Hello, friends!
This summer, Jenny and I are revisiting some of the most intriguing moments from the first season of the Brain Health Kitchen Podcast.
For this Summer Highlights episode, we brought together my conversations with gastroenterologists Dr. Will Bulsiewicz and Dr. Trisha Pasricha.
Will, as he elaborates in his new book Plant Powered Plus, explains how fiber feeds the gut microbiome, which produces short-chain fatty acids that help support the gut barrier, regulate inflammation, and may benefit the brain. He also explains why fiber and polyphenols from colorful plant foods work so well together.
Dr. Trisha Pasricha is a leading voice in gut-brain science and author of the newly released book You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong: How to Make Your Bowel Movements a Joy. Trisha explores the gut as part of the nervous system. She explains how stress affects digestion, why communication between the gut and brain moves in both directions, and why researchers are studying the gut for early clues to Parkinson’s disease.
Together, these conversations make one thing clear: the same habits that support the gut—whole plant foods, exercise, stress management, and fewer ultra-processed foods—also support the brain.
We hope you enjoy this summer recap that explains why our guts are so important to our brain health.
Love,
Annie and the BHK Team
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Will Bulsiewicz, MD, MSCI (“Dr. B”) earned his medical degree from Georgetown University and a Master’s in Clinical Investigation from Northwestern University. He received top clinical honors during both his internal medicine residency at Northwestern and his gastroenterology fellowship at the University of North Carolina—distinctions awarded to the top physician in each graduating class—and completed an NIH-funded fellowship in epidemiology.
An accomplished researcher and educator, Dr. B has authored more than 25 scientific publications with over 5,000 citations and has delivered keynotes and briefings for audiences ranging from Congress and the USDA to major medical conferences. His books have sold more than 500,000 copies worldwide and are translated into 20 languages.
He is the Founder of The Gut & Microbiome Center for Excellence, a telemedicine practice focused on personalized, gut-oriented care.
Dr. B is also the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of 38TERA, where he collaborates with nutrition scientist Simon Hill to develop clinically informed, microbiome-supportive supplements grounded in transparency, safety, and scientific integrity.
He lives in Charleston, South Carolina with his wife and four children and shares free educational resources at theguthealthmd.com.
Dr. Trisha Pasricha is a physician, researcher, and leading voice in gut-brain science. She’s the Director of the Institute for Gut-Brain Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School. You may know her from her Ask a Doctor column in the Washington Post. Or, maybe you’ve seen her hilarious (and scientifically on point) posts on her wildly popular Instagram. Plus, did you know she just launched a newsletter here on Substack? Find her at Gut Checker.
Dr. Trisha’s work focuses on how the gut shapes everything from digestion to mood to neurological disease—and how we can translate that science into practical, everyday habits. We’re going to unpack what’s really happening in the gut, what people often misunderstand, and why this connection matters so much for brain health.
NeuroReserve. Our founding sponsor NeuroReserve has a special discount code that can be applied to their brain health nutrition products: Relevate (a brain-specific mix of omega-3 fats and micronutrients), Revanta creatine (a pure-grade highly dissolvable creatine monohydrate), and the new release of BHK EVOO—our high polyphenol extra-virgin olive oil, imported from Tuscany. Order here and use code BHKPODCAST at checkout for 10% off.
BetterBrain. If you are curious about having a brain health check-up, our founding sponsor BetterBrain is offering BHK Podcast subscribers a special deal: use code AFENN50 for $50 off your assessment, which includes key biomarkers for brain health. Check them out at BetterBrain.com/annie.
The Brain Health Kitchen Course. Foundation 2 of the BHK Course is currently in session! With this course, I am able to give you the most up-to-date brain health science, sometimes even before I publish it in my Substack newsletter. Plus, step-by-step food and kitchen guidance and a community learning alongside you. Classes are kept intentionally small so everyone can get their questions answered during our live Q and A’s.
