This podcast is for you if you are struggling with symptoms of IBS and IBD and want to get to the root cause of your symptoms so you can take back your health through a holistic, whole-person approach.
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Why ultra-restricted diets like carnivore can backfire long-term for IBS and IBD by shrinking your microbiome diversity
Why low FODMAP alone rarely resolves chronic gut symptoms — and what it's missing
How to know if your "healthy" restrictive diet is actually creating new food sensitivities
If you've been diagnosed with IBS, IBD, or chronic gut symptoms and you've tried cutting out food after food hoping for relief, this episode is for you. Courtney breaks down the double-edged sword of food restriction — why it can bring fast symptom relief in the short term, and why staying there long-term often makes food sensitivities worse, not better.
Courtney walks through her own process for evaluating a new client's diet, including how she uses food journaling to identify individual food triggers rather than applying a one-size-fits-all protocol. She explains why common IBS/IBD trigger foods like wheat, dairy, and certain grains show up across so many cases, but why bio-individuality still determines how much variety any one person can eventually tolerate.
A major focus of this episode is the carnivore diet and other extreme elimination approaches. Courtney shares her personal experience healing her own gut symptoms on a highly restricted, roughly 10-food diet — and why she ultimately moved away from that approach. She unpacks the physical risks of long-term ultra-restriction, including carbohydrate depletion's effect on the brain and thyroid, reduced microbiome diversity, and an increased risk of developing new food sensitivities from eating the same repetitive foods over and over.
Courtney also addresses why low FODMAP, one of the most commonly recommended diets for IBS, is often not enough on its own to fully resolve symptoms. She explains that low FODMAP only addresses one category of fermentable carbohydrates, while true symptom relief usually requires a more individualized elimination approach combined with root cause testing — such as a functional stool test — to identify the specific stressors, imbalances, and food sensitivities driving each person's symptoms.
Finally, Courtney discusses the often-overlooked role of the nervous system and subconscious brain in food tolerance and hypersensitization, and why working on that layer — alongside diet — tends to produce faster, more lasting results than nutrition changes alone.
Topics covered: IBS-D, IBD, carnivore diet, low FODMAP mistakes, food sensitivities, leaky gut, microbiome diversity, elimination diets, gut-brain connection, root cause testing, functional stool testing, food triggers, autoimmune gut health
Timestamped Chapters
00:00 — Intro: the double-edged sword of food restriction 02:15 — How Courtney builds a food journal protocol with new clients 05:40 — Common food triggers vs. individual bio-individuality 08:30 — Why carnivore and all-plant-based diets both carry risk for IBS/IBD 12:00 — Courtney's personal experience healing on a 10-food diet 16:45 — The psychological cost of ultra-restriction 20:10 — Why low FODMAP alone usually isn't enough 24:00 — What ultra-restriction does to your microbiome diversity 28:30 — How repetitive eating can create new food sensitivities 32:15 — The standard American diet's hidden restriction problem 35:50 — The nervous system's role in food tolerance and hypersensitization 39:20 — Why root cause testing comes before (or alongside) elimination
Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.
Why Raw Foods and Salads Might Be Making Your IBS Worse | Ep 82
If you've been told that salads, smoothies, and raw vegetables are the "healthy" choice, but your IBS or IBD symptoms seem to get worse after eating them, this episode explains why. I'm breaking down the concept of "cold damage" from classical Chinese medicine and how it connects directly to weakened digestive function, slow motility, and chronic GI symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.
This isn't about ditching vegetables forever — it's about understanding why raw and cold foods can overwhelm an already-weakened digestive system, and what to do instead if you're someone who's tried "eating healthy" and still isn't getting relief.
In this episode, you'll learn:
What "cold damage" means in Chinese medicine and why it matters for IBS and IBD
Why raw vegetables, salads, fruit, and ice water can worsen symptoms in someone with weak digestion
What "weakened digestive fire" means and how to recognize it in your own body
Why cooked, warm foods can be easier to digest and absorb than raw ones
How stress and blood flow patterns contribute to poor digestive function
A simple one-to-two week experiment to test if cold and raw foods are aggravating your symptoms
Why chronic bloating, diarrhea, and constipation are signs of "loss of function," not just bad luck
Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.
