The Gastroenterologist And His Daughter

A very special guest is on the pod today! In this episode, Sandra takes a deep dive into the personal and professional journey of Ariadna Masó, an innovator whose path to revolutionising patient care began with her own struggles. You’ll be listening to her story from the initial symptoms to the creation of Sanno, a groundbreaking platform in health management. This episode covers: Ariadna’s gut st...

Before listening to this episode, please note that your hosts do discuss the topic of weight so if you do find this triggering, please prioritise your mental wellbeing and skip this one!  There has been a lot of talk about “obesity” recently, its definition and the flaws associated with that including how stigmatising this term can be. In this episode, your hosts have an honest discussion about wh...

Phytic acid has gained a controversial reputation in recent years, with various health enthusiasts and dietary gurus and unqualified health coaches labelling it as an "anti-nutrient" to be avoided. This has led to misguided advice to steer clear of legumes, nuts, and seeds, which are staples in many healthy diets and are crucial for gut health.  In this mini episode, Sandra debunks the top 3 fear-...

If you made it through the last episode on gut health diagnostics, then good on you! It was a jam packed episode and today, it’s time to close the very brief chapter on diagnostic tests related to the gut. The episode starts with them answering a listener’s question whether over-investigating is better than under-investigating. Then, Wagdy will walk you through all the imaging techniques, which in...

This topic is worth a 2-part series as there is so much to cover! Your hosts explore the spectrum of diagnostic tools available to assess gut health and decipher the most common tests, debunk myths, and shed light on the reliability of various diagnostic methods. From stool tests to endoscopy, Sandra and Wagdy aim to equip you with the knowledge you need to know about gut health diagnostics and wh...

In today’s mini episode, Sandra’s flying solo and explores how IBS affects men and women differently. She uncovers the various factors contributing to these sex differences, from hormones and immune responses to psychosocial influences. Learn why women often experience more pronounced symptoms and how understanding these nuances can lead to more personalised approaches to diagnosis and treatment....

It’s hard to believe that the pod is a year old! This IBS awareness month, your hosts cover advances and developments that impact how IBS is being managed. Before listening to this episode, please revisit this episode here that talks about cracking the IBS code covering everything you need to know about irritable bowel syndrome. Today’s episode covers: The main areas of IBS research to date Emergi...

In this mini episode, Sandra shares her most recent health hiccup which made her break a 13 year streak of no antibiotics. Antibiotics are life-saving medications that have been overly prescribed over this past decade with devastating consequences such as antibiotic resistance. However, there is a time and place when antibiotics are needed. If you’ve had to go on a course of antibiotics recently,...

Another season of the pod and kicking things off with very common complaints, and they are heartburn and reflux. GERD or GORD, however you’d like to call it, stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease is a collection of symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored. In this episode, Sandra and Wagdy start with their own experiences with reflux before getting into the details of GORD, from signs and symptoms...

Either there’s something in the water or it’s pure coincidence, but this has been a year that Sandra’s seen so many clients diagnosed with diverticular disease. In the 10th episode of the season, your hosts talk about the silent condition impacting millions worldwide and that is Diverticular disease. In this episode, they walk you through everything you need to know about this condition including...

In today's episode, Sandra and her guest, BDA registered dietitian Lisa Waldron, delve into a delicate yet enlightening discussion essential for those engaged in the realm of eating disorders and gut health. It is also an informative one for anyone struggling with an eating disorder and is experiencing gut issues. Here’s our TW though: The conversation about eating disorders can be a sensitive and...

This is an episode not to be missed! Stefanie Valakas joins Sandra in today’s episode to unpack fertility from within, helping us understand the gut-fertility connection better. Stefanie and Sandra cover three main areas today looking at the relationship between the gut microbiome and fertility, nutrition for reproductive health as well as the gut-hormone connection. This episode covers: How the g...

Another week, another episode! Your hosts are picking up where they left off on the topic of IBD and today, it’s all about ulcerative colitis (UC). In this episode, they first answer another listener’s question about colonics before taking a deep dive into the medical and lifestyle aspect of this chronic inflammatory bowel disease. This episode covers: What we currently know about the development...

