Send us a text

In this episode of the IBS Nutrition Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Ali Navidi — a licensed clinical psychologist and co-founder of GI Psychology — to explore how the gut-brain connection drives IBS symptoms, and how targeted psychological treatment can lead to lasting relief.

We dive into what the gut-brain axis really is (without the medical jargon), when to seek support from a GI psychologist, and how tools like gut-directed CBT and clinical hypnosis can break the vicious cycle of symptom-anxiety-symptom. Whether you’ve been told “it’s all in your head” or you’re feeling stuck after trying diet changes alone, this episode will show you that IBS relief is possible with the right care team.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✔ What the gut-brain axis is and how it fuels IBS symptoms

✔ Why IBS isn’t “just in your head” (and how to break the shame cycle)

✔ When to seek support from a GI psychologist — and why sooner is better

✔ How treatment works: CBT, hypnotherapy, and tailored assessment

✔ The role of food fear, avoidance, and nervous system dysregulation

✔ Dr. Navidi’s top 3 actionable tips to calm your gut and mind right now

Timestamps:

[00:00] Welcome & intro to Dr. Ali Navidi

[01:32] What is the gut-brain connection?

[04:18] Why IBS isn’t "just in your head"

[07:37] Hypervigilance and the anxiety feedback loop

[09:39] When to seek GI psych support

[13:01] How assessments & treatment work

[15:39] Gut-directed CBT vs. clinical hypnosis

[17:53] Avoidance behaviours in IBS

[20:55] Key takeaways for managing IBS

[21:07] Dr. Navidi’s 3 actionable steps for symptom relief

[26:05] Final message to IBS sufferers

[27:36] How to access more support

Resources Mentioned:

🎓 Free IBS Relief Masterclass – Learn our 3-step approach to managing IBS: https://ibsdietitian.com/masterclass

📋 Free Symptom Tracker – Start tracking your symptoms today: https://poopedia.org/resources

Dr Navidi Website: gipsychology.com

GI Psychology Instagram: https://instagram.com/gipsychusa

Dr Navidi Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gipsychology/posts

🔔 Stay Connected & Get More IBS Support:

📷 Follow us on Instagram: @ibs.dietitian

🖥️ Free IBS Relief Masterclass: https://ibsdietitian.com/masterclass

💬 Join our IBS Facebook Community: IBS Support For Women

⭐ Love this episode? Leave us a 5-star review! It helps us reach more people who need IBS support.

🎧 Subscribe to the IBS Nutrition Podcast on: 📌 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

🚀 Ready to take control of your IBS? Tune in now!

Send us a text

In this episode, host Jessie Wong talks with Stacy, a past client who struggled with severe diarrhea, fatigue, and cramps due to IBS for over a decade. Discover how they worked together to identify Stacy IBS triggers and avoid unnecessary elimination diets, leading to complete symptom relief in just four weeks. Learn about why not everyone with IBS needs a low FODMAP diet and how proper symptom tracking and evidence-based guidance can transform your gut health journey.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✔ Stacy’s battle with IBS symptoms since teenage years

✔ Using Tums and Imodium – temporary fixes that didn’t solve the root issue

✔ How Stacy’s GI doctor and working with a dietitian fit together

✔ The trigger identification process (no low FODMAP required)

✔ Life after IBS: freedom, symptom control, and no more bathroom emergencies

✔ Stacy’s top advice: Don’t DIY restrictive diets – work with a pro

Timestamps:

[00:00] Meet Stacy and her IBS journey

[02:38] Life before IBS: symptoms since teenage years

[04:14] Stacy’s daily struggle: diarrhea, cramps, and exhaustion

[07:33] Managing symptoms: Tums, Imodium, and frustration

[12:43] Deciding to work with a dietitian for real answers

[17:52] The truth about low FODMAP diets (and why Stacy didn’t need it)

[22:49] How we pinpointed Stacy’s food triggers without going low FODMAP

[28:10] Life today: symptom-free and confident

[29:43] Stacy’s advice for anyone with IBS

Resources Mentioned:

Ep 18 With Bailey Hanna

Ep 6 With Dr Andrea Love

🎓 Free IBS Relief Masterclass – Learn our 3-step approach to managing IBS: https://ibsdietitian.com/masterclass

📋 Free Symptom Tracker – Start tracking your symptoms today: https://poopedia.org/resources

🔔 Stay Connected & Get More IBS Support:

📷 Follow us on Instagram: @ibs.dietitian

🖥️ Free IBS Relief Masterclass: https://ibsdietitian.com/masterclass

💬 Join our IBS Facebook Community: IBS Support For Women

⭐ Love this episode? Leave us a 5-star review! It helps us reach more people who need IBS support.

