This year on The Gut Health Podcast, we dug deeper than ever into the science that shapes our bodies, the myths that confuse us, and the everyday habits that actually move the needle. We challenged probiotic controversies, rethought alcohol culture, explored resilience from gravity to mindset, and turned stress management into practical, usable skills. We broached the topic of vagus nerve stimulation and the potential role of psychedelics and the gut-brain connection!

The theme in 2025 was connection: the conversation between food and microbes, the way those microbes steer our mood and gut motility, the posture-driven shifts in biology, and the everyday choices that ignite changes across the whole body.

It’s not just gut health—it’s a map of how we think, feel, move, and live. And we’re just getting started.

Key topics in this episode include:

• the evolving research with gut science and why personalization matters
• facts vs fads on probiotics, ferments, and “leaky gut syndrome”
• lifestyle foundations that beat quick fixes
• alcohol reduction strategies and social swaps
• food–mood links, excess fructose, and serotonin
• stress prescriptions such as adding diaphragmatic breathing into your daily routine
• how to build gravity resilience 
• what's happening in the psilocybin research landscape and safety considerations
• practical habit stacking for hydration, movement, and sleep
• communicating with providers when evidence conflicts to help you navigate your personal gut health needs.

Looking to boost overall wellbeing with meditation, breathing exercises or better sleep? Calm has you covered with 40% off a premium subscription. Visit http://calm.com/guthealthpod. 

Learn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:

Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.com
Instagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcast

Order Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS.

The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.

A growing number of patients with stubborn IBS symptoms are asking: if the gut and brain are wired together, could changing one transform the other? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Emeran Mayer and Dr. Erin Mauney to explore what the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted therapy could mean for gut-brain health, beyond the headlines and hype. 

In this episode we cover:

• Why traditional IBS treatments often fall short.
• How psilocybin opens a neuroplastic “window” for processing pain, stress, and interoception.
• The therapeutic process: preparation, guided dosing, and integration.
• Early study results: symptom relief, reduced visceral sensitivity, and improved self-illness separation.
• Safety, variability, and practical questions about access and candidacy.

If you’re curious about neuroplasticity, the brain-gut axis, psilocybin, and the future of IBS care, this episode offers a grounded, hopeful, and responsible guide to what’s known, and what’s next. 

This episode is sponsored by GI Psychology. 

Disclaimer: Participation in the research study mentioned in this podcast is entirely voluntary and independent of The Gut Health Podcast. Please review all study details before deciding to take part. The Gut Health Podcast does not endorse or verify the research, its sponsors or its findings. Direct any questions to the study organizers using their official contact information.

References: 

Psychedelic-assisted therapy: An overview for the internist

Barnett BS, Mauney EE, King F 4th. Psychedelic-assisted therapy: An overview for the internist. Cleve Clin J Med. 2025;92(3):171-180. Published 2025 Mar 3. doi:10.3949/ccjm.92a.24032

Psychedelic-assisted Therapy as a Promising Treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Mauney, Erin MD*; King, Franklin IV MD†; Burton-Murray, Helen PhD‡; Kuo, Braden MD‡. Psychedelic-assisted Therapy as a Promising Treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 59(5):p 385-392, May/June 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000002149 

Psilocybin and IBS treatment: First psychedelic study in gastroenterology

Learn more about the MGH study with Dr. Erin Mauney and colleagues here.

Learn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:

Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.com
Instagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcast

Order Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS.

The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.

Dr. Brennan Spiegel, author of Pull: How Gravity Shapes Your Body, Steadies the Mind, and Guides Our Health, reveals how gravity shapes everything from our digestive health to our emotional wellbeing in this fascinating exploration of "biogravitational medicine." He presents the revolutionary concept that conditions like IBS and depression may be tied to how well our body resists gravity.

