77. Professor Tim Spector: Your Gut Bacteria Control Your Health More Than Your DNA
Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD
Release Date: 07/15/2025
78. Dr. Bill Rawls: Chronic Infections Don’t Go Away—They Go Quiet (Here's How to Reverse Them)
Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD
Fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, blood pressure that won’t budge, these aren’t isolated symptoms. They’re your cells signaling that something’s off. In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Bill Rawls, a board-certified OB/GYN who now focuses entirely on cellular health. We explore why most chronic illness isn’t about your diagnosis, it’s about what’s happening inside your cells. We share the five things every cell needs to function, and what happens when they don’t get them. We also dig into stealth infections like Lyme and Epstein-Barr, and how they stay dormant for...
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77. Professor Tim Spector: Your Gut Bacteria Control Your Health More Than Your DNA
Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD
Your doctor says your health problems are genetic, so you're destined for the same fate. But what if that's completely wrong? In this episode of Extend, I'm joined by Professor Tim Spector, one of the world's leading microbiome researchers, to reveal the truth: your gut bacteria have more control over your health than your genes do. We explore Tim's 30-year twin study that turned modern medicine upside down, the devastating effects of antibiotics on your internal ecosystem, and why ultra-processed foods are as dangerous as cigarettes. We also dive into why 95% of Americans are dangerously...
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76. Shawn Stevenson : This is What We Lost When We Stopped Eating Together
Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD
What if the real reason you’re gaining weight, feeling wired, or struggling to nourish your family isn’t about willpower—but the culture you live in? On this episode of Extend, I’m joined by Shawn Stevenson—nutritionist, bestselling author, and host of The Model Health Show—to explore how our food environment, not personal discipline, is fueling the chronic disease crisis. If you’re raising kids, trying to eat better, or just feel overwhelmed by ultra-processed foods, this conversation cuts through the noise. We unpack the science behind shared meals, how family dinner regulates...
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75. Dr. Grant Elliott: Still in Pain After the MRI, Meds, and PT? This Is How You Actually Fix Your Back
Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD
Back pain is one of the most common health issues—but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode of Extend, I’m joined by Dr. Grant Elliott, a physical therapist and founder of RehabFix, to unpack the real reasons people stay stuck in chronic pain and what it actually takes to recover. We break down why most diagnoses like sciatica or disc herniation are misleading, why MRIs often make things worse, and how the brain and body respond to fear-based treatment approaches. Dr. Elliott shares the daily habits and mindset shifts that move the needle most, plus how to bulletproof...
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74. Elissa Goodman: This is Why You Can’t Biohack Your Way Out of Burnout
Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD
You’re bloated. Tired. Anxious. Maybe even burnt out. You’ve tried the diets, the supplements, the meditation apps… But you’re still not healing. Why? In this episode of Extend, I’m joined by Elissa Goodman, a holistic health expert and cancer survivor, to explore the deep connection between gut health, inflammation, and overall well-being. We dive deep into the science behind food resets, the importance of eliminating inflammatory foods, and the role of personalized blood work in identifying hidden health imbalances. And also discuss practical strategies for improving digestion,...
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73. Dr. Robin Berzin: Why “Normal” Labs Are Failing Women (and What to Ask For Instead)
Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD
What if your bloating, fatigue, or fertility struggles aren’t separate issues, but signs of a deeper imbalance no one’s connected yet? In this episode of Extend, I’m joined by Dr. Robin Berzin, founder of Parsley Health, and we dig into how functional medicine uncovers the why behind your symptoms and why conventional care keeps missing it. We talk about the most overlooked root causes of chronic illness, the truth about blood sugar and hormones, and why fertility issues are often metabolic in disguise. You’ll also learn how functional medicine works in real life, how to find the...
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72. Dr. Pedram Shojai: Why Your Physical Symptoms Are a Spiritual Wake-Up Call
Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD
What if the root cause of burnout, inflammation, and hormone dysfunction isn’t just physical—but energetic? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Pedram Shojai—Taoist monk, doctor of Oriental medicine, and author of The Urban Monk—to explore how ancient wisdom meets modern health. We unpack why true healing requires addressing your qi (life force), how emotional stagnation leads to physical disease, and why regulating your energy is just as important as optimizing your bloodwork. From the microbiome to meditation, Dr. Pedram shares how restoring energetic flow can radically...
