The Nutrient Dense Podcast

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 ✨

Feel like you've tried to get over SIBO multiple times with no luck? The antibiotics, herbals, the diets...but it keeps coming back. In this episode, I'm breaking down one of the biggest misconceptions about SIBO: it's not simply a bacterial overgrowth problem. 
 
We'll cover what SIBO actually is, why it develops in the first place, and why so many conventional protocols fail to create lasting results. I'll explain the critical role of gut motility, the migrating motor complex (MMC), stomach acid, bile flow, thyroid function, chronic stress, mold exposure, H. pylori, food poisoning, and even abdominal adhesions in creating an environment where bacterial overgrowth can thrive.
 
We'll also discuss why simply killing bacteria isn't enough, why rebuilding your gut microbiome matters just as much as reducing bacterial overgrowth, and how shifting your focus from "killing bugs" to restoring digestive function can completely change your healing journey.







 
 
 
 
 
 




WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE:
SIBO is an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, where bacteria normally exist in much lower amounts than in the large intestine.
SIBO is often a downstream consequence of impaired digestive function—not the primary root cause itself.
Antibiotics and herbal antimicrobials may temporarily reduce bacterial overgrowth, but they don't address why the overgrowth developed in the first place.
The low FODMAP diet can reduce symptoms but isn't designed to eradicate SIBO or prevent recurrence.
Healthy gut motility is one of the most important factors in preventing recurring SIBO.
Chronic stress, hypothyroidism, low stomach acid, poor bile flow, food poisoning, mold exposure, H. pylori, adhesions, and diabetes can all contribute to impaired gut motility and recurring SIBO.
Low stomach acid and poor bile flow create an environment where bacterial overgrowth is more likely to occur.
Rebuilding the gut microbiome after antimicrobial treatment is essential for maintaining long-term microbial balance.
SIBO has a high relapse rate because many treatment approaches focus only on reducing bacteria rather than restoring digestive function.
Long-term healing comes from creating a resilient digestive system—not simply eliminating bacteria.












 








 
 
 
 
 
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 72 - The Migrating Motor Complex (MMC) — Your Gut's Natural Cleaning Cycle
Listen to Episode 24 - Low Stomach Acid: A Hidden Cause of Chronic Bloating & Digestive Issues
Listen to Episode 80 - Bile Flow 101: The Overlooked Key to Better Digestion, Bowel Movements & Histamine
Listen to Episode 79 - 5 Signs Your Gut Issues are Actually H. Pylori
Listen to Episode 62 - The Hidden Gut Disruptor: How Mold Exposure Impacts Your Digestion, Gut Microbiome & 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 ✨