The Nutrient Dense Podcast

Your gut is the epicenter of your health… but what if your symptoms don't look like "gut issues" at all? In this episode, I'm breaking down the hidden signs of gut imbalances that most women overlook—the ones that show up as fatigue, anxiety, hormonal issues, skin breakouts, and more. Your body doesn't compartmentalize symptoms the way conventional medicine does. The brain fog, painful periods and constant fatigue may all be pointing back to one place: your gut. This episode will help you understand all of the full body systems that the gut impacts and what that can look like in your body.




























 










WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE:
Your gut is the foundation of full-body health (hormones, energy, skin, brain, immunity)
You can have gut dysfunction without obvious digestive symptoms
Fatigue often stems from poor absorption, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction
Skin issues are frequently a reflection of gut + detox imbalances
The gut-brain axis directly impacts focus, mood, and anxiety
Gut bacteria can increase stress hormones and drive anxiety
Hormonal symptoms (like estrogen dominance) are often downstream of gut dysfunction
70–80% of your immune system lives in your gut → gut health = immune resilience
Autoimmunity is strongly linked to leaky gut + systemic inflammation
Symptoms are signals of deeper imbalances, not isolated issues




















 















 













LINKS:
Book a strategy call with Hannah HERE
Take the Gut Health Root Cause Quiz for free!
Equip Protein: use the code hannahaylwardhhc for 15% off
Listen to Episode 45 - How Gut Imbalances Drive Hormonal Acne
Listen to Episode 28 - How Your Gut Is Messing With Your Hormones: The Estrogen & Thyroid Connection
Listen to Episode 30 - Is Your Gut Causing High Cortisol? The Gut x Cortisol Connection
Listen to Episode 62 - The Hidden Gut Disruptor: How Mold Exposure Impacts Your Digestion, Gut Microbiome & Histamine
Listen to Episode 40 - What Came First - My Anxiety, or my Gut Issues?
Listen to Episode 42 - Gut Health x Fertility: What Every Woman Should Know















 
 
 
 
 





CONNECT WITH HANNAH:
Instagram  |   Website
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 









 








 
If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨

What if your IBS symptoms are actually an early warning sign for deeper health issues?
 
In this episode of the Nutrient Dense Podcast, Hannah sits down with integrative pharmacist and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Izabella Wentz to discuss the root causes of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and how digestive dysfunction is often connected to autoimmunity, thyroid disease, infections, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental triggers.
 
Dr. Wentz shares how IBS is frequently treated as a "wastebasket diagnosis" in conventional medicine—leaving millions of people stuck with chronic bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and food sensitivities without ever uncovering the real cause. Together, they break down the many potential drivers behind IBS, including gut infections like H. pylori and parasites, mold exposure, thyroid dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies like thiamine, food additives, stress, and microbiome imbalances.
 
They also explore the powerful connection between gut health and autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto's, and why addressing intestinal permeability (leaky gut) can be a critical step toward long-term healing. If you've been told you "just have IBS" and feel like something deeper is going on, this episode will help you better understand what may actually be happening inside the body.





















 










 
 
 
 
 



WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE:
IBS is often an umbrella diagnosis, meaning multiple root causes can produce the same symptoms.
Common IBS drivers include SIBO, parasites, digestive enzyme deficiencies, bile acid issues, nutrient deficiencies, and food reactions.
Intestinal permeability (leaky gut) is present in nearly all autoimmune conditions and can be an early warning sign.
Many people experience IBS symptoms years before developing autoimmune disease.
Gut infections such as H. pylori and Blastocystis hominis may contribute to thyroid antibodies and Hashimoto's.
Mold exposure can disrupt immune function and increase susceptibility to multiple gut infections.
Stress and nervous system dysregulation can influence digestion but are rarely the only root cause.
Food additives, artificial sweeteners, and ultra-processed foods significantly impact gut health.
Nutrient deficiencies — especially thiamine, zinc, selenium, and carnitine — can contribute to digestive dysfunction.















 






















LINKS:
Book a strategy call with Hannah HERE
Take the Gut Health Root Cause Quiz for free!
Equip Protein: use the code hannahaylwardhhc for 15% off
Listen to Episode 20 - How to Overcome IBS - A Functional Approach
Listen to Episode 7 - Common Gut Imbalances: SIBO, Candida Overgrowth, Dysbiosis, IBS & More





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 








CONNECT WITH HANNAH:
Instagram  |   Website
 












 
 
 
 
  




CONNECT WITH DR. IZABELLA:
Instagram  |  Website  | Podcast | Upcoming book: IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome







 
 
 
 
 
 
 




If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨

Mold exposure is one of the most overlooked root causes of chronic gut issues — and one that's frequently missed even in functional health spaces.
 
In this episode of the Nutrient Dense Podcast, Hannah breaks down how mold and mycotoxin exposure can disrupt digestion, damage the gut lining, alter the gut microbiome, and trigger symptoms like bloating, constipation, food sensitivities, histamine intolerance, anxiety, brain fog, and chronic fatigue.
 
If you've done multiple gut protocols, worked with practitioners, run testing, and still feel stuck with digestive issues that won't resolve, mold exposure may be a missing piece.
 
