Our Q&A with Dr. Josh Axe

He’s a regular on Dr. Oz, a leading health expert, author and radio host—not to mention brings McDreamy good looks, too. Say hello to Dr. Josh Axe! We recently had the chance to ask him our top health questions, including his take on juice cleanses, leaky gut and skipping breakfast. Here’s the healthy scoop. —Aurea Dempsey

Q: Bullet proof coffee has been getting a lot of buzz lately. Those who drink it for breakfast say it gives them amazing energy and can help with weight loss too. On that note, can adding a bunch of oil and butter to our morning caffeine be considered a healthy meal?

Dr. Axe: It actually can—as long as you are using the right kind of oil and butter. Grass-fed butter is full of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A for great vision and a healthy endocrine system, and selenium, which is a powerful antioxidant. It also contains omega-3 and omega-6 fats, which are great for brain function, and fatty acids that support the immune system, improve digestion and support a healthy ratio of good-to-bad bacteria in the gut. Conventional butter (and all conventional dairy) on the other hand, are often full of hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals that can lead to leaky gut and destroy health.

Aside from butter, I recommend adding coconut oil to your morning coffee. Coconut oil is a super food I personally consume daily. Thanks to its medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), it gives you a great source of long-lasting energy to power through your day—plus it’s not stored as fat as other types of oils are. For the purest kind, look for virgin, unrefined coconut oil.

Q: Leaky gut syndrome is a topic we know you are passionate about. Is it as bad as it sounds? How is it diagnosed and what can we do to fix it?

Dr. Axe: Actually, leaky gut is exactly what it sounds like. When our bodies are bombarded by toxins from the environment including processed foods, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, the good bacteria in our guts is killed off, allowing the bad guys to thrive and our intestines to become more permeable. As a result of this, undigested food particles, toxins and other foreign invaders are able to escape the gut and enter the bloodstream. When this happens, we experience a variety of health issues including bloating, indigestion, skin issues like psoriasis, brain fog, liver and gallbladder disease.

I talk about this extensively in my new book, Eat Dirt, including how to get tested, and what you need to do to overcome this growing problem.

Once you’re ready to heal your leaky gut, I outline a simple, five-step approach. It varies slightly based on different symptoms, but essentially you will want to: 1) Remove the foods that are gut-damaging including gluten and processed foods; 2) Add a high quality probiotic, rich in beneficial bacteria; 3) Restore your gut’s health by consuming organic, fermented foods, as well as bone broth; 4) Reduce or eliminate mental and emotional stress through a variety of relaxing activities, including massage and exercise; 5) Incorporate supplements to reseal and protect the gut from future damage, including digestive enzymes, l-glutamine, licorice root, collagen and probiotics.

For more exclusive tips and advice from Dr. Axe, check out the rest of his interview here.