How to Optimize Your Brain-Body Function & Health

About this video

Huberman explains interoception, our sense of our internal landscape including heartbeat, breathing, gut fullness, and internal chemistry, and argues that it profoundly influences brain and body health, performance, and healing rates. He highlights a study from Justin Sonnenburg’s laboratory at Stanford, published in Cell, in which, Huberman reports, a high fiber diet was associated with less gut microbiome diversity, while eating just a couple of servings of fermented food each day was associated with beneficial increases in anti-inflammatory markers and improved microbiome diversity. Huberman stresses this does not mean fiber is bad. Later, Huberman explains gut-brain signaling in the context of fasting: stomach stretch receptors and intestinal neurons, including GLP1R neurons described by the Liberles Lab, signal fullness to the brain, and Huberman argues that simply knowing an empty stomach is a signal, not a need for nutrients, can help people override urges to eat during a fast.

Key takeaways

• Huberman defines interoception as sensing heartbeat, breathing, gut state, and internal chemistry.
• Huberman reports a Cell study in which fermented foods improved microbiome diversity and anti-inflammatory markers.
• Huberman stresses that the fermented-food findings do not mean fiber is bad.
• Huberman explains that gut stretch signals reach the brain via dedicated neurons including GLP1R neurons.
• Huberman argues that awareness of gut signals can help override hunger during fasting.

Episode details: published July 26, 2021 · 379.7K views · 1:52:44 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. The science and protocols described are Andrew Huberman’s, presented for education — not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before changing your own health practices.

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