#21: Sofia Popov - Concrete Steps to Optimize Your Health Through Microbiome Research and Home Test

Sofia Popov is a microbiome scientist and the founder of GUTXY - a company that helps people figure out how to incorporate the latest scientific findings on the microbiome into their daily lives. Their aim is to give people practical insights into their current lifestyle habits, offering tailored recommendations through the use of microbiome test. In this episode, Sofia shares why the microbiome is important and some tangible tips on how to improve your health or performance. “Gut is the pivot - the start of everything. And if you look at it more holistically, it is very central. If you are not digesting properly, other areas of your body aren’t functioning equally as well. It is key for everything.” -Sofia Popov Want to hear more from the Growth Island podcast? Subscribe here! O1:20 – Sofia talks about how she got interested in studying more about the human microbiome 04:08 – The importance of the first 3 years of life in the foundation the gut microbiome 05:58 – Getting microbiome test and knowing your microbial signature: the key to better understanding health and nutrition 07:58 – The role of probiotics and prebiotics in inducing gut immunity 10:59 – Microbiome test: how it is done and what it tells you about your health 15:12 – Determining your healthy bowel, an overview of the Bristol Stool Chart 16:41 – Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), how it affects the gut-brain axis and how taking a microbiome test can help to solve it 22:19 – How GUTXY’s microbiome program helps individuals get the proper intervention after getting their microbiome test results 27:00 – Food to optimize your microbiome: Sofia talks about the different microbiome friendly foods 29:00 – How the Microbiome changed Sofia’s perception of having a healthy diet and restoring your gut 30:50 – Fermented food and its beneficial boost in getting good bacteria 32:47 – Microbiome and depression: how do they correlate? 33:56 – Sofia’s advice on becoming the best version of yourself FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SOFIA: Eat more leafy greens. Focus on being mindful. Believe in yourself. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Book: Missing Microbes AmericanGut CONNECT WITH SOFIA POPOV: GUTXY Linkedin Instagram Twitter YouTube CONNECT WITH MADS MISIAK FRIIS Website - https://growthisland.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/madsmfriis/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/madsmf/ Join Mads and the uplifting community of Growth Island as you search for strategies, tools, and blueprints for a meaningful life! https://growthisland.com