🎧 Subscribe to the IBS Nutrition Podcast on: 📌 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

🚀 Ready to take control of your IBS? Tune in now!

Send us a text

Confused about probiotics and IBS? You're not alone. In this episode, Jessie Wong sits down with IBS dietitian Bailey Hanna, founder of IBSProbiotics.org, to break down the myths, the marketing, and the actual science behind probiotic use for IBS.

Bailey shares the truth about what probiotics can (and can't) do, how to tell if you're a good candidate, and why "gut health" isn't a reason to reach for just any supplement. Plus, you'll hear her 5-step framework for safely and effectively trialing a probiotic based on your specific IBS symptoms.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✔ What probiotics actually are (and what they aren’t)

✔ The difference between probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, and synbiotics

✔ Why strain-level specificity matters

✔ The real state of probiotic research in IBS

✔ Red flags to watch for in the supplement aisle

✔ A 5-step probiotic strategy for IBS patients

Timestamps:

[00:00] Welcome & intro to Bailey Hanna, RD

[01:27] What is a probiotic?

[02:34] Prebiotics, synbiotics & postbiotics explained

[09:06] Quality & quantity of probiotic research in IBS

[16:00] Do you need **probiotics for gut health?

[23:24] Introducing IBSProbiotics.org

[28:05] 5-step framework for choosing probiotics wisely

[42:08] What to look for in third-party testing

[45:54] How to take and evaluate a probiotic properly

[50:12] Client story: When probiotics make symptoms worse

[55:00] The truth about gut microbiome testing

[58:57] Final thoughts & advice for IBS patients

Resources Mentioned:

🧠 IBS Probiotic Evidence Database – Search probiotics by symptom, strain, or evidence quality: https://ibsprobiotics.org

🔍 Probiotic Product Finder – Find commercial probiotic products with third-party testing: https://probioticfinder.org

🌐 ISAPP – Learn more about probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics & postbiotics: https://isappscience.org

🎓 Free IBS Relief Masterclass – Learn our 3-step approach to managing IBS: https://ibsdietitian.com/masterclass

📋 Free Symptom Tracker – Start tracking your symptoms today: https://poopedia.org/resources

🔔 Stay Connected & Get More IBS Support:

📷 Follow us on Instagram: @ibs.dietitian

🖥️ Free IBS Relief Masterclass: https://ibsdietitian.com/masterclass

💬 Join our IBS Facebook Community: IBS Support For Women

⭐ Love this episode? Leave us a 5-star review! It helps us reach more people who need IBS support.

🎧 Subscribe to the IBS Nutrition Podcast on: 📌 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

🚀 Ready to take control of your IBS? Tune in now!

Send us a text

What happens when food fear and diarrhea take over your life—even after trying the low FODMAP diet?

In this episode, Jessie Wong chats with former client Kathy about her journey with post-infectious IBS, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). You’ll hear how Kathy went from daily diarrhea and food anxiety to 90–95% symptom-free—thanks to personalized guidance, SIBO treatment, and uncovering true food intolerances. This episode is packed with real talk on delayed reactions, grief around food, and the trial-and-error process that leads to healing.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✔ How post-infectious IBS and food poisoning triggered Kathy’s symptoms
✔ What non-celiac gluten sensitivity actually looks like in real life
✔ Why food tracking, SIBO testing, and reintroduction phases matter
✔ How to navigate delayed symptoms and build confidence around food again

Timestamps:

[0:00] Meet Kathy + her background as a cook, artist, and restaurant owner
[3:33] The food poisoning that triggered relentless diarrhea
[5:00] Going low FODMAP solo—and why it didn’t work
[8:12] Discovering hidden gluten, oats, and real food intolerances
[13:45] Treating SIBO and rebuilding gut health
[19:43] FODMAP reintroduction and the importance of moderation
[23:10] How Kathy travels and eats out safely now
[27:11] Recognizing delayed gluten reactions + grieving food loss
[31:00] What recovery looks like 1 year later (hint: 90–95% symptom-free!)
[38:53] Final words of encouragement + advice for others still struggling

Resources mentioned in this episode:

🎓 Free IBS Relief Masterclass – Learn our 3-step approach to managing IBS: https://ibsdietitian.com/masterclass

📋 Free Symptom Tracker – Start tracking your symptoms today: https://poopedia.org/resources

IBS Nutrition Podcast episode on SIBO

Gluten Free Street Gang

Find Me Gluten Free

Diagnosing Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance Video

🔔 Stay Connected & Get More IBS Support:

📷 Follow us on Instagram: @ibs.dietitian

🖥️ Free IBS Relief Masterclass: https://ibsdietitian.com/masterclass

💬 Join our IBS Facebook Community: IBS Support For Women

⭐ Love this episode? Leave us a 5-star review! It helps us reach more people who need IBS support.

