The Gutbliss Podcast

On today's show I've curated a list of 9 important things about your digestive system that I want you to know about. From cognitive function, to immune balance, to sleep hygiene, to trapping viruses - your GI tract plays an integral role in all of it. Once you understand how that works, you're able to not only improve your gut health, but optimize how your entire body feels and func...

IBS is frequently referred to as a diagnosis of exclusion: your doctor can’t find anything else wrong; therefore, it must be IBS. But if you slice up the IBS pie and take a good look, you actually find lots of potential explanations for what might be causing your symptoms. In this episode I go through over 30 different causes of IBS symptoms . These are conditions that we see frequently in a gastr...

Encouraging physicians to make a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome and prescribe medication for it is big business. I'm not saying that medication for IBS is never a good idea or never effective, but I am saying that it is often an overly expedient solution that doesn’t usually lead to lasting relief for the simple reason that IBS consists of multiple different conditions. Since there is...

This week's episode is another example of why you should reject a blanket diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, and ask your doctor to roll their sleeves up and help you uncover the root cause of your symptoms. The solution for everyone who's diagnosed with IBS is not always a diet change. But it should never just be "your bowel is irritable and here’s a drug". We'd love t...

We've been conditioned to think that all stress is harmful, but science now shows that certain kinds of stress are not only beneficial, but necessary for optimal health. By cultivating the right kind of stress, you are healing, repairing, and regenerating your body. In this episode I'm joined by physician and author of The Stress Paradox  Dr. Sharon Bergquist to discuss how stress can im...

Whether you're recovering from cancer or dealing with a chronic illness, how you nourish yourself is so important - and that includes not just the food you're eating, but also your mindset and thoughts. In this episode, how do you use the experience of a devastating diagnosis like cancer to live your healthiest, most nourished life.  We'd love to hear from you - send us a text! Thank...

In this episode we dive into the causes and treatment for aerophagia - one of the most unrecognized factors behind burping and bloating. Aerophagia is a condition where people swallow large amounts of air unintentionally and without realizing it. It’s often misdiagnosed as acid reflux , ulcers, gallstones , or SIBO – small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. I frequently see patients who have been pu...

OK, so you've filled your plate with fiber, you're drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of water and you're getting 30 to 60 minutes of regular exercise every day. You are poised for some really good bathroom action. On today's show, what else do you need to do to have a fantastic smooth move first thing in the morning. Spoiler alert: position, propulsion, and clea...

We all want to walk out of the doctor's office with something that we believe is going to make us better. But it's critically important to make sure that whatever you are opting in for - whether it's a pill, a procedure, or some other product - you are making that decision with eyes wide open and asking the important questions. On today's show: the "retailization" of...

On today’s show: the 10 most important steps to restore your gut health after taking antibiotics. Although it’s true that your microbiome will take a hit after antibiotics and may be permanently altered, it’s still possible to offset some of the damage by supporting your gut during and after the antibiotic.  We'd love to hear from you - send us a text! Thank you for being a part of our communi...

A one-week course of antibiotics can remove up to 1/3 of your gut bacteria - and that damage can’t be undone by just taking a probiotic, so you need to be absolutely certain that you really need that antibiotic. In today’s episode, I’m going to share 10 critical questions to ask your health care provider if you’ve been prescribed an antibiotic that can help you limit the damage to your gut microbi...

On today's show, we're going to dive into the topic of GLP-1 agonists, a class of medications that stimulates your pancreas to produce more insulin, slows down digestion, and promotes feelings of fullness. The benefits are that it can help lower your blood sugar level, it can lead to weight loss, and it may reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes. But judi...

More than 60 million Americans experience heartburn on a regular basis, but the recommended treatment does nothing to address the root cause - and totally messes up your digestion. The most important thing that I want you to know is that acid reflux has absolutely nothing to do with overproduction of acid. These symptoms are caused by inappropriate opening of the lower esophageal sphincter, and on...

Feelings of stress and anxiety aren't just in your head; they're also in your body, especially in your GI tract, and they can cause or worsen almost every digestive condition. Like many people, you may have a lot of stress in your life, and you may also have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, but could stress actually be causing or contributing to your irritable bowel syndrome...

I'm going to tell you about the specific things you should be paying attention to when you assess your bowel movements so you can understand what your stool is trying to tell you. Your GI tract communicates with you by giving you feedback through your stool. This is important information that can improve your health. It might even save your life. Your bowel movements can tip you off to the ea...

On today's show, why you need to turn around and take a look. And yes, I'm talking about when you are sitting on the toilet and you have finished doing your business, why you absolutely must turn around and take a look at what has come out. Your stool is valuable feedback that your body is giving you, and if you are not looking at it and analyzing it and evaluating it, you are missing ou...

The largest study ever done on the human microbiome was published in 2018 by the American Gut Project. The goal of the study was to better understand the composition and function of the human microbiome, and the impact of diet, lifestyle and disease. The results provide an important roadmap for what to do to cultivate a healthy microbiome. We'd love to hear from you - send us a text! Thank you...

Hemorrhoids are benign conditions but they’re still super bothersome – and they can almost always be improved or healed completely, so there's no need to just resign yourself to having a pain in the butt. In this episode learn all about what causes hemorrhoids - plus treatment options for acute and chronic symptoms. We'd love to hear from you - send us a text! Thank you for being a part o...

On today’s show, the last episode of the year, I want to say a huge thank you for listening and supporting the podcast. My message for this 2024 wrap up is a reminder that better gut health is simple, but not always easy. Focus on the small consistent changes that will make a big difference in the long run, and be kind to yourself on the journey.  We'd love to hear from you - send us a text! T...

On today's show, we are talking regularity, how consistent habits and training pay off in the gym - and the bathroom! I'll explain what you need to do the day before to make sure that morning poo arrives on time and your day gets off to a smooth start. Hint: hydrate, eat lots of fiber, and shut it down early if you want to experience stool (and gym) nirvana the next day. We'd love to...

Exposure to nature strengthens your immune system, activating natural killer cells that help protect you from cancer and infection. Contact with soil has been clinically shown to improve the composition and diversity of your microbiome. In this episode we explore forest bathing and the scientifically proven benefits that exposure to nature has on your gut and overall health. We'd love to hear...

More than 50% of all the calories we’re now eating in countries like the US and the UK are ultra-processed foods (UPFs), and their regular consumption has been tied to lots of different health problems, especially in the gut. So today, I want to provide you with a clear definition of what a UPF is, tell you about the problems they create in your digestive tract, and give you some practical tips fo...

Tis the season and that means lots of festivities, lots of food, and lots of GI distress. So here are my 7 best tips for how to enjoy every minute of the holiday, and every bite of your meal, while optimizing your digestion  and avoiding a food coma. Spoiler alert: holiday lunch instead of dinner is a game changer! We'd love to hear from you - send us a text! Thank you for being a part of our...

Yeast overgrowth is a real phenomenon, and one that conventional doctors are often skeptical and poorly informed about. But yeast paranoia is also a real problem, and sometimes people have to be discouraged from adopting a too severe diet that isn’t nourishing to their healthy microbes, or from over-treating for something that’s not actually a problem anymore. This episode tells you exactly what t...

On today's show, five simple tips to get started with a food as medicine approach. I'm thrilled to have Janet Jumper back on the show. Janet was featured in episode 21 talking about her journey with Crohn's disease , which she's had for over two decades. She is so full of wisdom and grace and practical advice, and I'm so glad to have her back. We'd love to hear from yo...