Latest news with #Chutkan
CNBC
08-08-2025
- Health
- CNBC
A healthy gut is key to your physical and mental well-being, doctor says: 'It is literally the engine for everything'
An unhappy gut can significantly impact both your mental and emotional health, experts say, affecting your mood and overall well-being. When your gut is in poor health, you may experience bloating, gas, constipation, abdominal discomfort, mood swings and even acne. On a recent episode of the 10% Happier podcast, host Dan Harris discussed the connection between gut health and mental health with gastroenterologist and author Dr. Robynne Chutkan. Harris opened the episode with a brief explanation of the gut-brain axis, which simply put, is a "two-way communication system involving nerves, hormones and immune signals," he says. The gut-brain axis links your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) with your enteric nervous system (the nervous system of the gut). This two-way street allows your brain to influence your gut's functions—like motility, secretion, and immune responses. In turn, your gut influences your brain's emotional and cognitive centers. To kick off their discussion, Chutkan asked Harris to look down at his stomach and consider its position in the body. "It is in the absolute center of your body. It is literally the engine for everything," she said. "I would imagine that if your car engine breaks down, even if the brakes are working, or the carburetor is working or something else, you are not going to get very far because your engine is not working. So the gut really fuels the entire body." Even if someone eats a healthy, plant-based, and fiber-rich diet — all of which are proven to maintain or improve gut function — if their pH balance is off or the gut lining is damaged, they won't be able to absorb nutrients properly, Chutkan explained. "If the gut is not optimized, those nutrients aren't going to get absorbed and assimilated, and they're not going to get to the brain and the immune system and all the other parts of the body," she said. And that's why, according to Chutkan, the gut is the No. 1 organ you should focus on: "Everybody in medicine thinks that their field is most important," she said. "The neurosurgeons think it's the brain, but it's the gut." The enteric nervous system lives within the gut and is often called the second brain, Chutkan said. The system has more nerve cells than a spinal cord, and it allows the gut and the brain to communicate with one another. "What are they telling each other?" Chutkan asked. "The brain is controlling things like gut motility, enzyme secretion and also nutrient absorption that we talked about. And the gut is controlling things like mood and memory. When I say controlling, not completely, but influencing dramatically." As far back as the 1800s, when melancholia was the term used for what we now know as depression, people were treating it with diet, she said. In 1859, physician Wooster Beach, suggested that those suffering from melancholia "peruse interesting books, and converse with cheerful friends; and above all, be located amid pleasant scenery, where he can enjoy a water prospect, a country air, and country diet." The bacteria in your gut form what's called the microbiome, and it's responsible for making certain chemicals in your body function correctly, according to Kaiser Permanente. Those chemicals include neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin that affect your mood and sleep, as well as postbiotics that can reduce inflammation and lower stress levels. When your gut is unhealthy and those chemicals are out of whack, you may experience mood swings, sleep disturbances and brain fog. Even conditions like Parkinson's diseases, have connections to gut health. "We know that it begins in the gut," Chutkan said. "There's a theory called a gut-first theory of Parkinson's." German neuroanatomist, Dr. Heiko Braak noticed abnormal proteins in the brains of people with Parkinson's. Those same proteins were present in the gut linings of those individuals years before they developed the brain disease. Braak's evidence is based on autopsies, but certain research has been done in mice to indicate that injecting those same abnormal proteins into the gut of the animals led to later development of Parkinson's disease. "I think that's one of the clearest connections between the gut and the brain," Chutkan said. Now that you know how important it is to keep your gut healthy, you may be wondering how to get your own in better shape. Dr. Christopher Damman, a gastroenterologist at the Digestive Health Center at the University of Washington Medical Center, shared four ways to improve gut health with CNBC Make It in 2022. Here are his suggestions: "Shift back to a truly healthy diet which has more balance to it," Damman said. "The balance that we've been missing is whole foods and fiber."
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal judge: NM suit against Musk & DOGE can proceed
On Feb. 13, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez (below) joined Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Arizona AG Kris Mayes to discuss a new multi-state lawsuit filed by 14 states against Elon Musk, DOGE and President Trump. A federal judge denied the requested temporary restraining order on Feb. 18. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez's office announced on Tuesday that District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, from the District of Columbia, had denied the Trump administration's motion to dismiss a lawsuit by more than a dozen states, and co-led by New Mexico, against Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. The lawsuit, filed in February, alleges President Trump 'delegated virtually unchecked authority to [Musk] without proper legal authorization from Congress and without meaningful supervision of his activities.' A federal judge that same month rejected the plaintiffs' request for a temporary restraining order against DOGE and President Donald Trump. New Mexico sues Elon Musk In her ruling, Chutkan writes that two states, New Mexico and Washington, 'allege sufficient injuries' to satisfy standing under Article III of the Constitution, which limits federal judicial power. In the case of New Mexico, Chutkan notes that New Mexico's Mining and Minerals Division has been unable to access federal funding via Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grants, which it relies on to 'safeguard…thousands of abandoned mines and associated hazards' across the state. She wrote that the court also found 'New Mexico's allegations that Defendants gained unauthorized access to its private and proprietary information sufficient to allege an injury.' In describing the suit in February, Torrez said it posed a 'novel' question for the courts to consider, which is that Musk's actions constitute 'a fundamental restructuring of constitutional order and a violation of the rule of law.' Specifically, the suit argues that DOGE's actions violate the U.S. Constitution's separation of powers and the Appointments Clause, specifically the portion that requires executive appointments to have congressional oversight. In her analysis, Chutkan notes that the U.S. Constitution does not allow 'the Executive to commandeer the entire appointments power by unilaterally creating a federal agency pursuant to Executive Order and insulating its principal officer from the Constitution as an 'advisor' in name only. This is precisely what Plaintiffs claim the Executive has done.' While Chutkan allowed the suit to proceed, she did agree to dismiss President Trump as a defendant. Following Chutkan's ruling on Tuesday, Torrez released a statement calling the decision 'an important milestone for preserving America's system of checks and balances.' The AGs filed the case, he said, 'to defend the Constitution and stop the dangerous precedent of allowing billionaire donors to dismantle federal agencies, cut vital public programs, and access sensitive state data without lawful authority. We are proud to move this case forward and help bring Elon Musk's reign of terror to an end.' Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in a statement noted that, 'The Constitution, and the Appointments Clause, are not mere roadblocks for this administration to ignore. I look forward to continuing this case in court.' Torrez noted that the case will continue even if Musk is gone. 'No one should be allowed to outsource the presidency to one of their billionaire friends or exercise executive authority without the advice and consent of the Senate,' he said in a statement. 'This is about the rule of law, plain and simple.'
