Dr. Shawn's Blog

Interesting new study in JAMA Psychiatry a couple days ago – I will talk about it on the Coaching Call today… Here is a “highlighted” (bolded) summary below… Sugary Drinks Linked to Depression Through Gut Microbiome September 24, 2025 Summary: A new study shows that sugary drinks don’t just affect physical health—they may also raise the risk

When we talk about “gut feelings,” we’re not just being poetic. The gut-brain axis is a literal superhighway of signals between the microbes in our digestive tract and the neurons in our head.  During pregnancy, that signaling doesn’t just affect mom’s mood and metabolism, it also sets the stage for a child’s lifelong resilience. And

Psycho-biotics are specific probiotic strains with human data for supporting mood, stress, sleep, and cognition – but it’s important to understand that while all psycho-biotics are pro-biotics, not all pro-biotics are psycho-biotics. As always, strain IDs and dosing matter more than wishful thinking. Why strain ID matters (and how they “talk” to the brain) Different strains can modulate different

Collagen may look clean and chic in a white tub on your counter, but its backstory is far less glamorous. Spoiler: your collagen powder probably began life as cow bones, pig skin, chicken sternums—or even fish scales. Yep, your wellness latte is riding on the coattails of animal byproducts. But before you gag and throw

We live in a culture where “stress” is the villain of every wellness headline. But here’s the twist: stress isn’t bad. In fact, the right kind of stress is exactly what makes you stronger, sharper, and more resilient. The trick is balance – where you push hard enough to adapt, but not so hard that

Your gut is more than a dumb tube for digesting your food – it’s mission control for your mood, immunity, and even how much energy you have during the day.  When the gut microbiome (the trillions of bacteria living in your intestines) falls out of balance, your whole system feels the effects. Here are three