41. Unlocking the Gut-Brain Connection with Dr. Vincent Pedre

About this episode

This episode explores the gut-brain connection and its impact on overall health with Dr. Vincent Pedre.

We talk a lot about fitness, metabolism, and hormones on this show — but if your gut's not right, none of it works properly. In this week's episode of Healthy AF, I sit down with Dr. Vincent Pedre, board-certified internist, functional medicine pioneer, and author of the bestselling book Happy Gut. Dr. Pedre has spent over two decades helping people repair their gut health, rebalance their microbiome, and understand how the gut affects every system in the body — from mood and memory to metabolism and sleep. We dive deep into the gut-brain connection — how your gut literally talks to your brain through the vagus nerve, and why 95% of serotonin is produced in your gut (not your head). Dr. Pedre breaks down how stress, alcohol, and common over-the-counter meds disrupt digestion and even rewire your mood. He also explains how gut dysfunction can lead to metabolic disease, chronic fatigue, and hormone imbalance, and what to do about it. From fermented foods and fiber to liver detox and real-world habits, this conversation connects the dots between gut health, mental health, and longevity. We also talk about Dr. Pedre's new product, Happy Gut Coffee — a low-acid, toxin-free roast…

People in this episode

Host: Zane Griggs

Guest: Dr. Vincent Pedre

Topics covered

• gut health
• gut-brain connection
• mental health
• metabolism
• nutrition
• functional medicine

Keywords

• gut health
• brain fog
• serotonin
• microbiome
• metabolic disease
• fermented foods
• functional medicine

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Happy Gut Coffee

Books & works: Happy Gut

More episodes of Healthy AF | Healthy After 50

• 49. Fix Your Blood Sugar Without Cutting Carbs With Isaac Pohlman · March 24, 2026 · 1h 1m
• 48. The Real Reason Your Metabolism Slows After 40 It's Not Age · March 17, 2026 · 44 min
• 47. The Real Reason You're Always Tired After 40 · March 13, 2026 · 34 min
• 46. Low Carb Is Wrecking Your Thyroid (And Most People Don't Know It) · March 12, 2026 · 57 min
• 45. Most Men Over 40 Are Missing These 5 Blood Markers · March 10, 2026 · 22 min
• 44. Why I Stopped Recommending Low-Carb: My Full Diet Shift Explained (What I Eat In A Day 2026) · February 16, 2026 · 55 min