Episode 81: How to Manage Mindset When Life Feels Out of Control Because of Your Autoimmune Disease, with Dr. Amy Behimer
If you're living with an autoimmune condition — whether that's IBD, Hashimoto's, Graves', MS, or another diagnosis — and you feel like your body and your life are spiraling out of control, this episode is for you. Dr. Amy Behimer, PharmD and board-certified health coach living with four autoimmune diagnoses herself, joins me to break down the mindset side of autoimmune healing that most practitioners never talk about.
We cover why your thoughts about your diagnosis directly shape your symptoms, how to shift from "managing disease" to "creating health," and why tiny, believable changes outperform massive overhauls every time. If you've tried every diet, every supplement, and every doctor and still feel stuck, this conversation will help you understand the missing piece.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why feeling hopeless after trying everything isn't a sign you're "unfixable" — it's a sign your inner habits haven't caught up to your outer ones
The difference between managing autoimmune disease and creating autoimmune health
How your thoughts about your diagnosis directly influence inflammation and symptom flares
Why "trust in the tiny" works better than drastic diet or lifestyle overhauls
How to know if fear (not evidence) is driving your health decisions
The real reason so many people quit a new protocol before it has a chance to work
What it actually looks like to rebuild identity after a chronic diagnosis
Keywords/topics for search optimization: autoimmune disease mindset, autoimmune healing, IBD flare ups, managing autoimmune symptoms naturally, autoimmune and anxiety, gut brain connection autoimmune, chronic illness mindset shift, habit change for chronic illness, feeling hopeless with autoimmune disease, autoimmune identity change, Dr. Amy Behimer
Guest: Dr. Amy Behimer, PharmD, board-certified health coach, host of Autoimmune Health Secrets podcast
www.amybehimercoaching.com
Episode 80: Why IBS and IBD Make You So Tired: 6 Root Causes of Chronic Fatigue
If you have IBS-D, IBD, or chronic gut issues and you're exhausted all the time — needing naps to get through the day, relying on caffeine to function, waking up tired no matter how much you sleep — your fatigue isn't a separate problem. It's coming from your gut. In this episode, I break down the six root causes of chronic fatigue in IBS and IBD, why eating a healthy diet isn't enough when your digestive system is compromised, and where to look for answers when "everything looks normal" on your labs.
During my own IBS-D struggle, the fatigue was so profound I sometimes had to lie down midday just to function. Here's what I've learned — personally and in my functional nutrition practice — about why this happens and how to get your energy back.
What you'll learn in this episode:
Why a healthy diet can't fix your energy when digestion is broken: the "high-quality gas in a broken engine" problem
Root cause #1 — Impaired digestion: how low stomach acid, weak enzyme production, and poor bile quality drain your energy (and how a GI Map stool test reveals it)
Root cause #2 — Malabsorption and leaky gut: why nutrients are "going right through you" and how small intestine damage activates the immune system
Root cause #3 — Chronic inflammation: the hidden energy thief connecting your gut to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, blood sugar issues, and autoimmune conditions
Root cause #4 — Blood sugar instability: why energy crashes after meals trace back to gut dysfunction
Root cause #5 — The chronic stress response and stored trauma: how living with unpredictable gut symptoms keeps your nervous system locked in survival mode — and why that consumes enormous energy
Root cause #6 — Toxic burden and poor detox capacity: mycotoxins, chemical toxins, microplastics, and the Total Tox Burden test
Why hidden gut infections silently drain energy in the background — and how specialized testing uncovers what conventional GI workups miss
If you're exhausted, brain-fogged, and feel like food is "going right through you" — and your doctor says everything looks fine — there's a root cause your labs haven't found yet.
Episode 79: Why Food Sensitivity Tests Don't Fix IBS (And What Actually Works Instead)
If you've taken a food sensitivity test for IBS, IBD, or chronic bloating and followed the avoidance list perfectly — but your symptoms didn't improve — this episode explains why. And if you're in the opposite camp, convinced food has nothing to do with your gut symptoms because "sometimes I eat it and I'm fine," I'm going to challenge that thinking too.
