The Perimenopause Gutsy Talk podcast - Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

The Perimenopause Gutsy Talk podcast

Christel Lyell- Gut Health Dietitian

Health & Fitness

Frequency: 1 episode/18d. Total Eps: 30

The Perimenopause GUTSY TALK podcast is for women in midlife who are done with bloating, brain fog, and unpredictable digestion—and want real-life support that actually helps.

Hosted by Gut Health Dietitian Christel Lyell, each episode dives into the real reasons your gut feels off in midlife—from hormone shifts and food reactions to stress, constipation, and more.

If you’ve been told it’s “just IBS” or “part of getting older,” this show is your safe space to feel seen, supported, and empowered to take back control of your gut and your life.

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.

See all

https://christellyelldietitian.kit.com/calmgut
8 shares
https://christellyelldietitian.com/fibre/
6 shares
https://christellyelldietitian.as.me/introductorycall
6 shares

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2500656/episodes/18151178
3 shares
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2500656/episodes/18230344
2 shares
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2500656/episodes/17534193
2 shares

https://www.instagram.com/christel.gutsydietitian
15 shares

RSS feed quality and score

Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.

See all

RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 41%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

Recent episodes with titles, durations, and descriptions.

See all

The Low-FODMAP Diet: Do You Actually Need It?

Episode 29

Monday, October 26, 2026 • Duration 18:26

If FODMAPs aren't bad for your gut, why is there a whole diet built around cutting them out? Maybe you're bloated and wondering whether you should try it. Or maybe you've already started, cut out more and more foods, and now you're not sure how to get them back in without feeling anxious about what will happen.

In this episode, I explain what the low-FODMAP diet was actually designed for, why it's rarely the best place to start, and what a "personalised" way of eating really means once foods are brought back in.

Most importantly, I talk to two women: the one who's wondering whether to start, and the one who's already restricting and feels stuck. If food has started to feel like a source of worry, this episode is especially for you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What the low-FODMAP diet was designed for, and what it isn't
Why the strict part was only ever meant to be short term, and what personalisation looks like afterwards
Why so many women jump straight to low FODMAP, and the simpler first-line changes worth trying first
When it's worth working with a trained dietitian, and why it's important to check in with your GP
Why restriction can quieten symptoms but doesn't turn your gut's "smoke alarm" down
General principles if you're stuck in restriction, and the signs it's time to get support
Where meals, movement and mind fit in midlife, plus a simple exercise to try this week

The key message? The low-FODMAP diet can be a useful tool, but for most women it isn't the place to start, and it was never meant to mean avoiding every FODMAP for ever. If you're stuck, it's common, and you don't have to work it out on your own.

FEELING STUCK?

🌿 Book a free introductory call If you've been restricting for a while, your list of "safe" foods keeps shrinking, or you're anxious about bringing foods back in, I'd love to help. A free introductory call is simply a chance to talk about where you are and whether working together would be right for you. There's no pressure at all.

👉 BOOK A FREE INTRODUCTORY CALL

Not at that point, but bloated and looking for a gentler place to start?

My free What to Eat When Everything Bloats You guide gives you five days of simple, food-first meal ideas.

👉 WHAT TO EAT WHEN EVERYTHING BLOATS YOU

RELATED EPISODES

🎧 Episode 28: FODMAPs and Bloating: What Are They, and Are They Bad for Your Gut?

🎧 Episode 27: Why Can "Gut-Healthy" Foods Make You Feel Worse?

🎧 Episode 21: Perimenopause Bloating: Why the Same Food Bloats You One Day and Not the Next

🎵 Music Credit: "Exciting Corporate" by ElevateMusica

🎵 Download | Artist: ElevateMusica on YouTube

Read moreCollapse

Are FODMAPs Bad for Your Gut? What They Are and Why They Cause Bloating

Episode 28

Monday, October 12, 2026 • Duration 21:17

Onions, garlic, chickpeas, apples, milk, bread… if you've ever searched "foods that cause bloating", there's a good chance you've landed on a list of high-FODMAP foods and started looking at half your kitchen with suspicion. But are FODMAPs actually bad for your gut? And how can foods that are supposed to be good for your gut microbiome also be the ones that leave you bloated?

In this episode, I explain what FODMAPs actually are, what they do once they reach your gut, and why some guts feel them so much more than others, including where perimenopause, stress and sleep may fit in.

