Still listening to Super Agers. Currently on the chapter about the current state of immunotherapies in treating cancers and autoimmune disorders. Turns out our gut is the largest immune organ in our body and the health of your intestinal microbiome plays a significant role in your ability to combat disease. From lupus to cancer to type one diabetes, the microbiome of affected people differs significantly from that of healthy people. This is hard science. Peer reviewed. Controlled studies. Presented by an M.D. exploring the cutting edge of today’s medical research.

The microbiome is no longer a fringe theory

It's funny to me because less than fifteen years ago when, as a CrossFit coach, I spoke to my clients who were medical doctors about the emerging importance of the gut microbiome, they politely informed me that I was being misled by a bunch of new age horse manure promoted by quacks. No, I argued, I think the emerging evidence is fairly convincing. But it is hard to change minds that are already made up. Well, now the microbiome is no longer a fringe theory but the very cutting edge of medical science. And while, yes, I do feel vindicated, that is not what came up for me while listening to Super Agers.

What occurred to me as I reflected on our developing understanding of the complexities of human health, is how often what we think we know is wrong or, how sometimes it is right but for the wrong reasons. Take for example, organic food. I’ve listened for decades to the arguments back and forth about whether or not there is any benefit in prioritizing organic food over conventionally grown produce.

The new age horse manure pushers argued that produce grown organically is more nutritious because the soil it is grown in is not depleted of nutrients by chemical fertilizers. There are studies supporting this hypothesis and others debunking it. In the end, it was never proven that organic produce is more nutritious than the conventionally grown kind.

Then the new agers proposed that the chemical fertilizers and pesticides applied to conventionally grown produce were poisonous to humans. The jury is still out on this. Again, some studies suggest this is possible while others refute the assertion. And anyhow, a thorough washing with soap and water should render the concern moot.

But what neither side has ever considered or tested (at least not to my knowledge) is the effect of pesticides on the human microbiome. While the chemicals used to protect out produce from fungi and insects might be in doses too low to damage us directly, might they be harmful to the microorganisms residing in our guts? Might they contribute to the declining microbiome diversity seen in industrialized nations? The very decline associated with a rise in chronic disease and autoimmune disorders.

We're very poor at understanding complex systems

I don’t know the answer but, being cautious by nature I wouldn’t bet against it. We are very poor at understanding complex systems. Every time we tamper with nature there are unforeseen downstream consequences. We are also prone to making attribution errors, mistakenly believing that x causes y until we eventually discover we were completely wrong.

What are the takeaways here?

1. Your microbiome is very important to your health – science now agrees

2. You should protect your microbiome from agents that may harm it – antibiotics, antifungals, antibacterials

3. You should cultivate microbiome diversity – a variety of fruit and vegetables (probably organic), fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, natto)

4. Limit foods that promote overgrowth of harmful bacteria – sugars, artificial sweeteners

5. When in doubt, follow nature. The burden of proof is not on the natural but on the unnatural (butter vs margarine, morning sickness vs thalidomide, not inhaling smoke vs cigarettes and vaping and so on ad infinitum)

The workout for Tuesday, July 1 - Make Up Day

1) Empower Reset #43

Breathing/Head Nods

10 mins
20 Deadbugs
20 Egg Rolls
20 Windshield Wipers
20 Glute Raises

10 mins
20 Hands & Knees Rock
20 Bird Dogs
10/10 Leg Extended Rock R/L

10 mins
Alternate Between:
Hands & Knees Crawl
Leopard Crawl

10 mins
10 Full Body Rocks
20 Cross Crawl March
10 Cross Crawl Squats
10 Cross Crawl Reverse Lunges
10 Cross Crawl Side Lunges
10 Cross Crawl Curtsy Lunges

2) Sandbagger

3 Rounds
In 2 minutes:
5 Box Jumps
10 OHS
Max rep sandbag over the shoulder cleans (score = reps x load)
Rest 6 minutes

3) 21-15-9

Deadlift
Strict K2E

4) Back Squat

10-10-10-10-10