The Gastroenterologist And His Daughter

Every decade or so, a global panel of gastroenterology experts rewrites the diagnostic rulebook for conditions like IBS and it's just been updated for the first time in ten years. In this episode, Sandra and Wagdy unpack what's actually changed in the ROME V update, and what it means for anyone who's ever been told "your tests are normal, there's nothing wrong."This episode covers:What the Rome criteria are, and how they moved GI diagnosis from a last resort to a positive process.Why "functional" is being dropped, and what the new language actually means for patients.The IBS criteria changes — and the new diagnoses added for the first time.Why research criteria and clinical criteria are now separate, and who that change is really for.Why the patient-provider relationship is now considered part of the treatment itself.For years, a quarter of people with real, disruptive gut symptoms didn't meet the criteria for any diagnosis at all, despite worse quality of life, higher anxiety and more time spent in doctors' offices than people with no symptoms whatsoever. This episode is about the update that's finally designed to catch them. If you've ever been told your tests are normal and left with more questions than answers, this one's for you.Connect with your hosts on InstagramSandra MikhailWagdy Mikhail For more information visit nutritition-az.comGrab a copy of Sandra’s book and don’t forget to post a review!  The Gut Chronicles: An uncensored journey into the world of digestive health and illness. 

GLP-1s have changed the conversation on weight and metabolic health  but the gut science, and life after stopping them, gets far less airtime. Sandra & Wagdy are  joined by Dr. Linia Patel to unpack what's really happening in the body, the side effects nobody talks about and what comes next.This episode covers:GLP-1 as a gut hormone and how the microbiome shapes our own natural productionThe gut-brain science behind appetite suppression, and whether these drugs alter the microbiome itselfThe digestive side effects nobody talks about and the red flags worth flagging to your prescriberProtecting fibre, nutrients and muscle mass on suppressed appetiteLife after weight loss medication: why people stop and how to quieten food noise without itWhether GLP-1s risk replacing the deeper work on your relationship with food and much more. So much of the GLP-1 conversation ends the moment someone starts the medication. We wanted to talk about everything else; the gut, the food noise and what actually happens when you stop.About Dr. Linia Patel (PhD), RDDr Linia Patel is an award-winning Women’s Health Dietitian, Performance Nutritionist, andPublic Health Researcher with over 20 years of experience spanning sports nutrition, clinicalpractice, and large-scale public health programmes. Author of the best-selling book Food forMenopause, Linia has worked across diverse settings—from high-performance sport to NHS-commissioned weight management services—translating science into practical strategiesthat improve wellbeing and long-term health outcomes.With the rapid rise of GLP-1 weight loss medications, much of her current clinical workfocuses on helping women navigate these treatments—whether starting, actively using, ortransitioning off them—while integrating lifestyle, nutrition, and behavioural strategies forlasting success. Her approach is rooted in evidence, empowerment, and a deepunderstanding of women’s unique health challenges across the lifespan.Connect with LiniaInstagramGrab a copy of Linia’s book: Life After Weight-Loss Medication

We talk a lot about gut health for adults on this podcast, but what about children? The foundations of a healthy gut are laid earlier than most parents realise, and the decisions made in those first years can have a lasting impact. In this episode, Sandra is joined by paediatric dietitian Aisling Oslizlok, to talk about what's really going on in children's guts, what parents are getting wrong and what actually helps.This episode covers:The critical windows in early life that shape the gut microbiome long termThe most common mistakes parents make when trying to fix their child's gut healthWhat antibiotics actually do to a developing gutThe everyday factors quietly disrupting kids' gut health that parents wouldn't think to questionConstipation, bloating, fussy eating -  what's worth investigating and what's just developmentalWhat a gut-friendly diet looks like for a child andThis conversation is essential listening for any parent, whether you're navigating a specific concern or just want to set your child up well from the start.About Aisling Oslizlok:Aisling is a highly experienced Paediatric Dietitian with nearly 20 years of expertise inchildren’s nutrition. Families value her compassionate and practical approach, whichempowers parents to manage their children’s nutritional needs with confidence. She holds a Master’s in Dietetics from Queen Margaret University in the UK and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology from University College Dublin in Ireland. Her professional journey has included senior roles in world-class tertiary centres such as Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Before joining Genesis, she served as Head of Dietetics for Emirates Flight Catering. Aisling is passionate about supporting children with food allergies and gastrointestinal conditions. Her evidence-based care helps families make meaningful, long-term improvements in their children’s health and eating habits.Connect with Aisling:InstagramLinkedIn

