Organic Produce, Exercise vs Income, Cat Parasite, Thorne, Loss of Taste, and more...

Dave Asprey

Jul 3, 2026

Episode description

GLP-1 Side Effects, Gut Microbiome & Brain Health, Toxoplasmosis Risks, and the Dirty Dozen Explained

Plasma Acetate Emerges As Key Gut-Brain Messenger In Older Adults

A study published in Nature Communications examined how gut bacteria relate to plasma acetic acid, a short-chain fatty acid produced when gut microbes ferment fiber, and found that higher acetate levels tracked with lower triglycerides, higher HDL cholesterol, lower body fat, larger thalamic brain volume, and stronger performance on judgment-related cognitive tasks. Mediation analysis showed acetate acts as a direct link between specific gut bacteria, including Oscillibacter and Coprococcus, and these health outcomes. Host Dave Asprey breaks down why this elevates fiber fermentation, not fermented beverages, as the real lever for gut-brain health, and separates the evidence-backed mechanism from the kombucha-as-shortcut assumption.

Source:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-026-01566-x

GLP-1 Drugs Linked To Sharp Rise In Smell And Taste Disturbances

A JAMA Otolaryngology cohort study tracking over 438,000 GLP-1 users against matched controls found a 48% higher risk of new smell or taste disturbances over two years, with smell disturbances up 81% and taste disturbances up 52%. Diagnoses included anosmia, parosmia, and parageusia, with researchers pointing to GLP-1 receptor activity in the olfactory bulb and other chemosensory pathways as a possible mechanism. Host Dave Asprey unpacks why this signal got buried under muscle loss and gut motility headlines, and what it means for anyone currently on or considering GLP-1 therapy.

Sources:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/article-abstract/2850571

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/10.1001/jamaoto.2026.1498

https://trial.medpath.com/news/glp-1-receptor-agonists-linked-to-increased-risk-of-smell-and-taste-disturbances-study-finds

Scientists Push For Toxoplasmosis To Be Recognized As A Neglected Tropical Disease

A viewpoint paper in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases argues that toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection carried by roughly one in three people globally, deserves WHO neglected tropical disease status given its outsized impact on vision and

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Recognize toxoplasmosis as a common vision threat

Toxoplasmosis, a parasite carried by one in three people globally, is the most common cause of intraocular infection and can quietly damage vision.

#parasite

#vision

Reap $25,000 mood boost from consistent exercise without overtraining

The mental health benefit from consistent exercise is comparable to earning an extra $25,000 a year, but overtraining can make mental health worse.

#exercise

#mental-health

Understand gut microbiome to unlock food benefits

Two people can eat the same bowl of berries and get completely different results because health benefits are determined by their unique gut microbiome.

#microbiome

#nutrition

Choose organic for dirty dozen produce to avoid pesticides

To avoid pesticides, it's worth buying organic for the "Dirty Dozen" produce list, which includes leafy greens, berries, grapes, and peaches.

#organic

#pesticide

Protect supplement quality from corporate acquisitions

Trusted supplement brands like Thorne are becoming acquisition targets for large corporations, which may lead to a future decline in product quality.

#risk

#supplement

Leverage gut bacteria to enhance cholesterol and judgment

Specific gut bacteria that ferment fiber produce acetate, which a new study links to better cholesterol, less body fat, and sharper judgment.

#bacteria

#cholesterol

Acknowledge GLP-1 drugs' risk of smell and taste disturbances

Users of GLP-1 drugs have a 48% higher risk of developing smell or taste disturbances, a rarely discussed nervous system side effect.

#GLP1

#side-effects

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