In conversation with Rose Ferguson: True Biome and gut health
Gut health has become one of the biggest wellness conversations of recent years, yet many of us only think about it when something feels “off” like bloating, IBS, or digestive discomfort. But our gut does far more than just digest food; it impacts energy, mood, skin, immunity, and even how we handle stress. To explore this intricate inner world, we sat down with Rose Ferguson, Certified Medical Practitioner, and long-time Ancient + Brave ally, to discuss all things gut health. From hidden signs of imbalance to the daily habits that truly support your microbiome, Rose shares her clinical insights and personal experience trialling True Biome, our innovative gut health formula.
1. Gut health is something often only thought about when something feels wrong- bloating, IBS symptoms. But in your experience as a practitioner, how might someone’s gut be out of balance even if they don’t have obvious symptoms?
People sometimes come to me with less obvious symptoms. These symptoms can show up in many ways, they might not be digestive. I would say the obvious ones are definitely fatigue, low energy, low mood is a big one or skin issues. I mean, there's many, but those are some of the big ones.
2. In your clinical work, what are some surprising signs that point back to the gut?
I think there are lots of surprising signs that can point back to a gut that isn't firing on all cylinders. Again, fatigue is a big one. It can also show up as inflammation in joints, which is one that always surprises people. It can show up in the skin, in inflammatory skin conditions such as rosacea. Or even eczema.
3. Why is the gut such an important place to begin when you’re supporting clients?
The gut is a super important place to begin when you're supporting clients because it is literally the processing plant for fuel that you take in. Whatever you eat gets processed by the gut, and if it's not on point, then you might not be breaking down the food and using it as effectively as you could or should.
4. Are issues with gut health increasing? If so, why do you think this is?
Gut issues are definitely on the rise. And one of the leading causes is the increased stress on our body. Be that emotional or just what we think of as traditional stress, such as your inbox overflowing, or running around like a blue-arse fly. But then there are also other stressors that impact the gut, things like pollutants in the air, which are obviously outside your control. The crap that goes into some food, all those chemicals and pesticides, Ultra-processed food, the high amount of sugar that we eat. We are
surrounded by more chemicals than ever before. And they can all impact the gut. Another one is sleep and rest. Your microbiome needs to rest. So, yes, there are many reasons to suggest that gut issues are on the rise.
5. You’ve been using True Biome for the past 12 weeks in our InnerCircle trial. Was there anything you noticed? Tell us how it went
It went really well, I enjoyed it. It was really easy to do because it was over the summer. So it was while I was travelling around a bit, and it just came everywhere with me. Considering all the changes in routine and the changes to what I was eating, my gut held up remarkably well. And it's so, so simple to use. And that's a huge thing for me as a practitioner - consistency and how easy it is to incorporate in your day to day, it is for that. So it was great.
6. True Biome focuses on both probiotics, L-glutamine and postbiotics. From a practitioner’s perspective, why is that combination exciting?
It really is exciting, I remember when I first read that's what it was, I thought it was genius. The prebiotic provides an environment for a microbiome to thrive. L-glutamine is one of my all-time favourites. I use it as a single nutrient to help people restore their gut, their gut lining, and to help repair. So, it's a brilliant, brilliant amino acid to have in there.
And then the postbiotics. Many people, while they're improving their gut health, need support on the other side, the postbiotic side. The postbiotics used in True Biome are stable, do not require refrigeration, and are highly beneficial for protection and the immune system, the combination of those three angles for a gut supplement is very clever.
7. True Biome is about tending the whole inner terrain and supporting what's already there. Why does that approach excite you as a practitioner?
True Biome supports a broader spectrum of gut health, which is really exciting. Often, what we do is give a probiotic, but this is about creating a whole gut environment where the bacteria can thrive. It's also about supporting the gut lining, which is often where there are issues in my clinical experience. And then there is the support of the postbiotics.
8. You work with so many people on making health habits stick in the long term, how have you made True Biome part of your daily ritual?
I have been adding it to my morning matcha, it is so easy because you can add it to any drink, and it doesn't taste of anything, which is great when it comes to being consistent, because if you forget it then you can just add it to a glass of water later in the day.
9. Are there any other Ancient + Brave products that pair in synergy with True Biome for your own health goals?
If all else fails, I've been taking the True Biome, which, for me, I have to say is a miracle, but I have mostly been taking it with Ancient + Brave collagen and creatine.
10. For someone who doesn’t know where to start, what’s the simplest first step towards a healthier gut?
The first step is really boring; I've said it before, and I will say it again. The very first step is to up your plants. Getting that fibre in is utterly key for your microbiome. I'm not saying to go from nothing to 100 overnight because that can cause its own issues. But building up your fibre intake slowly is absolutely crucial. We don’t eat enough and could all do with eating more.
11. We feel so honoured you’ve been part of the Ancient + Brave journey since the early days - what is it about our philosophy that resonates with you?
I have been a fan of Ancient + Brave for a really long time. What I love about the philosophy of Ancient + Brave is that they make it doable. But more than that, because I've been working alongside or just fangirling on Ancient + Brave forever since the start, I know quite a lot about how the company works and the amount of care that goes into the sourcing, the amount of care that goes into the creation of their products and the amount of care that the whole company tries to foster in the way that they work
12. What’s one of the best pieces of wisdom or advice you've been given?
Oh, that's a big old question. I will tell you something that I do do. It is something my mum has said to me my whole life, and that's to simply, ‘take time’. I'm always rushing, she has always said, “take your time, take a breath, slow down.” That’s a bit of wisdom that I use on a daily basis.
13. What does 'bravery' mean to you?
There's that brilliant book, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. And sometimes, when I'm feeling very stressed, I realise that I'm afraid of something, you know, whether it's an interview, a talk, a plan I am doing with R Health Club, or a part of the book I'm writing.
I think about that line quite often, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. And that is bravery to me. It reminds me to try it anyway!