5: Why Your Gut Feels Off (Even When Tests Are “Normal”)

10: Why You Don't Poop

Constipation and Bloating: Definitions, Myths, Causes, and Practical Strategies   Why do you feel bloated even when you're pooping every day? Is constipation always caused by not drinking enough water or eating enough fiber? In this episode of the Gut Girls Podcast, naturopathic doctors Dr. Dominique Vanier, ND, Dr. Whitney Baxter, ND and Dr. Christina Carew, ND unpack the surprising causes of constipation, bloating, and digestive discomfort. Learn why daily bowel movements don't always mean healthy digestion, how hidden constipation can contribute to abdominal bloating and distension, and why common advice about fiber and hydration doesn't work for everyone. The team explores the Bristol Stool Chart, gut motility, the gut-brain connection, pelvic floor dysfunction, probiotics, hemorrhoids, medications that can slow digestion, and the many factors that influence bowel health. Whether you're struggling with chronic constipation, IBS-C (irritable bowel syndrome with constipation), incomplete evacuation, gas, abdominal pressure, or persistent bloating, this episode provides practical insights to help you better understand what's happening in your digestive system. In this episode, you'll discover: • The connection between constipation and bloating • Why you can be constipated even if you poop every day • Common myths about fiber, water, and digestive health • How probiotics may help support bowel regularity • Red flags and symptoms that should be investigated further • The role of the nervous system, stress, and the gut-brain axis • Lifestyle habits and toileting strategies that can improve bowel movements • Common medications and health conditions linked to constipation If you've ever felt frustrated by digestive symptoms, overwhelmed by conflicting gut health advice, or unsure why your bloating won't go away, this episode will help you ask better questions and understand your body more clearly. Because Better Gut Health Changes Everything.

9: Why Your Gut Overreacts to Everything

Mast Cell Activation, Histamine, and Perimenopause: When Bloating Isn’t About Food The Team Gut Girls podcast, hosted by naturopathic doctors Dr. Whitney Baxter, Dr. Christina Carew, and Dr. Dominique Vanier, discusses mast cell activation (distinct from mastocytosis) as a lesser-known driver of rapid, inflammatory bloating and multi-system symptoms such as flushing, itching/hives, anxiety, heart palpitations, headaches/migraines, heat intolerance, and skin reactions. They explain mast cells’ mediators (including histamine) and how triggers can include foods (wine, leftovers, fermented foods, avocado, spinach, kombucha), stress, infections, procedures, environmental exposures, and hormone fluctuations—especially estrogen changes in perimenopause—helping explain why some people feel better on antihistamines. They note limited reliability of testing (e.g., tryptase) and emphasize pattern recognition, symptom and cycle tracking, nervous system regulation, gut barrier support, and differentiating MCAS-like presentations from IBS/SIBO, with downloadable questionnaires and related episodes referenced.

8 - Why Your Gut Moves Too Slow

Could Your Upper Bloating Be Gastroparesis? Signs, Testing, and Support   Dr. Whitney Baxter, ND, Dr. Christina Carew, ND and Dr. Dominique Vanier, ND discuss gastroparesis as an often missed cause of upper abdominal bloating. Symptoms include: early fullness, nausea, reflux that doesn’t respond to medication, vomiting, and pain above the belly button, describing it as delayed stomach emptying that can be influenced by diabetes, GLP/GIP medications, PPIs, opioids, stress, hormonal cycles, and conditions like dysautonomia/POTS, Ehlers-Danlos, post-viral illness, mold/mycotoxin exposure, and tick-borne disease. They note overlap with functional dyspepsia and histamine-related symptoms, and limitations and long waits for gastric emptying tests (e.g., scintigraphy). Suggested supports include tracking timing/patterns, maintaining routine and nutrition, avoiding excessive food restriction, using smaller or blended meals, screening mental health and micronutrients, considering anti-nausea options, prokinetics and neuromodulators with monitoring, and integrative therapies like CBT, hypnotherapy, breathing, acupuncture, and manual therapy, plus guidance on how to discuss “gastric emptying/motility” with practitioners and use downloadable checklists.

7: Why Your Gut Reacts to “Healthy” Foods: Sugar Alcohols (Polyols) Explained

In this Team Gut Girls bloating series episode, Dr. Whitney Baxter, ND with co-hosts Dr. Christina Carew, ND and Dr. Dominique Vanie, ND discuss sugar alcohols (polyols)—the “P” in FODMAP—as a sneaky cause of bloating, gas, loose stools, and abdominal discomfort. They explain these reduced-calorie sweeteners (e.g., xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, erythritol, maltitol) occur naturally in some fruits and vegetables and are common in sugar-free gum, candy, baked goods, frozen desserts, jams, and some drinks; a practical label tip is to look for ingredients ending in “-ol.” Polyols are incompletely absorbed in the small intestine, reach the microbiome, and ferment, with tolerance varying by person and quantity, especially in IBS with visceral hypersensitivity. They note reasons for use (texture, moisture, reduced browning, cooling sensation, fewer cavities, lower sugar impact) and summarize that current evidence suggests no harmful microbiome effects and possible prebiotic benefits, advising symptom tracking and discussing concerns with a clinician or dietitian rather than automatically eliminating foods.

6: Why Bloating Isn’t Always Gut Problem: Pelvic Venous Congestion in Women

Team Gut Girls Hosts - Dr. Christina Carew, ND, Dr. Dominque Vanier, ND and Dr. Whitney Baxter, ND discuss how chronic bloating, heaviness, pressure, constipation, and pelvic pain may be caused by pelvic venous disorders (pelvic venous congestion/insufficiency) rather than the gut, and note it is under-diagnosed, often mislabeled as IBS, and is the second leading cause of pelvic pain lasting over six months after endometriosis, with frequent comorbidity. They explain how pelvic congestion creates blood pooling and pressure (“traffic jam”) that can worsen with standing/sitting, end of day, menstruation, ovulation, pregnancy, and sex, and may include urinary urgency without infection, painful bladder fullness, hemorrhoids, visible pelvic/leg veins, swelling (often left-sided), fatigue, and relief when lying down or with compression. Risk factors mentioned include pregnancy, ages 25–40, hypermobility, POTS/orthostatic intolerance, and possible increases post-COVID/vaccination. Diagnosis may involve ultrasound, pelvic MRI, venography, and referral to interventional radiology; treatment can include stenting or trial injections.