Can poor gut health contribute to anxiety, depression, brain fog, OCD, insomnia, neurological symptoms, or an overactive stress response? 

SHORT ANSWER - - YES!!!!

In this episode of The Autoimmune Doc Podcast, Dr. Taylor explains the gut-brain connection, the enteric nervous system, the vagus nerve, psychobiotics, and why a “gut on fire” can lead to a “brain on fire.”

The vagus nerve is often described as the communication highway connecting the digestive system and the brain—but stimulating the vagus nerve is only one part of the picture. Your gut microbiome, intestinal lining, immune system, mast cells, hormones, bacterial metabolites, and neurotransmitters are continually sending signals along the gut-brain axis.

Dr. Krick breaks down how gut dysbiosis, leaky gut, infections, bacterial or yeast overgrowth, toxins, stress, poor sleep, inflammatory foods, and other triggers may contribute to enteric neuroinflammation and changes in brain function. He also explains how gut bacteria influence important neurotransmitters such as GABA, serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• What the enteric nervous system is and why it is called the “second brain”
• How the microbiome communicates with the nervous system
• Why vagus-nerve stimulation may help—but may not address the root problem
• How gut inflammation may influence anxiety, depression, brain fog, OCD, sleep, mood, and stress resilience
• The connection between intestinal permeability, leaky gut, and neuroinflammation
• How mast cells and histamine interact with enteric nerves
• What psychobiotics are and how specific probiotics may influence mental health
• How gut bacteria help regulate GABA, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters
• The roles of prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, fiber, and short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate
• Why a standard low-dose probiotic may not be enough to change the microbiome
• Why some people need to “pull the weeds” before they “plant the seeds”
• How functional stool testing and organic acids testing may guide individualized gut support
• Why both symptom improvement and objective laboratory changes matter

Dr. Taylor also discusses emerging research examining the gut’s possible role in neurodegenerative conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Rather than treating the brain as though it functions in isolation, this episode explores how closely neurological, immune, hormonal, and digestive mechanisms are connected.

Jill Carnahan Article on "Psychobiotics"

Many people think functional medicine is simply taking supplements like magnesium, vitamin D, fish oil, or probiotics. 

In this episode, Dr. Taylor Krick explains why successful healing is far more complex—and far more effective—than simply choosing the "right" supplement.

Drawing from over a decade of clinical experience helping people with autoimmune diseases, chronic illnesses, and complex mystery symptoms, Dr. Taylor breaks down how functional medicine practitioners use supplements as tools to support healing, rather than as standalone solutions.

You'll learn why understanding mechanisms matters more than memorizing products, how experienced practitioners build step-by-step protocols, the importance of identifying root causes, and why lab testing, timelines, dosage strategies, and patient mindset all play critical roles in recovery.

Dr. Taylor also shares insights from some of the most influential educators and researchers in functional medicine and explains how concepts such as inflammation, gut health, detoxification, histamine, immune regulation, mitochondrial function, and nutrient deficiencies fit into a comprehensive healing strategy.

Whether you're dealing with autoimmunity, chronic inflammation, fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues, or simply want to better understand how functional medicine works, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the philosophy and process of supporting the body's ability to heal.

Fertility challenges are becoming increasingly common, but what if the conversation needs to go beyond hormone treatments and fertility clinics?

In this episode of The Autoimmune Doc Podcast, Dr. Taylor Krick and Ryan Ayala explore the growing fertility crisis and the underlying mechanisms that may be contributing to infertility, recurrent miscarriages, and pregnancy complications. Rather than focusing solely on fertility treatments, Dr. Krick discusses how optimizing overall health can improve the body's natural ability to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Topics include the impact of environmental toxins, plastics, pesticides, personal care products, air quality, gut health, detoxification pathways, mitochondrial function, nutrient deficiencies, thyroid health, MTHFR, progesterone, and the role of functional medicine in uncovering hidden barriers to fertility.

Whether you're actively trying to conceive, supporting a healthy pregnancy, or simply interested in understanding the factors affecting reproductive health today, this episode offers practical insights and a root-cause perspective on one of the most important health challenges facing modern families.