Hannah shares signs that mold could be contributing to your symptoms, explains how mycotoxins impact the gut on a physiological level, and discusses why some people become much more sensitive to supplements and protocols when mold is involved.





























 










WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE:
Mold exposure can be a hidden root cause of chronic gut issues that don't respond to standard protocols
Mycotoxins can damage the gut lining, increasing intestinal permeability (leaky gut)
Mold can disrupt the gut microbiome, contributing to SIBO, candida, and dysbiosis
Mold exposure may impair bile flow, which affects digestion, detoxification, and hormone balance
Histamine intolerance and mast cell activation can worsen when mold is present
Symptoms like brain fog, anxiety, chronic fatigue, and skin issues may be connected to mold exposure





























 













LINKS:
Book a strategy call with Hannah HERE
Take the Gut Health Root Cause Quiz for free!
Equip Protein: use the code hannahaylwardhhc for 15% off
Listen to Episode 6 - Q&A with Team HAN: SIBO, mold toxicity, histamine overload & more
Listen to Episode 50 - Building a Healthy Home with Ashley Spanovich: Reducing Mold, EMFs & Chemical Exposure
Listen to Episode 58 - Debunking Mold Inspection, Remediation & Creating a Healthy Home with Andrew Melrose





 
 
 
 
 
 





 
 
 
HOW TO ENTER TO WIN A 1:1 GUT HEALTH INTENSIVE ($597 VALUE):
🎧 Listen to an episode of the Nutrient Dense Podcast​
✅ Subscribe + Follow the show on Apple Podcasts​
🌟 Leave a rating & review on Apple Podcasts​
✨ Once you've completed these 3 steps, you'll be entered to win! The deadline to enter is March 13th.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 














CONNECT WITH HANNAH:
Instagram  |   Website
 
 
 
 
 


 









 








 
 
 
 
If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨

In this Q&A-style episode, Hannah answers listener questions about some of the most common — and misunderstood — root causes behind chronic gut and health issues. She breaks down why symptoms like low stomach acid, iron deficiency, Hashimoto's, endometriosis, and mold exposure are rarely standalone problems — and how they often trace back to deeper dysfunction in the gut, immune system, and nutrient absorption.
 
You'll learn how gut health influences everything from thyroid function to iron levels, and what to focus on instead if you want real, lasting healing.




























 










WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE:
Low stomach acid has varying root causes - identifying yours is key.
Chronic stress, infections, nutrient deficiencies, and gut dysbiosis commonly drive digestive dysfunction.
Hashimoto's is primarily an immune condition — and the gut plays a central role in antibody activation.
Iron deficiency is often an absorption and recycling issue, not a true deficiency.
Certain pathogens and infections can prevent iron levels from improving despite supplementation.
Endometriosis involves immune, inflammatory, gut, and microbiome factors — not just hormones.
Polyphenols, omega-3s, and gut microbiome support are key nutrition strategies for reducing inflammation.
Mold exposure testing should always be done with practitioner guidance due to complexity.
































 













LINKS:
Book a strategy call with Hannah HERE
Take the Gut Health Root Cause Quiz for free!
Equip Protein: use the code hannahaylwardhhc for 15% off
Listen to Episode 24 - Low Stomach Acid: A Hidden Cause of Chronic Bloating & Digestive Issues
Listen to Episode 28 - How Your Gut Is Messing With Your Hormones: The Estrogen & Thyroid Connection
















 
 
 
 
 
HOW TO ENTER TO WIN A 1:1 GUT HEALTH INTENSIVE ($597 VALUE):
🎧 Listen to an episode of the Nutrient Dense Podcast​
✅ Subscribe + Follow the show on Apple Podcasts​
🌟 Leave a rating & review on Apple Podcasts​
✨ Once you've completed these 3 steps, you'll be entered to win! The deadline to enter is March 13th.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 








CONNECT WITH HANNAH:
Instagram  |   Website
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 
 
 
 


 









 








 
If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨

Your morning ritual is one of the most powerful tools for regulating your nervous system, supporting digestion, and shaping how you experience your entire day.
 
In this episode, I walk you through my simple, clinically grounded framework for creating a gut healthy morning ritual that actually works for real life — not the unrealistic 30-step routines you see on social media.




























 










WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE:
Your mornings shape your nervous system baseline for the entire day
Consistency matters far more than complexity
The connection between nervous system regulation and bowel movements
The science behind the gastrocolic reflex and morning hydration
Small daily habits compound into long-term health transformation
How circadian rhythm influences gut motility and hormone balance
Simple ways to regulate your nervous system first thing in the morning
How to create a routine that's sustainable — not overwhelming
































 













LINKS:
Book a strategy call with Hannah HERE
Take the Gut Health Root Cause Quiz for free!
Equip Protein: use the code hannahaylwardhhc for 15% off
Listen to Episode 21 - Is Sunlight An Overlooked Piece of Gut Healing? A Dive Into Circadian Rhythm for Healing
Listen to Episode 27 - Make Your Life Your Medicine - A TCM Approach to Gut Health with Dr. Alex Heyne
Listen to Episode 59 - How to Support Your Nervous System in Times of Chaos















 
 
 
 
 




CONNECT WITH HANNAH:
Instagram  |   Website
 
 
 
 
 


 









 








 
If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and leave us a rating/review! Thank you for listening ✨