Today, your hosts delve into the intricate landscape of Crohn's disease, offering a comprehensive exploration of both its medical and nutritional dimensions. From understanding the basics and symptoms to discussing diagnostic procedures and treatment options, you’ll get valuable insights into the medical intricacies of Crohn's. This episode covers: The most common risk factors for developing IBD i...

Today’s episode is a follow up to last week’s episode, where Sandra takes an in depth look at what you should be eating if diagnosed with SIBO and when the use of some herbals may be indicated. This episode covers: The 3 most common dietary approaches to SIBO The pros and cons of the low FODMAP approach, the SCD and the elemental diet When is the use of herbals indicated? The 3 most common herbals...

Prof. Dr. Med. Stephan Vavricka is an incredible gastroenterologist that has been raising SIBO awareness and is one of the very few leading SIBO experts in Switzerland. Also known as “Dr House” - not sure he’s aware of that - Dr. Vavricka has truly helped Sandra’s clients get to the bottom of their gut woes with empathy, humour and kindness.  This episode kicks off by breaking down the controversy...

You may be asking yourself, why the liver? So many of you may be neglecting one of the busiest and most powerful organs of our body, not realising that it is a part of your digestive system. In today’s episode, Sandra and Wagdy take an in-depth look at liver health from discussing the most common liver conditions to understanding the role of nutrition in maximising your liver’s health. This episod...

Today’s mini episode is a solo one where Sandra walks you through one of her most requested topics recently: how to address your gut symptoms and eat throughout the menstrual cycle. This episode covers: What is the female gut and understanding the gut-hormone connection How our fluctuating hormone levels impact your gut at different phases of the menstrual cycle How to address your gut symptoms th...

They’re back with another season packed with all things gut talk! After a much needed summer break, Sandra and Wagdy are back with a requested topic that unpacks everything you need to know about antibiotics. In today’s episode, they go through: What antibiotics are, their history and benefits The good: Indications of antibiotic use in certain gut conditions The bad: the side effects associated wi...

It’s the final episode of the season! Coeliac disease (CD) warrants its own episode where Sandra and Wagdy delve into this often overlooked issue, which is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten consumption. In today’s episode, Wagdy walks the pod listener through why this condition is frequently underdiagnosed and why it warrants more awareness, particularly among the medical community.  Can...

Now that Sandra’s book is out for the world to read, it was only fitting to have an episode dedicated to her passion project, the Gut Chronicles. In this solo episode, Sandra gathers the most frequently asked questions about the book and perhaps gives you a glimpse of what it is and what it isn’t, for you to decide whether this is the gut health book you need!  The Gut Chronicles is not “just anot...

If you’ve struggled with your gut then you would’ve come across the term “leaky gut” or may have even been diagnosed with it at some point. Leaky gut syndrome has gained significant attention in recent years, with claims that it may be the root cause of a wide range of health issues, from digestive problems to autoimmune diseases and even mental health conditions. But what exactly is leaky gut, an...

In this week’s episode, they’re changing things up a little bit and delve into the most common “gut mistakes” they see in clinic. Sandra’s list includes the biggest health scam of the 21st century that always gets her blood boiling. Wagdy, once again, highlights a damaging mistake that is creating a disturbing problem world-wide and walks everyone through the consequences of self-diagnosing and de...

Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common cancer worldwide with a strong association with diet and lifestyle and alarmingly we are seeing rates rising among young adults.  Are we being very dismissive with preventative actions?  In today’s episode, Wagdy shares real-life stories of 3 different patients, the youngest being 25, with one similar diagnosis to highlight the most common symptoms of bowel...

They’re moving all the way down the Bristol Stool Chart today! Diarrhoea has no consideration of place and time and you have definitely experienced a bout of bumfluenza at some point. In today’s episode, Wagdy and Sandra continue their poo discussions where they go through the types of diarrhoea,  most common causes, when to worry and what your plan of action should be. Sandra covers the food rela...