• Gravity resilience refers to how well your body manages Earth's gravitational force
• People with hypermobility conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome often experience gut issues when their internal suspension systems are compromised
•  The gut hangs from a suspension system like ‘ornaments on a Christmas tree,’ and if it weakens, the intestines can sag, leading to digestive issues
• Our language around emotions reflects our relationship with gravity – we feel "down" when sad and "up" when happy
• Most serotonin (90–95%) is made in the gut with help from our microbiome, where it helps regulate muscles and systems that manage our body’s relationship with gravity
• Strategies to strengthen gravity resilience
• Hypopressive exercises that draw the belly upward can improve internal organ support
• The STACK TEN diet focuses on tryptophan-rich foods to support serotonin production
• Mental and physical resilience share similar concepts - the ability to "bend without breaking"

Check out Dr. Spiegel's new book "Pull" releasing October 7th, which explores how gravity affects human health and how building gravity resilience can help us find balance, stand stronger, and live longer.

References and Resources:

The Gravity Doctors Podcast Link

Brennan Spiegel MD’s book, Pull (This is an affiliate link. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you and only recommend products we trust.)

Effect of diet on serotonergic neurotransmission in depression. Neurochem Int. 2013;62(3):324-329.

Tryptophan-rich diet is negatively associated with depression and positively linked to social cognition. Nutr Res. 2021;85:14-20.

J. Wurtman: Brain serotonin, carbohydrate-craving, obesity and depression. Obes Res. 1995;3 Suppl 4:477S-480S.

Research on sleep & tryptophan Sleep and Diet: Mounting Evidence of a Cyclical Relationship. Annu Rev Nutr. 2021 Oct 11;41:309-332.

Amy Cuddy's paper on "The Power Pose" highlights how adopting confident postures can boost mood, increase self-assurance, and positively influence how others perceive you!

Learn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:

Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.com
Instagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcast

Order Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS.

The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.

Dr. Mary Ellen Sanders, an expert in probiotic microbiology, helps us decode the often confusing world of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics by explaining their scientific definitions, evidence-based benefits, and practical applications for gut health (and beyond). 

This episode has been sponsored by Activia.

• Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts
• For something to be called a probiotic, it must be alive, defined to the strain level, and tested in the research setting for health benefits
• When selecting probiotics, look for products with strain designations and doses guaranteed through end of shelf life, not just "at time of manufacture"
• The US Probiotic Guide (usprobioticguide.com) offers independent assessments of probiotic products and their evidence levels, including specific conditions or symptoms
• Specific probiotic benefits include supporting gut function during antibiotic use, reducing respiratory infections, and decreasing crying in colicky babies
• Prebiotics are substrates (often fibers, but also polyphenols) that feed beneficial gut bacteria
• Research suggests about 5 grams of prebiotics daily may be beneficial
• Postbiotics are beneficial preparations of dead microorganisms or their components, challenging the notion that microbes must be alive to benefit health
• When trying probiotics, consult with your health care provider first, as there are some conditions in which they are contraindicated. 
• Multi-strain probiotics and synbiotics are commonly available but rarely tested in their exact formulations

References and resources: 

• Clinical Guide to Probiotic Products Available in USA http://www.usprobioticguide.com
• Research review: Is There Evidence to Support Probiotic Use for Healthy People? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831324000991?via%3Dihub
• International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics www.ISAPPscience.org 
• Perspectives on products combining functional ingredients without testing the product as formulated:
  • Cunningham M, et al.. The influence of product formulation on the activity and clinical outcomes of probiotic and prebiotic products. Trends Food Sci Technol: 112, June 2021, Pages 495-506.
  • Sanders ME, et al. 2014. Effects of genetic, processing, or product formulation changes on efficacy and safety of probiotics. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1309(1):1-18.
• Probiotic product survey: 
  • Merenstein DJ, Guzzi J, Sanders ME. 2019. More Information Needed on Probiotic Supplement Product Labels. J Gen Intern Med. 34(12):27

Learn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:

Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.com
Instagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcast

Order Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS.

