Probiotics: The New Science

Probiotics: The New Science

There's been a major paradigm shift in how and why to use a probiotic. We explain why the old view of probiotics—tools to "recolonize" the gut with new bacteria—is outdated. Instead, the latest science shows that we use probiotics to gain specific, temporary physiological responses. Using data from 70+ randomized controlled trials, we look at why strain specificity matters far more than just a massive CFU count on a label. We identify conditions (Diarrhea, C-diff, IBS, etc) where probiotics help, outline the 4 pillars of an effective probiotic, and evaluate who actually needs a probiotic (and who doesn't). Plus, we share a major announcement: a complete reformulation of our legacy flagship Probiotic Essentials! IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: • The New Probiotic Paradigm: Why the goal isn't to permanent-colonize your gut, but to trigger targeted physiological and immune responses. • Why Strain Matters: How understanding the specific strain prevents you from buying ineffective supplements. • The Antibiotic Shield: How clinical data proves early probiotic intervention can drop antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) rates by 37–38%. • Who It's For (and Who It's Not): The clinical reality of who benefits most from supplementation, and who should avoid them entirely. • The 4 Pillars of Efficacy: How to evaluate Strain, CFU Count, Shelf Stability, and Delivery Systems so active bacteria actually survive your stomach acid. • The Evolution of Essentials: How we have radically upgraded our 15-year-old legacy formula into the new Probiotic Advanced Essentials. CONNECT: Products - https://askjoedimatteo.com/youtube Questions - questions@askjoedimatteo.com Facebook - https://facebook.com/askjoedimatteo Instagram - https://tinyurl.com/5n6kfwhs YouTube Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/@GenerationHealthShow YouTube Clips - https://www.youtube.com/@askjoedimatteo Generation Health is a podcast discussing cutting edge research and time tested best practices to help you live better, longer. Joey DiMatteo (PharmD, CCN), & Dante DiMatteo (PharmD) are the second generation in a family dedicated to helping educate listeners so they can make informed decisions about their own health. Incorporating their extensive knowledge in pharmaceuticals, nutrition, exercise, and supplementation, they love sharing their wisdom with anyone looking to improve their life! CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Show Intro 01:34 - What are Probiotics? 03:10 - What do probiotics do? 10:09 - Why does the exact species matter? 12:37 - What is the research supporting Probiotics? 13:05 - Antibiotic-associated diarrhea 14:45 - C-diff 18:16 - IBS 19:54 - Immune Support 21:58 - Downstream benefits of Probiotics 22:39 - What makes a good probiotic? 27:40 - Who should take probiotics? 32:47 - Introducing Probiotic Advanced Essentials CITATIONS: 1) Probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. • https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e043054 2) Early use of probiotics significantly reduces the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in adults without increasing adverse events. • https://journals.lww.com/jcge/fulltext/2021/07000/probiotics_for_the_prevention_of.4.aspx 3) Probiotics help protect against intestinal and colonic injury caused by Staphylococcus aureus. • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21963346/ 4) Probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis NCC2818 modulates immune response in individuals with seasonal allergic rhinitis. • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23299716/ 5) Early dietary supplementation with Bifidobacterium lactis NCC2818 boosts systemic antibodies. • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23473077/ 6) Commercial probiotic strains show strong in vitro inhibition of Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens. • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23471038/ 7) Lactobacillus plantarum & flax-seed oil exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects against E. coli. • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23465779/ 8) Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lcr35 provides dose-dependent immunomodulation of human dendritic cells. • https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0018735 9) Saccharomyces boulardii stimulates sIgA production and enhances phagocytic immune systems. • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11021572/ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and the materials linked to this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should NOT disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they have, and they should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

Statins Didn't Cause That.

