Empowered Hormones with Sheradyn Dekker

Best and worst probiotics for IBS One of the questions I get asked all the time is… “What’s the best probiotic for IBS?” And honestly? It’s one of the hardest questions to answer. Not because probiotics don’t work. But because IBS tells me almost nothing. Two women can both be told they have IBS, both experience bloating every single day, and bot...

How to heal your gut after antibiotics (prevent thrush, IBS & bloating) If you’ve ever finished a course of antibiotics and thought, my gut has never been the same since … this is for you. Because I know what you’ve probably been told. Finish the antibiotics. Maybe take a probiotic. Give it time. And while the infection clears… the bloating starts. Your digestion...

The top 10 causes of IBS (that your GP hasn’t told you about) You’ve been told it’s IBS. Maybe you were given a low FODMAP handout, told to manage your stress, eat more fibre, or “just avoid trigger foods.” And maybe some of that helped for a bit. But if you are still bloated, constipated, gassy, reacting to foods, or thinking about your gut all day — somet...

The perfect poop, laxative use & overcoming constipation You have been pooping your entire life… and I would bet nobody has ever actually told you what a healthy one looks like, how often you should be going, or what it means when you’re not. And honestly? That is a problem. Because what happens when nobody talks about bowel movements is that women start normalising symptoms that...

IBS or IBD? What’s the difference & how do you test? You’ve been told it’s IBS. Maybe you’ve had tests done. Maybe you’ve even had a colonoscopy that came back “clear.” And then… you’re sent home and told to manage it. But if you’re still dealing with bloating, urgency, diarrhea, constipation, or pain — and no one has properly...

IBS is BS (A personal battle & 4 easy fixes) You’ve been told it’s IBS. Eat more fibre. Drink more water. Try low FODMAP. Manage your stress. And just… manage it. But if you’re still bloated, constipated, gassy, and uncomfortable — despite doing everything “right” — something isn’t adding up. Because the women I see are not unhealthy. They...

Post Bali Belly — Why your gut has never quite healed You had an infection. You recovered. And yet… your gut has never been the same. The bloating. The gas. The constipation or urgency. The foods that suddenly don’t sit right. And no matter how “clean” you eat or how much you try to fix it… it never fully resolves. Because when your symptoms started after a gu...

Why you’re so gassy (and it stinks!) You can eat the same foods. Follow the same routine. Do everything “right”… and still end up bloated, uncomfortable, and wondering what just happened. Because when your gas feels completely unpredictable — no pattern, no trigger, no logic — it’s easy to assume you’re doing something wrong. But you’re not. T...

Stop taking probiotics (they are making your gut worse) One of the biggest mistakes I see in the wellness space is women taking probiotics, hoping they will heal their gut.. Women with IBS, bloating and constipation are told they need more “good bacteria”..So they double down on probiotics. But so often you’re not lacking bacteria, you have TOO much bacteria! In this episode...

Should active women with IBS avoid intense exercise? If you do Hyrox, CrossFit, heavy lifting, boxing, strength training or hard cardio… but your gut flares every time you train, this is for you. Because I know what you’ve probably been told. “Stop training so hard.” “Just walk.” “Do yoga.” “Your body is too stressed.” And look, sometime...

You train hard. You eat “clean.” You try to stay disciplined. So why do you still feel out of control around food? In this episode I’m joined by Elin Granstrand , founder of one of Australia’s leading binge eating recovery programs for health-conscious women. And we’re unpacking a truth most of the fitness industry completely misses… Under-eating and overtraini...

Your acne might not "just" be hormonal. You can balance your blood sugar, take all the zinc in the world, and track your ovulation until you're blue in the face but if there is a deeper driver impacting your hormones from the gut, your skin will not budge. Today’s episode is personal. For four years, I struggled with acne. As a practitioner, the identity clash was real. I was doing "everythi...

If you’ve spent years "doing the work" the diets, the supplements, the protocols but your gut symptoms and anxiety still won't budge, this episode might be the missing piece of your puzzle. We often talk about the gut-brain axis, but we rarely talk about what happens when the body doesn't feel safe enough to heal. Joining me for this deep dive is Liz McComish , an Integrated Trauma Healing P...