AI is everywhere and health is no exception. In this episode, Sandra and Wagdy get into one of the most timely conversations in medicine right now. What is AI actually getting right and wrong when it comes to gut health, what's happening when patients consult AI before, or instead of, their doctor, and where is this all heading? You can even listen to a live demo with ChatGPT! This episode covers:What AI is actually doing in gastroenterology right now Whether AI makes clinicians better doctors or introduces new risksWhat happens when patients arrive having already consulted AI about their gut symptomsWhen AI actually helps -  and the patients who come in better informed because of itThe red flags that should always send you straight to a doctor, regardless of what any AI tool saysWhere this is all heading and more…This is a short and light conversation about a tool that is already reshaping how people engage with their health, for better and for worse. Essential listening whether you're a clinician, a patient, or someone who has ever typed a symptom into ChatGPT at midnight.Connect with your hosts on InstagramSandra MikhailWagdy Mikhail For more information visit nutritition-az.comSandra’s book turns 3 this month!  The Gut Chronicles: An uncensored journey into the world of digestive health and illness. 

We're surrounded by so much health and wellness information unlike any other generation but how much of it actually holds up to scrutiny? In this episode, Sandra is joined by consultant dietitian Kirsten Jackson and internal medicine physician Dr. Ramy Khalil to call out pseudoscience, explore why misinformation is so persuasive and examine whether mainstream medicine is partly to blame for the vacuum wellness culture has rushed to fill.This episode covers:The "I can't believe this is still a thing" moments our guests are seeing right nowWhy smart, health-conscious people are still drawn in by wellness misinformationWhat makes certain health claims sound convincing even when the evidence isn't thereThe psychology behind why some ideas feel intuitive or believable regardless of the scienceWhere mainstream medicine and dietetics have failed patients & the rise of ‘Functional Medicine”How to tell the difference between genuinely helpful health advice and clever marketingHow to handle a patient or client who has gone deep down a wellness rabbit hole and believes it's workingThe most dangerous pieces of misinformation our guests have seen cause real clinical harmThis conversation is honest, at times uncomfortable, and essential listening for anyone trying to make sense of the health information landscape whether you're a clinician, a patient, or just someone trying to make good decisions about your own wellbeing.About Dr. Ramy KhalilDr. Ramy Khalil is a board-certified internal medicine physician and clinical informaticist. He practices direct primary care through his practice Clinicly in the UAE and Continuum Overnight Primary Care in the United States, where he's licensed in five states. Dr. Khalil holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Preventive Medicine.His work focuses on evidence-based primary care delivered outside traditional insurance models, and he writes extensively on healthcare systems, healthcare technology and medical evidence on social media.Connect with Dr. Ramy:InstagramWebsiteSubstackThe Dubai Doctors PodcastAbout Kirsten JacksonKirsten Jackson BSc Hons PGCert is a UK consultant dietitian specialising in gut health and the author of ‘Take Control of your IBS’. Kirsten graduated from The University of Hertfordshire in 2012 before joining the UK national health service where she specialised in gastroenterology. She later went on to complete her post-graduate certificate in Advanced Dietetics at The University of Nottingham. In 2018 Kirsten moved to the UAE as the lead dietitian for Kings College Hospital in Dubai. In this role she was part of the team which developed and opened the first British healthcare facility in the Middle East. Kirsten now runs an online IBS clinic called The Food Treatment Clinic to help those who suffer with the condition. Outside of clinical work, Kirsten is an official media spokesperson for The British Dietetic Association where she has worked on TV and with media outlets such as Cosmopolitan and The Guardian. She is also an expert advisor for the charity, The IBS Network.Connect with Kirsten:WebsiteInstagramTake Control of your IBS