In this episode of Getting to Aha!, Darshan Mehta is joined by Dustin Elliott, the Senior Brand Manager at The Vitamin Shoppe. Join them as they explore misconceptions about performance enhancement, the impact of gut health on overall wellbeing, emerging trends in the supplements industry, and the future of nutrition and healthcare.

Dustin Elliott is the Senior Brand Manager at The Vitamin Shoppe, and has over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry. At The Vitamin Shoppe, he is responsible for branding strategy, product development, business management, and customer and market analysis. He holds a Bachelor's in Exercise Physiology from the Florida International University.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

👉 Dustin discusses the misconceptions people have about nutrition and performance enhancement, including the association of performance enhancement with detriment to health and the negative perception of pharmaceuticals in this space. He explains that he wants to expand the definition of ‘performance enhancement’ to relate more to self-improvement, whether for elite athletes, or for everyday individuals striving to be the best at what they do. Due to negative press, the public often takes a negative view of performance enhancement, but Dustin says it can increase longevity and have long term health benefits if people practice restraint.

👉 Dustin’s experience with lymphoma changed his outlook on health and wellbeing. He began to understand the significance of gut health after chemotherapy led to acid reflux and other digestion issues. Dustin says that one of the big things that has changed for him is how the gut impacts not only performance—where you have a lot of researchers who are looking at the gut biomes of athletes—but how it impacts human health in general. This has led to Dustin placing a higher value on things like fiber intake to support the gut biome. Never forget about the gut-brain connection!

👉 Dustin notes the growing trend for functional foods and the potential for healthier alternatives to processed snacks to improve overall health and combat obesity, expressing concerns about the impact of artificial sweeteners and processed ingredients on gut health. He also explores the challenges of changing people's choices and preferences when it comes to food, acknowledging that processed foods are still prevalent. However, Dustin still expresses hope that functional food options will become more readily available and affordable, leading to healthier choices for everyday individuals.

Listen Now!
bCast - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
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And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
Darshan's Twitter - @ahainsights
IResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
Dustin Elliot on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/duelliott
The Vitamin Shoppe website: https://www.vitaminshoppe.com