If you have been hesitant to start a statin or are currently struggling with muscle aches and fatigue, the culprit might not be the medication. In this episode, we break down a massive 2026 clinical review of 23 randomized trials involving over 120,000 patients. The data reveals a staggering reality: the "nocebo effect" —the phenomenon where negative expectations cause real physical symptoms— explains why many attribute non-drug issues to their statin.accounts for nearly all reported symptoms. We translate this complex psychological phenomenon into a roadmap for your heart health. Later, we dive into new research from the British Journal of Sports Medicine regarding "exercise snacking." While brief bursts of movement are trendy, we look at why "not all steps are created equal" when it comes to cardiorespiratory fitness and long-term metabolic health. Stop the information overload and gain a usable wisdom for navigating family medicine & natural health. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: • Clinical Truths: Which four side effects are actually linked to statins (and how rare they are). • The Nocebo Effect: How expectation, not pharmacology, drives 93% of statin symptoms. • Exercise Snacking vs. Dedicated Blocks: Why your 5-minute "snack" might be failing your metabolism. • The "Step" Fallacy: Why step count is a secondary metric to exercise intensity. Subscribe to join a community of health-conscious individuals seeking clinical clarity. We love questions. Comment below or email us: questions@askjoedimatteo.com CONNECT: Products - https://askjoedimatteo.com/youtube Questions - questions@askjoedimatteo.com Facebook - https://facebook.com/askjoedimatteo Instagram - https://tinyurl.com/5n6kfwhs PODCAST: Apple Podcasts - https://tinyurl.com/GHShowApple Google Podcasts - https://tinyurl.com/GHShowYTM Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3B2v7PmHxLuxFoWOIWko8X?si=7ae14c5e6d1e449a Rumble - https://rumble.com/user/GenerationHealth YouTube Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/@GenerationHealthShow YouTube Clips - https://www.youtube.com/@askjoedimatteo Generation Health is a podcast discussing cutting edge research and time tested best practices to help you live better, longer. Joey DiMatteo (PharmD, CCN), & Dante DiMatteo (PharmD) are the second generation in a family dedicated to helping educate listeners so they can make informed decisions about their own health. Incorporating their extensive knowledge in pharmaceuticals, nutrition, exercise, and supplementation, they love sharing their wisdom with anyone looking to improve their life! CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Show Intro 01:38 - Why Statin Side Effects Vanish in Clinical Trials 02:56 - Statin meta-analysis 04:24 - Which side effects are in question? 05:56 - What are the real statin side effects? 08:40 - Side Effects statins don't cause 10:05 - Kidney Issues 12:35 - What is the "nocebo" effect? 14:25 - Why has it taken so long to study this? 16:01 - How does this change things at the pharmacy level? 20:13 - Update: Step Counting 22:32 - Exercise Snacking vs. HIIT Research 25:11 - Why isn't a step just a step? 26:57 - Exercise Snacking 29:38 - Show Outro SHOW NOTES: 1) Surprise About Popular Drugs (USA Today) - https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2026/02/06/statins-side-effects-study/88544793007/ 2) Effect of statin therapy on muscle symptoms (NIH) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36049498/ 3) Statins don't cause majority of side effects in packaging (CTT Collaboration) - https://www.cttcollaboration.org/news/statins-side-effects 4) Most statin side effects aren't caused by the drugs (Science Daily) - https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212025550.htm 5) Nocebo (Wikipedia) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocebo 6) Daily Exercise May Offset Risk from Prolonged Sitting (Medical News Today) - https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/daily-20-25-mins-of-physical-activity-may-offset-death-risk-from-prolonged-sitting 7) Effects of physical activity on mortality (NIH) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37875329/ 8) How much exercise reduces effects of sedentary time? (British Journal of Sports Medicine) - https://blogs.bmj.com/bjsm/?p=10881 DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and the materials linked to this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should NOT disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they have, and they should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