As a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner trained to run food sensitivity testing, I rarely use it in my practice — and in this episode I share my own failed experience with food sensitivity testing during my IBS-D journey, why IgG antibody tests only capture one piece of the puzzle, and the approach that actually moves the needle for chronic digestive symptoms.
What you'll learn in this episode:
Why food sensitivity test results often don't lead to symptom relief — and what that means about your gut
The gut-immune connection: how leaky gut (mucosal barrier breakdown) drives food reactions, and why 70–80% of your immune system lives in your gut
The hidden reasons food triggers bloating, gas, and diarrhea that no IgG test can detect: microbiome imbalances, low stomach acid, weak enzyme production, and FODMAP malabsorption
"Sometimes wheat bothers me, sometimes it doesn't" — why food sensitivities are so hard to detect on your own, and how IgG antibodies (which live 90–100 days) mask the signal
How long you actually need to eliminate a food before you can trust your body's feedback (hint: it's longer than you think)
The food sensitivity testing "merry-go-round": why direct-to-consumer tests keep giving you new foods to avoid without ever clearing the old ones
Signs your symptoms outside the gut — fatigue after meals, brain fog, joint pain, skin issues, anxiety, depression — may be delayed food reactions
The truth about sourdough and ancient wheat: why "gut-friendly" wheat may still trigger your immune system through protein cross-reactivity
Why therapeutic elimination diets remain the gold standard over food sensitivity testing — and how to use both strategically
Episode 78: Why Your Gut Won't Heal If You Can't Say No: The Connection Between Boundaries, Stress, and IBS with Savannah Busnelli
If you've tried every diet, supplement, and elimination protocol for your IBS or IBD — and you're still not getting lasting relief — there's a piece of the puzzle most practitioners never address: your boundaries.
In this episode, I sit down with Savannah Busnelli, professional life coach and wellness coach at Wellness by Savvy, to talk about the powerful and often overlooked connection between poor boundaries, chronic stress, and gut symptoms. If you live with IBS-D, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or any chronic digestive condition, this conversation will shine a light on why your nervous system — and therefore your gut — may be stuck in survival mode.
Savannah shares her own journey with boundary struggles that led her to specialize in this work, and we explore the practical, compassionate tools she uses to help people start setting limits without guilt, fear, or losing the relationships they care about.
If stress is one of your biggest gut triggers, this episode is essential listening.
In this episode we cover:
• How to recognize if poor boundaries are silently fueling your IBS or IBD flare-ups
• Why resentment is your body's built-in signal that a boundary has been crossed
• The real reason saying yes to please others is making your gut worse — not better
• Why making health changes (like dietary shifts for IBS) can feel threatening to people around you — and how to handle it
• The guilt and burden women with chronic illness feel when their health needs disrupt family routines
Episode 77: Living With Crohn's Disease: What Doctors Don't Tell You About Managing IBD Long-Term, with Justin Brown
If you've been living with Crohn's disease or IBD and feel like you've tried everything — only to still be struggling with unpredictable symptoms, fatigue, and a life that feels smaller than it should — this episode is for you.
My guest today is Justin Brown, founder of Rhino Skin Solutions and a Crohn's disease warrior since the age of 12. Justin's story is raw, honest, and deeply relatable. We talk about what it's really like to grow up managing a chronic gut condition, how Crohn's disease reshaped his career and his identity, and — most surprisingly — how starting an antidepressant dramatically improved his GI symptoms.
Whether you have Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS-D, or any form of inflammatory bowel disease, you'll walk away from this episode with a new lens on your symptoms — and real hope.
In this episode we cover:
• What it's like to be diagnosed with Crohn's disease as a child — and how symptoms are often missed
• The social isolation and shame that comes with living with an invisible illness
• How chronic gut conditions like IBD force unexpected career and life pivots
• Why stress management isn't optional when you have a gut condition — it's medicine
• The gut-serotonin connection: why 90% of your serotonin is made in your gut and what that means for your mental health
• How sertraline (an SSRI antidepressant) unexpectedly improved Justin's Crohn's disease symptoms — and what this might mean for the gut-brain axis
• Adapting your life, travel, and outdoor activities when you have IBD — without letting fear run the show
• Finding small wins and non-linear progress when living with a chronic digestive condition
If you struggle with bloating, loose stools, acid reflux, or constant bathroom urgency, wheat may be playing a bigger role in your symptoms than you realize.
