Have you ever said, “My stomach has never been the same since that trip…” or that questionable BBQ, honeymoon, or random meal that left you sick for days?

Food poisoning isn’t always something you “just get over.” For many people, it’s the starting point of long-term bloating, urgency, constipation, food sensitivities, and anxiety around eating.

In this episode, Dr. Heather breaks down why post-infectious IBS accounts for a significant percentage of IBS cases and how an acute infection can disrupt gut motility, immune signaling, stomach acid, bile flow, and mineral balance long after the initial illness passes.

If you’ve been stuck in cycles of low FODMAP, antimicrobials, probiotics, and still feel six months pregnant by 5pm… this conversation will connect the dots.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The research behind post-infectious IBS and how food poisoning triggers long-term gut dysfunction
• How bacteria like Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli, and Shigella can disrupt motility
• What happens to the migrating motor complex after infection
• Why bloating, SIBO, constipation, or diarrhea can linger for years
• The role of stomach acid, bile flow, minerals, and the nervous system in recovery
• What to do during acute food poisoning
• What to evaluate if symptoms are still present months (or years) later

If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review and share it with someone whose gut has never quite been the same.

Find the real root causes of your GI symptoms with our free, 2 minute Quiz! 

Take the quiz here!

Connect + Next Steps

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You started magnesium for constipation. It worked.

And then… it didn’t.

Now you’re increasing the dose, relying on it nightly, and wondering why your body won’t cooperate.

Here’s the truth: if magnesium stopped working, it’s not because you need more of it.

Magnesium can support bowel movements. But it doesn’t fix the reason your system slowed down in the first place.

In this episode, I break down:

• What magnesium actually does (and what it doesn’t)
• The mineral patterns I see when it “stops working”
• Why potassium, bile flow, and stress matter more than you think
• How you can poop daily and still be constipated
• What actually restores long-term rhythm instead of relying on stimulation

Constipation is rarely just a colon issue. It’s often a top-down digestion issue.

If you’re tired of bandaids and want a personalized, step-by-step plan to restore your digestion from the root, this is exactly the work we do inside gutTogether.

Find the real root causes of your GI symptoms with our free, 2 minute Quiz! 

Take the quiz here!

Connect + Next Steps

Want daily education, stories, and gut-friendly support?
Follow along on Instagram

Ready for personalized 1:1 support and a clear plan?
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Want a chance to win a free HTMA Bundle? Leave a rating & review and email it to [email protected] with [PODCAST REVIEW] in the subject line! We choose a new winner every month!

If you’re constipated… and your ferritin won’t improve… this episode is for you.

Constipation isn’t just uncomfortable, it's often a sign that your digestive system, minerals, and stress response are all under strain, and when that happens, iron can be one of the first things to stall.

In this episode, I connect the dots between:

• Constipation
• Fatigue
• Low ferritin
• Slow stomach acid
• Mineral depletion
• Sluggish bile flow
• Stress (both internal and external)

Because ferritin doesn’t improve just because you take iron.

Ferritin improves when the whole system improves.

If iron has made you feel worse…
If your ferritin only improves while supplementing…
If you’re bloated, sluggish, and exhausted despite “normal labs”…

This conversation will make things click.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why low stomach acid affects both iron and B12
• How slow motility disrupts iron recycling
• Why constipation isn’t a side effect, it’s a signal
• The connection between bile flow, SIBO, and iron storage
• How mineral depletion makes iron harder to tolerate
• Why stress shifts your body out of storage mode

🎁 Giveaway Announcement

To celebrate this being the 100th episode and our upcoming live training, I’m doing a giveaway!

One listener will win a free Lume Box! This is my favorite red light therapy device I use every day! 

Here’s how to enter:

1️⃣ Listen to this episode
2️⃣ Leave a rating and review 
3️⃣ Screenshot your review and email it to [email protected] with [100th giveaway] as the subject line

--> Bonus entries for sharing the podcast and tagging @drheatherfinley on Instagram 

The winner will be announced on next weeks podcast! 

Find the real root causes of your GI symptoms with our free, 2 minute Quiz! 

Take the quiz here!

Connect + Next Steps

Want daily education, stories, and gut-friendly support?
Follow along on Instagram

Ready for personalized 1:1 support and a clear plan?
Apply for gutTogether®

Want a chance to win a free HTMA Bundle? Leave a rating & review and email it to [email protected] with [PODCAST REVIEW] in the subject line! We choose a new winner every month!

If you’ve been told to “just take iron” for low ferritin and it either didn’t work or made you feel worse, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I’m sharing my personal postpartum ferritin story and walking through why iron alone wasn’t the answer for me… or for so many of the clients I work with.

Low ferritin is one of the most misunderstood labs I see. And for most people, it’s not about iron intake. It’s about whether the body is actually ready to absorb, use, recycle, and store iron.

In this episode, we zoom out and talk about the systems that control ferritin, including digestion, motility, minerals, and liver support.

