Despite the growing body of research, we are still in the early stages of understanding the gut microbiome. Consumer interest in biotics is growing and this trend is driving more research into pre, pro, post and synbiotics and their potential health benefits. This episode focuses on prebiotics, which are defined as “a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit” and are often associated with dietary fibers but may also derive from non-fiber substances such as polyphenols.

Tune into this episode with Hannah Ackermann, MBA, RDN to learn about:

● what prebiotics are and what they have to do with fiber

● research regarding the known and emerging health benefits of prebiotics

● health claims for prebiotics

● trends in consumer interest in biotics

● low FODMAP diets

● what to look for on food labels

● how different prebiotic fibers may impact GI symptoms

● the prebiotic fiber ingredient Arrabina Wheat Fiber

● resources for health professionals and the public

Commercial support has been provided by COMET, a company specializing in prebiotic dietary fiber ingredients.

Full shownotes, transcript and resources: https://soundbitesrd.com/287

“Low” Carbohydrate Diets and Metabolic Health: What Does the Research Show?

Commercial support has been provided by Simply Good Foods. Dr. Jim Painter was sponsored by an unrestricted grant from Simply Good Foods to speak on the podcast. No products or brands are discussed or promoted.

Lower carbohydrate, higher protein and higher fat dietary patterns have seen a resurgence in interest in both the research community and in popular culture in the past decade. This has been accompanied by a clearer understanding of who may benefit from dietary patterns that reduce carbohydrate and increase other macronutrients and the ways in which these approaches change human metabolism to facilitate weight loss and improve glycemic control.

While often regarded as fad diets, there is a significant amount of clinical evidence that can be used to evaluate the potential upsides and downsides of these types of dietary approaches. This research can be leveraged to understand what dietary factors should be considered when trying to optimize lower carbohydrate diets and how other macronutrients need to be shifted in order to provide sufficient nutrition. It should be noted that there is a large body of evidence that can be used to help answer many of the outstanding questions related to carbohydrate reduction or restriction. Furthermore, this large body of clinical research has resulted in many high-quality meta-analyses that help give a clearer picture of the utility of such alternative dietary patterns, especially regarding improving glycemic control in those with type 2 diabetes.

Tune into this episode with Dr. Jim Painter to learn about:

● Research studies on low/lower carbohydrate diets and metabolic health

● Research related to diabetes, prediabetes, inflammation

● How “low carbohydrate” is defined in various research studies

● Ketogenic diet research

● Higher protein and fat intake related to lower carbohydrate diets

● Popularity of higher protein diets

● How the quality of carbohydrates, protein and fat may impact health

● Intermittent fasting research

● Insights on ketosis, autophagy

● diabetes remission

● the “best” diet(s) for diabetes

● 2025 Diabetes Standards of Care

● If the Mediterranean diet can be considered low carb

● Potential health benefits with or without weight loss

● resources for health professionals and the public

Full shownotes, transcript and resources: https://soundbitesrd.com/286

When you or your loved ones are in the hospital it can be overwhelming and stressful. You may feel unsure about speaking up and asking questions or sharing information with your healthcare team. But research indicates that up to 70% of patient harm events are due to communication breakdowns, and most people don’t realize how much power they have in managing their own care—and how understanding their rights and speaking up can truly make a life-saving difference.

Tune into this episode to learn about:

● understanding your healthcare consumer rights

● taking charge of your own healthcare

● how to help a loved one in the hospital

● staying safe in the healthcare system

● tools to navigate the healthcare system

● how families and patients can speak up when they feel intimidated or reluctant

● the 3 “P”s and “CUSS” words to empower conversations

● stories and examples of healthcare harm that can impact patient safety

● how to choose the best hospital for the safest care

● resources including a free patient safety checklist

Full shownotes, transcript and resources: https://soundbitesrd.com/285