The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.

Dr. Mark Pimentel, Executive Director of the MAST program at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, shares groundbreaking insights into the small intestinal microbiome that challenge long-held beliefs about gut bacteria. Findings from his team’s REIMAGINE study reveal that the small intestine is far from sterile, as previously thought—instead, it harbors substantial bacterial communities that play a critical role in health and disease, especially in conditions such as IBS and SIBO.

• E. coli and Klebsiella act as aggressive "Ferrari" bacteria that outcompete other microbes and destroy microbial diversity when overgrown inducing a "apocalyptic" disruption of the small bowel microbiome.
• Lactobacillus, commonly found in many probiotics, may act as a disruptor in the small intestine and new research correlates higher small intestinal levels with obesity and unhealthy aging (more research needed)
• The PLACIDE trial found probiotics didn't reduce C. diff or antibiotic-associated diarrhea but did increase bloating
• Food poisoning is the only proven cause-and-effect trigger for IBS, with stress acting as a modifier rather than initiator
• Combining rifaximin with NAC works 10x better for SIBO by targeting bacteria in both intestinal fluid and mucus
• A new compound (CS06) shows promise for reducing methane production and relieving constipation
• Three distinct gas patterns (hydrogen, methane, hydrogen sulfide) correlate with different symptom patterns and respond to targeted treatments

This episode was sponsored by Salix Pharmaceuticals. 

Resources: 

DDW 2025 Abstracts by the Mast Program and Dr. Pimentel

A Novel Microbiome Therapy, CS-06 (MTD Blocker), Reduces Methane Production in Stool Culture

Real World Study of Three-Gas Breath Testing Nationwide and The Association with Symptoms

Learn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:

Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.com
Instagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcast

Order Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS.

The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.

Dr. Iris Wang of the Mayo Clinic shares cutting-edge insights on gut health across the lifespan, including advancements in pharmacogenomics for personalized medication selection and innovative breathing techniques to relieve abdominal distension. She busts common myths about bloating, revealing how diaphragmatic dysfunction rather than excess gas may be the culprit. Dr. Wang also emphasizes the importance of starting gut health education early, helping kids and parents alike understand that pooping shouldn't be painful or forced. 

• How pharmacogenomics helps identify why some patients metabolize medications differently, leading to better medication choices with exploration on the hope and/or hype of precision medicine in the GI world (Wang et al 2019)

• Explanation of abdomino-phrenic dyssynergia (APD) – when the diaphragm moves downward instead of upward, causing visible abdominal distention

• Specialized breathing technique developed in Barcelona that retrain the diaphragm for bloating relief (Barba E et al 2024) - see video link below

• The importance of normalizing healthy pooping habits from childhood through education & tools like toileting stools (e.g. Squatty Potty)

• Warning signs for parents about childhood constipation – including stool leakage, straining, & urinary problems (Tran DL et al 2023)

• How yoga can support gut health through mindful movement, core engagement, & stress reduction

Yoga videos:

Yoga For Digestion Flow| Yoga With Adriene (26 mins)

Yoga for Bloating, Digestion, Ulcerative Colitis, IBD & IBS (12 mins)

Check out Dr. Wang's children's book Boo Can't Poo, which helps normalize healthy pooping habits for kids while educating parents too.

References:

Wang XJ, Camilleri M. Personalized medicine in functional gastrointestinal disorders: Understanding pathogenesis to increase diagnostic and treatment efficacy. World J Gastroenterol. 2019 Mar 14;25(10):1185-1196.

Barba E, Livovsky DM, Accarino A, Azpiroz F. Thoracoabdominal Wall Motion-Guided Biofeedback Treatment of Abdominal Distention: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Gastroenterology. 2024;167(3):538-546.e1.

Specialized breathing technique for abdominal distention: Video Demonstration

Tran DL, Sintusek P. Functional constipation in children: What physicians should know. World J Gastroenterol. 2023 Feb 28;29(8):1261-1288.

