·E29
GUT Feeling: 25Mins of Health, with Microbiologist Germaine Yong | Tank Talks Asia
Episode Description
In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, Manisha talks to Germaine Yong, who’s a senior scientist at A*STAR’s Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation.
She talks about the trillions of microbes living on our bodies and explains how what we eat can shape our gut health. From antibiotics and allergies, to hawker center food and plant-based chicken nuggets, Germaine shares some fascinating discoveries from her research.
Featured Voices
Hosts: Manisha Tank
Guest: Germaine Yong, Senior Scientist, A*STAR Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI)
Key takeaways
- Germaine explains why the microbiome is far bigger than the gut, with microbes living across our body and playing important roles in keeping us healthy.
- She argues that excessive use of antibiotics, disinfectants and antiseptics can disrupt our microbial environment and contribute to antimicrobial resistance.
- She says Asian microbiomes can differ from those in the West, with fermented foods and rice-based diets among the factors that may shape the microbes living in our guts.
- Her research suggests that diet can change the gut microbiome remarkably quickly, with an all-hawker center diet reducing levels of beneficial bifidobacteria within just two to three days.
- Germaine believes greater diversity in the plants we eat could be an important part of supporting gut health, and her research into plant-based foods suggests they may offer benefits for the gut microbiome.
Chapter heads
02:10
From Toothpicks to the Microbiome
Germaine recalls the childhood science experiment that first sparked her fascination with the microscopic world inside and around us.
03:35
The Poo Whisperer
She explains what the microbiome actually is, why the gut contains so many microbes, and how stool samples can reveal clues about what's happening inside the body.
04:47
Are We Too Clean?
Germaine explores the unintended consequences of excessive use of antibiotics, disinfectants and antibacterial products, and explains why viruses don't respond to antibiotics.
07:03
Good Health Starts With Gut Health
She explains how the gut microbiome can influence health far beyond digestion, including areas such as cognitive health, sleep and menopause.
09:08
Why Asian Guts Are Different
Germaine looks at how diet, lifestyle and genetics shape microbiomes across populations, and why Asian guts can differ from those in the West.
11:10
The Allergy and Intolerance Question
She breaks down the difference between food allergies and intolerances, while sharing her own surprising experience of discovering she is intolerant to gluten.
15:15
What Is Hawker Food Doing to Your Gut?
Germaine reveals what happened when researchers studied the impact of a typical Singapore hawker-center diet on the gut microbiome.
16:56
The Case for More Plant Diversity
She explains why gut health may depend not just on eating enough fiber, but on eating a wider breadth of plant-based foods.
18:01
Project Nugget
Germaine reveals the surprising results of her research comparing fast-food, homemade and plant-based chicken nuggets through the lens of gut health.
20:31
Making Microbiology More Accessible
She discusses her passion projects, including a plant-based snack designed to increase dietary diversity and the children's book she wrote about the gut microbiome.
Useful links
https://www.a-star.edu.sg/sifbi
https://research.a-star.edu.sg/articles/highlights/wellness-starts-in-tiny-tummies/
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance
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