Microbiome and Weight

I’ve written many times about the scientific links between our gut microbiome and our weight through a variety of mechanisms, including appetite signaling, metabolism, motivation, movement, sleep, and many others.

Here is a new video and slides (below) where I unpack some of the science and the application of harnessing our microbiome to help us lose weight (“take it off”) as well as help us prevent weight regain (“keep it off”).

Hope you enjoy – and please let me know any questions in the comments below?

Utah Mental Wellness Coach Certification – March 17 & 18

Registration Link

Join us on March 17 & 18 (9am-5pm on both Friday and Saturday) for a special Certified Mental Wellness Coach event in Utah.

We are still deterring the exact location – but it will be somewhere between SLC and Lehi – and we will update everyone ASAP.

Tuition is $1,500 per person and includes light breakfast, lunch, refreshments, printed workbook, 500+ slides, and 16 CEUs.

Register HERE

Even better, we are doing a “BOBO” deal (buy one – bring one) – where you can bring a friend to get certified with you for FREE. 

This is a screaming deal that will sell out fast.

The Certified Mental Wellness Coach (CMWC) is a streamlined, focused, intense course spanning 16 hours of instruction (8 hours each day) in the role of diet and lifestyle factors in balancing the Microbiome-Gut-Heart-Brain-Axis for improved Mental Wellness.

Total costs are:

  • Tuition = $1,500 per student (and you can bring a guest for FREE – or share the tuition)
  • Food = included continental breakfast and coffee, healthy lunch, refreshments
  • CMWC course materials
    • 16 CEUs and Digital Badge from Marietta College
    • Printed Workbook = includes 500+ slides ($100 value)
    • Powerpoint slides used in the certification (500+ slides for your electronic library)

Background – Why Becoming a CMWC is Important

At no time in human history have we ever been so “advanced” technologically and yet so miserable psychologically.

It’s no exaggeration to describe stress, depression, anxiety, and burnout as epidemics – literally the “Black Plague” of our modern times.

How you feel is not just in your head, it’s also in your gut, and your heart, and your immune system, and in many other places inside and outside the actual brain in your head.

National surveys show that happiness and life satisfaction levels are at all-time lows, while depression, suicide, drug addiction, and use of prescription antidepressants and pain-killing opioids are at all-time highs.

There is no physical health without mental wellness. They are two sides of the same coin, and they are vital for each other and for our ability to reach our peak potential in this one life that we have to live.

The CMWC will explore research-supported natural approaches can improve how we feel mentally and perform physically in every aspect of our daily lives, including:

  • What is Mental Wellness Coaching
    • Education, Guidance, Training, Support to help unlock potential
    • Why EVERYONE needs a coach!
  • What Mental Wellness Coaching is NOT
    • Counseling, treatment, prescribing, medicine…
  • Objectives
    • Workshop Format
    • 500+ slides (many for reference)
  • Part 1 – Science
    • New Paradigm of the Gut-Heart-Brain-Axis
    • Science-based products (how Amare fits)
    • Mental Wellness Economy
    • Science Deep Dive
  • Part 2 – Practice – What to DO?
    • Mindset
    • Ingredient Sourcing
    • Functional Nutrition
    • Immune System
    • Stress
    • Gut-Brain-Axis
    • Endotoxemia / Metabolism
    • Heart-Brain-Axis
    • Physical Performance
    • Sleep
    • Anti-Aging

Microbiome Weight Loss Study

We’ve had a great response to our call for volunteers to join our research study of a new probiotic strain for weight loss.

Details are here

We’ve had several questions that I’d like to answer…

There is no cost to participate – it is 100% FREE

This is not an ‘Amare’ study – we are studying a NEW strain of probiotic bacteria that we think will help with stress, inflammation, and weight loss – and we ‘might’ use this strain in a future product.

The study is 12 weeks – you CANNOT be taking any other weight loss drugs or supplements – and you get to keep the Garmin fitness tracker watch at the end.

You need to have access to a body fat scale for measurements at baseline/start and weeks 4-8-12

We will send you the collection kit for cortisol and microbiome samples and you will send those back to the lab in a pre-addressed and stamped envelope.

YES – you can (and should) get some friends to do the study with you – more fun to share the journey!

We will start the supplementation phase in mid-March.

Hope that helps – please get in touch with Julie if you’re interested in volunteering…

Julie Talbott

julietalbott@mac.com

801-712-0408 (mobile)

Microbiome-Based Weight Loss – Join Our Research Study!

