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

12: Why Your Hormones Are Messing With Your Gut

Why does your gut seem to rebel before your period? Why does stress leave you bloated for days? And what do hormones like cortisol, thyroid hormone, insulin, estrogen, and progesterone actually have to do with digestion? In this episode of Team Gut Girls, Dr. Whitney Baxter, ND, Dr. Dominique Vanier, ND and Dr. Christina Carew, ND break down the powerful connection between hormones and gut health. From bloating, constipation, and diarrhea to stress-related digestive issues, they explain how hormone fluctuations can influence gut motility, stomach acid production, nutrient absorption, inflammation, and even the gut microbiome. You'll learn why period bloating isn't just water retention, how chronic stress impacts digestion through the cortisol response, why thyroid dysfunction can cause constipation or diarrhea, and how insulin resistance may contribute to digestive symptoms long before blood sugar levels become abnormal. The team also explores digestive hormones like gastrin, secretin, CCK, ghrelin, leptin, GLP-1, and motilin, plus the emerging role of the estrobolome, the collection of gut microbes involved in estrogen metabolism. Most importantly, you'll walk away with practical tools to better understand your body, including symptom tracking, cycle awareness, stress management strategies, and questions to ask your healthcare provider. In this episode, you'll learn: • How hormones influence bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and gut motility • Why stress and cortisol can disrupt digestion and increase gut permeability • The connection between thyroid health and digestive symptoms • How insulin resistance may affect gut function and metabolism • What the estrobolome is and why it matters for hormone health • Why period bloating is more than just water retention • The role of GLP-1 medications in digestion and fullness signals • Which lab tests may help uncover hormone-related digestive issues • How to track gut symptoms alongside your menstrual cycle • Foundational habits that support both hormone balance and gut health If you've ever wondered whether your hormones are contributing to your digestive symptoms, this episode will help connect the dots and give you practical next steps. Because Better Gut Health Changes Everything.

11: Why Your Gut Barrier Matters More Than You Think

Is “Leaky Gut” Real? The Truth About Intestinal Permeability and Why Your Gut Barrier Matters More Than You Think If you've been told leaky gut is a myth—or you've seen it blamed for every symptom under the sun—this episode is for you. In this episode of Team Gut Girls, naturopathic doctors Dr. Whitney Baxter, Dr. Christina Carew, and Dr. Dominique Vanier unpack one of the most controversial topics in gut health: intestinal permeability, often called "leaky gut." They explain what the gut barrier actually is, why it's only one cell thick, and how stress, infections, hormones, medications, inflammation, and microbiome changes can affect its function. You'll learn: ✔️ What "leaky gut" really means (and what it doesn't) ✔️ Why bloating, fatigue, brain fog, skin issues, food sensitivities, and hormone symptoms may all be connected ✔️ The role of tight junctions—the gatekeepers of your gut lining ✔️ Why your immune system and nervous system are deeply involved ✔️ Common myths about gut healing and why one-size-fits-all protocols often fail ✔️ The practical framework we use in clinic: calm, remove, repair ✔️ Why more supplements aren't always the answer Most importantly, you'll walk away with a clearer understanding of how to support your gut without falling into the trap of restrictive diets, supplement overload, or fear-based wellness advice. Because better gut health changes everything.

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.