In this final episode of my 4-part series on wheat and gut health, we go beyond gluten to uncover some of the hidden factors that make modern wheat particularly problematic for people with IBS, IBD, and chronic digestive issues.
Many people believe that only those with celiac disease need to avoid wheat. But the truth is that modern wheat often carries additional gut stressors—including pesticide residues, mold toxins, and changes from industrial farming practices—that can disrupt the microbiome and trigger inflammation.
If you’ve ever wondered why your gut symptoms persist even when tests come back “normal,” this episode will help you understand why wheat can still be a major driver of digestive dysfunction.
In This Episode You’ll Learn
✔ Why modern wheat is different from the wheat our ancestors ate ✔ How GMO crops and hybridized grains may impact the gut microbiome ✔ The role of glyphosate (Roundup) in disrupting healthy gut bacteria ✔ How pesticide exposure may contribute to leaky gut and inflammation ✔ Why grain storage practices can promote mold and mycotoxin exposure ✔ The connection between wheat, microbiome disruption, and IBS or IBD symptoms ✔ Simple first steps you can take if you're considering reducing or eliminating wheat
Free Mini Course: How to Go Wheat-Free Successfully
One of the biggest challenges I see in my practice is people thinking they are wheat-free… only to discover hidden exposure.
I created a step-by-step mini course to help you confidently eliminate wheat and avoid the common pitfalls that keep people reacting.
Episode 75: Hidden Gluten Exposure: Why “Mostly Gluten-Free” Isn’t Enough for IBS, IBD, and Leaky Gut
If you’ve gone gluten-free or wheat-free but still struggle with IBS, IBD, bloating, urgency, loose stools, reflux, or leaky gut symptoms, hidden exposure may be the missing piece.
In this episode of Resolve IBS and IBD Naturally, Courtney breaks down why “mostly gluten-free” often isn’t enough for people with chronic gut inflammation, autoimmune issues, or ongoing digestive symptoms. She explains how accidental wheat exposure can happen through foods, supplements, and even body care products — and why these small exposures can keep the immune system activated and make it harder to calm inflammation.
Courtney also shares why the Wheat Zoomer is one of her favorite tools for identifying wheat sensitivity, how it differs from standard food sensitivity testing, and why so many people think they’re avoiding wheat when they’re actually still being exposed. If you’ve been doing your best but still not seeing progress, this episode will help you uncover the hidden blind spots.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn
Why hidden gluten and wheat exposure can keep IBS and IBD symptoms going
Why being “mostly gluten-free” is often not enough to calm inflammation
The difference between standard food sensitivity testing and the Wheat Zoomer
Why IgG and IgA food sensitivity tests can miss important wheat reactions
How the Wheat Zoomer helps identify immune reactivity to smaller wheat peptides
Common hidden sources of wheat in food, supplements, and personal care products
Why accidental exposure can happen even when you think you’re doing everything right
How mindset, habits, and behavior change affect success with a fully wheat-free lifestyle
Resources Mentioned
If you want step-by-step help learning how to remove wheat successfully and avoid the hidden exposures that keep triggering symptoms, Courtney’s mini course goes much deeper into this topic.
Episode 74: Is Sourdough Safe for IBS or IBD? The Truth About Wheat Sensitivity, Gluten, and Gut Inflammation
If you’ve been told that sourdough is easier to digest or that it’s a safer option when you have IBS, IBD, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or gut inflammation, this episode is for you.
In this episode of Resolve IBS and IBD Naturally, Courtney Cowie breaks down one of the most common misconceptions she hears from people struggling with digestive symptoms: that switching from regular bread to sourdough is enough to solve a wheat sensitivity problem. She explains why sourdough is still often a trigger, why many people with gut issues continue reacting to wheat in all forms, and why symptom patterns can be more complex than they seem.