Your Neural Legacy: Rewired

In Episode 096, Joey DiMatteo (PharmD, CCN) digs through two decades of neuroplasticity research to uncover how our internal "mental scripts"—the beliefs we hold about ourselves and our world—are physically wired into our brain architecture. While these patterns are difficult to change as adults, the science reveals a profound window of opportunity in early childhood. We explore how a parent's tone and emotional expression act as a "neural blueprint," physically shaping a child's amygdala and impacting the generations to come. Then, we turn to a pharmacist FAQ. The question "Is it still safe to take this?" is a daily occurrence for Joey. Unfortunately, the answer isn't a simple yes or no. Joey explains the reasons behind expiration dates, and gives a definitive answer on which medications should NEVER be used after expiration. In this episode, we discuss: - The Rewiring Process: How to identify and overwrite the stories we tell ourselves. - The Power of Tone: The specific clinical link between parental expression and a child's neurological development. - The Fatherhood Reflection: A candid look at our own mistakes as fathers and how the science of neuroplasticity offers a path to do better. - Rx Safety Alert: A critical breakdown of the history of expiration dates and the specific medications that become dangerous—not just less effective—after their "use by" date. Stop the information overload and gain a usable wisdom for navigating family medicine & natural health. We love questions! Comment below or email us: questions@askjoedimatteo.com CONNECT: Products - https://askjoedimatteo.com/youtube Questions - questions@askjoedimatteo.com Facebook - https://facebook.com/askjoedimatteo Instagram - https://tinyurl.com/5n6kfwhs PODCAST: Apple Podcasts - https://tinyurl.com/GHShowApple Google Podcasts - https://tinyurl.com/GHShowYTM Spotify - https://tinyurl.com/GHShowSpotify Rumble - https://rumble.com/user/GenerationHealth YouTube - https://tinyurl.com/57hxe6aj YouTube Clips - https://tinyurl.com/wzk69tbk Generation Health is a podcast discussing cutting edge research and time tested best practices to help you live better, longer. Joey DiMatteo (PharmD, CCN), & Dante DiMatteo (PharmD) are the second generation in a family dedicated to helping educate listeners so they can make informed decisions about their own health. Incorporating their extensive knowledge in pharmaceuticals, nutrition, exercise, and supplementation, they love sharing their wisdom with anyone looking to improve their life! CHAPTERS: 00:26 - Show Intro 01:05 - Positive Thinking!? 02:16 - What is Neuroplasticity? 04:49 - The science behind neuroplasticity 06:27 - Negative Thinking 12:43 - Stoicism 15:46 - How do we change our minds? 17:23 - Neuroplasticity in Children 26:51 - Real world application 29:24 - Confirmation bias 31:51 - Medication Expiration 32:45 - Why did expiration dates first come about? 34:49 - US DOD study 35:40 - High risk categories 37:31 - Antibiotics 42:40 - Show outro SHOW NOTES: 1) Nature experience reduces rumination (NIH) - https://tinyurl.com/yc5z77tf 2) Self-affirmation activates brain (NIH) - https://tinyurl.com/yrrzexx4 3) Adolescent Brain Structure (NIH) - https://tinyurl.com/3xm3pbz3 4) Neurobiology of Stress and Development (NIH) - https://tinyurl.com/mxne2dx5 5) Mirror Systems in Emotions (NIH) - https://tinyurl.com/4s2cxeyd 6) Affect Contagion Between Mothers and Infants (NIH) - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5499532/ 7) Negative Attribution Styles Predict Depression (NIH) - https://tinyurl.com/msewskfw DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and the materials linked to this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should NOT disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they have, and they should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

The Truth About Ultra-Processed Foods

Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs) are currently the primary target of nutritional science, linked by various studies to nearly every major negative health outcome. This wave of research recently led California to become the first state to ban UPFs from school lunches. However, a significant problem remains: there is no universal, clinical definition for what actually constitutes an "ultra-processed" food. In this episode, Dante DiMatteo (PharmD) and Joey DiMatteo (PharmD, CCN) cut through the noise to provide a balanced, evidence-based perspective on the UPF controversy. We move beyond the headlines to answer: - The Definition: What does "ultra-processed" actually mean in a clinical context? - The Nuance: Are there specific UPFs that are safe—or even beneficial? - The Risks: What are the verified physiological dangers of a high-UPF diet? - The Reality: How do socioeconomic factors like poverty and education impact our food choices? Stop the "information overload" and gain a usable framework for navigating the modern grocery store with clarity and confidence. We love questions! Comment below or email us: questions@askjoedimatteo.com CONNECT: Products - https://askjoedimatteo.com/youtube Questions - questions@askjoedimatteo.com Facebook - https://facebook.com/askjoedimatteo Instagram - https://tinyurl.com/5n6kfwhs PODCAST: Apple Podcasts - https://tinyurl.com/GHShowApple Google Podcasts - https://tinyurl.com/GHShowYTM Spotify - https://tinyurl.com/GHShowSpotify Rumble - https://rumble.com/user/GenerationHealth YouTube - https://tinyurl.com/57hxe6aj YouTube Clips - https://tinyurl.com/wzk69tbk Generation Health is a podcast discussing cutting edge research and time tested best practices to help you live better, longer. Joey DiMatteo (PharmD, CCN), & Dante DiMatteo (PharmD) are the second generation in a family dedicated to helping educate listeners so they can make informed decisions about their own health. Incorporating their extensive knowledge in pharmaceuticals, nutrition, exercise, and supplementation, they love sharing their wisdom with anyone looking to improve their life! CHAPTERS: 00:23 - Show Intro 00:52 - Ultra-Processed Food Ban 01:56 - Why we're talking about ultra-processed foods (again) 03:10 - What is ultra-processed food? 07:23 - Are ultra-processed foods less desirable? 08:25 - Do we all have the same understanding of food classification? 10:04 - Correlation vs. Causation 13:46 - Examples of "healthy" and "unhealthy" ultra-processed foods 19:32 - Yogurt as an example 22:00 - How Europe classifies foods 23:38 - Food labels 26:26 - Takeaway 28:18 - Other problems with food studies 35:44 - What happens when foods are processed? 40:04 - Admitting our personal bias 43:10 - Show outro SHOW NOTES: 1) What if UPFs aren't the villain? (MedPage Today) - https://tinyurl.com/2aypshdn 2) CA Bans UPFs in Schools (CA.gov) - https://tinyurl.com/yep8wupy 3) MAHA Defines UPFs - https://tinyurl.com/28dn6hpp DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and the materials linked to this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should NOT disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they have, and they should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