About a year ago, Amare launched GBX Fit, the world’s first “quad-biotic” targeting fat loss and appetite control by harnessing the microbiome and gut-brain-axis (GBX Fit was runner-up for 2022 Probiotic of the Year).

Just last week, Amare advanced the game yet again with GBX Burn, the world’s first non-stimulant thermogenic (“fat-burner”) that also harnesses the power of the gut to influence appetite, metabolism, and fat gain.

The combination of GBX Fit and GBX Burn is really an unmatched system to help you “take it off” (enhanced fat loss with Fit) and “keep it off” (reduced fat storage with GBX Burn).

Looking ahead to further innovations in microbiome-based interventions, we are recruiting volunteers for a research study of a unique and specific strain of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum KABP-51) that we think might have benefits for psychological mood state, gut microbiome status, stress hormones, and body composition (body fat and muscle mass).

Check out some details below – and let us know if you’re interested?

Important = You CANNOT be taking any other weight loss drugs or supplements – and you MUST have access to a body composition (BIA) scale (at home or your local gym) to participate in this study.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR RESEARCH STUDY!

  • 12 Week Supply of Supplement or Placebo
  • Garmin VivoSmart 4 smart watch provided to track sleep quality and stress indicators
  • Weekly online educational seminars on nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress and related healthy lifestyle issues
  • Monthly Measurements
  • o Surveys (mood, stress, etc)
    o Body Composition & Waist Circumference
    o Microbiome & Saliva samples (take-home kits)
  • Keep the Garmin as our “thank-you” if you complete all necessary study requirements
  • Please contact: Julie Talbott 801-712-0408
    julietalbott@mac.com

Your Microbiome is Going Extinct – Save It!

Very interesting article in Popular Mechanics about how the human microbiome is under threat of extinction – and why that is bad for our physical health, mental wellness, aging, and disease risk (and even for the health of entire planet) – yikes!

The article gives. brief over view of the new documentary, Invisible Extinction, that describes how our microbiome is involved in EVERY aspect of human health – creating vitamins, neurotransmitters, inflammatory molecules, appetite hormones, and coordinating immune system function (among many many other functions).

As I’ve written about MANY times on this blog, there is a LOT that we can do to keep our microbiome vibrant and healthy – such as eating more (and more types) fiber, moving our bodies, getting adequate sleep, and exposing ourselves to nature – but it is often not enough – so we can (and should) also supplement our diets with specific strains of probiotic bacteria, targeted structures of prebiotic fibers, and pure plant extracts to help maintain optimal microbiome balance and signaling across the Gut-Brain-Axis.

Keeping our microbiome strong and resilient is good for our physical health, optimizes our mental wellness, and probably improves how we age and reduces the risk of many age-related diseases – so get to it!

2023 Wellness Trends

Every year, the Global Wellness Institute and Summit releases their annual “Future of Wellness Trends Report” – which I received yesterday.

I am an Ambassador to the GWI and I’ve been an avid supporter of their work to educate about the importance of Mental Wellness – they were among the very first to identify the massive size of the “mental wellness economy” at well over $120-billion, and that was pre-pandemic (estimates are that this sector has more than doubled in the last 3 years).

It has been pretty cool that every year, Amare has been AHEAD of the trends – maybe even setting the trends?

Two years ago, the GWI was talking about trends like “Financial Wellness” and “Immune Support” (not “boosting”) – which Amare had already been at the forefront of since day one.

A year ago, some of the most notable trends involved natural support of libido & menopause, and microbiome & gut health – which just happen to be some the areas that many of our leading natural products address.

This year – in the 2023 trend report – I thought it was very cool to see that THREE of their highlighted areas were precisely what Amare has already been prepping…

#1 trend – exactly what our CEO Jared Turner talked about in his presentation at our Leadership Summit (yesterday!) = how Human Connection can be a solution for the “loneliness epidemic” that millions are facing around the world.

#4 trend – focuses on what we launched at our annual Convention a few months ago = microbiome-based beauty.

#6 trend – highlighted “activating brown fat and eliminating obesity” – which is exactly what I talked about when we launched our NEW “thermogenic” product yesterday – called GBX Burn – and when combined with GBX Fit that we launched a year ago (and a Finalist for Probiotic of the Year) – brings an unmatched product combination to the market that works across the entire Gut-Brain-Axis to help you “take it off” (release stored fat from “white” fat cells) and “keep it off” (reduce weight gain by activating “brown” fat cells) – all while feeling good with appetite/craving control, high energy, and good mood/motivation (with all-natural and stimulant-free ingredients).