Most importantly, this isn't another list of foods to cut out. I'll explain why gas and bloating don't mean a food is harming you, why your gut's "smoke alarm" matters more than the food itself, and one simple thing to try this week that doesn't involve cutting anything out.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What FODMAPs actually are, without getting lost in the science
Where they're found, including some hidden sources like sugar-free sweets and "gut-healthy" snacks
What FODMAPs do in your gut, and why gas is a normal part of digestion
Why people with IBS often aren't making more gas. They're feeling normal gas more strongly
How some FODMAPs are also prebiotics that feed your gut bacteria
Where perimenopause, stress and sleep may fit into a more sensitive gut
Why amount and combination matter, and the simple "spread, don't stack" idea to try this week

The key message? FODMAPs aren't the enemy. For a sensitive gut, they're more like a volume knob. The aim isn't to get rid of them, but to find the level and combination that works for you.

FREE RESOURCE

🌿 What to Eat When Everything Bloats You

If your gut feels particularly sensitive at the moment and you're not sure what to eat without cutting everything out, my free guide gives you five days of simple, gentle, food-first meal ideas. It's not a diet and it's not a low-FODMAP plan. It's just a calm place to start.

👉

Why Can “Gut-Healthy” Foods Make You Feel Worse?

Episode 27

Sunday, September 27, 2026 • Duration 19:33

More plants, more fibre, more fermented foods, maybe even a gut-health powder… if you've been trying to look after your gut, there's a good chance you've added several of these in at once. But what if doing all the "right" things left you more bloated, not less? And what's actually going on when a food that's supposed to be good for you doesn't agree with you?

In this episode, I explain what prebiotics actually are, how they're different from probiotics and synbiotics, and why some genuinely gut-healthy foods can still leave a sensitive gut feeling worse.

Most importantly, I keep it practical. You don't need to chase every prebiotic food going, hunt down a supplement, or panic if a healthy diet has left you more bloated than usual. I'll talk you through where prebiotics actually come from, what to look out for on food labels, and what to do if you've added a lot of gut-healthy foods at once and your gut isn't thanking you for it.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What a prebiotic actually is, and how it's different from a probiotic and a synbiotic
Why prebiotics matter for your gut, and what happens when your gut microbes ferment them
Where you'll find prebiotics in everyday foods — no supplement required
Why gut-healthy foods can sometimes leave you feeling worse, not better
What to look for on food labels, including inulin and chicory root fibre
Whether a prebiotic supplement is actually worth it
What to do if you've added a lot of gut-healthy foods at once and now feel worse

The key message? Prebiotic foods are a genuinely useful part of looking after your gut, but they're not something to maximise. Feeling worse on a "gut-healthy" diet doesn't mean you're doing it wrong — it may simply mean you've added too much, too quickly.

FREE RESOURCES

🌿 Plant Diversity Guide Prebiotic foods are only one part of supporting your gut microbiome. If you'd like to gently increase the variety of plant foods in your diet, download my free Plant Diversity Guide. 👉 GRAB YOUR FREE PLANT DIVERSITY GUIDE HERE

Is Fermented Food the Same as a Probiotic? And Should You Eat It in Perimenopause?

Episode 26

Friday, September 4, 2026 • Duration 22:18

Kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha… fermented foods seem to be everywhere. But are they really good for your gut? Are they basically a natural probiotic? And if you want to start eating them, where do you begin?

In this episode, I explain the difference between fermented foods and probiotics, why fermented foods may be a useful addition to your diet, and what this means during perimenopause and beyond.

Most importantly, I keep it practical. You don’t need six jars of fermented food in your fridge or a daily kombucha habit. I’ll talk you through the foods I’d actually suggest trying, how to start if your gut is sensitive, and why more isn’t necessarily better.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why fermented foods and probiotic supplements aren't the same thing
How fermentation changes a food and why that may benefit your gut
What we know about fermented foods, gut microbiome diversity and inflammation
Why gut health remains important through perimenopause and beyond
Easy fermented foods to try, including live yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso and tempeh
How to start gently if your gut is sensitive
Why you don't need huge amounts — or fermented foods at every meal

The key message? Fermented foods can be another useful piece of the gut-health picture, but they aren't magic and you don't have to force yourself to eat foods you don't enjoy.

FREE RESOURCES

🌿 Plant Diversity Guide

Fermented foods are only one part of supporting your gut microbiome. If you'd like to gently increase the variety of plant foods in your diet, download my free Plant Diversity Guide.

👉 GRAB YOUR FREE PLANT DIVERSITY GUIDE HERE

Does everything seem to make you bloat at the moment?

My free What to Eat When Everything Bloats You guide gives you five days of gentle, food-first meal ideas for those times when your gut feels particularly sensitive.

Should You Take a Probiotic in Perimenopause? What They Are, What They're Not, and How to Choose One

Episode 25

Friday, July 31, 2026 • Duration 24:24

A client came to Christel with three different supplements from the same brand — one for gut health, one for bloating, one for energy. She'd spent a small fortune trying to work out which one she actually needed. When Christel checked the ingredients on the back, all three were identical.

