The Gut-Brain Connection: How the Vagus Nerve Impacts Your Mood, Hormones & Healing

Your gut and brain are in constant conversation—and the vagus nerve is the powerful messenger running the show. If you’re experiencing anxiety, poor sleep, irritability, mood swings, brain fog, or hormone imbalances, your gut could be the missing piece.

In this episode, Dr. Amy Beard and Anna Allen unpack:
✔️ What the vagus nerve does and why it’s crucial
✔️ How inflammation in your gut impacts your brain
✔️ Why trauma, stress, and even your thoughts disrupt digestion
✔️ The role of SSRIs, GLP-1s, and neurotransmitters
✔️ What to do to heal the gut–brain connection

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it!

👇 Links & Resources
Join our exclusive membership → https://amybeardmd.com/programs/dr-amys-table/
Digestive enzymes & supplements → https://amybeardmd.com/shop/enzyme-support/
"The Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve" Book on Amazon
More from Dr. Amy Beard → https://amybeardmd.com/

🎙️ Key Takeaways & Facts:

- 90% of serotonin is made in the gut

- Antibiotic use can raise depression risk up to 56%

- Gut inflammation = Brain inflammation

- Thoughts, trauma, and toxic stress directly impact your microbiome

If you feel like you're doing "all the right things" but still not healing—your gut-brain axis could be the missing link.

This isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection.

The Gut-Brain Connection: How the Vagus Nerve Impacts Your Mood, Hormones & Healing

Your gut and brain are in constant conversation—and the vagus nerve is the powerful messenger running the show. If you’re experiencing anxiety, poor sleep, irritability, mood swings, brain fog, or hormone imbalances, your gut could be the missing piece.

In this episode, Dr. Amy Beard and Anna Allen unpack:
✔️ What the vagus nerve does and why it’s crucial
✔️ How inflammation in your gut impacts your brain
✔️ Why trauma, stress, and even your thoughts disrupt digestion
✔️ The role of SSRIs, GLP-1s, and neurotransmitters
✔️ What to do to heal the gut–brain connection

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it!

👇 Links & Resources
Join our exclusive membership → https://amybeardmd.com/programs/dr-amys-table/
Digestive enzymes & supplements → https://amybeardmd.com/shop/enzyme-support/
"The Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve" Book on Amazon
More from Dr. Amy Beard → https://amybeardmd.com/

🎙️ Key Takeaways & Facts:

- 90% of serotonin is made in the gut

- Antibiotic use can raise depression risk up to 56%

- Gut inflammation = Brain inflammation

- Thoughts, trauma, and toxic stress directly impact your microbiome

If you feel like you're doing "all the right things" but still not healing—your gut-brain axis could be the missing link.

This isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection.

Your nervous system is the command center of your body, impacting everything from hormone balance and gut health to mental clarity and immune resilience. But if it’s stuck in a state of dysregulation, it can silently sabotage your healing journey. In this episode, Amy and Anna break down why nervous system health is foundational to true wellness and why it’s often misunderstood in mainstream health.

We discuss:
 ✅ Why nervous system dysregulation is one of the biggest hidden barriers to healing
 ✅ The surprising signs your nervous system might be stuck in overdrive
 ✅ How blood sugar impacts nervous system health
 ✅ The powerful connection between your gut, hormones, and nervous system balance
 ✅ Practical tools for supporting nervous system health and building resilience

If you’ve been frustrated by slow progress in your healing journey, this episode will help you uncover the missing piece.

Helpful Links: 
Books:
Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve: Self-Help Exercises for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Autism
Altogether You: Experiencing personal and spiritual transformation with Internal Family Systems therapy
Victory Over the Darkness: Realize the Power of Your Identity in Christ: Neil T. Anderson: 9780764235993

Live Well Course and Planner:
https://amybeardmd.com/programs/live-well/

The Pitfalls of Modern Functional Medicine

Wellness Rewind with Amy Beard, MD and Anna Allen, FDNP

Functional Medicine was created to get to the root causes of health issues, not just manage symptoms. But somewhere along the way, the movement has drifted—and it’s leaving many people frustrated, overwhelmed, and financially drained. In this episode, Amy and Anna have an honest conversation about what Functional Medicine was intended to be, how it’s gone off track, and how to get back to what actually works for true healing.

