Athletes, Diets, and the Microbiome

Aug 27

All aboard the magic school bus into the gut microbiome!

In this episode of Your Diet Sucks, Zoë and Kylee trace the origins of the human microbiome and explore how gut bacteria impact athletic performance, recovery, and overall health. We dig into Zoë’s own microbiome results (yes, it gets personal at the microbial level!) while unpacking the latest research on gut health and endurance sports.

We also tackle one of the biggest issues runners face: GI distress during training and racing. From common culprits to lesser-known triggers, we share what athletes can actually do to support gut health — and why you probably don’t need to chug gallons of kombucha to keep your stomach happy.

If you’ve ever wondered how your gut influences your running, this episode breaks it all down in science-backed, approachable terms.

Zoë Rom

Zoë Rom is a science and environmental journalist with bylines in The New York Times, Outside, and High Country News. She co-hosts Your Diet Sucks, an evidence-based nutrition and wellness podcast, with registered dietitian Kylee Van Horn, RDN, where they investigate how wellness culture distorts science and how athletes can do better. A Colorado-based ultrarunner, she finished second at the Leadville Trail 100 and top five at Run Rabbit Run 100. Her reporting and commentary focus on the intersection of sport, science, and the wellness industry's long history of selling women their own anxieties.