Can you imagine hopping on a plane and flying across the world… all to live with a tribe in Tanzania in the name of healing your gut?
Well, that’s exactly what one adventurous microbiome researcher, Jeff Leach, did.
He ate what they ate, everything, which included an incredible variety of foods. We’re talking nearly 300 different plants, roots, meats, berries and honey!
And sure enough, his microbiome reflected that richness, teeming with vibrant, diverse microbes.
And get this, they didn’t sanitize their food the way we do. No triple washes or shrink-wrapped veggies grown in synthetic soil.
The Hadza Tribe simply shakes off the dirt and grinds their roots right into powder. No fuss, all earthy and real.
His results were so amazing… he actually did a fecal transplant with one of the tribe members. Yep…that kind of transplant 💩
(I can’t help but giggle picturing him trying to explain to the tribe that he’d love a little “donor material” for his gut! 😂)
When Jeff returned to the U.S., he did his best to maintain that rich diversity by eating as varied a diet as possible… but after a couple months, it had faded.
His gut was still stronger than before, but nowhere near the robust microbiome he had during his time with the Hadza.
It just goes to show, maintaining gut diversity in our modern world is tough.
But that doesn’t mean we throw in the towel.
Nope, if anything, it means we try harder. For ourselves and for our animals.
This was actually a story Julie Anne Lee, the founder of Adored Beast Apothecary, shared during her gut health masterclass for our Concierge Members last weekend and it stuck with me 🛎️
( If you’re curious and want to join the next masterclass, Dr. Tori will be leading an in-person Paw Sha training this June. You can sign up for the Concierge Membership here 👉 I want to join the membership.)
Now, looping this back to your pet’s gut health—here’s what we know:
The bigger the variety of fresh whole foods and the more the fiber the more resilient the microbiome.
And here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be complicated.
For dogs, gently cooked veggies and different protein sources from your meals are a beautiful way to boost diversity. (Just skip the dairy if they’re sensitive, and stick with pet-safe foods.)
For our feline friends, it’s all about rotating proteins, switching between meats and fish (the cleaner, the better, low in heavy metals is ideal) 🐟🍗
You can always save time by rotating between different home-cooked and freeze-dried raw brands.
There are so many beautiful, trustworthy options out there, and if you’re unsure where to start, I can’t recommend Susan Thixton’s list enough 👉 The List.
And in terms of adding on toppers to really help healthy microbiome thrive, I really love these products:
1. Green Juju – Any of their frozen vegetable blends, or the fermented pastes
2. Gussy’s Gut
3. Solutions Pet Products – many of their product are fermented – which is a great way to boos the microbiome
While we carry some products on site, if you live locally, check out this wonderful pet store 👉PAWRAMOUNT in Redondo Beach that carries the best of all the products we love, AND talk to the owner Neda while you are there, she is absolutely the best and will help you find what your pet needs!
And of course, if a microbiome test shows your pet’s gut is struggling, fecal transplants can be a game changer—truly one of the most powerful ways to restore balance 💩✨
(Awesome side note, VDI Lab is now offering international microbiome tests so you can get this test for your pet no matter where you live) 🌍
Your Microbiome Vet,
Dr. Lily Chen 💖
💖 I’m writing to you today on Mother’s Day – I am sending wishes out for everyone for a wonderful Mother’s Day 💐💐
Starlight Stories
This weekend, we honor the spirit of Mother’s Day—a celebration that holds so many layers.
For some, it’s a time of joy, of handmade cards, wagging tails, and paw-printed “mom” mugs. For others, it may stir up tender grief, quiet longing, or memories held in sacred silence. Maybe you are a mother, to human or furry beings. Maybe you’re a caregiver, a nurturer, a gentle presence in someone’s world. Or maybe this day simply asks you to pause and breathe into all that you’ve held and all that you are still becoming.
Whatever this day means to you, this is your gentle reminder to care for your own heart, too.
Wrap yourself in softness. Take a walk. Journal. Cry. Laugh. Sit under the sky. Celebrate loudly or retreat quietly. There is no wrong way to tend to your soul.
Healing is not just something we offer to our loved ones—it’s something we deserve for ourselves. So today, whether you are mothering others or re-mothering yourself, may you feel seen, supported, and deeply loved.
💗 Starlight