Gut health has become a major topic in wellness, influencing everything from grocery choices to discussions on social media. Research increasingly shows the gut microbiome’s role in digestion, immunity, and even mood. But with so much information available, it’s hard to separate science from trend. In this episode, I talk with Kristina Campbell, a science writer known for her expertise in the microbiome. As the author of Gut Health for Dummies, Kristina shares practical, research-based insights to help readers understand what gut health really involves — and how to make confident, informed choices.
Topics covered in this episode:
- How Kristina got interested in microbiology and her path to becoming a science writer and gut health ambassador
- What is gut health and how does it relate to the gut microbiome?
- What does the gut microbiome do for us?
- What motivated Kristina to write Gut Health for Dummies
- How lifestyle factors can impact gut health
- How diet impacts gut health
- Overview of “Biotics” – probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics
- A common myth about probiotics
- Why microbes can’t necessarily be labeled strictly as good and bad
- Gut health trends
- How to assess scientific information
- At-home microbiology activity: Kid-Friendly Gut Health Activity: Make Your Own Emulsifier-Free Dressing
Listen to my episode with Kristina Campbell
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Links & Resources
This post contains affiliate links — see my disclosure policy.
- Gut Health for Dummies
- ISAPP (International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics)
- Gut Microbiota for Health
- AEProbio
- Articles based on this episode:
Connect with Kristina Campbell
Kristina Campbell is a science and medical writer who has spent the past 12 years covering microbiome science and gut health for online and print media throughout Europe and North America. She has written for a variety of scientific publications, including Nature and Scientific American, and is co-author of the textbook Gut Microbiota: Interactive Effects on Nutrition and Health (1st and 2nd editions; Academic Press). She’s also the author of two books for the general public: The Well-Fed Microbiome (Rockridge Press) and Gut Health For Dummies (Wiley). She is currently working on IBS For Dummies, to be released in 2025. Kristina is passionate about improving public engagement with science and advancing scientific literacy. Find out about her latest work at bykriscampbell.com.
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