Before the Diagnosis: Listening to Your Gut

Can stress make you sick? More than most people realize.

In this episode of the Mood Food Podcast Gut Health Series, hosts Preeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND begin a special two-part conversation exploring the relationship between stress and gut health.   This first episode focuses on how chronic stress impacts the body — especially the digestive system — and why the gut is often one of the first places stress shows up physically.   Joined by a gut health expert, the discussion explores the science of the gut-brain connection, the role of the nervous system, and how stress can contribute to symptoms like bloating, reflux, digestive discomfort, inflammation, fatigue, brain fog, and mood changes.   ⸻    In This Episode:   * The connection between the brain and the gut * How chronic stress affects digestion and the microbiome * Why stress can trigger inflammation and GI symptoms * The nervous system’s role in gut health * Physical signs your body may be stuck in “fight or flight” mode * How modern lifestyles contribute to chronic stress * Foundational strategies to support stress resilience and healing   ⸻   Stress affects more than the mind — it affects the entire body. Understanding that connection is the first step toward better health.   ⸻    Join the Conversation   * Subscribe for Part 2 of our stress and gut health series * Share this episode with someone navigating stress or digestive issues * Comment below: Where do you notice stress affecting your body the most?

What happens to your gut health as you get older — and what’s actually normal?

In Part 2 of the Mood Food Podcast Gut Health Series, hosts Preeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND continue their exploration of gut health across the lifespan — this time focusing on adulthood through aging. Building on Part 1 (conception through the 20s), this episode dives into how the gut microbiome changes over time and why factors like stress, hormones, medications, and lifestyle begin to have a greater impact on digestion, immunity, and overall health. Joined by a gut health expert, the discussion breaks down what’s normal, what’s not, and how to better support your gut at every stage of life. ✨ In This Episode: How gut health evolves in adulthood and later life The impact of stress, sleep, and lifestyle on digestion Hormonal changes and their effect on the gut The role of medications and antibiotics over time Common digestive issues in adulthood — and what’s normal How to support a healthy microbiome as you age Practical, sustainable habits for long-term gut health Together with Part 1, this episode completes a full picture of how gut health develops, changes, and can be supported across a lifetime. 💬 Join the Conversation Watch Part 1 to understand gut health from conception through your 20s Subscribe for more conversations on food, health, and culture Comment below: What changes have you noticed in your gut health over time?

What is normal when it comes to gut health — from before birth through your 20s?

In this episode of the Mood Food Podcast, hosts Preeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND kick off a special two-part series exploring gut health across the lifespan.   Part 1 focuses on the earliest stages of life — from conception and infancy through childhood, adolescence, and into the 20s — and how the gut microbiome develops during these critical years.   Joined by a gut health expert, the conversation unpacks how early-life factors like birth method, diet, antibiotics, and environment shape digestion, immunity, and overall health for years to come.   ⸻    In This Episode:   * How gut health begins at conception and birth * What’s “normal” for digestion in infants and children * The role of breastfeeding, formula, and early nutrition * How antibiotics and environment impact the microbiome * Gut health changes during adolescence and early adulthood * Signs something may be off — and when to pay attention * How early habits influence lifelong health   ⸻   Understanding what’s normal is the first step toward better health — for yourself and for the next generation.   ⸻    Join the Conversation   * Subscribe for Part 2, where we explore gut health from adulthood through aging * Share this episode with parents, caregivers, or anyone interested in lifelong wellness * Comment below: What have you learned about gut health that surprised you?

Before the Diagnosis: Listening to Your Gut

Your gut is talking. Are you listening? After our powerful 8-episode Breast Cancer series, MoodFood is diving deep into one of the most fascinating and misunderstood systems in the human body — your gut. Welcome to the Gut Health Series - Before the Diagnosis: Listening to Your Gut We explore the science and stories behind your second brain. In this episodes to come, we lay the groundwork for everything: how your gut health shifts through every stage of life, why stress wreaks havoc on your digestion, how hormones and gut bacteria are in constant conversation, and the mind-blowing gut-brain connection that explains so much about your mood, energy, and mental health. Whether you're bloated, anxious, exhausted, or just curious — this series is for you. New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe so you don't miss a thing.

Leadership Interrupted - The breast cancer journey in India

In this episode of the Mood Food Podcast Breast Cancer Journey series, hosts Prreeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND sit down for a moving and eye-opening conversation about the realities of breast cancer treatment in India.   Featuring candid reflections from two breast cancer survivors and their surgeon, this episode explores the many layers of the patient experience — from diagnosis and decision-making to family involvement, emotional resilience, and recovery. The discussion sheds light on how cultural values and strong family support systems can both strengthen and complicate the treatment journey, especially when women are navigating major medical decisions within broader social and familial structures.       A major focus of this conversation is patient empowerment: the importance of asking questions, understanding treatment options, and building trust with medical professionals who truly listen. The episode also tackles an especially important issue in global breast cancer care — access to breast reconstruction — including the startling reality that less than 1% of women in India undergoing mastectomy are offered immediate breast reconstruction, despite how profoundly body image, identity, and quality of life can be affected.       This is an honest, compassionate, and thought-provoking discussion about what it means to treat the whole patient — not just the disease.   In this episode, we discuss: • Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment experiences in India • The role of family, community, and social support • Cultural influences on medical decision-making • Why patient education and self-advocacy matter • The importance of trust between patients and physicians • Breast reconstruction awareness and access disparities • What healthcare systems around the world can learn from one another          If this conversation resonates with you, please like, comment, and subscribe — and share it with someone who may need to hear it.