I think it’s great to be “on trend” with the biggest initiatives in Health & Wellness, but SHEESH – talk about a company that is LEADING the industry – over and over again?!?!

Hat tip to everyone at Amare!

The link between our food, gut microbiome and depression

Really great article in the Washington Post the other day describing a new study that takes an important step forward in understanding the relationship of gut bacteria to what we eat and how we feel.

You can (and should) read the original article at the Washington Post = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/01/31/gut-microbiome-anxiety-depression/

You can see some of the important highlights from the article below…

Research has long suggested a link between our diet and our mental health. 

The gut microbiome — the collective genome of trillions of bacteria that live in the intestinal tract that are created largely by what we eat and drink — appears to influence our mood and mind-set.

The largest analysis of depression and the gut microbiome to date, published in December, found several types of bacteria notably increased or decreased in people with symptoms of depression.

“This study provides some real-life evidence that you are what you eat,” says study author Andre Uitterlinden, who researches genetics at Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Or to be exact, how you feel is closely related to what you consume.

The gut-brain axis…gastrointestinal symptoms often are reported in people with psychiatric illness. 

Weight and appetite changes are common among people with depression, from adolescence to older age. 

Anxiety has been tied to a heightened risk of nausea, heartburn, diarrhea and constipation. 

The link between food and mood is there even when we reach for macaroni and cheese to comfort us during a stressful time.

Interest in the gut-brain axis has had a resurgence in the past 20 years. 

A host of studies has pointed to a connection between the microbiota living in our intestinal tract, and our minds, including our memory, mood and cognitive skills.

In one noteworthy study, entitled “Transferring the Blues,” bacteria-free rats given fecal samples from humans diagnosed with major depression became anxious and disinterested in pleasurable activities. 

This new study moves that needle, largely because of its size (1,000 individuals).

The researchers parsed the data for associations between the bacteria populations in the fecal samples with scores from the depression assessment. They then conducted the same tests using data from another 1,539 Dutch citizens encompassing a range of ethnicities. (Validating the findings from one large group in a second large group makes them particularly reliable.)

The analysis revealed 16 types of bacteria that the authors called “important predictors” of depressive symptoms to varying degrees. For example, the study, published in Nature Communications, found a depletion of Eubacterium ventriosum among people who were depressed. Interestingly, this same decrease has been spotted in microbiome studies of traumatic brain injury and obesity, both of which are tied to depression, supporting the notion that this species of bacteria has something to do with this mood disorder.

Eggerthella is found to be consistently increased in abundance in the guts of depressed individuals. The result provides evidence that changes in the gut flora may trigger depressive symptoms.

it appears that comfort eating after a stressful event can change the microbial community in our intestines, which in turn exacerbates depressed feelings – when we are depressed, the gut microbiome is often missing beneficial flora. 

This is where diet enters the picture. An individual who does not consume enough fiber, for example, may experience a decrease in butyrate-producing bacteria, leading to stress and inflammation and, potentially, symptoms of depression.

The sheer amount of research confirming the power of a healthy gut has become undeniable for even the most hard-bitten skeptic.

When the evidence points to the fact that eating healthy, doing a little bit of exercise and taking mindfulness breaks can have benefits, we should probably listen to that data.

Research is slowly illuminating exactly how bacteria talk to the brain. For example, many of them produce short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate and acetate, which influence brain activity. Others generate a chemical called GABA, deficits of which are linked to depression.

This progress means that diet may not be the only way to improve our gut colonies. The use of probiotics to prevent and treat depression could become more of an exact science, leading eventually to effective alternatives to antidepressants, which, still carry a stigma in many communities.

They Like Us – They Really Like Us! (Wink)…

It’s been a busy time personally and professionally – acquiring and integrating another company – preparing for a ground-breaking new product launch – undertaking a massive renovation of our Mental Wellness Retreat – training for an ultramarathon – finalizing details for the online Mental Wellness Coach Certification – oh my!

I’ve written before about the importance of having a winning TEAM – and that really proves itself when you start to feel a little overwhelmed like I have the last couple of days…

That is why I want to share two messages that came to me over the weekend. I LOVE getting these notes of thanks – they really help underscore the GOOD that we are doing in the world – and emphasize the fact that it’s the TEAM that takes an idea – to a formula – to a finished product – in a beautiful package – with a compelling message – to social sharing with eventual customers (and all the myriad logistics and moving parts behind the scenes).

Every single person involved in that process from concept to customer should feel proud of the very real and very meaningful impact that you are having on others. THANK YOU!

Hey Dr. Shawn! I had to pass this message on to you from one of my new customers…Thank you for your amazing formulations!

