The Nutrient Dense Podcast

Have you ever cleaned up your diet only to find yourself more bloated, gassy, constipated, nauseous, or uncomfortable than you were before? You've added in more veggies and gut health foods and instead of feeling amazing, your digestion seems to be getting worse.   In this episode, I'm breaking down three of the biggest reasons I see this happen with our clients. We'll talk about why increasing fiber can sometimes make SIBO, constipation, and slow gut motility feel worse; why nutritious foods like avocado, fermented foods, spinach, and leftovers can trigger symptoms when you're dealing with histamine issues; and why increasing healthy fats can reveal underlying problems with bile flow, pancreatic enzymes, or digestive function.   Most importantly, I want you to understand that the answer isn't to become afraid of healthy foods or restrict them forever. Your reactions can actually give us clues about where your digestive system is struggling—and once we identify and address those deeper issues, the goal is to help you tolerate more foods with fewer reactions.               WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE: A temporary increase in gas can happen when you rapidly increase fiber—but severe or persistent symptoms warrant a deeper look. Fiber intolerance can point toward bacterial overgrowth and impaired gut motility. Adding more fiber isn't always the answer for constipation and can sometimes worsen symptoms when motility is impaired. Reactions to fermented foods, avocado, leftovers, and other histamine-rich foods may signal histamine overload or impaired clearance. Feeling worse after increasing healthy fats can point toward issues with bile flow, enzymes, or fat digestion. The goal isn't long-term food restriction—it's understanding why your body is reacting in the first place. Your food reactions can provide valuable clues about what may be happening underneath the surface.                     LINKS: Book a strategy call with Hannah HERE Take the Gut Health Root Cause Quiz for free! Equip Protein: use the code hannahaylwardhhc for 15% off Create a Fullscript account and get access to 15% off our recommended practitioner-grade supplements here. Apply for HAN's 1:1 Coaching Program! Listen to Episode 72 - The Migrating Motor Complex (MMC) — Your Gut's Natural Cleaning Cycle Listen to Episode 83 - Histamine Isn't the Problem — Here's What Actually Is Listen to Episode 12 - Is Histamine Overload Causing Your Unexplained Symptoms? Listen to Episode 59 - How to Support Your Nervous System in Times of Chaos Listen to Episode 80 - Bile Flow 101: The Overlooked Key to Better Digestion, Bowel Movements & Histamine                 CONNECT WITH HANNAH: Instagram  |   Website                 If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨  

In this episode of the Nutrient Dense Podcast, I'm sharing a section of my Good Gut Formula Masterclass where I break down the deeper root causes of food sensitivities, leaky gut, and IBS. I dive into what increased intestinal permeability actually means, how the gut barrier interacts with your immune system, and why food reactions are a clue to something deeper.   We'll also explore factors that may contribute to persistent digestive symptoms, including microbial imbalances, digestive function, and chronic stress, and why feeling better often requires a more comprehensive approach than another supplement or elimination diet.   If your labs look "normal," but you're still bloated, uncomfortable, and unsure what to eat, this episode will help you understand what questions to ask next.   The replay has expired, but you can still listen to the masterclass on Hannah's secret podcast 🤫.   Enrollment is OPEN for Healin' Guts + Shakin' Butts, my 16-week gut health program that utilizes functional testing, targeted nutrition, lifestyle strategies, and coaching support to help you get to the bottom of your chronic digestive issues. This is our final round of 2026, and doors close September 10th at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.   Learn more about HGSB and join us here: https://go.hannahaylward.com/yes                   WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE: Food sensitivities and leaky gut explained Uncovering the roots of IBS Removing foods alone does not repair your gut                   LINKS: Watch the Good Gut Formula Masterclass replay! Learn more about Healin' Guts + Shakin' Butts HERE. Book a strategy call with Hannah HERE Take the Gut Health Root Cause Quiz for free!               CONNECT WITH HANNAH: Instagram  |   Website           If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨  

Have you ever thought, what came first…my anxiety or my gut issues? The answer is probably a little bit of both.   In this re-aired episode of The Nutrient Dense Podcast, I'm diving deep into the gut-brain connection and the bidirectional relationship between your nervous system, digestive function, gut microbiome, and mental health.    The gut and brain are intricately connected via the gut-brain axis. We'll talk about how stress impacts your gut function, and how your gut health can exacerbate anxiety.    The discussion covers the role of neurotransmitters produced in the gut, the influence of histamine on anxiety, and the importance of addressing both gut and mental health conditions for holistic healing.   If you've been told your digestive symptoms are "just anxiety," this conversation will help you understand why the answer is often much more nuanced—and why supporting both your gut and nervous system can be such an important part of truly feeling better.             WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE: The gut and brain are intricately connected via the gut-brain axis. Certain gut bacteria can increase stress hormone levels. 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut. Over time, stress can contribute to real physiological gut imbalances—not simply temporary digestive symptoms. Gut health is crucial for reducing anxiety levels. Your gut microbes play a role in neurotransmitters involved in mood, motivation, and relaxation. Long-term improvement often means supporting both the nervous system and the gut, rather than asking which one came first.             LINKS: Save your seat for my FREE 3 Phase Good Gut Formula Masterclass! Book a strategy call with Hannah HERE Take the Gut Health Root Cause Quiz for free! Equip Protein: use the code hannahaylwardhhc for 15% off Listen to Episode 1 - How Trauma Impacts Gut and Hormone Health Listen to Episode 14 - Chronically Stressed & Exhausted? Navigating Burnout & "Adrenal Fatigue" Listen to Episode 30 - Is Your Gut Causing High Cortisol? The Gut x Cortisol Connection Listen to Episode 70 - Are You Addicted to Stress Hormones?                         CONNECT WITH HANNAH: Instagram  |   Website                   If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨  

