduces listeners to the Colon Health Podcast by Colonoscopy.com. Over the course of this series, you will hear from some of the leading professionals and experts in the fields of gastroenterology, research, nutritional science, medical technology and much more.