In this episode, Christel unpacks what's actually inside a probiotic capsule versus what's promised on the front of the packet — building on last episode's garden analogy, where taking a probiotic is a bit like adding a new plant to soil you've already been tending. She explains what a probiotic really is, what it isn't, why the exact strain (not just the species) is the single most important thing on the label, and what the newest research says about probiotics, perimenopause and menopause specifically.

This episode reframes how to choose a probiotic sensibly — without needing to become a researcher in the supplement aisle.

In this episode you'll learn:

What a probiotic actually has to do to work — genuinely alive, in the right amount, and able to survive the journey all the way to your large bowel
Why the exact strain matters more than the brand — and an easy way to spot one on the label
What a probiotic isn't: not a miracle cure, not the same as a fermented food, and why UK regulation is looser than most people assume
Why adding a probiotic is a bit like adding a new plant to a garden — and why the wrong one won't thrive, however good it looked on the shelf
Where the evidence is genuinely strong — and why each strain has to earn its own evidence rather than borrowing it from another
What the newest research says about probiotics and menopause — hot flushes, mood and vaginal dryness — and why it's promising, not proven
How to actually choose one if you decide to try it: evidence, quality, strain, CFU, and a fair trial period

Free download

FREE DOWNLOAD: What to Eat for a Calmer Gut in Midlife

A simple, practical food list built around what you CAN eat — not another list of what to avoid. Gentle, doable ideas for calmer digestion in perimenopause and beyond.

👉

Read moreBook a free discovery callResources mentionedConnectAbout ChristelMusic credit

Still Bloated After Cutting Everything Out? What Your Gut Actually Needs in Perimenopause

Episode 24

Friday, July 10, 2026 • Duration 20:25

You’ve cut out gluten. Then dairy. Then onions. Each time things felt better briefly — and then your symptoms came back. And now you’re eating less than ever, and your gut still isn’t right.

In this episode, Christel uses her own Welsh farmhouse garden — three years of clearing overgrowth, learning the space, and gradually tending what’s there — to explain why clearing alone never creates lasting change. Something always grows into the space you’ve created. The question is whether it’s what you wanted.

She explains what gut diversity actually is in plain English, why it tends to shift during perimenopause, and why the real starting point isn’t adding expensive new things — it’s feeding and strengthening the community that’s already there. This episode reframes everything.

In this episode you’ll learn:

Why cutting foods out often leads to symptoms returning — and why this isn’t a failure
What the gut microbiome actually is, explained in plain English
Why gut diversity tends to shift during perimenopause, and what the latest research says about diet’s role in that
The 30 plant points framework: where it comes from, what it means in practice, and why it changes the question entirely
Why the first priority is feeding and strengthening what’s already in your gut — not adding new things on top
A brief word on probiotics and why exceptions always exist
Why this takes seasons, not weeks — and what consistent tending actually looks like

Free download

FREE DOWNLOAD: Your Plant Diversity Guide — 30 plant points for a calmer, more resilient gut in perimenopause

A list of gut-friendly plants — including options easier on a sensitive gut — organised by category so it’s simple to spot where you could add something new. Includes a seven-day meal plan showing what a higher-diversity week actually looks like. Simple, practical, and the ideal next step after this episode.

👉 Download FREE HERE

READ MORE: Episode 24 — Still Bloated After Cutting Everything Out? What Your Gut Actually Needs in Perimenopause

Book a free discovery callResources mentionedConnectAbout ChristelMusic credit

Why Some Women Get Gut Symptoms for the First Time After Menopause

Episode 23

Friday, July 3, 2026 • Duration 16:49

You sailed through perimenopause without major gut problems. And now, years later, something has changed. Bloating you never had before. Bowels that have become unpredictable. A gut that just doesn’t feel quite right — and you can’t work out why.

In this episode, Christel explains why gut symptoms can develop for the first time long after menopause. She covers why the pattern is often so gradual you barely notice until things have really shifted, why cutting foods out can sometimes make things harder rather than better, and what post-infectious IBS is and why it’s more common in this group than most people realise. If your gut was fine before and isn’t now — this one is for you.

In this episode you’ll learn:

Why a gut that coped well through perimenopause can still change years later — and why that doesn’t mean something is seriously wrong
The slow, gradual pattern Christel sees most often in postmenopausal women with new gut symptoms — and why it’s so easy to miss
Why cutting foods out, and the low FODMAP diet without proper support, can leave things worse than before
What post-infectious IBS is, why it’s more common than people realise, and how to know if it applies to you
What actually helps when your world around food has got smaller, not bigge
Why new gut symptoms after menopause always need a GP check first — and exactly what to look out for

Free download

FREE DOWNLOAD: 5 Easy Steps to Banish Bloat and Feel Like Your Old Self Again

If your diet has got smaller and more complicated and you’re not sure where to start — this guide brings you back to the foundations. How you eat, regular meals, gentle fibre, movement, hydration. Simple, practical, and a genuinely useful place to reset from.