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71. Dr. Michael Breus: Why “Feeling Fine” Doesn’t Mean You’re Sleeping Well
Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD
What if your exhaustion, brain fog, or cravings aren’t a motivation problem—but a sleep problem no one’s diagnosed yet? In this episode of Extend, I’m joined by Dr. Michael Breuss, a sleep specialist, and we dig into why so many high performers are chronically under-recovered, why sleep disorders go undetected for years, and how wearables are both helping and hurting. We talk about why 8 hours might be the wrong goal, how your chronotype should determine your schedule, why snoring isn’t harmless, and the link between GLP-1s and sleep apnea. You’ll also learn how mouth tape works,...
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70. Kelly Gores: Why Most People Stay Sick (And How to Finally Shift It)
Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD
Most people focus on physical health. But after years of practicing medicine, I’ve seen this truth again and again: you can’t heal your body if your mind and nervous system are stuck in survival mode. In this episode of Extend, I sat down with Kelly Gores, creator of HEAL and founder of WellSet, to explore how trauma, stress, and emotional blocks drive chronic disease—and what it really takes to heal. We dive into the science behind the placebo effect, how intuition works, why regulating your nervous system is foundational for longevity, and the simple daily practices that can completely...
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69. Dr. Kara Fitzgerald: This Hack Reversed Biological Age by 3 Years in Just 8 Weeks
Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD
What if aging isn’t just inevitable—but programmable? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Kara Fitzgerald, pioneering epigenetic researcher and author of Younger You, to explore how your daily choices—food, movement, sleep, stress—can literally rewire your genes to slow down aging. We unpack her groundbreaking study showing biological age reversal in just 8 weeks without drugs, injections, or extreme protocols. You’ll learn how DNA methylation impacts everything from inflammation to longevity, which “epinutrients” flip your genes in the right direction, and why your...
info_outlineYour doctor says your health problems are genetic, so you're destined for the same fate. But what if that's completely wrong?
In this episode of Extend, I'm joined by Professor Tim Spector, one of the world's leading microbiome researchers, to reveal the truth: your gut bacteria have more control over your health than your genes do.
We explore Tim's 30-year twin study that turned modern medicine upside down, the devastating effects of antibiotics on your internal ecosystem, and why ultra-processed foods are as dangerous as cigarettes. We also dive into why 95% of Americans are dangerously fiber-deficient, and how fermented foods can reduce inflammation like natural steroids.
Professor Tim Spector is a genetic epidemiologist at King's College London, co-founder of Zoe, and author of multiple bestselling books on the microbiome. His research on 16,000 twins has revolutionized our understanding of how gut health trumps genetics in determining health outcomes.
We Also Discuss:
(02:18) 30 Years of Twin Research: The Study That Changed Everything
(08:35) The Antibiotic Crisis: Why Your Childhood Meds Are Still Hurting You
(11:31) C. Diff and the First Clue About Good vs. Bad Bacteria
(22:40) Why Your Gut Microbiome Matters More Than Your Genetics
(30:30) The Hidden Connection Between Gut Health and Autoimmune Disease
(35:39) Ultra-Processed Foods: The Modern Cigarette Industry
(43:51) Why 95% of Americans Are Fiber-Deficient (And Obsessed with Protein)
(58:58) The 30 Plants Challenge: Diversity Over Restriction
(01:05:22) Sourdough Secrets: Real vs. Fake (Most Is Fake)
(01:13:46) Inside the Zoe Kit: Personalized Nutrition Based on Your Biology
(01:19:53) GLP-1 Drugs: The Perfect Window for Gut Health Reset
(01:27:36) Prebiotics vs. Probiotics vs. Postbiotics: What Actually Works
(01:41:29) The Food for Life Cookbook: 100 Recipes for Your Microbiome
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Learn more about Dr. Shah:
Website: https://www.drshah.com/
Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/
Learn more about Professor Tim Spector:
Instagram: @tim.spector
Website: https://zoe.com/en-us
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