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I am grateful to have the support of two of the most trusted brands in brain health: NeuroReserve and Better Brain. Our missions in brain health are aligned—to give you the tools to age with the healthiest brain possible.
NeuroReserve is a brain health nutrition company dedicated to bringing us high-quality, science-backed supplements—including Relevate—a brain-specific blend of omega-3 fatty acids, and Revanta, a pure-grade creatine. These products have earned a spot in my daily routine—I think of them as brain health self-care! I’ve known the team at NeuroReserve for many years, and you can learn more about their commitment to brain health and research-backed nutritional products at NeuroReserve.com.
This podcast is also proudly supported by our founding sponsor, BetterBrain—the world’s first brain health and dementia prevention program covered by insurance. A number of my readers and retreat attendees have gone through BetterBrain, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. People love the thoroughness of the testing, the quality time with a coach, and walking away with a real, personalized action plan. I went through it myself and found it just as valuable. Most people pay $0 out of pocket for the coaching sessions. Learn more at BetterBrain.com/annie.
In this Summer Highlights episode, Dr. Annie Fenn and Jenny Shilling revisit key moments from two season-one conversations about the gut-brain connection.
Gastroenterologist and microbiome expert Dr. Will Bulsiewicz explains how fiber feeds the gut microbiome, which then produces short-chain fatty acids with anti-inflammatory effects throughout the body and brain. He also describes how the microbiome helps maintain the gut barrier, regulate the immune system, and transform polyphenols from colorful plant foods into compounds the body can use.
Neurogastroenterologist Dr. Trisha Pasricha explains why the gut is much more than a digestive organ. It has its own nervous system, communicates constantly with the brain, and may even offer early clues about neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s.
Together, these conversations explore how stress affects digestion, why gut symptoms are never simply “all in your head,” what happens to the gut as it ages, and why constipation, sleep changes, and loss of smell may deserve attention when they occur together.
You’ll also learn why many of the same habits that support the brain—eating more whole plants, exercising, managing stress, and limiting ultra-processed foods—also support the gut.
00:00 The gut-brain connection
03:48 Why a gastroenterologist studies Parkinson’s
06:24 How fiber feeds the microbiome
09:50 Stress, digestion, and the two-way gut-brain loop
15:26 The gut barrier, immunity, and inflammation
21:45 The aging gut and early Parkinson’s clues
31:44 Fiber, polyphenols, and eating the rainbow
34:22 What this means for brain health
Join Dr. Pasrichas’s Substack community
I hope you enjoyed today’s episode. As always, I would love to hear your thoughts.
I’ll be back on Friday to continue our conversation about controversial foods and brain health. We’ll be diving into eggs: do they deserve a place in your brain healthy way of eating? And if so, how many? We’ll get into that, how to cook eggs for optimal nutrition, and more, next time. See you then.
Annie
Sardinia’s Secrets For a Long and Healthy Life: October 12 to 18, 2026. SOLD OUT WITH A WAITLIST. We’ll be hiking, e-biking, and eating our way through this stunning island known for its long-living people. Join the waitlist by calling 877‑298-9677 (M–F, 9am–5pm ET) or email the travel team to learn more and reserve your spot.
The Brain Health Retreat in Costa Rica: February 5-10, 2027. Registration is now open! I’ll be joined by Stacy Fisher of Fisher Fitness for a one-of-a-kind program focused on cultivating the habits of a brain-healthy life while relaxing at the stunning Imiloa Institute just south of Costa Rica’s Blue Zone. Find all the details here.
Founding Member Trip to Greece: April 18-24, 2027. Registration is now open for our very first Founding Member Brain Health Retreat. We’ll be exploring the beautiful Greek island of Crete, e-biking through rolling hills and hiking along the coast, all while immersing in their ancient farm-to-table traditions. Upgrade to Founding Member/Cooking Club and join us in Crete!
Brain Health Week at Rancho La Puerta: June 5-12, 2027. Read more about my recent brain-health-focused week here. I’ll be announcing the faculty and other details for 2027 soon!
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