Gut & MicrobiomeHarvard Gastroenterologist Reveals the Best Tools for Gut Health and Weight Loss
In this Huberman Lab episode, Harvard gastroenterologist Dr. Chris Thompson explains how the gut regulates hunger, fullness, and blood sugar through hormones like GLP-1, ghrelin, CCK, and GIP. He covers the role of the colon microbiome, the importance of fiber, resistant starch, and fermented foods for microbial diversity and butyrate production, and how intermittent fasting affects gut health. The conversation addresses GLP-1 medications — their benefits, side effects, muscle loss risk, and weight regain — alongside bariatric and endoscopic procedures like sleeve gastroplasty. Thompson also discusses gut permeability, fatty liver, the harms of ultra-processed foods and fructose, and emerging treatments including duodenal liners and GLP-1 gene therapy. Practical tools like continuous glucose monitors and fasting insulin testing are highlighted as early metabolic markers everyone should consider.
