What's REALLY Happening In Ben Greenfield's Gut? How To Unmask Your "Microbiome Mysteries" With 1 Cutting-Edge Gut Test

Ben Greenfield

Jun 13, 2024

Episode description

My guest on today's show, Dr. Chidozie Ojobor, has devoted his entire career to unraveling the complexities of biological systems, particularly the gut microbiome.

In this episode, you'll dive deep into the Vitract gut microbiome test with Dr. Chidozie and I. He'll dissect my personal Vitract results, giving you a firsthand look at what this test can reveal. You'll also explore how 16s sequencing technology identifies the diverse bacteria living in your gut, what the test can tell you about your gut diversity, the balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria, the production of microbial metabolites, and signs of gut dysbiosis. Plus, you'll discover how these results can be used to create personalized recommendations for your diet, probiotics, and lifestyle changes.

Dr. Ojobor is a scientist with over 15 years of research experience in bacterial genetics. He has a bachelor's degree in microbiology and obtained his Ph.D. in molecular genetics from the University of Toronto. Dr. Ojobor has spent a decade developing novel antimicrobial entities that target disease-causing bacteria in complex biological ecosystems such as the gut. In 2019, he won the Global Citizen Award for combating drug-resistant bacteria implicated in exacerbating cystic fibrosis. Dr. Ojobor’s previous research experience includes phage therapy, CRISPR technology, and gastroenteritis of viral origin in children.

Today, he and his team at Vitract are transforming that research expertise into developing comprehensive and accessible gut microbiome testing for clinicians who are keen on improving the gut health of their clients. Vitract (use code BEN10 to save 10%) combines molecular microbiology, complex math, and AI to transform the gut health of Canadians and Americans.

Their flagship 16s gut microbiome sequencing test, which I did and which Dr. Ojobor and I discuss on this show, has garnered widespread adoption and is now actively employed in numerous clinics.

Vitract's test stands out on two crucial fronts: accessibility and actionability. With an affordable price point, customers can now seamlessly incorporate gut testing into their health regimen, facilitating retesting to gauge progress over time. The test results and detailed reports that you receive with Vitract not only illuminate the composition of the gut microbiome but, more importantly, provide actionable insights on how to modify bacteria for optimal health. Dr. Ojobor and his team's commitment to making advanced gut health insights accessible and actionable marks a significant leap forward in personalized healthcare.

Full show notes: https://bengreenfieldlife.com

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Seed beneficial bacteria before introducing prebiotics

If you have zero of a beneficial bacteria strain, you must first introduce it with a probiotic ('seed') before you can encourage its growth with prebiotics ('feed').

#prebiotics

#probiotics

Monitor hydrogen sulfide risk with carnivore diet

Studies show that a primarily animal-based diet can, in just four days, enrich bile-resistant bacteria that may lead to an over-accumulation of hydrogen sulfide gas.

#carnivore

#hydrogen

Supplement with Lactobacillus kefiri to boost Akkermansia levels

Supplementing with Lactobacillus kefiri, the bacteria found in kefir, can indirectly increase your Akkermansia levels.

#microbiome

#supplement

Select appropriate gut test for accurate dysbiosis assessment

Tests like Vitract (16S sequencing) are best for assessing overall gut dysbiosis, whereas tests like GI-MAP (qPCR) are designed for a 'pathogenic deep dive'.

#gut

#testing

Address low Akkermansia levels for optimal gut health

It is very common to have low levels of Akkermansia, with over 90% of people who take the Vitract test having less than the optimal 1%.

#gut

#microbiome

Manage gut health to counteract travel-induced dysbiosis

Hefty international travel across multiple time zones can cause an amount of gut dysbiosis comparable to taking a course of antibiotics.

#dysbiosis

#gut

Boost beneficial probiotics to lower harmful bacteria

An effective way to reduce harmful pathobionts is to increase your beneficial probiotic bacteria, which produce compounds like butyrate that naturally suppress them.