Key Takeaways:
• Why fertility rates are declining worldwide
• The connection between toxins and reproductive health
• How nutrient deficiencies can impact fertility
• The role of gut health and detoxification pathways
• Understanding MTHFR, methylation, and mitochondrial health
• Why optimizing overall health often improves fertility outcomes
• Practical steps to support fertility naturally

As always, Dr. Krick breaks down complex science into easy-to-understand concepts that empower you to take control of your health.

In this episode of The Autoimmune Doc Podcast, Dr. Taylor Krick is joined by Mickey Trescott MSc, author of The New Autoimmune Protocol and one of the leading voices behind the Autoimmune Protocol, also known as the AIP diet or Autoimmune Paleo.

If you have an autoimmune disease, Hashimoto’s, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammation, food sensitivities, leaky gut, brain fog, fatigue, joint pain, or unexplained symptoms, this episode will help you better understand how food can influence the immune system.

Dr. Taylor Krick and Mickey discuss why AIP is not just a 30-day elimination diet, but a structured healing process designed to help calm immune system overactivation, support gut health, improve nutrient density, and identify personalized food triggers.

They also talk about the updated version of AIP, including Core AIP, Modified AIP, the transition phase, the elimination phase, and the reintroduction process. Mickey shares how the protocol has evolved over the last decade and how new research is supporting its use in autoimmune conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

This episode is a great resource for anyone trying to understand the root causes of autoimmune symptoms and how diet, food sensitivities, gut inflammation, immune regulation, nutrient density, and lifestyle all connect.

Find out more or order Mickey's book at:

https://mickeytrescott.com/

Most people with autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, leaky gut, or gut health issues are handed a diagnosis and told there's nothing they can do, no roadmap, no plan, just manage your symptoms. In this episode, Dr. Taylor Krick breaks down the exact step-by-step healing journey he uses with patients to achieve real, lasting results through functional medicine, lab testing, and root cause thinking. Whether you're dealing with autoimmunity, inflammation, food sensitivities, or unexplained symptoms, this episode gives you the framework to finally understand where you are and where you need to go.

Dr. Taylor covers the most important functional labs to run first (organic acids test, GI MAP stool test, and blood panels), how to structure supplements in short-term, mid-term, and long-term phases, and why your mindset and the questions you ask are more predictive of healing than any protocol. You'll also hear why root cause medicine isn't about finding one answer and what actually drives people across the finish line.

If you're stuck, plateaued, or just starting your journey, this episode is your roadmap.

Subscribe for new episodes every week on functional medicine, autoimmunity, and healing.

Time Stamps:

00:00 – Why Conventional Medicine Fails Autoimmune Patients 

05:39 – What a Real Functional Medicine Roadmap Looks Like 

10:09 – The 4 Questions Every Practitioner Should Ask at Follow-Ups 

18:00 – Best Functional Labs for Autoimmunity: OAT, GI MAP & Blood Panels 

26:01 – What an Organic Acids Test Actually Reveals About Your Health 

33:52 – Root Cause Medicine: Why There's No Single Cause of Illness 

38:39 – The Mindset That Determines Who Actually Heals 

49:18 – Diet & Supplements for Autoimmunity: Short, Mid & Long-Term Strategy

57:52 – How to Know When You've Reached the Other Side of Healing 

1:01:00 – Why Proactive Lab Testing Matters Even When You Feel Great

#AutoimmuneDisease #FunctionalMedicine #GutHealth

Work with Dr Taylor 1 on 1: https://doctaylorkrick.com/

10 Steps of Autoimmune Eating Download Here!

What should you eat if you have an autoimmune disease? In this episode, functional medicine practitioner Dr. Taylor Krick breaks down food sensitivities, elimination diets, gut healing, the autoimmune paleo protocol, histamine intolerance, FODMAP triggers, and why no single diet works for every autoimmune patient. If you've tried going gluten free, cutting out dairy, or following a carnivore or AIP diet and still feel terrible this episode explains why, and what to do instead.

Dr. Taylor walks through the different types of immune reactivity (IgG, IgE, IgA), how food sensitivity testing actually works, why stool testing and organic acids testing should come before an elimination diet, and how to raise your food tolerance over time by healing the gut and microbiome. He also covers lectins, nightshades, oxalates, reactive hypoglycemia, continuous glucose monitors, and the real order of operations for autoimmune nutrition.

