The GutFit Nutrition Podcast · Leigh Merotto, Dietitian | IBS, Gut Health and Fitness Expert

45: 3 Little Known Ways to Improve Your Microbiome Health (Puppies, Cleaning Products & more!)

·30 min·1 clip

Exercise can boost the gut even without diet changes, and high intensity may do it within 10 minutes.

1. The GutFit Nutrition Podcast episode centers on three less-known ways to improve gut microbiome health. 2. Leigh Murado is the host, a registered dietitian and gut health coach who says she works with IBS and fitness clients. 3. The episode asks what to do beyond food when someone wants a healthier, more resilient microbiome. 4. Leigh defines the gut microbiome as trillions of microbes in the gastrointestinal tract, with most living in the colon. 5. She names bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses, and archaea as part of that ecosystem. 6. She says 90% of serotonin, called the “happy hormone,” is produced in the gut. 7. She links microbiome balance to mental health, insulin sensitivity, digestion, immunity, and colon cancer risk. 8. Leigh says dysbiosis can be triggered by food poisoning, broad-spectrum antibiotics, medical conditions, and low fiber intake. 9. She states that one in nine people with infectious gastroenteritis may develop post-infectious IBS. 10. The first tip is to avoid over-sanitizing and use targeted hygiene instead of constant antibacterial products. 11. She recommends soap and water over antibacterial soaps, wipes, hand sanitizers, and products like Lysol spray. 12. Leigh lists high-risk moments for hand washing: bathroom use, raw meat handling, public transit, sick contacts, and animal waste. 13. She says medical settings, food service, outbreaks, and immunocompromised people need stricter sanitation. 14. The second tip is to increase exposure to natural environments, pets, soil, plants, and outdoor spaces. 15. She cites a small infant study at four months showing higher microbiota richness and diversity in babies living with pets. 16. She also mentions a 2020 case-control study finding that pet ownership was associated with differences in the gut microbiome. 17. The third tip is to embrace short bursts of high-intensity exercise, which she says can change microbial diversity even without diet changes. 18. Leigh references a 2019 review called “Exercise and the Gut Microbiome” and describes gut ischemia as a possible mechanism. 19. Listeners who want practical microbiome advice, pet-related research, or exercise-and-gut links will get the most from this episode. 20. Listeners who want a tightly technical lecture or zero personal coaching may skip it.

As heard by us

A practical microbiome primer that ties gut science to everyday hygiene choices.

The segment treats gut health as more than digestion. It links a diverse microbiome to mental health, neurotransmitter production, serotonin, and immune resilience, then keeps the advice grounded in everyday habits.

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Why you'd press play

If you want gut advice you can use at the sink, this one is for you.

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