Ep. 7 Understanding the Gut Microbiome and the Impacts of Eating Disorders

In this episode, I have the pleasure of being joined by Dr. Jennifer Quartano. Dr. Jennifer Quartano’s mission is to provide young patients and their families the tools they need to thrive.  Dual board-certified physical therapist in pediatrics and neurology, Dr. Jenny has a passion for seeing children and families grow successfully and thrive together.  She has vast experience working all the way from neonatal intensive care to the functional fitness environment and everything in between.  After seeing the failures of the traditional medical model, she began her own practice in 2014, allowing a focus on the child and family together to maximize relationships and life quality.  As a mother herself, she understands the challenges parenting can bring, and she seeks to bring the expertise in how we think, move, and act to influence how families learn, grow, and thrive.   Shortly after beginning her practice, Dr. Quartano found herself in an unexpectedly challenging personal situation that led her to a place of focusing the lifestyle factors she could control to manage her health and continue to show up every day for her patients—without medications, aches, pains, or fatigue that seemed to be what the traditional medical model offered.  Through this experience, she found a passion and training in functional medicine so she could help other families undergoing the same.  She doesn’t subscribe to common symptoms being normal or deteriorating health being a symptom of age and seeks to help other women find their best self to be the best mom, wife, professional or athlete they desire to be.    When not working with children and families, she can be found focusing on her own health-building healthy habits that empower her own continued development and balance.  She enjoys helping other adults focus on these skills as well—whether in formal therapy sessions, wellness programs, or teaching healthy habits for mental health and self-care. Connect with Dr. Jennifer Quartano:  https://www.facebook.com/alltogetherwellness https://www.instagram.com/alltogetherwellness www.alltogetherwellness.net (1:45) What is the gut microbiome? (2:40) Causes of gut microbiome dysregulation (4:30) Lifestyle modifications for gut microbiome (7:02) Symptoms of dysregulated gut microbiome (10:32) Probiotics: function and incorporation (18:40) Testing for gut microbiome health (19:55) The relationship between eating disorders and the gut microbiome (24:55) Stress impacts on gut health