Ep 38 - Are Emulsifiers Wrecking Your Gut? What New Science Says About Food Additives and the Microbiome

Nutrition for Noobs

In this eye-opening episode, Michelle and Kevin dive into the surprising science behind emulsifiers in food and their impact on your gut health and microbiome. Inspired by a recent Wall Street Journal article and cutting-edge research from France and the U.S., they explore how common food additives—like carboxymethyl cellulose, polysorbate 80, carrageenan, and xanthan gum—could be silently affecting your digestive health, increasing inflammation, and even contributing to chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

You'll learn:

• What emulsifiers actually do in processed and ultra-processed foods
• Why synthetic emulsifiers may disrupt your gut microbiome—even in "healthy" foods like yogurt and plant milks
• The difference between natural vs. synthetic emulsifiers (e.g., soy lecithin vs. polysorbate 80)
• What recent studies say about emulsifiers’ links to inflammation, immune response, and Crohn’s disease
• How to read food labels and make smarter, gut-friendly choices

Whether you’re a health-conscious shopper, someone struggling with digestive issues, or just curious about what’s really in your food, this episode is packed with research-backed insights to help you navigate the modern food landscape.

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