We discuss:
✅ What Functional Medicine was originally meant to be
✅ When the shift toward "symptom management 2.0" began
✅ Why relying on supplements alone is not true healing
✅ The problem with over-testing and chasing lab numbers
✅ Why overwhelming protocols often do more harm than good
✅ Nervous system biohacking vs real nervous system health
✅ Why lifestyle foundations still matter more than anything else
✅ How to avoid wasting thousands of dollars on ineffective approaches

If you’ve felt lost, overwhelmed, or disillusioned by what Functional Medicine has become, this episode will give you clarity—and a path back to true, lasting wellness.

#functionalmedicine #rootcause #supplements

Medication Weaning: What You Need to Know

Coming off medications isn’t as simple as just stopping them—and for some, it can be dangerous without the right approach. In this episode, Amy and Anna Allen dive deep into the process of medication weaning, covering what to consider, what to test, and how to support your body naturally.

They discuss:
✅ Blood pressure medications—optimal ranges and safe weaning strategies
✅ The hidden connection between blood sugar, gut health, sleep, and medication side effects
✅ Why healthy individuals are shifting into a pre-diabetic state
✅ The truth about PPIs and stomach acid—why “too much” and “too little” can look the same
✅ Cholesterol myths, statins, and the real root cause of high cholesterol
✅ Medications that impact brain chemistry and why you should not quit cold turkey
✅ How hormones, anxiety, and depression play into medication dependence
✅ Where to start when coming off of medications safely

If you’ve ever wondered whether you need to be on a certain medication—or if you’re ready to start the process of coming off—this episode is packed with insight and practical guidance.

Helpful Links:
Book a free discovery call to become a patient:
https://amybeardmd.com/programs/functional-medicine-consultations/

Start with the foundations of health through our Live Well Course and Planner: https://amybeardmd.com/programs/live-well/

Test Your Stomach Acid Protocol: https://us.fullscript.com/plans/amybeardmd-low-stomach-acid-protocol
PPI Tappering Protocol: 
https://us.fullscript.com/plans/amybeardmd-paul-buch-ppi-tapering
Antibiotic Repair Protocol:
https://us.fullscript.com/plans/amybeardmd-antibiotic-mitigation-repair

#FunctionalMedicine #MedicationWeaning #GutHealth #Hormones #RootCauseHealing #pharmaceutical

Healing isn’t about striving or searching for more resources—it’s about truly believing what Jesus has already accomplished. In this episode, Dr. Amy Beard and Pastor Blake Harrell explore the difference between faith and hope, why perspective shifts matter more than desperation for healing, and how gratitude can open your heart to God’s truth. True wellness begins not with fixing the body, but with aligning the heart. Waiting on God isn’t passive—it’s an active trust in the Source of Life. Let’s dive into what that means for your healing journey.

If you want to learn more about creating lasting habits that transform your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health with Christ, our Live Well Course and Planner is the perfect next step. 

START LIVING WELL - https://amybeardmd.com/programs/live-well/

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#functionalmedicine #christian #faith #health #healing

In this episode of Wellness Rewind, Dr. Amy Beard, MD, and Anna Allen, FDNP take a deep dive into Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS)—a growing yet misunderstood condition linked to tick bites and red meat allergies. They explore why Alpha-Gal cases are surging, the role of immune dysregulation, and why symptoms can be frustratingly inconsistent.

Amy shares her personal journey with Alpha-Gal, detailing her mystery symptoms, testing process, and road to recovery. They also discuss how to properly test for AGS, when to seek support, and hidden Alpha-Gal triggers in everyday products like supplements, medications, and personal care items.