I would like to thank who ever made Kids mood. I have been living my life with craziness in it until I took one pack of kids mood. I use to have a mind full of chatter and changing channels. Now I feel like there is an echo in my head and I can focus and think clearer. I have some anxiety in my life and now I feel like I can make it day to day. I take one pack in the morning and I can go all day long on just one pack. I keep extra packs with me so that if I need more I have it handy. I enjoy the taste of the kids mood but I wish they had other flavors too. I really love the fact that it is all natural. I need to order some more boxes for myself now because I have been sharing my box with my family and friends and they have enjoyed the feelings they get from the Kids Mood. Thank you again!!!

Here is another note forwarded to me from a woman who was having a lot of issues (that a LOT of people also struggle with) – In her own words:

Gather round, pull up a chair, get your favorite beverage of choice. I have to share something with you guys. I am spilling some tea and talking about stuff that most people don’t talk about here on the inner webs.

As many of you know or have seen, I have been struggling real bad with some massive panic/anxiety since I got sick in July. I have been on the medication merry go round since early August.

(Missed all that and don’t know what I am talking about…go to my Instagram highlight on Anxiety and see the total mess I was.)

Y’all I feel like I have been keeping the worlds best secret. Two months…yeah…almost two months ago I decided to try something I had seen going around my feed, stuff friends had used that claimed to help their anxiety, focus, motivation, depression, blah blah blah (I was in a baaaaad place) just about everything I needed help with. TWO freaking amazing months I have been using this stuff and quietly healing and just watching and waiting for one day it not work. That hasn’t happened. It just gets better. I just heal up in another area.

What voodoo is this?!?

Day one (I shit you not!) I forgot to take ANY Xanax till bedtime. I made it all freaking day and it did not cross my mind. Miracle of all miracles! Y’all, I honestly didn’t think it would help this fast or so well. I know this industry. I have tried all the things. This is nervous system deregulation for crying out loud. It not only worked. It keeps working. Every damn day.

Short story: Life Changer. Went from 3 (yes,3!) Xanax, a daily to 1 most days. And my mental health provider now has me off all other medication. I still have Xanax if I need it. I have been on and off several SSRI drugs and beta blockers. I was in really really bad shape y’all. Not. No. Mo.

BTW..it took me from August till December 12th to get the mental health provider I needed. That is a different beast. I love that she was involved the whole way thru this and sees the changes and difference this crazy chance I took made for me and for my family. (three cheers for the psych lady that encouraged my supplement choice)

In the pics below is supposed to be a pretty glass full of this gorgeous pink beverage that saved my mind. Instead you are seeing my before and after me and my handy dandy Shaker bottle that I mix up my “Happy Juice” in every freaking day.

Livi has one too, oh, and yes she is on the Kids Pack and she is doing the things y’all. Autism mamas…you know when you hit the jackpot with your kids. You know when something is clicking and changing. She is clicking and changing and she is only a few weeks in! I am pumped!!!!

I tried so hard not to word vomit on y’all….but this is too good and I am done hiding my experience. Mental health is fragile for so many and I will not sit by and let my friends and family believe that they are out of choices! I have so many choices and I am so happy have partnered with a Mental Wellness Company. This is my wheel house. This is where I serve best!

send me a message or comment below or call me or whatever if you want more information. I will not be shutting up about this.

Thanks for coming to my HETTY talk!!!

Another Breakthrough Coming…

After a few very busy weeks (months!?!?), I am really looking forward to the launch of an exciting new product this weekend in New Orleans.

Amare Global will be introducing a significant advance in the “weight loss” space – building on our success one year ago with GBX Fit (the world’s first “quad-biotic” for weight loss and finalist for “probiotic of the year” in 2022) – with what I think will be a world-leading new approach in the “thermogenic” (calorie/fat-burning) approach to weight loss.

The new product is called GBX Burn – and helps restore gut integrity (i.e. reduce “leaky gut”) and improve “diet-induced thermogenesis” (burning calories from food) – so people store less fat.

The combination of Fit and Burn will be an unmatched combination to simultaneously help people “take it off” (release stored fat with Fit) and “keep it off” (burn calories before they are stored with Burn).

Imagine having a natural, non-stimulant, science-based approach to help people get off the “roller-coaster” cycle of repeatedly losing/gaining weight – it’s a game-changer (again).

The official launch is this Saturday – so I’ll keep some of the details secret until then!

The product is on pre-sale now, and please check back next week for some updates about the active ingredients, how they work (mechanism of action), and why this approach is significantly different than anything before.