Hamilton Spectator
28-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
A judge refuses to toss states' lawsuit against Elon Musk and DOGE
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has refused to throw out a lawsuit that accuses billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency of illegally accessing government data systems, canceling government contracts and firing federal employees. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ruled Tuesday that 14 states can proceed with their claims against Musk and DOGE. The states, through their attorneys general, sued in February over the defendants' alleged constitutional violations. The states had asked Chutkan to temporarily block DOGE from accessing any data systems or terminating any federal employees. But the judge denied that request on Feb. 18. She found that there were legitimate questions about Musk's authority but said there weren't grounds to justify a temporary restraining order. Chutkan agreed Tuesday to dismiss President Donald Trump as a defendant in the lawsuit, but she refused to dismiss the claims against Musk and DOGE. The plaintiffs' attorneys argued that Musk's actions, including those carried out at his direction by DOGE personnel, are unconstitutional because he hasn't been legally appointed. Chutkan wrote: 'The Constitution does not permit the Executive to commandeer the entire appointments power by unilaterally creating a federal agency pursuant to Executive Order and insulating its principal officer from the Constitution as an 'advisor' in name only. This is precisely what Plaintiffs claim the Executive has done.' The Trump administration has maintained that layoffs are coming from agency heads and insisted that Musk hasn't been running DOGE's day-to-day operations. Chutkan, who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama, previously oversaw the now-dismissed criminal election interference case against Trump in Washington.
28-05-2025
- Business
A judge refuses to toss states' lawsuit against Elon Musk and DOGE
WASHINGTON -- A federal judge has refused to throw out a lawsuit that accuses billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency of illegally accessing government data systems, canceling government contracts and firing federal employees. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ruled Tuesday that 14 states can proceed with their claims against Musk and DOGE. The states, through their attorneys general, sued in February over the defendants' alleged constitutional violations. The states had asked Chutkan to temporarily block DOGE from accessing any data systems or terminating any federal employees. But the judge denied that request on Feb. 18. She found that there were legitimate questions about Musk's authority but said there weren't grounds to justify a temporary restraining order. Chutkan agreed Tuesday to dismiss President Donald Trump as a defendant in the lawsuit, but she refused to dismiss the claims against Musk and DOGE. The plaintiffs' attorneys argued that Musk's actions, including those carried out at his direction by DOGE personnel, are unconstitutional because he hasn't been legally appointed. Chutkan wrote: 'The Constitution does not permit the Executive to commandeer the entire appointments power by unilaterally creating a federal agency pursuant to Executive Order and insulating its principal officer from the Constitution as an 'advisor' in name only. This is precisely what Plaintiffs claim the Executive has done." The Trump administration has maintained that layoffs are coming from agency heads and insisted that Musk hasn't been running DOGE's day-to-day operations. Chutkan, who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama, previously oversaw the now-dismissed criminal election interference case against Trump in Washington.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A judge refuses to toss states' lawsuit against Elon Musk and DOGE
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has refused to throw out a lawsuit that accuses billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency of illegally accessing government data systems, canceling government contracts and firing federal employees. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ruled Tuesday that 14 states can proceed with their claims against Musk and DOGE. The states, through their attorneys general, sued in February over the defendants' alleged constitutional violations. The states had asked Chutkan to temporarily block DOGE from accessing any data systems or terminating any federal employees. But the judge denied that request on Feb. 18. She found that there were legitimate questions about Musk's authority but said there weren't grounds to justify a temporary restraining order. Chutkan agreed Tuesday to dismiss President Donald Trump as a defendant in the lawsuit, but she refused to dismiss the claims against Musk and DOGE. The plaintiffs' attorneys argued that Musk's actions, including those carried out at his direction by DOGE personnel, are unconstitutional because he hasn't been legally appointed. Chutkan wrote: 'The Constitution does not permit the Executive to commandeer the entire appointments power by unilaterally creating a federal agency pursuant to Executive Order and insulating its principal officer from the Constitution as an 'advisor' in name only. This is precisely what Plaintiffs claim the Executive has done." The Trump administration has maintained that layoffs are coming from agency heads and insisted that Musk hasn't been running DOGE's day-to-day operations. Chutkan, who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama, previously oversaw the now-dismissed criminal election interference case against Trump in Washington.