👉 Download HERE

Book a free discovery callResources mentioned

Why Is My Gut Still Bad After Menopause?

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 • Duration 17:42

Gut symptoms after menopause are more common than most women expect — and more common than most content actually talks about. In this episode, Christel answers the question she has been getting in her inbox: I'm on the other side now. Does any of this still apply to me? Whether you finished menopause two years ago or ten, this one is for you. Christel explains why bloating, constipation, and unpredictable bowels can persist long after menopause — or even get worse over time — covering the physiology, the lifestyle shifts that often go unnoticed, and the one pattern she sees most in clinic that tends to make things harder, not better.

In this episode you'll learn:

Why oestrogen staying consistently low affects your gut differently from it fluctuating
How your gut microbiome changes in postmenopause — and why that matters for bloating and regularity
The lifestyle shifts that quietly contribute to gut symptoms and are easy to miss
Why the pelvic floor matters more for bowel health after menopause than most people realise
The one thing most postmenopausal women do when their gut plays up — and why it often backfires
When symptoms need a GP, not a diet change

Free download

FREE DOWNLOAD: What To Eat When Everything Bloats You — a gentle five-day reset for when your gut feels overwhelmed and you are not sure where to start. No complicated protocols, no long lists of foods to cut out.

👉 Download HERE

I also mentioned the Free guide: The No Bloat Fibre Method

👉 Download HERE

READ MORE: Episode 22 — Why Is My Gut Still Bad After Menopause?

Book a free discovery call

📞 BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL: If your gut has been struggling since menopause and you are not sure what is actually driving it — let's talk.

👉 Book your free introductory call HERE

Resources mentionedConnectAbout ChristelMusic credit

Perimenopause Bloating: Why the Same Food Bloats You One Day and Not the Next

Episode 21

Friday, May 29, 2026 • Duration 22:42

Perimenopause bloating isn't just about what you ate — and understanding why changes everything.

In this episode, I share what I believe is the most important piece of the bloating puzzle: why your gut becomes more sensitive during perimenopause, not just slower. I explain why the same food can feel fine one day and cause bloating the next, and what to do about it.

I also share Anna's story — a client whose bloating wasn't being driven by the foods she'd been cutting out for months. It was being driven by something she couldn't see until we looked at her food diary together.

In this episode you'll learn:

Why bloating follows that morning-fine, afternoon-bloated pattern
The gut sensitivity insight most women (and most advice online) completely miss
Why cutting more foods usually makes bloating worse
What to eat right now if you're bloated today
How to eat day to day for a calmer, less reactive gut
Why your nervous system matters as much as your diet
When it's time to get proper support

FREE DOWNLOAD: What To Eat When Everything Bloats You; gentle meals for a sensitive gut in perimenopause — no restriction, no complicated recipes.

👉 Download HERE

READ THE FULL GUIDE: Perimenopause Bloating: What to Eat (and What to Avoid) for Relief

📞 BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL: If your bloating has been going on for months and your diet is getting smaller, not bigger — let's talk.

👉Book your free introductory call HERE

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

IBS and Bloating in Perimenopause: What Your Gut Needs Right Now

Episode 20

Monday, March 9, 2026 • Duration 11:10

If your gut symptoms feel unpredictable in perimenopause, you’re not alone.

Many women find themselves constantly searching for the next thing that might finally “fix” their digestion — new diets, supplements, or foods to avoid.

But often the real question isn’t what to try next.

It’s what your gut actually needs right now.

In this episode of The Perimenopause Gutsy Talk Podcast, dietitian Christel Lyell explains how to recognise whether your gut needs more rhythm, structure, or personalised support — and why doing more isn’t always the answer.

If you’ve been feeling stuck in cycles of flare-ups, food changes, and temporary relief, this episode will help you step back and see the bigger picture.

In this episode we explore:

Why gut symptoms often feel unpredictable during perimenopause
Why constantly changing foods or trying new solutions can keep the gut unsettled
The difference between rhythm, structure and personalised gut support
How to recognise what your gut might need right now
Why consistency often helps more than trying harder

Related episodes

Episode 18 – Why Gut Symptoms Keep Coming Back in Perimenopause

Episode 19 – What Actually Helps Calm Your Gut in Perimenopause (and Why Quick Fixes Don’t)

Coming next

In the next episode we’ll look at one of the most common symptoms women experience during perimenopause:

The Perimenopause Gutsy Talk podcast - Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

The Perimenopause Gutsy Talk podcast - Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other61

Buzzsprout10

Instagram1

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other61

Buzzsprout10

Instagram1