75 Gastroenterologists to Know

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Chocolate For Gut Health? A Nutritional Psychiatrist Shares What Makes Your Gut Happy.

Emerging science tells us we are what we eat in more ways than one. Not only does the food we consume impact our gut health, our gut health also impacts our brain and other body systems.

In an interview with CBS News, Dr. Uma Naidoo, a nutritional psychiatrist and author of "This Is Your Brain on Food," shared the key elements to include in your diet for boosting both physical and mental health.

First up? Fiber.

"Fiber is extremely important for your gut health and you can get it from vegetables, berries, fruit, colorful salad — but you can also get it from extra-dark natural chocolate, (which is) rich in things like serotonin. It's also a fermented food," she said, adding that chocolate has also been studied for its impact on depression.

"A population-based study of more than 13,000 individuals showed an improvement of more than 70% in depression," she said. "So your gut health is also your mental health — it's your physical health, but it improves things like your mental well-being as well."

Naidoo said to beware of chocolate-based candy bars, which are typically full of sugar, and instead "learn to get used to" extra-dark natural chocolate. "A lot of people love it," she added.

In addition to a plant-based diet, lean proteins and healthy fats are also important, Naidoo said, and staples of the Mediterranean diet.

Patterned on the traditional cuisines of the region, this style of diet emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, legumes, nuts and whole grains. It has also been associated with several health benefits, including fewer Alzheimer's signs in the brain and lowered heart disease risk.

Naidoo said the diet's components are good for your gut too — but she said it's also OK to introduce more spices and flavors from other cultures in what she calls a "Mediter-Asian" diet.

"It's a way to still take those nutrients from the Mediterranean diet and make it typical to foods you eat and make it more available to people so they really want to eat it," she said, adding these happy gut-health foods can lead to multiple health benefits.

"The end goal here is both better physical and mental well-being (and) reduction in inflammation," she said. "Inflammation is the basis of so many diseases, both physical diseases but also now mental health and uptick of anxiety, mood disorders and things like that. So reducing that inflammation is critical and all the foods here will help you do that."

Why Investors Are Eyeing Gastroenterology

Investors are keeping a close eye on gastroenterology, according to McDermott Health's "2023 Physician Practice Management" report.

According to the report, gastroenterology has high utilization of evaluation and management codes, which increased for 2021. Medicare ASC payments for colonoscopies with lesion removals and colonoscopies and biopsies are expected to increase in 2023, according to VMG Health's "ASCs in 2022: A Year in Review" report. These factors put gastroenterology in a great spot for growth.

Gastroenterology is the most-represented specialty among ASCs, making up 32 percent of all cases, according to VMG Health's "Multi-Specialty ASC Benchmarking Study" for 2022.

Its current popularity combined with its potential for growth make it a hot commodity for investors.

Her Journey From Life-saving Heart Surgery To Disneyland's CHOC Walk

Katie Whaley's lifelong journey has taken her from life-saving heart surgery as an infant at Children's Hospital of Orange County to her role today as part of the Disneyland team that puts on the massive CHOC Walk in the Park that helps families when they need it most.

"It's hard to explain the feeling and energy of CHOC Walk until you experience it," Whaley said via an email interview. "For me, it's an overwhelming feeling of community to be part of this group all coming together to celebrate and support an organization that has touched all participants in one way or another."

The CHOC Walk in the Park returns to Disneyland on Sunday, Aug. 20 for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the Anaheim theme park.

SEE ALSO: Last chance to catch Disneyland's Marvel musical as summer run comes to an end

Whaley's CHOC success story symbolizes the mission and purpose of the hospital and the goal of the annual Disneyland fundraising event that raises millions for pediatric research, education and programs.

Whaley's story starts with Minnie Mouse visiting her in the CHOC pediatric ICU when she was a patient in 1994 and continues to today with her working alongside Mickey Mouse and Disney's other famed characters who line the CHOC Walk route encouraging walkers along the 5K journey through the parks.

"My favorite part is always seeing the volunteers and cheer squads lining the walk path supporting and cheering on the walkers," said Whaley, 29, of Aliso Viejo. "That spirit mixed with participants in fun costumes and the opportunity to see some favorite characters creates a truly unique atmosphere."

Katie Whaley with Dr. Nick Anas, who cared for her at CHOC. (Courtesy of Katie Whaley)

Whaley had surgery at CHOC when she was six months old to fix an issue with a vein coming off her heart that was wrapped around her trachea. The vascular ring, as the anomaly is known, was cutting off Whaley's ability to breathe.

"We waited months for a diagnosis as it's a challenging issue to identify in a young baby, but the heroes at CHOC came to our rescue," Whaley said. "I was in the pediatric intensive care unit for five days while in recovery, including over the Thanksgiving holiday."

SEE ALSO: Disneyland to open Avengers gift shop before Marvel multiverse E-Ticket ride

Whaley and her family give back to CHOC by walking in the Disneyland fundraising event each year. In addition, the Whaleys make Thanksgiving dinner every year for the pediatric intensive care unit staff as a way of saying thanks for saving her life nearly three decades ago.

This year, Whaley will participate in the annual fundraising event through her role in the Disneyland communications department where she supports community-outreach initiatives like the CHOC Walk.

"I'm looking forward to my first CHOC Walk experience as a cast member myself," Whaley said. "It's an honor to be part of bringing to life an event that has meant so much to me and my family for years."

Katie Whaley, center, with her mother Lisa, left, and father Christ at Disneyland. (Courtesy of Katie Whaley)

Katie Whaley, center, with her mother, Lisa, left, and father, Chris, at Disneyland. (Courtesy of Katie Whaley)

Whaley's mother, who also works at Disneyland, calls Katie's heart surgery "one of the hardest times of our lives."

"Ever since then, we have loved supporting CHOC as a family in various ways, including CHOC Walk, as a way of saying thank you to the wonderful hospital team," Lisa Whaley said via email.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland Canoe Races crown a familiar champion — but a new contender emerges

The annual CHOC Walk event kicks off at 6 a.M. Sunday before the parks open and travels through Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney.

Starbucks and Jamba open at 5 a.M. In Downtown Disney to fuel the walkers and other restaurants and shops open early and offer discounts to cater to participants.

The CHOC Walk event raises up to $3 million each year and has raised more than $40 million over the past three decades. The fundraising deadline for the annual event remains open until 4 p.M. On Saturday, Aug. 19.

Disneyland has had a long relationship with CHOC that dates back to before the hospital opened when Walt Disney served on the founding board and helped secure funds for construction.

Today, the hospital features Disney-designed touches that include an 18-foot-long lobby mobile and a Turtle Talk with Crush attraction similar to the show at Disney California Adventure.

Brady MacDonald is a theme park reporter for the Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group. He's covered the theme park industry for more than 25 years. He writes about Disney, Universal, Six Flags, SeaWorld, Cedar Fair and Legoland parks in Southern California, across the United States and around the world. As a member of the SCNG Features team, he also writes about entertainment, travel, pop culture, music, restaurants and craft beer.

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