#32: Dr. Christopher A. Lowry - Stress & Your Microbiome

Episode SummaryThere are few better equipped to take us into the fascinating world of the gut microbiome than University of Colorado professor Dr. Christopher A. Lowry. In addition to his rich understanding of humans ancient and critical relationship with the bacterial world, Dr. Lowry has a thorough understanding of the complex interactions of our biology as it relates to stress. In this episode Professor Lowry helps us envision the amazing workings of our invisible interiors. From the role of stress hormones and neuronal connections in the Enteric Nervous System that tie the gut and brain together, to the intricacies of our immune system balance and the essential role our microbiomes play with inflammation, he expertly guides us. This captivating dive into our inner-workings with stress and our microbiomes shows us again that our environmental exposures matter to us at obvious and hidden levels. Stress is a double-edged sword in the microscopic world too. This becomes superbly clear in discussing the Hygiene Hypothesis, currently reframed as the Old Friends Hypothesis. It is also well illustrated in what is know as The Farm Effect. If you love health, the body or you are simply interested in environmental balance, this show will be right up your alley. With Dr. Lowry’s studied understanding we get a powerful glimpse into our vital interdependence we have on the bacterial world and its astounding connection to our stress systems. Dr. Christopher Lowry is an Associate Professor of Integrative Physiology at CU Boulder where he leads a neuroendocrinology lab focused on the neural mechanisms underlying emotional behavior and the stress-induced control of physiology and emotional behavior. With an extensive academic background in zoological studies, neuroscience, neuroendocrinology and stress, Dr. Lowry has authored and co-authored hundreds of papers advancing our understanding the web on intricacies at work in human biology.