🎧 Subscribe to the IBS Nutrition Podcast on: 📌 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

🚀 Ready to take control of your IBS? Tune in now!

Send us a text

What happens when you're doing “everything right” and still not getting better? In this episode, Jessie Wong chats with Dr. Andrea Love and Dr. Wendi LeBrett about how to navigate the frustrating process of finding the right GI doctor. You’ll hear Andrea’s personal story of chronic fissure pain and multiple failed consults—plus practical tips for identifying red flags, preparing for appointments, and getting real support.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✔ What to look for in a great GI specialist
✔ How to prep for your appointment (so nothing gets missed)
✔ Red flags in both mainstream and alternative care
✔ How to advocate for better IBS support

Timestamps:

[0:00] Meet the guests + what we’re covering
[4:53] Andrea’s story: Rectal pain, fissures, and finding the right surgeon
[20:42] How to find the right GI doctor for IBS
[34:06] How to prepare for specialist appointments
[44:47] When alternative treatments do more harm than good
[52:31] Final advice + masterclass resources

Resources Mentioned:

💩 Check out the different types of poop https://poopedia.org/
Dr. Andrea Love Instagram
Dr. Wendi Instagram
Rome Foundation
Mayo Clinic
Penn Medicine
American College of Gastroenterology
American Gastroenterological Association

🔔 Stay Connected & Get More IBS Support:

📷 Follow us on Instagram: @ibs.dietitian

🖥️ Free IBS Relief Masterclass: https://ibsdietitian.com/masterclass

💬 Join our IBS Facebook Community: IBS Support For Women

⭐ Love this episode? Leave us a 5-star review! It helps us reach more people who need IBS support.

🎧 Subscribe to the IBS Nutrition Podcast on: 📌 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

🚀 Ready to take control of your IBS? Tune in now!

Send us a text

In this episode, Jessie Wong and Brooke Keenan unpack the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), a condition often mistaken for IBS. They explain how SIBO differs from IBS, why it’s frequently misdiagnosed, and the tools that actually work to find lasting relief.

You’ll hear real client stories—including a healthcare provider with chronic diarrhea and rapid weight loss—who finally found answers by treating the true root cause. From probiotics and antibiotics to fiber, diet, and gut motility, this episode breaks it all down.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✔ What causes SIBO—and how it differs from IBS

✔ Why symptoms like bloating and belching after eating may point to SIBO

✔ What makes SIBO return (even after antibiotics)

✔ When probiotics do more harm than good

✔ The role of diet, fiber, and gut motility in treatment

✔ Why proper diagnosis and support makes all the difference

Timestamps:

[0:00] Welcome + what we’re covering

[1:42] What is SIBO? (And how is it different from IBS?)

[3:40] Symptoms to watch for: bloating, burping, discomfort after eating

[5:00] Risk factors: antibiotics, PPIs, constipation, probiotics & more

[7:25] How the body normally protects you from SIBO

[9:45] Client story: Diarrhea, weight loss, and finally getting relief

[13:38] What SIBO can do to your body (inflammation, nutrient loss, etc.)

[15:06] Testing for SIBO: breath tests vs aspirate

[18:50] Treatment options: antibiotics, motility & long-term strategies

[23:00] Diets for SIBO: What works and what doesn’t

[26:40] Fiber for SIBO: What to use and how to choose it

[28:00] Final thoughts: Why expert support matters

Resources Mentioned:

🎓 Free IBS Relief Masterclass – Learn our 3-step approach to managing IBS: https://ibsdietitian.com/masterclass

📋 Free Symptom Tracker – Start tracking your symptoms today: https://poopedia.org/resources

🔔 Stay Connected & Get More IBS Support:

📷 Follow us on Instagram: @ibs.dietitian

🖥️ Free IBS Relief Masterclass: https://ibsdietitian.com/masterclass

💬 Join our IBS Facebook Community: IBS Support For Women

⭐ Love this episode? Leave us a 5-star review! It helps us reach more people who need IBS support.