If this helped you rethink how you approach food and autoimmunity, subscribe and drop a comment with the biggest thing you're taking away from this episode.

#AutoimmuneDisease #GutHealing #FoodSensitivity

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – Why No Single Diet Works for Autoimmunity
03:15 – IgG vs IgE vs IgA Food Sensitivity Testing Explained
08:30 – How Lectins and Nightshades Trigger Inflammation
11:45 – FODMAP Diet for SIBO, Bloating, and IBS
17:00 – Histamine Intolerance and High Histamine Foods
20:00 – Why Gut Healing Matters More Than Food Elimination
22:29 – Carnivore Diet vs AIP for Autoimmune Conditions
29:35 – Dieting to Lose Weight vs Dieting to Heal
37:04 – Stool Test vs Food Sensitivity Test: Order of Operations
42:11 – The 10 Steps of Autoimmune Eating Roadmap
49:07 – How Your Taste Buds Change on an Elimination Diet
53:22 – Building Food Resilience Through Microbiome Healing

Work with Dr Taylor 1 on 1: https://doctaylorkrick.com/

Mast cells and histamine are the hidden drivers behind symptoms like brain fog, anxiety, bloating, allergies, skin rashes, and autoimmune disease and most doctors never test for them. In this episode, Dr. Taylor Krick breaks down what mast cells are, how histamine intolerance differs from mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and why your histamine bucket may be overflowing from gut inflammation, mold exposure, food sensitivities, and environmental toxins.

You'll learn the exact supplements Dr. Taylor uses in his functional medicine clinic, how to identify if mast cells are driving your symptoms, and why gut health is the number one lever to pull for lasting relief. Whether you're dealing with Hashimoto's, seasonal allergies, leaky gut, or mysterious symptoms nobody can explain, this conversation will change how you think about healing.

Subscribe and drop a comment if mast cells might be your missing piece.

#MastCells #HistamineIntolerance #AutoimmuneDisease

Time Stamps:

00:00 – What Are Mast Cells and Why They Matter
03:12 – Mast Cell Symptoms Most People Miss
06:45 – Histamine Intolerance vs MCAS Diagnosis
10:20 – How Mold, Lyme, and Toxins Trigger Mast Cells
13:30 – The Histamine Bucket Theory Explained
16:14 – How Mast Cells Connect to Autoimmune Disease
18:10 – Do Gut Issues Cause Mast Cell Activation
20:33 – Where to Start: Gut Health or Histamine Support
23:24 – Can You Reverse Allergies by Lowering Histamine
25:50 – Quercetin vs Cromolyn: What the Research Shows
29:09 – Best Supplements for Mast Cells and Allergies
35:00 – Why Supplement Dosage Matters More Than You Think
39:00 – DAO Enzyme and Histamine Metabolism Explained
42:46 – Glutathione's Role in Mast Cell Stabilization
49:46 – Full Patient Process at a Functional Medicine Clinic
57:23 – Why Mast Cells Are a Game Changer for Healing

Work with Dr Taylor 1 on 1: https://doctaylorkrick.com/

What causes autoimmune disease and what's actually happening inside your body when your immune system attacks itself? 

In this episode, Dr. Taylor Krick breaks down the root causes of autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto's, lupus, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn's disease, explaining the role of leaky gut, T cell polarization, molecular mimicry, loss of immune tolerance, and hidden infections like Epstein-Barr and strep. 

You'll learn the three stages of autoimmune disease, why antibodies can appear years before a diagnosis, how food sensitivities signal a deeper problem, and what functional medicine lab testing actually reveals that standard bloodwork misses. Dr. Taylor also walks through his real-world clinical approach from 90-minute patient intakes to targeted supplement protocols, dietary strategies like AIP, and the truth about biologics. Whether you've just been diagnosed or you're trying to understand what's driving your symptoms, this episode gives you the full picture. Subscribe and drop your questions in the comments, we read every one.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – What Is Autoimmune Disease and How Does It Start 

