In this episode, I chat with Dr. Pedram Shojai to dive into the fascinating connection between your gut and your overall health. We break down neuroception — how your body subconsciously scans for safety — and why it plays such a critical role in healing and performance.
We get into the gut’s “second brain,” the enteric nervous system, and how it drives your physical and mental well-being without you even realizing it. Dr. Shojai also shares real-world insights on tackling dysbiosis, understanding gut-immune symbiosis, and how simple lifestyle shifts can radically improve your health.
If you’ve ever wondered how stress, gut health, and the nervous system all tie together — and how to actually use that knowledge to feel better — this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
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Understanding Neuroception: Neuroception refers to the subconscious detection of safety or threat in the body, playing a crucial role in both gut health and overall well-being.
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Gut as an Immune Organ: The gut houses the majority of the body's immune cells, acting as a critical barrier between the inside of the body and external threats.
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Role of Stress in Gut Health: Chronic stress can disrupt gut microbiota, leading to issues like dysbiosis and gut permeability, thereby affecting mental health.
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Food Sensitivities: Identifying and avoiding food sensitivities can prevent chronic inflammation, leading to better overall health.
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Holistic Approaches to Wellness: Emphasizing mind-body practices, such as meditation and breath work, can improve gut health by promoting a balanced parasympathetic state.
Dr. Pedram Shojai is a man with many titles. He is the founder and director of The Urban Monk Academy. He’s the NYT Best Sellingauthor of the books Rise and Shine, The Urban Monk, The Art ofStopping Time, Inner Alchemy, Exhausted, Trauma, Focus, andConscious Parenting.He’s the producer of the movies Vitality, Origins, Prosperity, and TheGreat Heist and the docuseries: Interconnected, Gateway to Health,Exhausted, Trauma, Conscious Parenting, Hormones Health & Harmony, and Gut Check.He’s the host of“The Urban Monk” podcast and is a key influencer in the health and personal development space.He’s a prominent physician in the functional medicine space and is known for his ability to bring people together around ideas that matter. oing all this, he’s a chill guy who now lives up in the mountains and values his days on how much time he gets with his family. As a former monk, he strives to bring enlightenment and peace to the orld around him.
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This episode is also made possible by Functional Medicine University. FMU is a fully online, self-paced training program in functional medicine, founded in 2006 by Dr. Ron Grisanti. With students in all 50 U.S. states and 68 countries globally, FMU has become a cornerstone in advanced clinical education for healthcare practitioners. The curriculum is led by Dr. Grisanti, alongside contributions from over 70 distinguished medical experts on FMU’s advisory board. Graduates earn the prestigious Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (CFMP®) credential upon completion. FMU is also a nationally approved provider of continuing education for a wide range of licensed professionals, including MDs, DCs, DOs, NDs, acupuncturists, PAs, NPs, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and dentists. Whether you're looking to expand your clinical knowledge or bring a functional approach to your practice, FMU offers the tools, guidance, and certification to help you thrive. Visit www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com to learn more!
