Gut Health, Toxins & Why Coffee Might Be Hurting You | Dr. Vincent Pedre, MD

Written by Dr. Alex Carrasco | Jan 7, 2026 6:17:17 PM

In this episode of the Vibrant Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Alex Carrasco sits down with her good friend, Dr. Vincent Pedre, to discuss how gut function influences nearly every system in the body, from immune resilience and inflammation to mood, cognition, and longevity. Dr. Pedre shares how his own health struggles led him to question the limitations of conventional internal medicine and ultimately shift into integrative medicine.

Together, they discuss the evolution of modern gut testing and how advanced biomarkers can help practitioners identify intestinal permeability, immune activation, and microbial imbalances better than ever before. They also emphasize that while supplements can play a role, long-term healing requires prioritizing the essentials: a high-quality diet, reducing processed foods, and supporting the body’s ability to enter a parasympathetic, restorative state. Dr. Pedre highlights how many people live in chronic stress without realizing it, distinguishing between mental stress and “biophysical stress”.

The conversation also explores what drives true microbiome diversity. Dr. Pedre shares about his time spent with the Hadza hunter-gatherers in Tanzania. Despite not eating a colorful “rainbow” diet, the Hadza maintain extremely diverse microbiomes and remain largely free of modern chronic disease, raising important questions about environmental exposure, microbial ecosystems, and how Western hygiene, antibiotics, and ultra-processed foods reshape gut terrain. Dr. Pedre explains that diversity isn’t just about “good vs. bad” bacteria; it’s about balance, resilience, and the ecosystem’s ability to regulate inflammation.

Key Topics Covered

🦠 How modern gut testing reveals intestinal permeability, immune activation, and microbiome imbalances
🧪 Why advanced biomarkers help uncover root causes
🥗 Why diet quality and reducing ultra-processed foods are foundational for gut repair
🧘‍♂️ How nervous system regulation and parasympathetic balance are essential for healing the gut
📱 The hidden impact of “biophysical stress” from screens, artificial light, and constant stimulation
🌍 What the Hadza hunter-gatherers teach us about microbiome diversity and resilience
🔬 Why gut health is about balance and ecosystem stability
🔥 How microbial diversity plays a key role in regulating inflammation and overall health

Timestamps

00:00 Dr. Vincent Pedre, MD
01:39 From Internal Medicine to Functional Medicine
03:05 How Antibiotics Destroy the Microbiome
04:57 Leaky Gut, Inflammation & Autoimmune Risk
06:47 Healing the Gut Changed Everything
09:26 Preventive vs Reactive Medicine
11:21 What Modern Gut Testing Can Reveal
13:18 Fixing the Gut Improves Systemic Health
16:29 Stress, the Nervous System & Healing Capacity
18:24 Toxins, Mold & Environmental Exposures
21:03 Why Medicine Treats the Body in Silos
23:05 Mental Stress vs Physiological Stress
26:12 The Gut–Brain Connection Explained
29:08 Microbiome Diversity & Hunter-Gatherer Insights
32:28 Why Diversity Matters More Than “Good vs Bad” Bacteria
35:41 Antibiotics, Antimicrobials & Long-Term Damage
38:12 Gut Health, Mood & Anxiety Disorders
41:16 Healing the Gut to Support Mental Health
44:02 Food Quality, Pesticides & Microplastics
47:22 Coffee, Mycotoxins & Gut Irritation
50:18 How to Choose Cleaner Coffee & Foods
52:39 Daily Habits That Protect the Gut
55:10 Final Takeaways & Where to Find Dr. Pedre

Resources Mentioned

🌐 Explore more from Dr. Pedre on his official website

📱 Connect with Dr. Alex Carrasco on Instagram

🔗 Connect with Dr. Vincent Pedre on Instagram

📚 Learn more about Happy Gut Life

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Limitations
Please note the information provided by Vibrant Wellness is intended solely for research and informational purposes to help inform lifestyle choices aimed at potential risk mitigation. The information is not intended to be used by the patient for any diagnostic purpose and is not a substitute for medical advice by a healthcare practitioner. Please consult a licensed healthcare practitioner for any questions regarding diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of any disease or health assessment.

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