I also cover:

• Why ferritin often stays low even when you’re taking iron
• How postpartum depletion changes how the body handles iron
• Why iron can worsen constipation, bloating, and nausea
• The role of digestion, motility, and mineral balance in ferritin
• Why constipation is often a cause, not a side effect
• How the liver influences iron storage and regulation
• Why ferritin is usually a signal, not the root problem

This episode is especially for you if:

• You’re postpartum or have a history of heavy periods
• You struggle with constipation or slow digestion
• You don’t tolerate iron well
• Your labs are “normal” but you still feel exhausted
• Ferritin only improves while you’re actively taking iron

I’m hosting a free training called Why Iron Isn’t Enough

👉 Learn more and register here

Find the real root causes of your GI symptoms with our free, 2 minute Quiz! 

Take the quiz here!

Connect + Next Steps

Want daily education, stories, and gut-friendly support?
Follow along on Instagram

Ready for personalized 1:1 support and a clear plan?
Apply for gutTogether®

Want a chance to win a free HTMA Bundle? Leave a rating & review and email it to [email protected] with [PODCAST REVIEW] in the subject line! We choose a new winner every month!

If you’re wondering whether food sensitivity testing will finally explain your bloating, constipation, or GI reactions, this episode is for you. We talk through why food sensitivity lists often keep growing, what those results are actually reflecting, and why eliminating more foods doesn’t always lead to lasting relief. 

You’ll learn how digestion, stress, and immune signaling influence food reactions, why many people feel worse after doing “everything right,” and what question to ask instead if you want real progress.

If you have ever been curious about food sensitivity testing and what it actually measures or shows related to your gut health, make sure to listen in! 

In this episode, Dr. Heather covers:

• Should you do food sensitivity testing to fix bloating and GI issues?
• Why “safe food” lists often keep shrinking
• What food reactions can signal beyond the food itself
• Why cutting out more foods doesn’t always improve digestion
• What to focus on if food sensitivity testing hasn’t helped

Find the real root causes of your GI symptoms with our free, 2 minute Quiz! 

Take the quiz here!

Connect + Next Steps

Want daily education, stories, and gut-friendly support?
Follow along on Instagram

Ready for personalized 1:1 support and a clear plan?
Apply for gutTogether®

Want a chance to win a free HTMA Bundle? Leave a rating & review and email it to [email protected] with [PODCAST REVIEW] in the subject line! We choose a new winner every month!

Let's be real: eating healthy was the answer, you’d already have relief from your bloating and constipaiton. 

Most of the women we work with are already doing the “right” things including: eating whole foods, avoiding junk, taking supplements, and yet, they are still dealing with bloating, constipation, and a gut that feels unpredictable.

In this episode, I break down why that happens and what’s actually missing.

You’ll learn why clean eating alone doesn't fix GI issues, how mineral depletion quietly impacts digestion and stress tolerance, why healthy foods can feel worse when digestion is weak, and how stress, gut bacteria, and infections can all interfere with your ability to absorb and tolerate food.

This episode is especially for you if:

• You feel worse eating “healthy” foods
• Your symptoms flare on busy or stressful days
• You’ve been told your labs are normal, but you don’t feel normal
• You’re tired of guessing and piecing things together

Connect + Next Steps

Curious what’s actually driving your symptoms?
Take the free 2-minute Gut Root Cause Quiz

Want daily education, stories, and gut-friendly support?
Follow along on Instagram

Ready for personalized 1:1 support and a clear plan?
Apply for gutTogether®

Find the real root causes of your GI symptoms with our free, 2 minute Quiz! 

Take the quiz here!

Connect + Next Steps

Want daily education, stories, and gut-friendly support?
Follow along on Instagram

Ready for personalized 1:1 support and a clear plan?
Apply for gutTogether®

Want a chance to win a free HTMA Bundle? Leave a rating & review and email it to [email protected] with [PODCAST REVIEW] in the subject line! We choose a new winner every month!

How often do you say no to plans because you don’t know how your stomach will feel?
Have you ever checked a menu days in advance, chosen clothes based on bloating, or left an event early just so you could be comfortable?

Living with gut symptoms affects so much more than digestion. It quietly shapes your decisions, your energy, and how present you feel in your own life.

In this episode of Love Your Gut, I share my own story of navigating bloating and gut issues in my 20s, including how symptoms once dictated what I said yes to and no to. We talk about why gut symptoms steal mental space, why they often keep coming back, and what actually changes when digestion is supported at the root.

If your stomach has been running the show lately, this episode will help you understand why and how to take action so you no longer have to let your GI issues run the show!

Connect + Next Steps

Curious what’s actually driving your symptoms?
Take the free 2-minute Gut Root Cause Quiz

Want daily education, stories, and gut-friendly support?
Follow along on Instagram

Ready for personalized 1:1 support and a clear plan?
Apply for gutTogether®

Find the real root causes of your GI symptoms with our free, 2 minute Quiz! 