If you’re dealing with unexplained allergic reactions, food sensitivities, or histamine intolerance, this episode will help you connect the dots and find real solutions.

To Learn More About Alpha Gal: 
alphagalinformation.org

Alpha Gal Friendly Supplements:
https://us.fullscript.com/plans/amybeardmd-alpha-gal-friendly-supplements

Optimize Healing Through the Foundations of Functional Medicine:
https://amybeardmd.com/programs/live-well/

In Part 2 of this weight loss deep dive, Amy and Anna tackle one of the biggest missing pieces in the conversation—hormones. They break down the role of menopause, hormone replacement therapy, and why weight gain isn’t just about hormones (even though it often feels that way).

They also explore how stress resilience plays a huge role in weight management, why working out more can actually backfire if your body is in fight-or-flight mode, and how toxins stored in fat tissues make weight loss even harder. Plus, they discuss the gut-hormone connection, cost-friendly nutrient-dense foods, and popular trends like intermittent fasting and CGMs.

If you’ve been frustrated with weight gain despite doing “all the right things,” this episode is packed with insights on what to test, what to change, and how to take a sustainable and biblical approach to lasting health.

In this episode of Wellness Rewind, Amy and Anna take a deeper look at what really drives weight issues—and spoiler alert—it’s not just about eating less and exercising more! They chat about why the old “calories in, calories out” method doesn’t cut it, how toxins and stress can mess with your metabolism, and the real reasons people struggle with weight loss despite doing all the “right” things.

We also dig into common habits that might be making things worse (like over-exercising or poor sleep) and share thoughts on current weight loss trends like Ozempic, carnivore diets, and using continuous glucose monitors.

If weight loss is on your goal list for 2025, don’t miss their practical tips on getting started - It’s all about addressing the real root causes and ditching the quick fixes!

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: The Root Causes of Weight Issues & Common Misconceptions
03:31 Weight Issues within the United States
11:25 My Response to the “Calories in, calorie out” methodology 
17:47 Weight Gain habits making matters worse: Exercise, HPA axis dysfunction, & weight training
23:40 Root Causes of weight gain in clinical practice: Peeling back the layers of the mediating factors related to weight loss resistance
30:00 How toxins can impact weight gain 
36:00 Weight loss trends: Ozempic, Cortisol Face, Carnivore, Continuous Glucose Monitors
51:00 First Steps to Weight Goals in 2025: Nervous System, Food as Medicine, & Sleep 

Live Well Course & Planner!
https://amybeardmd.com/programs/live-well/

Live Well Boot Camp Waitlist!
https://amy-beard.mykajabi.com/boot-camp-waitlist

The holiday season is often a whirlwind of distractions, chaos, and comparisons—leaving many of us overwhelmed, stressed, and even sick. But what if slowing down and stepping away could actually transform your health? In this episode, Amy Beard, MD, and Anna Allen, FDNP, explore the profound impact of distractions, technology, and rest on our mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

From the health consequences of constant screen use to the healing power of rest and stillness, we dive into topics like:

- Why distractions like smartphones and social media sabotage your gut, hormones, and immune system.
- The hidden health benefits of leaning into the slower pace of winter.
- How rest strengthens your immune system, promotes hormone balance, and restores energy.
- The power of digital detoxes: practical tips for reclaiming your time and focus this season.

Join us as we unpack how our fast-paced, tech-saturated culture is impacting our brains and bodies—and why prioritizing rest, gratitude, and simplicity could be the ultimate key to thriving through the holidays.

Ready to take action? 
Join us for a community-wide Digital Detox Challenge to reclaim your health this season. 

Plus, check out the Live Well Course and Boot Camp for the support and accountability you need to make these changes stick.

Don’t miss this conversation filled with insights, practical tips, and a biblical reminder to rest in Him: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

LINKS:
Live Well Course & Planner: https://amybeardmd.com/programs/live-well/
Live Well Boot Camp: https://amybeardmd.com/programs/live-well-boot-camp/

#functionalmedicine #rootcause #digitaldetox #health #holiday