Pain Management's Dirty Drug

Tramadol, a drug with more than 16 million U.S. prescriptions last year, is often viewed as the "safer opioid." However, new evidence suggests that perception is not just flawed, but dangerous. Pharmacist, Dante DiMatteo (PharmD), looks at the risks, including cardiac events and seizures, why it's still used, and what non-opioid pain solutions actually help. What's in the Bottle? New bone health products: Bone Base Essentials and Bone PRO Essentials! Pharmacist Joey DiMatteo (PharmD) takes us through what each product is specifically designed to do, who they're for, and how to use them. Whether you're trying to rebuild bone denisty or just keep the healthy bones you have, there's a lot more to bone health than calcium. Joey talks through bone resorption & remodeling, osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and why protein is probably more important than calcium. We love questions! Comment below or email us: questions@askjoedimatteo.com ALL PRODUCTS: https://www.AskJoeDimatteo.com CONNECT: Products - https://askjoedimatteo.com/youtube Questions - questions@askjoedimatteo.com Facebook - https://facebook.com/askjoedimatteo Instagram - https://tinyurl.com/5n6kfwhs PODCAST: Apple Podcasts - https://tinyurl.com/GHShowApple Google Podcasts - https://tinyurl.com/GHShowYTM Spotify - https://tinyurl.com/GHShowSpotify Rumble - https://rumble.com/user/GenerationHealth YouTube - https://tinyurl.com/57hxe6aj YouTube Clips - https://tinyurl.com/wzk69tbk Generation Health is a podcast discussing cutting edge research and time tested best practices to help you live better, longer. Joey DiMatteo (PharmD, CCN), & Dante DiMatteo (PharmD) are the second generation in a family dedicated to helping educate listeners so they can make informed decisions about their own health. Incorporating their extensive knowledge in pharmaceuticals, nutrition, exercise, and supplementation, they love sharing their wisdom with anyone looking to improve their life! CHAPTERS: 00:27 - Show Intro 01:07 - Tramadol Troubles 01:48 - What is Tramadol? 03:47 - Who is taking Tramadol? 04:35 - Details of the study 06:18 - Perceived efficacy 11:57 - Cardiac risk 14:07 - Kidney function risk 15:23 - Should you ask your doctor about this? 18:00 - Bone health & bone health supplements 19:15 - How bone actually works 20:23 - Bone health hierarchy of importance 25:20 - Bone Base Essentials 29:42 - Bone Pro 32:14 - Who is this for? 33:13 - Medications for bone health 34:47 - What else can cause bone loss? 36:40 - Why is protein important for bone health? 39:19 - Hormones 44:57 - Other takeaways 46:23 - Show Outro SHOW NOTES: 1) Tramadol for chronic pain (BMJ) - https://tinyurl.com/b2c5r43h 2) Lipid Replacement Therapy (NIH) - https://tinyurl.com/238rb7th 3) Phosphatidylcholine's functions (NIH) - https://tinyurl.com/ys86m7cn 4) Phospholipid ebb and flow (NIH) - https://tinyurl.com/mr2m8mhz 5) Activation of lipoprotein lipase (NIH) - https://tinyurl.com/5n754wpa 6) Uptake and metabolism of 3H-fatty acid labelled lecithin (NIH) - https://tinyurl.com/4jwfbxpm 7) Effect of a hypercholesterolaemic diet (NIH) - https://tinyurl.com/mry8uksm 8) Protective effect of polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine - https://tinyurl.com/yc4wjh6f 9) Water permeability and mechanical strength of polyunsaturated lipid bilayers (NIH) - https://tinyurl.com/57ruszhz 10) Effect of polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine on lipid structure (NIH) - https://tinyurl.com/3dbxbnwx 11) Lipid replacement/antioxidant therapy (NIH) - https://tinyurl.com/7xa8565h DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and the materials linked to this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should NOT disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they have, and they should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.