Gut Pilot February 22, 2024

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“Experience is a master teacher, even when it’s not our own.” Gina Greenlee​​

Another mashup from the mailbag...this one comes from Shennen:

Overnight oats pack a heavy combination of resistant starch, fiber, ferments from the kefir, and healthy omegas. It's an excellent and easy way to target so many good things that your gut will love. Thanks again Shennen!

This will be the extent of gut health mechanics for the week. I thought it might be helpful to see who and what has made Twitter a pretty good use of my time over the last year.

If you're not a regular Twitter user, there is a wealth of information and some really cool people out there if you take a little time to look around.

Try it.

First off, I can't bring myself to call it by its official name, X. And for the record, I've been on Twitter for longer than a year.

But I just scrolled and didn't post.

About a year ago I decided that it might be helpful if I shared my story. That alone connected me with some amazing people.

Then the algorithm (designed to keep you on Twitter for as long as humanly possible) started connecting me with other gut health-interested people. Again, it produced some absolutely amazing connections.

Lastly, the algo starts feeding you into the larger Nutrition Twitter space and then the crazies come out of the woodwork.

Beware.

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As best my memory can recall, I think I started with 50 followers last year. This was mostly family and a couple friends. Today there are some 1200 followers (including a few porn bots- thanks Elon Musk for keeping it classy)

I followed most of the same people and peppered in some news outlets and a politician or two.

One early decision I made was no more politics on Twitter. And a whole lot less of politics in life too. My blood pressure has thanked me on a daily basis.

If I connect with someone and start getting blasted with politics, I'm out.

It's nothing personal, I promise.

My goal is to share experiences and what I've learned with as many people as I can. Engaging in politics probably narrows down a Twitter audience by half by ideology alone. Add in the folks that are also just spent with politics, and you're close to zero.

Have no fear, I won't be rolling through the list of 1200. But I've had the occasion to learn a lot from people all over the world, in all different stages of life, and some that do some really cool stuff.

This is in addition to some lifelong friends and other folks who I've connected with on very similar medical paths. When this happens and I see results and improvements in their gut health, it's more satisfying than some of my own gains.

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The winner of the most distant connection and one of the coolest guys I have met in a long time is Craig from New Zealand. We have had plenty of occasions to talk gut health and he has made some amazing strides in gut health and overall metabolic health.

But more than that, having a chance to sponge off of his experiences and expertise in the digital marketing world and learn about him personally is not something I thought was possible from a Twitter connection.

Best of all, he thinks I talk funny. He got wrapped up in a Netflix series, Justified, and got the biggest kick from the Kentucky dialect. And early on we would have to stop each other frequently to provide translations of slang terms. Cheers Cobber.

Other connections took me to the Black Forest in Germany, India, Korea, and then as close as right up the road in Dayton, Ohio.

At the ripe old age of 55, of course I can relate to people in my same generation. We all seem to be in the same "oh shit" moment of realizing that your health is sort of a big deal. With more statistical days in the rearview mirror than out the windshield, a sense of urgency tends to materialize.

My story resonates in different ways, but gut health seems to be an emerging topic and people are just buying into the fact that it can do more than stave off colon cancer.

It helps with cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, mood- everything that seemingly afflicts many people in our age group.

But I marvel at folks in their 70's and 80's making great strides and sharing what has worked for them for a much longer period of time. Even more humbling is when something I share nets the same results for them.

Speaking of humbling, the opportunity to connect with people that are in far worse situations than I could ever dream of is very sobering.

For all that is awful about the Twitter experience at times, loud carnival barkers, conspiracy theorists, (you've probably seen your share), there are some real opportunities for very positive engagements too.

I had the opportunity to share a message with a terminally ill follower in hospice. Again, it's not something I ever envisioned happening on this platform but when you make connections, you will make connections with people in all stages of life.

While I might be checking in for the latest gut health news, there are people that are checking in for real life support or companionship.

I naturally migrate toward people doing cool stuff in the gut health arena.

Scientists, authors, GI Doctors, you name it.

I can't quench my thirst for knowledge on the gut microbiome and the latest advances in the field. I long for the days where my hobbies were a tad bit more traditional.

On a seemingly daily basis, I'm reading on my phone and my wife will ask what I'm reading about today. In a previous life it would have been how to smoke a brisket or how awful Homer Bailey pitched for the Reds that day. (2 no-hitters for you haters)

Most recently I replied "Short chain fatty acids". I'm pretty sure I heard a groan and avoided looking up to see her eyes rolling to the back of her head. It's not easy living with me- I know.

But the absolute best part of the last year on Twitter has been connecting with people starting with gut health, but quickly pivoting to learning more about them and what they do.

Back to the mashup from Shennen at the start of today's newsletter.

Shennen and I connected about something gut health-related. But as I read through her bio, she's an illustrator for children's books. You should see some of her work! I assure you I'm much more impressed with her work as an illustrator than she could ever be with my gut health talk.

That's only one example. There are scores of others.

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The bottom line is this. Twitter is the place where I go to meet people, share experiences and to learn. You have to be careful on the last part about learning. There are some certifiable whack jobs out there that believe some really crazy stuff to be true.

Don't fall down the rabbit hole with these people. I choose to follow folks that make sense and have measured approaches to real problems.

Many of these folks are credentialed professionals.

But many are also people just like me that have experienced similar things and we share similar results.

If you haven't tried the Twitter thing, I highly recommend seeking out folks that share your same interests.

And if you are on Twitter scrolling and not posting, give it a try. I know quite a few of you and I know for a fact you have some valuable experiences to share. Don't worry, no one will see your first few posts. It takes a while to gain any reach.

There are people out there dying to meet someone like you.

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Next Week- Every month should be colorectal cancer awareness month, but March is the official month. I'm a poster boy for screening- a few thoughts on that seem appropriate.

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Thanks for reading!

Jeff