Courtney also explores how modern wheat differs from traditional wheat, how pesticides, mold, mycotoxins, and gut barrier damage may all contribute to immune reactivity, and why people with IBS or IBD often need a more complete approach than simply swapping one bread for another. If you’ve been wondering whether sourdough is actually okay for your gut, this episode will give you clarity.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn
Why sourdough bread is not necessarily safe for people with IBS or IBD
The connection between wheat sensitivity, gut inflammation, and immune activation
Why modern wheat may be more problematic than many people realize
How glyphosate, mold, and mycotoxins may add to the burden on a weakened gut
Why you may not always feel an immediate reaction to wheat, even if it is still harming your body
Why food sensitivities often become clearer after a period of full elimination
How specialized testing can reveal ongoing immune reactivity to wheat peptides
Why going fully wheat-free for a period of time may be an important step in reducing symptoms
Resources Mentioned
If you’re trying to remove wheat from your diet but want help doing it thoroughly and successfully, check out Courtney’s mini course:
Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.
Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.
If you've been stuck on the food sensitivity testing merry-go-round — or you've written off diet entirely because elimination "didn't work" — there's likely a root cause driving your symptoms that no food list can fix.
Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.
• How emotional trauma and high-conflict relationships can directly trigger digestive symptoms
• A step-by-step approach to setting boundaries starting with safe people first
• How to use "I" statements to communicate limits calmly — especially with high-conflict individuals
• The role of affirmations, journaling, and role-playing in building boundary confidence
• Why consistency is the most important ingredient in boundary-setting — and how to build it
This episode is especially helpful if you're experiencing:
– IBS or IBD flare-ups that seem tied to stress or difficult relationships
– Feeling like a burden when your gut condition requires special food or rest
– Chronic anxiety, mood swings, or emotional exhaustion alongside your gut symptoms
– Resentment that builds up after agreeing to things that drain you
– Difficulty asserting your health needs with family, friends, or coworkers
– A pattern of putting others' comfort above your own healing
Key takeaway: Your gut heals in a regulated nervous system. If your relationships and daily environment are keeping you in a constant state of stress, no supplement or diet plan will be enough. Setting boundaries is not selfish — it is part of your treatment plan.
About Savannah Busnelli:
Savannah Busnelli is a professional life coach and wellness coach at Wellness by Savvy. She specializes in helping people set healthy boundaries, break people-pleasing patterns, and build the emotional skills needed to sustain long-term personal and health transformations.
If stress and emotional overwhelm are driving your IBS-D or IBD symptoms, The Tame Your Gut Program was built for you. Together we identify your food triggers, uncover root cause stressors, and give you the tools to regulate your nervous system and reclaim your quality of life — for good.
Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.
This episode is especially helpful if you're experiencing:
– Chronic diarrhea or loose stools from Crohn's disease or IBS-D
– Anxiety and depression caused by gut symptoms
– Fatigue and brain fog from IBD
– Social anxiety around eating, leaving home, or traveling
– Frustration that conventional medicine isn't giving you answers
– The feeling that your gut condition is running your life
Key takeaway: Living with IBD doesn't mean your quality of life has to suffer. Whether it's adapting your career, finding the right combination of medication and lifestyle support, or finally understanding the gut-brain connection — healing is non-linear, and progress is still progress.
About Justin Brown:
Justin Brown is the founder of Rhino Skin Solutions, a natural skincare line created for athletes dealing with conditions like psoriasis, joint pain, and skin inflammation. He has lived with Crohn's disease since age 12 and is passionate about the intersection of active living, chronic illness management, and community.
If you're ready to stop managing your IBS-D or IBD symptoms one flare-up at a time and finally get to the root cause, I'd love to connect. The Tame Your Gut Program helps goal-oriented women identify their food triggers, run targeted root cause testing, and build a sustainable plan to reclaim their energy, confidence, and quality of life.
Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.
Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.
How to Go Wheat-Free Successfully Mini Course This training covers hidden sources of wheat, common mistakes, how to assess exposure, and how Courtney uses the Wheat Zoomer to help clients get clear answers.
Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.
How to Go Wheat-Free Successfully Mini Course This training walks you through hidden sources of wheat, common mistakes people make, and how to confidently reduce accidental exposures.
Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.
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