What if the key to calming autoimmunity isn’t stronger suppression, but a clearer conversation between your gut and your immune system?

In this episode, we sit down with integrative and functional medicine nutritionist Vanessa Vanderhoek to explore how microbiome shifts, barrier breakdown, and nervous system stress converge into autoimmune flares,  and how the GI-MAP can transform complexity into a clear, safe plan. 

We unpack the clinical significance of dysbiosis patterns such as Klebsiella and Prevotella, the risks signalled by depleted keystone species like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and what these patterns reveal about conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, MS, and juvenile arthritis. You’ll learn how to interpret zonulin for leaky gut, use secretory IgA highs and lows as action points, and rely on calprotectin and occult blood as decisive markers for medical referral.

Vanessa brings the science to life with real cases: an ulcerative colitis patient who avoided bowel resection by making one well-timed dietary shift; a rare and painful skin condition that settled once triggers were removed and the mucosa repaired; and a case of severe bloating that revealed the early clues of scleroderma, guiding faster diagnosis and a clear path forward. Throughout, we highlight the principles of precision and pacing, building plans that align with a client’s readiness, capacity, and budget so meaningful change actually sticks.

We also address the often-overlooked driver: vagus nerve dysfunction and chronic stress. When the sympathetic system takes over, digestion stalls, sIgA drops, and tolerance erodes. Vanessa walks us through the simple rituals that restore regulation, sitting to eat, slower chewing, pre-meal breathing, and the nutrients that rebuild the mucosal barrier, including vitamins A, D and E, and zinc. Safety threads through the entire conversation: co-managing with GPs, repeating calprotectin when indicated, and cross-checking protocols with immunosuppressant medications.

If you’re looking for fewer flares, shorter recovery times, and more agency in autoimmune care, this episode gives you a grounded, clinically relevant roadmap. Subscribe, share with a practitioner friend, and let us know your biggest takeaway.

Connect Vanessa:

• Vanessa's podcast Thrive Forward:
• Youtube channel:
• Website

Shownotes and references are available on the Designs for Health website


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DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health