Calories are not as simple as food labels suggest, according to research from the AdventHealth Translational Research Institute. Dr. Karen Corbin discussed this topic in an interview on “The Proof with Simon Hill,” highlighting how the gut microbiome influences the amount of energy absorbed from food.
Research conducted at AdventHealth found that people who followed a fiber-rich, whole-food diet absorbed an average of 116 fewer calories each day compared to those on a low-fiber diet, despite consuming the same number of calories. This difference occurs because some energy feeds gut microbes and is excreted rather than stored.
Dr. Corbin explained that high-fiber diets do more than support digestion. They can affect feelings of fullness, blood sugar regulation, body weight, liver function, and overall metabolic health—often within weeks.
Corbin suggests a simple daily check for better health: “Have I fed my gut microbiome?” She recommends including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans in meals to nourish beneficial microbes.
She also emphasized that the gut microbiome works with metabolism, hormones, and organs throughout the body. “The gut microbiome doesn’t work in isolation. It interacts with metabolism, hormones and organs throughout the body, helping connect digestion, energy balance and long-term health — all of which support whole-person well-being across mind, body and spirit.”
Dr. Corbin noted that nutrition is personal due to differences in individual gut microbiomes: “Two people can eat the same foods and have very different responses. Differences in the gut microbiome help explain why nutrition isn’t one-size-fits-all — and why personalized, whole-person care that considers the body as a system matters.”
AdventHealth Orlando is located in Orlando, Florida. Founded in 1908, it serves as both a hospital with a pediatric ward and a training hospital under current president Terry Shaw.
Listeners can hear more from Dr. Corbin’s conversation on “The Proof with Simon Hill” via Apple Podcasts, YouTube or Spotify.
