Gut Health Habits I Follow Every Day as a Gastroenterologist

📌 Visit www.drmelona.comI treat gut disease every single day. I have seen what happens when people ignore their digestive health for years. So what do I actually do to make sure I never become my own patient? Seven habits. All daily. All simple. And the last one might surprise you.In this episode, I'm going to walk you through the seven daily habits I follow to protect my gut, my energy, and my long-term health.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 Why what a GI doctor does every day matters more than any gut health trend0:46 Habit 1: Eating 30+ grams of fiber from diverse plant sources (and why variety beats volume)2:05 How plant species count predicts microbiome diversity in practice2:47 Habit 2: Making whole food the default, not a perfect diet3:55 Habit 3: Stopping eating 3 hours before bed and how it fixed my reflux4:44 Habit 4: Moving your body every single day (walking counts)5:58 Habit 5: Protecting sleep and managing stress (the gut-brain connection most people miss)7:10 Habit 6: Staying current on preventive screening (I filmed my own colonoscopies to prove the point)9:26 Habit 7: Never stop learning and why an informed patient gets better outcomes10:36 Which single habit to start with tonight❓ QUESTIONS ANSWEREDQ: What does a gastroenterologist actually eat to protect their gut?A: My diet centers on 30+ grams of diverse fiber from vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and spices daily, with a target of 25 or more different plant sources per week. Whole food is the default. Ultra-processed food is the deliberate exception.Q: Does stopping eating before bed actually reduce acid reflux?A: Yes. A three-hour gap between your last meal and bedtime gives your stomach time to empty and reduces nighttime reflux significantly. This single habit resolved my own reflux more effectively than any dietary change or supplement I have tested.Q: When should you get a colonoscopy?A: If you are 45 or older and have not had one, schedule it now. I get mine on schedule myself and filmed two of my own unsedated colonoscopies to show patients the procedure is manageable. Screening catches problems before they become crises.📱 RESOURCESWebsite: www.drmelona.comPatient Portal: https://drmelona.com/patient-portal/Unsedated Colonoscopy Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vz1IXF0rmoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/polymathforever/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctormelona🔔 Subscribe for evidence-based digestive health, nutrition science, and disease prevention from a board-certified gastroenterologist.ABOUT DR. MEL ONA: I'm Dr. Mel Ona, a board-certified gastroenterologist with graduate training in nutritional biochemistry and metabolism. I founded Ohana Gastroenterology and have treated over 10,000 patients across nine years of clinical practice. My focus is evidence-based digestive health, nutrition science, and disease prevention.#GutHealth #Gastroenterologist #DigestiveHealth #GutMicrobiome #NutritionScience