"The Microbiome: Our Canary in the Coal Mine for Environmental and Oxidative Stress"

Presenter: Andrea McBeth, ND
Original Date: February 1 2025

In today’s modern environment, our gut microbiome acts as an early warning system, much like the canary in a coal mine, alerting us to environmental toxins and oxidative stress that compromise our health. As our most responsive and susceptible system, the microbiome is uniquely positioned to signal, modulate, and defend against oxidative stress through its production of crucial postbiotic metabolites. In this presentation, we will explore how environmental exposures—what we eat, drink, and even think—affect the microbiome’s ability to maintain health, focusing on how postbiotics help activate detox pathways like Antioxidant Response Elements (AREs). We’ll also discuss the redox theory of dysbiosis, which links microbiome imbalance with systemic oxidative stress, and how supporting the microbiome can enhance detoxification and restore balance to the body.

Bio: Andrea McBeth, ND, is a naturopathic doctor, entrepreneur, and advocate focused on developing innovative products that promote healing and reduce suffering. Her work aims to complement and enhance healthcare systems by encouraging a broader understanding of wellness and recovery. She holds an undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of San Diego, where she focused on molecular biochemistry research. After working for several years as a full-time researcher, Andrea shifted her academic path to earning a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine.

Andrea views wellness through the lens of the microbiota, emphasizing the relationship between gut health and overall health. Using microbiome-centered therapies to promote “good” bacteria in the gut, she empowers patients with knowledge and creative approaches to their health concerns. She believes that how we eat, move, and think are integral components of how we heal.

In 2017, she founded a stool bank that supported access to Fecal Microbiota Transplants for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant Clostridium difficile infections. From that work, she branched out and co-founded Thaena Inc. in 2018. She is proud to be leading the biotech startup team as its CEO, further exploring the applications of stool-derived microbial metabolites.

NUNM is accredited by the North American Naturopathic Continuing Education Council (NANCEAC). This activity qualifies for 1.5 General CEUs