Take the quiz here!

Connect + Next Steps

Want daily education, stories, and gut-friendly support?
Follow along on Instagram

Ready for personalized 1:1 support and a clear plan?
Apply for gutTogether®

Want a chance to win a free HTMA Bundle? Leave a rating & review and email it to [email protected] with [PODCAST REVIEW] in the subject line! We choose a new winner every month!

Do you feel like you’re always starting over when it comes to your gut health?

Every January (or month, Monday, etc), you might decide this will be the year you finally fix your digestion. You start strong… and then a few weeks later, everything falls apart.

In this episode, Dr. Heather explains why that happens and why it has nothing to do with willpower or discipline (you might be surprised what it is that actually holds you back!) 

This episode is a conversation about nervous system regulation, realistic expectations, and how to create gut healing that actually lasts.

If you’re tired of starting over every January (or every Monday), this episode will change how you think about consistency and gut health.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why consistency is actually a nervous system skill
• Why gut healing isn’t linear (and why that’s normal)
• How to interpret symptoms as information
• Why trying to fix everything at once backfires
• How a slower, phased approach to your gut health leads to lasting relief

Links & Resources

• Follow Dr. Heather on Instagram
• Learn more about gutTogether® programs

Leave a review + enter our monthly giveaway

Leave a 5-star rating and written review of the podcast, take a screenshot, and email it to:

📩 [email protected]

Each month, one reviewer is randomly selected to receive an HTMA test and consult

Find the real root causes of your GI symptoms with our free, 2 minute Quiz! 

Take the quiz here!

Connect + Next Steps

Want daily education, stories, and gut-friendly support?
Follow along on Instagram

Ready for personalized 1:1 support and a clear plan?
Apply for gutTogether®

Want a chance to win a free HTMA Bundle? Leave a rating & review and email it to [email protected] with [PODCAST REVIEW] in the subject line! We choose a new winner every month!

I love trying new things and this episode is my annual roundup of the products that actually earned a spot in my real life this year.

In this episode, I’m sharing my Favorite Things of 2025, including gut-friendly staples to nervous system supports, mineral must-haves, mom life helpers, and business tools that genuinely make life easier.

Here’s the important part:
You don’t need gadgets or a ton of products to heal your gut. The foundations matter most: sunlight, nervous system regulation, laughter, and solid routines. These products simply support that work.

To keep it simple and not overwhelming, I gave awards in each category:

• a Gold Medal if you only choose one
• a Runner-Up
• and Honorable Mentions for everything else that made the list

If you’re someone who loves trying new things (like me), or you just want a short list of what’s actually worth it, this episode is for you.

Quick note on links

This episode is not sponsored. Some links on the product page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them. Thanks for supporting the podcast and my small business.

Links

• View my Favorite Things of 2025 (all products linked here)
• Follow me on Instagram

Grab a walk, a coffee, or your favorite mineral mocktail and listen in.

Find the real root causes of your GI symptoms with our free, 2 minute Quiz! 

Take the quiz here!

Connect + Next Steps

Want daily education, stories, and gut-friendly support?
Follow along on Instagram

Ready for personalized 1:1 support and a clear plan?
Apply for gutTogether®

Want a chance to win a free HTMA Bundle? Leave a rating & review and email it to [email protected] with [PODCAST REVIEW] in the subject line! We choose a new winner every month!

If the holidays always feel like the hardest time of year for your gut with the bloating, the constipation, the fatigue, the heaviness after meals then this episode will feel like a deep breath.

The truth is… the holidays aren’t the problem.
Restriction, stress, poor digestion, and an unsupported gut foundation are.

In today’s episode, Dr. Heather breaks down exactly how to support your gut through the holidays without eliminating foods, micromanaging your plate, or white-knuckling your way to January.
You’ll learn what your symptoms are really trying to tell you and the simple things you can do right now to feel more grounded, nourished, and supported.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why minerals are your holiday superpower
• Digestion habits that actually move the need
• What your bloating timing reveals
• Sticky stool and bile support
• Travel-friendly gut support
• Why December is actually the best time for testing

Ready to stop guessing and start supporting your gut for real?

For December only, when you apply to gutTogether® this week, you’ll receive 3 extra weeks inside the program so that you can tart January with answers and not another quick fix that doesn't work

Apply for 1:1 support inside gutTogether®

Connect with Dr. Heather

Find the real root causes of your GI symptoms with our free, 2 minute Quiz! 

Take the quiz here!

Connect + Next Steps

Want daily education, stories, and gut-friendly support?
Follow along on Instagram

Ready for personalized 1:1 support and a clear plan?
Apply for gutTogether®

Want a chance to win a free HTMA Bundle? Leave a rating & review and email it to [email protected] with [PODCAST REVIEW] in the subject line! We choose a new winner every month!