We've been taught to think of the brain as the command center of our mental health - sending orders, dictating moods, and controlling focus. What if the brain is just half the equation? What if the real commander is your gut?

The brain and gut are far more connected than most people realize. Every bite you take sparks a chemical conversation between them; one that can calm your mind or trigger anxiety, brain fog, and low motivation. For years, we've tried to fix those symptoms with pills, hoping chemistry alone could restore balance. But the truth is, no drug can outsmart an inflamed gut.

The science now shows that your mental health is not just in your head. It's shaped by the bacteria in your intestines, the food on your plate, and the way you manage stress, sleep, and community. When the gut falters, the brain follows, but when you repair the gut, you can literally rewire your mood and energy at the genetic level.

How do we fix the gut, and how does that impact the brain?

In this episode of The Trusted Pharmacist, I break down the five-step process to restore a healthy gut-brain connection. I talk about how to remove irritants, re-inoculate with key psychobiotics, repair the gut lining, and rebalance lifestyle habits that calm the nervous system.

Things You'll Learn In This Episode

The gut-brain highway Your gut talks to your brain every minute of the day. Could the anxiety and brain fog you feel be signals of distress from your microbiome?

Inflammation: the hidden saboteur When gut bacteria leak toxins into the bloodstream, they inflame the brain's immune system. How do you quell this invisible fire?

The nutrient-absorption trap Even the best diet or supplements can fail if your stomach acid and bile aren't working. Are you actually absorbing what your brain needs to thrive?

Five steps to rebuild the connection From removing irritants to restoring vagal tone, what evidence-based strategies can transform mental clarity and mood from the inside out?

References

1. PMC 12436269 (2025) – Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Microbiota–gut–brain axis in neurodegenerative diseases: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets

2. ScienceDirect (2025) – New Insights in the Gut–Brain Axis: Bioelectrical Microbiome. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214799325000839

3. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (2025) – Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis in Mental and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Frontiers | The microbiota–gut–brain axis in mental and neurodegenerative disorders: opportunities for prevention and intervention

4. PMC 12405295 (2025) – Neuroplasticity and the Microbiome. Neuroplasticity and the microbiome: how microorganisms influence brain change

5. PMC 11846350 (2025) – Plasma Short‑Chain Fatty Acids and Cognition. Association between plasma short-chain fatty acids and inflammation in human immunodeficiency virus-associated neurocognitive disorder: a pilot study

6. PMC 11959655 (2025) – Bile Acid Signal Transduction and Neurological Function. Dysregulation of bile acid signal transduction causes neurological dysfunction in cirrhosis rats

7. PMC 12071821 (2025) – Mechanisms of Bile Acids and Receptors in Brain Inflammation. Research Progress on the Mechanism of Bile Acids and Their Receptors in Depression

8. PMC 10051340 (2023) – Tryptophan and Kynurenine Pathway in Microbiota–Brain Interactions. The Tryptophan and Kynurenine Pathway Involved in the Development of Immune-Related Diseases

9. Nature (2025) – The Stomach's Turn: Elucidating the Gut–Brain Axis. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220‑025‑00489‑1 10. Gut (2025) – Fasting and Cognition Via Microbiota Resets. https://gut.bmj.com/content/74/11/1828 11. Nature (2025) – Probiotics Reduce Negative Mood Over Time. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44184‑025‑00123‑z

About Your Host

Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker, and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.

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