Learn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:

Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.com
Instagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcast

Order Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS.

The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.

Fermented foods offer surprising health benefits with science showing they can increase gut microbial diversity in ways other dietary interventions cannot.

• Expert Elisa Caffrey clarifies what qualifies as fermented food: substrate + microbes + time
• While touted as a source of probiotics, most fermented foods don't technically contain probiotics, which require specific strain characterization and known health benefits
•Different types of fermentation are used in food production: lactic acid bacteria ferment carbohydrates in sauerkraut and yogurt; acetic acid bacteria oxidize ethanol into acetic acid in kombucha; and filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus oryzae and Rhizopus species are involved in the fermentation of miso and tempeh, respectively.
• Fermented foods may benefit gut health through microbial derived metabolites rather than just the microbes in the food or beverage.
• Consider starting with yogurt if you are a newcomer and have fun exploring kimchi, sauerkraut and other options for fermented food variety.
• Most fermented foods are safe, though some considerations exist for those with histamine intolerance or sodium restrictions
• Variety is key – consuming diverse fermented foods appears to help maximize potential benefits
• The fermentation process may have mental health benefits beyond nutrition though more research is needed

Try incorporating fermented foods gradually into your diet and experiment with different types to find what works for your body and taste preferences.

 Let us know what makes your taste buds (and gut) happy! 

This episode has been sponsored by Activia. Check out their Gut Health Tool Kit here and A Gut Friendly Meal plan here.

References:

Caffrey EB et al. Unpacking food fermentation: Clinically relevant tools for fermented food identification and consumption

Gaudiest G et al. Microbial and metabolic characterization of organic artisanal sauerkraut fermentation and study of gut health-promoting properties of sauerkraut brine

Wastyk HC et al. Gut microbiota-targeted diets modulate human immune status (high fiber vs fermented food study)

Nielson ES et al. Lacto-fermented sauerkraut improves symptoms in IBS patients independent of product pasteurisation - A pilot study  

Learn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:

Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.com
Instagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcast

Order Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS.

The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.

Pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) is a crucial yet often overlooked component of gut health that can dramatically improve quality of life for people suffering from bowel issues, bladder problems, or pelvic pain. Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas joins us to demystify and normalize this specialized therapy and explain how proper pelvic floor function impacts everything from constipation to sexual health.

• Understand that daily bowel movements don't necessarily mean you're not constipated
• What happens during a PFPT session and how therapists create a safe + comfortable environment
• The importance of proper pooping position
• Why breathing techniques and sounds (like mooing!) can help relax your pelvic floor during bowel movements
• Demystifying tools like pelvic wands and dilators for at-home maintenance 
• How dyssynergic defecation affects approximately 50% of people with constipation and how PFPT can help
• Why all women can benefit from pelvic floor PT after childbirth (and even during pregnancy)
•  Men face pelvic health issues too, like post-prostate surgery incontinence 
• The downside of "peeing just in case" and how it trains your bladder to signal fullness prematurely

If you've experienced pelvic floor issues, don't accept them as normal - seek help from a pelvic floor physical therapist who can address these problems and improve your overall quality of life.

References and Resources:

Rao SS, Patcharatrakul T. Diagnosis and Treatment of Dyssynergic Defecation. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2016 Jul 30;22(3):423-35. doi: 10.5056/jnm16060. PMID: 27270989; PMCID: PMC4930297.

Ye AL, Johnston E, Hwang S. Pelvic Floor Therapy and Initial Interventions for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Gynecologic Malignancies. Curr Oncol Rep. 2024;26(3):212-220. doi:10.1007/s11912-024-01498-6

Where to find a pelvic floor PT:

• https://pelvicrehab.com/
• https://pelvicglobal.com/directory/

Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas' book, Power to the Pelvis.

Got constipation? Check out Kate's constipation guide. 

This episode is sponsored by Ardelyx.