What happens when you're eating a healthy diet, exercising, taking supplements, drinking plenty of water, and doing everything you've been told to do for your gut...but you're still chronically constipated, bloated, burping after meals, struggling with reflux, and dealing with acne?   In this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of a real client case from my HGSB program. She had struggled with digestive issues since her early 20s, had seen multiple doctors, was relying on Linzess for constipation, and had previously taken Accutane for acne—but her digestive issues continued.   When we ran testing, we found there was much more happening beneath the surface. I'm walking you through exactly what we found, why we didn't immediately jump into a "kill protocol," how we strategically rebuilt her digestive function, and the order in which we addressed her imbalances.   After four months, she reported going from feeling like a 3/10 to a 9/10, with no more bloating after meals, burping, gas, acne, undigested food in her stool, or afternoon energy crashes—and she was having daily bowel movements!   If you feel like you're doing everything right but your results aren't matching your effort, this episode will show you why a personalized, root-cause strategy can make all the difference.             WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE: Eating a healthy diet doesn't automatically resolve underlying digestive dysfunction. Chronic constipation, bloating, reflux, acne, and nutrient issues can share overlapping root causes. Supporting the body's foundations before eradication was an important part of her protocol. Gut motility, stomach acid, bile flow, enzyme production, and regular bowel movements all needed attention. The goal wasn't simply to kill bacteria, it was to address why the overgrowth developed in the first place. After four months, she reported major improvements in digestion, bowel regularity, energy, and skin. Personalized protocols can help replace years of guessing with a more targeted strategy.             LINKS: Book a strategy call with Hannah HERE Join the waitlist for Healin' Guts + Shakin' Butts, starting in September! Take the Gut Health Root Cause Quiz for free! Equip Protein: use the code hannahaylwardhhc for 15% off Listen to Episode 41 - Before You Invest In Functional Testing, Make Sure You're Doing These Things Listen to Episode 17 - Decoding Your Gut: Functional Stool Testing Deep Dive Listen to Episode 33 - Main Root Causes of Chronic Gut & Digestive Issues           CONNECT WITH HANNAH: Instagram  |   Website             If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨  

I spent seven years struggling with chronic bloating, IBS symptoms, constipation, food sensitivities, and major food anxiety—even though I felt like I was doing everything right. I ate healthier than almost everyone I knew. I avoided gluten and dairy for nearly a decade. I exercised, bought organic food, used non-toxic products, followed elimination diets, and spent hundreds of dollars on probiotics, digestive enzymes, L-glutamine, and every gut-support supplement I could find. And I still looked six months pregnant with belly bloating after eating an apple.   What I eventually realized was that I didn't need to restrict more foods or find the perfect supplement. I needed a completely different strategy.   In this episode, I'm walking you through the six key steps I personally focused on to repair my gut. I'm breaking down why chronic digestive issues can be about so much more than the foods you're eating, why digestion needs to be addressed before obsessing over probiotics, how functional testing changed my approach, and why my nervous system ended up being one of the most important pieces of my gut-healing journey. If you feel like you're doing all the things but you're still bloated, constipated, reacting to foods, or afraid to eat outside of your normal routine, this episode is for you.             WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE: Chronic digestive issues are often a gut environment problem, not simply a food problem. Focus on nourishment over restriction to support gut health and function. Functional testing can help uncover imbalances and create a more targeted approach. Healthy detox and drainage pathways support your body's ability to eliminate waste. Digestion comes before the microbiome—stomach acid, enzymes, and bile matter. Rebalancing the gut microbiome can improve food tolerance and digestive symptoms. Chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation can directly impair digestive function. Lasting gut repair requires addressing the whole ecosystem, not chasing one root cause or supplement.           LINKS: Book a strategy call with Hannah HERE Join the waitlist for Healin' Guts + Shakin' Butts, starting in September! Take the Gut Health Root Cause Quiz for free! Equip Protein: use the code hannahaylwardhhc for 15% off Listen to Episode 11 - Top 5 Tips for Balancing Your Blood Sugar Listen to Episode 17 - Decoding Your Gut: Functional Stool Testing Deep Dive Listen to Episode 72 - The Migrating Motor Complex (MMC) — Your Gut's Natural Cleaning Cycle Listen to Episode 59 - How to Support Your Nervous System in Times of Chaos Listen to Episode 33 - Main Root Causes of Chronic Gut & Digestive Issues               CONNECT WITH HANNAH: Instagram  |   Website                If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