🎧 Subscribe to the IBS Nutrition Podcast on: 📌 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

🚀 Ready to take control of your IBS? Tune in now!

Send us a text

What happens when you’ve eliminated every food, taken every supplement, and still feel worse?

In this episode, Jessie Wong chats with former client Lindsey, a mom of two who overcame severe IBS symptoms and food fear, not through a restrictive diet, but by addressing lifestyle triggers, gut-brain communication, and anxiety.

Her story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, it’s not about food but how you live.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✔ How IBS and anxiety created a fear-based food cycle

✔ What actually helped reduce urgent diarrhea

✔ Why probiotics and elimination diets backfired

✔ The lifestyle changes that made the biggest difference

✔ What it’s like to eat freely again without fear

✔ Why healing takes time—and how to stay hopeful

Timestamps:

[0:00] Meet Lindsey: IBS symptoms, anxiety & early motherhood

[3:36] Daily diarrhea, food fear & restriction

[7:55] Weight loss, negative tests, and no clear answers

[12:23] Finding our program & getting real support

[14:07] Discovering lifestyle triggers (not food!)

[17:50] How anxiety medication helped her gut heal

[19:10] The lifestyle changes that made the biggest difference

[23:39] Life after IBS: Confidence, balance, and joy

[26:56] Why healing takes time—but it’s possible

[30:06] Final advice for anyone still struggling

Resources Mentioned:

🎓 Free IBS Relief Masterclass – Learn our 3-step approach to managing IBS: https://ibsdietitian.com/masterclass

📋 Free Symptom Tracker – Start tracking your symptoms today: https://poopedia.org/resources

🔔 Stay Connected & Get More IBS Support:

📷 Follow us on Instagram: @ibs.dietitian

🖥️ Free IBS Relief Masterclass: https://ibsdietitian.com/masterclass

💬 Join our IBS Facebook Community: IBS Support For Women

⭐ Love this episode? Leave us a 5-star review! It helps us reach more people who need IBS support.

🎧 Subscribe to the IBS Nutrition Podcast on: 📌 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

🚀 Ready to take control of your IBS? Tune in now!

Send us a text

If IBS diarrhea is running your life, it’s time to get to the root cause. In this episode, dietitians Jessie Wong and Brooke Keenan explain the three main types of diarrhea in IBS—flare-up, overflow, and food intolerance—and how to tell which one you have.

You’ll hear real-life case studies and learn how to spot the signs of constipation-driven diarrhea, hidden food intolerances, and digestive patterns that standard treatments often miss.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✔ Why diarrhea is sometimes caused by constipation

✔ The difference between overflow vs. flare-up diarrhea

✔ How food intolerances like gluten or FODMAPs play a role

✔ Why the low FODMAP diet isn’t always the right approach

✔ Tools like Imodium, fiber, and stress management for relief

✔ How clients like Kinsey, Jessica, and Kathy found lasting results

Timestamps:

[0:00] Why diarrhea is so misunderstood in IBS

[2:18] Type 1: Flare-up diarrhea explained

[4:28] Kinsey’s story: Chronic constipation disguised as diarrhea

[8:50] Type 2: Overflow diarrhea + Kathy’s breakthrough

[14:10] Symptom tracker & masterclass resources

[15:12] Type 3: Food intolerance diarrhea + Jessica’s case

[19:58] Common triggers that make IBS worse

[21:13] Tools that help: Imodium, fiber, diet & more

[23:45] Long-term control strategies

Resources Mentioned:

🎓 Free IBS Relief Masterclass – Learn our 3-step approach to managing IBS: https://ibsdietitian.com/masterclass

📋 Free Symptom Tracker – Start tracking your symptoms today: https://poopedia.org/resources

Listen to episode 5 to learn more about the low FODMAP diet.

Listen to episode 1 to learn more about tracking symptoms.

🔔 Stay Connected & Get More IBS Support:

📷 Follow us on Instagram: @ibs.dietitian

🖥️ Free IBS Relief Masterclass: https://ibsdietitian.com/masterclass

💬 Join our IBS Facebook Community: IBS Support For Women

⭐ Love this episode? Leave us a 5-star review! It helps us reach more people who need IBS support.

🎧 Subscribe to the IBS Nutrition Podcast on: 📌 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

🚀 Ready to take control of your IBS? Tune in now!