Learn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:

Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.com
Instagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcast

Order Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS.

The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.

Join us as we discuss effective non-diet focused methods for IBS relief. In this episode, Kate and Dr. Riehl review key factors on how gender can influence common symptoms of IBS.

Hormones significantly influence IBS symptoms, with women being diagnosed 2.5 times more often than men, in part due to differences in gut function and pain perception. 

This episode features the following key discussion areas:

• Women's fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels affect gut motility and pain sensitivity throughout the menstrual cycle
• Visceral hypersensitivity causes normal digestive sensations to be interpreted as pain - like a car alarm going off unnecessarily
• The "microgenderome" refers to gender differences in gut microbiome that may contribute to women's higher rates of IBS and autoimmune conditions
• Gut-directed hypnotherapy helps reprogram the subconscious mind to interpret gut sensations more accurately, with 70-80% improvement rates
• Pelvic floor physical therapy can help address muscle tension that contributes to both constipation and diarrhea symptoms
• Non-diet approaches including medications, supplements like enteric-coated peppermint, and lifestyle factors are effective IBS management tools
• Regular exercise (especially in nature), adequate sleep, and stress management techniques complement other treatments

For more information on IBS-C treatments, check out our dedicated three-part series in episodes 14, 15, and 16.

This podcast has been sponsored Ardelyx and Nerva by Mindset Health.

References:

Mulak A, Taché Y, Larauche M. Sex hormones in the modulation of irritable bowel syndrome. World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(10):2433-2448. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i10.2433

Chang L, Heitkemper MM. Gender differences in irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterology. 2002;123(5):1686-1701. doi:10.1053/gast.2002.36603

Houghton LA, Jackson NA, Whorwell PJ, Morris J. Do male sex hormones protect from irritable bowel syndrome?. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000;95(9):2296-2300. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2000.02314.x

Peters SL, Yao CK, Philpott H, Yelland GW, Muir JG, Gibson PR. Randomised clinical trial: the efficacy of gut-directed hypnotherapy is similar to that of the low FODMAP diet for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2016;44(5):447-459. doi:10.1111/apt.13706

Learn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:

Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.com
Instagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcast

Order Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS.

The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.

Is "leaky gut" real or just another wellness buzzword? In this episode of The Gut Health Podcast, we cut through the controversy with Dr. Alessio Fasano, a renowned gastroenterologist and microbiome expert from Mass General Brigham. Dr. Fasano explains what happens when the gut’s protective barrier is compromised, resulting in increased intestinal permeability, and how this can affect not only gut health but also overall well-being. 

While some level of intestinal permeability is essential for health, in the presence of an altered gut microbiome, it can allow harmful molecules such as bacterial endotoxins and undigested food particles to pass through the intestinal lining. This can lead to inflammation, immune system activation, and may contribute to a variety of health issues, including autoimmune diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, heart disease, and more. 

We explore the molecular mechanisms that control intestinal permeability, examining how factors like epigenetic changes, diet, stress, and environmental factors can all impact the integrity of the gut barrier. Dr. Fasano breaks down the latest research on how intestinal permeability interacts with the immune system and other organ systems, highlighting the complex bidirectional relationship between gut health and overall wellness. 

Join us as we explore cutting-edge research on gut health, from breakthrough treatments to personalized diets and biomarkers for gut permeability. Tune in for expert insights and practical strategies—like a plant-forward diet and stress management—to strengthen your gut and overall well-being. 

References:

Effects of dietary components on intestinal permeability in health and disease. 

Unfermented B-fructans Fibers Fuel Inflammation in Select Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients. 

High FODMAP diet causes barrier loss via lipopolysaccharide-mediate mast cell activation

A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Dietary Glutamine Supplements for Post-Infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Bovine Colostrum in Increased Intestinal Permeability in Healthy Athletes and Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. 

What to do about the leaky gut?

Learn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:

Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.com
Instagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcast

Order Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS.

The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.