Netflix recently premiered a documentary titled “Hack Your Health: The Secret of Your Gut,” featuring renowned gut specialist, Dr. Giulia Enders MD. Collaborating with leading experts in neuropsychology, epidemiology, neuroscience, and microbial ecology, Dr. Enders delves into the intricate relationship between our dietary choices, gut health, and brain function.
Gut Health
The exploration of gut health is a subject that captivates my interest, so I was eager to find out how this topic was going to be explored. The documentary explained how our gut works and the importance of a diverse diet for the microbiome using cute and colorful animations. The graphics clearly explained how our gut works and how the microbiome was developed (after birth). Dr. Enders emphasizes, “There’s a lot of noise thrown at us (about our gut). The gut is flexible. It changes when we change what we eat.” Therefore, incorporating diverse foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, into our daily intake nourishes the microbial community within our gut, thereby enhancing overall well-being.
Where are the Registered Dietitian Nutritionists?
However, the absence of registered dietitian nutritionists among the experts left me disheartened. How can discussions on diet and nutrition omit the insights of professionals specializing in food and dietary science? It’s noteworthy that culinary expertise alone does not suffice in understanding the interplay of food, nutrition, and health. A registered dietitian nutritionist could have provided invaluable guidance in creating personalized nutrition plans for the four “test subjects,” particularly for individuals like the one in recovery from an eating disorder. We are trained food and nutrition professionals with the expertise, education, and skills to help individuals achieve their health intentions based on their food preferences, budget, health conditions, and lifestyle.
My takeaways from the documentary:
- Listen to your body cues. Eat when you’re hungry. Stop when you’re satisfied
- Embrace “ABC” – Always Be Counting – by aiming for a weekly intake of 20-30 servings of fruits and vegetables. But if you rarely eat fruits and vegetables, start with 10-15 servings a week, gradually increasing over time
- The key is to eat a diversity of produce on your plate to feed your gut microbes.
I wholeheartedly endorse viewing “Hack Your Health” on Netflix to gain meaningful insights into the ins and outs of gut health, also known as the “second brain.” Diversifying your diet produces microbes that have the transformative potential to heal both body and mind. However, don’t try to make changes to your diet alone. Reach out to a registered dietitian nutritionist to help you with a personalized eating plan.
Nutritionally Yours,
Jerlyn
I found the advice to eat 20-30 different fruits and vegetables a week confusing. How many grams or ounces per day?
Good question, Jen. In the United States, fruits and vegetables servings are usually measured in cups. For example. One cup of raw leafy green vegetable equals one serving and half a cup of fruit is a serving. The American Heart Association illustrates these servings with an infographic. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/add-color/fruits-and-vegetables-serving-sizes
fruits & veggies contain valuable nutrients, vitamins & minerals
Nature’s Pharmacy
Nora, I agree.
Hi Jerlyn,
When watching the documentary, I understood that they meant 20-30 different types of fruits and veggies, not portions. I am not a native speaker so I might be wrong, do you think they meant portions?
I eat a lot veggies, my minimum is 4 portions per day, but I am autistic so always eat the same types of foods. I’d like your professional opinion on whether the variation makes a difference in this case.
Hi Chiara, thank you for your questions. Dr. Gupta recommended eating 20-30 fruits and vegetables a week but she didn’t say 20-30 different types of fruits of vegetables. I work with patients who don’t have access to this many fruits and vegetables in their neighborhood. If you do have access to a variety of fruits and vegetables then try to eat as many as you can. Living with autism can make it a bit more difficult to eat different types of foods however slowly add a new fruit and vegetable to a smoothie such as raw carrots, roasted beets, or raw celery. You won’t taste these veggies in the smoothie and you will boost your fiber intake. Be well!
Actually I just watched the documentary and after reading your review I wanted to correct that too. They definitely said ABC for different TYPES of fruits and vegetables, that’s their whole point. It’s the diversity in the microbiomes that’s needed and severely lacking in industrialised areas.
Hopefully, the documentary will shed some light on the importance of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables daily.
Love the message in the documentary. But when they told the obese lady to not count her calories and let her believe that calories don’t matter… that was just irresponsible.
Hi Anthony, counting calories may result in a eating disorder or disordered eating therefore it’s recommended to eat nutrient-dense foods lower in calories and high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. By the way, the women in the documentary is living with obesity, a chronic disease, which requires personalized medical treatment. Be well!
I watched this over the week end. What is your feeling about all the green drinks that are advertised, such as AG1? Can they make up for some of the greens that we dont eat or dont like? I see them popping up every where now. I had a free packet of a superfood drink from my gym, I did drink it, it was a little bit not very good, but when I think about what was probably in it, okay. Of course, it was one free packet so I dont think I had much benefit from it, but if you did one every day, maybe a good way to get nutrients from greens that we dont eat?
Always check with your medical doctor before taking any dietary supplements including the one mentioned in the documentary plus make sure it’s been 3rd party tested to ensure safety and purity. Dietary supplements are not regulated the same way as medications in the United States so look for 3rd party certified products. This product is 3rd party tested. My nutrition philosophy is food first because our bodies are designed to absorb nutrients more effectively through food. Save your money and blend spinach, or kale, or even collard greens with fruit in a smoothie.