#265 There's a Microbe for that! w/Martha Carlin by Stuff Your Doctor Should Know
by Martha Carlin June 23, 2024
Martha Carlin’s passion for solving complex health problems comes from the heart as well as her mind. Her relentless pursuit to understand our growing health challenges has led her on the path to becoming a respected citizen scientist in the microbiome and Parkinson’s fields. Her passion for helping people feel better is genuine. In 2014, Martha Carlin was inspired by groundbreaking research that found the connection between gut bacteria and the two phenotypes of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). This insight is the foundation and core philosophy that led her to develop a special probiotic formula (now called Sugar Shift®) for her husband, John, who has PD. After tracking John’s improved health while taking Sugar Shift, Martha knew it was her responsibility to bring the product to market, motivate people to own their own health and begin creating a knowledge base for people to easily find helpful information to feel their best.
After spending years studying the microbiome and working alongside scientists investigating how our microbial communities shape health, I've come to believe we're asking the wrong question. The real question isn't simply, How do we add more beneficial bacteria? It's how do we rebuild the diversity we've lost?
If you were to ask a room full of neurologists what causes the progressive damage in Parkinson’s disease, most would point straight to the brain. They would talk about dopamine, tremors, and the accumulation of toxic proteins like alpha-synuclein.
What if your intense sugar cravings, afternoon brain fog, or persistent stress aren't flaws in your willpower, but demands being shouted by a hijacked gut microbiome? And what if the hidden secret to your overall longevity isn't about perfectly tracking a rigid, stressful biohacking routine, but about giving your body the fundamental signal of biological safety?