04:51 – Dr. Taylor's Personal Autoimmune Journey 

07:01 – How Your Immune System Attacks Your Own Body 

13:32 – Why the Immune System Loses Tolerance 

17:32 – 3 Stages of Autoimmune Disease Before Diagnosis 

20:30 – How Functional Medicine Treats Autoimmunity 

23:40 – Best Lab Tests for Autoimmune Conditions 

34:17 – T Cells Explained

39:32 – How Biologics Work and Their Hidden Risks 

44:18 – Leaky Gut, Leaky Brain, and Barrier Theory 

54:11 – How Infections Trigger Autoimmune Disease 

1:00:10 – Molecular Mimicry: Gluten, Strep, and Cross-Reactivity 

1:05:00 – Dr. Taylor's Full Patient Treatment Process

Work with Dr Taylor 1 on 1: https://doctaylorkrick.com/

Mold toxicity is one of the most misunderstood triggers behind autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, anxiety, histamine intolerance, and unexplained symptoms that conventional doctors can't figure out. In this mold illness master class, Dr. Taylor Krick breaks down how mycotoxins affect your immune system, gut health, and brain and shares the exact testing, detox strategies, and supplements he uses with patients in his functional medicine practice. Whether you're dealing with mold exposure symptoms, suspect mold in your home, or you've been stuck despite working with other practitioners, this episode gives you a clear framework for identifying the problem and building a recovery plan. Dr. Taylor covers mold lab testing (organic acids test, urine mycotoxins, ERMI), glutathione, binders, mast cell activation, and the role of histamine in driving mysterious symptoms. You'll also learn affordable DIY steps to test your home and clean your air. Drop your questions in the comments and subscribe for weekly episodes!

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why Mold Illness Is the Most Missed Diagnosis in Medicine
03:01 – How Mycotoxins Damage the Immune, Neurological, and Metabolic Systems
05:39 – Preventing Mold Illness: Vitamin D, Gut Health, and Clean Air
08:52 – Sauna for Mold Detox: Does Sweating Remove Mycotoxins?
12:11 – Mold Symptoms Doctors Miss: Anxiety, Brain Zaps, and Histamine
15:52 – Lab Markers That Point to Mold: Eosinophils and the OAT Test
19:31 – How to Read Urine Mycotoxin Tests Without Overreacting
22:55 – What to Do If You Find Mold in Your Home or Apartment
29:16 – DIY Mold Testing: Mold Plates, Dust Tests, and ERMI Explained
34:50 – Mold Detox Supplements: Glutathione, Binders, and Anti-Inflammatories
42:06 – Mast Cells, Histamine, and the Mold Connection Most Doctors Ignore
50:53 – Why There's No One-Size-Fits-All Mold Recovery Protocol
54:47 – Can't Sweat? What It Means for Detox and Mold Recovery
57:36 – How to Build Your Case for Mold and Avoid Misdiagnosis
1:11:22 – Outro

Work with Dr Taylor 1 on 1: https://doctaylorkrick.com/

Dr. Taylor Krick breaks down the most common functional medicine questions  from stool testing (GI Map vs. GI Effects), to Lyme disease treatment that isn't working, to how Epstein-Barr virus reactivates, to the best ways to test for mold illness through blood and urine. If you're dealing with autoimmune disease, a high ANA titer, chronic inflammation, or mystery symptoms that won't go away, this Q&A gives you real clinical insight you won't hear in a standard doctor's office.

Dr. Taylor explains why chasing a single diagnosis like Lyme or EBV often misses the bigger picture — and how understanding your immune system (TH1 vs. TH2 balance), toxin burden, and gut health can change your entire approach to healing. He also walks through mold antibody testing, mycotoxin labs, and the CIRS model so you can have smarter conversations with your practitioner.

Drop your questions in the comments for next week's Q&A and subscribe so you don't miss it.

#AutoimmuneDisease #MoldIllness #FunctionalMedicine

Time Stamps:

00:00 – How the Autoimmune Doc Q&A Works
01:05 – GI Map vs. GI Effects: Which Stool Test Is Best?
03:07 – Why Stool Test Results Vary Between Labs
06:26 – Lyme Disease Treatment Not Working: What to Do Next
08:59 – Why a High ANA Titer Points to Toxins, Not Just Lyme
10:59 – How to Know If Epstein-Barr Virus Is Reactivated
14:26 – Parasites, TH1 vs. TH2, and Why EBV Keeps Coming Back
15:32 – How to Test for Mold Illness Through Blood Tests
17:59 – Mycotoxin Antibodies vs. Mold Antibodies Explained
19:29 – Why No Single Test Can Confirm Mold as the Cause