Are you hitting your protein targets, training 5 days a week, and avoiding gluten, dairy, and sugar yet you’re still dealing with crippling bloating and unpredictable digestion? If you’ve spent more time worrying about your food than enjoying it, this episode is a major "pattern interrupt." Today, we’re discussing an uncomfortable truth: for many active women, gut issues aren&rsq...

If you’ve been "eating clean," tracking your macros, and strictly following a low FODMAP diet but you’re still dealing with bloating, puffiness, and anxiety, this episode is a must-listen. If your "IBS" feels more like full-body inflammation—or if it flares right before your period—it’s time to stop looking at FODMAPs and start looking at histamine. Today, we are unpa...

Ever wondered why your digestion is fine one week and a total wreck the next? If your "IBS" flares around ovulation or PMS even when you’re eating the same foods, it’s not random, it’s physiological. Today, we’re unpacking the powerful connection between your hormones and your gut. In this episode, we dive into: The Estrogen Connection: How high estrogen triggers gut sensit...

If you’re doing "all the right things" eating clean, exercising, and taking supplements but the bloating and pain won’t budge, this episode is for you. We’re breaking down why clean eating isn't the same as gut healing and why "doing more" with restrictions often backfires. In this episode, we cover: Clean Eating vs. Gut Healing: Why macros alone can't fix parasites or leaky gut....

In this episode of The Empowered Hormones Podcast , I’m joined by certified somatic sexologist Lillie Brown for an open, honest conversation about sex, pleasure, and why so many women are struggling with low libido. We talk about the difference between arousal and desire, how shame and self-confidence impact your sex drive, and what it really takes to reconnect with your body on your own ter...

From Hormone Chaos to Hormone Harmony … Reiki & Functional Hormone Expert Melissa Perna unpacks her experience with PCOS, living with half a thyroid and the transition into Perimenopause. We explore how nutrition and nervous system support are the key to balanced, happy hormones.. listen now on the Empowered Hormones Podcast GUEST LINKS Website: www.melissaperna.com.au Social links: htt...

EPISODE: Breathwork: The Missing Link to Nervous System Regulation with Amy Bevan of Zenithal Motion What if your breath is the key to healing more than just stress — but your entire nervous system? In this calming yet powerful episode of the Empowered Hormones Podcast , I sit down with Amy Bevan , integrative health professional, wellness coach, and founder of Zenithal Motion . With a rich...

Unlock the Emotional Root of Your Symptoms with Jessica Seeley In this powerful episode of the Empowered Hormones Podcast , I sit down with kinesiologist and flower essence practitioner Jessica Seeley — a passionate healer helping women and children release emotional blocks and reconnect with their true selves. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the right things for your h...

If you’ve ever asked “Can’t I just do a gut test and fix it in a month?” — this episode is your wake-up call. Functional nutritionist Sheradyn Dekker breaks down why true gut healing takes time — and what most women are missing when they try to fast-track the process. We dive into: ✨ Why 6 months is often the minimum ✨ The truth about biofilms, hidden infectio...

Is breathwork the missing link in your mental health and performance journey? In this transformative episode, I sit down with Emma McCarthy — mental health occupational therapist and therapeutic breathwork specialist — to explore how the simple act of breathing can profoundly impact anxiety, nervous system regulation, and athletic performance. Emma shares her personal journey from clin...

Think constipation is just about fiber? Think again. In this eye-opening episode, we uncover why your gut struggles might have less to do with what you're adding — and more to do with what’s already going wrong. From hormone imbalances to hidden bacterial overgrowth, we break down the real root causes behind constipation, bloating, and even loose stools. You'll learn why simply adding...

If you’ve been stuck avoiding gluten, dairy, or every high-FODMAP food just to keep your IBS symptoms in check — this episode is for you. Today, we’re breaking down why long-term food restrictions can actually harm your gut health, not heal it. We’ll talk about why your gut microbiome needs a variety of foods, how key nutrients and prebiotics like garlic, onions, and banana...