2022

"How to biohack your gut health"


Women’s Health interviewed Dr. Dana Ellis Hunnes, assistant professor of community health sciences, about how to maximize gut health.

Hand in shape of heart on stomach

We hear the term “gut health” a lot, and while it can sound super science-y on the surface, the concept is pretty simple. It refers to the balance of trillions (!) of microorganisms in your digestive tract.

When you have good ​gut health, you’ll experience regular, easy-to-pass bowel movements, and you won’t have many other digestive side effects, explains Dana Ellis Hunnes, PhD, RD, an assistant professor at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health and author of Recipe For Survival.

“Our guts even play a big role in our mental health, too,” Hunnes adds.

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Faculty Referenced by this Article

Dana Hunnes
Dana Hunnes
Community Health Sciences
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Bo-Kyung Elizabeth Kim headshot.png
Bo-Kyung Elizabeth Kim
Community Health Sciences
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Paula Tavrow
Paula Tavrow
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Shira Shafir
Shira Shafir
Community Health Sciences Epidemiology
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Dr. Samuel Stratton
Samuel Stratton
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Alina Dorian
Alina Dorian
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Jessica Gipson
Jessica Gipson
Community Health Sciences
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Dena Herman
Dena Herman
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. May Sudhinaraset
May Sudhinaraset
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Gilbert Gee
Gilbert C. Gee
Community Health Sciences
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May Wang headshot
May C. Wang
Community Health Sciences
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Jennifer A. Wagman
Jennifer A. Wagman
Community Health Sciences
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Kimberley Shoaf
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Donald Morisky
Donald E. Morisky
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Elizabeth D'Amico
Elizabeth D’Amico
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Chandra Ford
Chandra Ford
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Dana Rose Garfin
Dana Rose Garfin
Community Health Sciences
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glik, deborah
Deborah Glik
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Michael Rodriguez
Michael Rodriguez
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Elizabeth Yzquierdo
Elizabeth Yzquierdo
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Anne Pebley
Anne Pebley
Community Health Sciences
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Sarah Blenner
Sarah Blenner

Director of Field Studies and Applied Professional Training

Community Health Sciences
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Natalie Muth
Community Health Sciences
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Kimberly Gregory
Kimberly Gregory
Community Health Sciences
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Ondine S. von Ehrenstein
Community Health Sciences Epidemiology
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Sean Darling-Hammond
Sean Darling-Hammond
Biostatistics Community Health Sciences
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Dawn Upchurch
Community Health Sciences
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Philip Massey headshot
Philip Massey
Community Health Sciences
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Marjorie Kagawa-Singer
Marjorie Kagawa-Singer
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Michael Prelip
Michael Prelip
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Hiram Beltrán-Sánchez
Hiram Beltrán-Sánchez
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Randall Kuhn
Randall Kuhn
Community Health Sciences
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Robert Kim-Farley
Robert J. Kim-Farley

Robert J. Kim-Farley, MD, MPH, is a Professor-in-Residence with joint appointments in the Departments of Epidemiology and Community Health Sciences

Community Health Sciences Epidemiology
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Cathy Lang
Cathy Lang

Assistant Dean for Research & Adjunct Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences

Community Health Sciences
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Ilan H. Meyer
Ilan H. Meyer
Community Health Sciences
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Charlotte Neumann
Charlotte G. Neumann
Community Health Sciences
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Virginia C. Li
Virginia C. Li
Community Health Sciences
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Courtney Thomas Tobin headshot.png
Courtney S. Thomas Tobin
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Judith M. Siegel
Judith M. Siegel
Community Health Sciences
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halbert, ronald
Ronald Halbert
Community Health Sciences
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James Macinko
James Macinko

Professor of Community Health Sciences & Health Policy and Management, and Associate Dean for Research

Community Health Sciences Health Policy and Management
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Sheba George
Community Health Sciences
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David Eisenman
David Eisenman
Community Health Sciences
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Wendelin Slusser
Community Health Sciences
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Dr. Michael Goldstein
Michael Goldstein
Community Health Sciences
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