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Episode 54: Gut Bone Connection with Dr. Grace Liu
Stronger Bones Lifestyle Podcast: Take Control of Your Bone Health
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[2:59] Her tagline-“Bugs over drugs”
[4:05] Internal balance
[4:32] Stones in the body – Oxalates
[5:51] Her probiotic
[7:05] Antibiotics
[9:05] Yeast, mold and SIBO
[13:26] Issues with other medications
[15:13] How can we use our gut to assist
[17:25] Systematic approach
[22:47] “Weed, seed, and feed”
[27:19] Peptides
[33:23] Yoga
[33:45] Stress management
[35:30] Five brains
[38:50] Breathing
[41:00] Where everything begins
[48:50] What we choose
[50:41] Courses offered
[56:59] Salt
[59:06] Cortisol
[1:02:37] Vitamin “G”
Oxalates, your bones, and your gut according to a pharmacist
In episode 54 of the Stronger Bones Lifestyle Podcast, host Debi Robinson welcomes Dr. Grace Liu to talk about the microbiome, pro and prebiotics, and why it all comes down to you showing up.
Dr. Grace Liu, PharmD, is a prominent figure in microbiome medicine and founder of The Gut Institute. As a formulator of innovative products like probiotics and prebiotics, Grace has solidified her position as an influential figure in the realm of gut health . Listen today as Grace shares her motto, “Bugs over drugs,” her commitment to natural approaches in healing, and how probiotics can help bring food items back into your diet.
Dr. Grace brings up several fascinating ideas about gut health which are incredibly important in the Gut/Bone connection conversation.
Here are just a few key takeaways:
- How the presence of oxalates produced by mold and Candida accumulate in the bones, weakening them
- Which probiotics break down oxalates
- How to “weed, seed, and feed” your gut flora
- What the Gut-Bone-Mind connection means for you
- How a combination of yoga, breathwork, and dietary changes can enhance gut health, which in turn supports stronger bones, better mood, and overall physical health
Join Debi and Dr. Grace as they share their love of yoga and breathwork, discuss up levelling, peptides, stress management, and why Dr. Grace uses the “weed, seed, and feed” method to heal the gut and the body.
"It's this mindset of using the body and nature to heal.” [29:56]
"Our body is so intelligent so if you feed it negative thoughts…” [37:35]
"If the soil is sick, our gut lining gets sick. We’re only as healthy as the water and the land on earth.” [43:03]
"Healing starts in the gut with breath body work, movement, probiotics and biome work, I think they’re all great." [45:12]
"It doesn’t mean that gluten is the enemy its that we don’t have the gatekeepers, we’re not robust enough to handle the gluten.” [46:22]
Listen to more episodes on Bone Health and Osteoporosis
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Oxalates, also known as oxalic acid, are naturally occurring compounds found in many plants, vegetables, and fruits. They are part of a plant’s defense mechanism against predators and can be found in high concentrations in foods like spinach, rhubarb, beets, nuts, chocolate, tea, and certain beans.
Regarding bone health, oxalates can bind to minerals such as calcium in the gut, forming calcium oxalate. This compound is not easily absorbed by the body, meaning the calcium that could have been utilized for bone strengthening is instead excreted. This process can potentially lead to lower calcium availability for bone health, which can be particularly concerning for individuals at risk of osteoporosis or other bone-related issues.
However, for most women, dietary oxalates do not pose a significant threat to bone health, especially if their diet is balanced with enough calcium and they do not have a history of kidney stones.
Your gut is crucial for stronger bones for several reasons:
- Nutrient Absorption: The gut is where most nutrient absorption occurs. For bones to be healthy and strong, they need a variety of nutrients, particularly calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamin D. A healthy gut efficiently absorbs these essential nutrients from your diet and facilitates their transportation to the bones.
- Gut Microbiome and Bone Health: Research has shown that the gut microbiome (the community of bacteria living in your intestines) can influence bone density. Certain gut bacteria help in producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, which have been shown to promote bone health. SCFAs can enhance the absorption of minerals necessary for bone strength and play a role in reducing inflammation, which can negatively affect bone health.
- Hormone Regulation: The gut helps regulate hormones that are involved in bone metabolism, including insulin, thyroid hormones, and sex hormones like estrogen. For example, estrogen is vital for bone density, and gut health can influence estrogen levels through the enterohepatic circulation, where estrogens are processed in the liver and intestines.
- Reducing Inflammation: Chronic inflammation, which can stem from poor gut health, is linked to many conditions that compromise bone strength, such as osteoporosis. A healthy gut helps to reduce systemic inflammation, protecting bones from inflammatory damage.
- Immune System Modulation: The majority of the immune system is located in the gut. An imbalance in the immune system can lead to autoimmune conditions, some of which affect the bones. Maintaining gut health helps to ensure the immune system works correctly, protecting against autoimmune reactions that could impact bone health.
In essence, maintaining a healthy gut contributes significantly to stronger bones by ensuring the effective absorption of vital nutrients, regulating hormones, reducing inflammation, and supporting a healthy immune system. Therefore, a diet rich in bone-healthy nutrients, prebiotics, and probiotics, along with lifestyle factors that promote gut health, is key to maintaining strong bones.