When gut health issues, chronic illness, and disordered eating meet at a crossroads, how does someone take steps towards healing? 

 

That’s the subject we tackle today with Gianna Michalak, a Certified Nutrition Specialist and specifically gut health nutritionist. She works with women who have chronic illnesses to optimize their digestion and improve their quality of life. 

If you’re an Instagram person, Gianna puts out TONS of information that’s both entertaining and informative on her Instagram and she has a new program out: The Gut Restore Program. 

Normally, when you go to someone for this issue, the solutions you’re offered are going to involve a pretty heavy dose of restriction – but Gianna understands that when somebody has a chronic illness, there’s so much that has to do with your immune health and mental health, and sadly, very often, people struggling with this also struggle with eating disorders. So her goal is for you to expand your quality of life – which I love. What a breath of fresh air!

I do want to add that if you’re in the throes of your eating disorder and you struggle with chronic illness, it would be beneficial for you to work with a dietitian who specializes in eating disorders and gut health/chronic illness; some of Gianna’s specific suggestions might not apply to you. Just take all of this with a grain of salt and see what works for you. 

So, without further ado, let’s jump right in! 

 

Tweetable Quotes

“The major myth in the gut health space is that you have to eliminate foods to restore your gut health – and that is simply not true.” – Gianna Michalak 

 

“Let’s say you are reactive to gluten right now. There may be a way that, a year from now, if you focus on optimizing your gut health and your digestion, you CAN have gluten a part of your diet and have peace and satisfaction.”-- Gianna Michalak

 

“[Mindfulness] actually allows your body to digest food better and it allows you to also restore your relationship with food because while you’re consuming it, you’re activating a brain mode of safety.” – Gianna Michalak 

Resources: 

Gianna’s Instagram

 

Gianna’s Newsletters and Gut Restore Guide

 

The Gut Restore Program

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You can connect with me, Rachelle Heinemann on Instagram, through my website www.rachelleheinemann.com, or email me directly at [email protected]