#320 Travel is one of the most common gut disruptors I hear about in clinic — and one of the most preventable. In this episode, I'm sharing exactly what I pack to keep my gut moving when I travel, what the whole family takes, and why every single choice is backed by research. Whether you're someone who has no issues at home but completely shuts down the moment you board a plane, or someone who already deals with sluggish bowels and knows travel makes it significantly worse — this one is for you. I walk you through the six key reasons travel disrupts your bowels, and then get into my bare minimum gut travel toolkit: the four things I never leave home without, plus the two free foundations that make everything else work better. We cover GOS — the prebiotic I start seven days before travel that research shows may significantly reduce the incidence and duration of traveller's diarrhoea, and that also supports gut motility. I explain how to dose it, which form has the strongest research behind it, and importantly, who should not be taking it without professional guidance (if you have active or suspected SIBO, please speak with a qualified gut-informed practitioner before adding prebiotic fibres). We also cover PHGG for gentle, bloat-free bowel regularity, magnesium bisglycinate (and when citrate may be the better choice) for softening stool and supporting peristalsis, and BetterMe Tea — my own herbal formulation that travels everywhere with me. This isn't a complicated protocol. It's a simple, evidence-based toolkit that works — even when your routine doesn't. In this episode: — Why travel is such a powerful gut disruptor (the six key drivers) — GOS: the prebiotic doing double duty before you board the plane — Who should not take GOS and how to titrate the dose — PHGG: bowel regularity without the bloat — Magnesium bisglycinate (and citrate): which form and why — BetterMe Tea: my travel ritual — Hydration and movement: the free non-negotiables — When travel constipation signals something deeper worth investigating This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before making changes to your health routine. Lynda Griparic is a degree-qualified naturopath with extensive experience in complex gut health conditions including IBS, SIBO, IMO, and chronic constipation. She offers telehealth consultations Australia-wide and internationally.

#319 Last week I saw a patient who had been on a low FODMAP diet for 12 years. Self-prescribed. No reintroduction. No professional guidance. His story is far more common than most people realise — and it's exactly why I recorded this episode. Low FODMAP, keto, and carnivore diets all have legitimate therapeutic applications. But when they're self-prescribed, followed indefinitely, and used without ever investigating the underlying cause of symptoms, they can cause their own harm — quietly, progressively, and in ways that are very difficult to reverse. In this episode, I'm drawing on my extensive experience working with constipation and gut health to talk specifically about what these diets do to your bowel — the microbiome changes, the impact on butyrate and serotonin production, the loss of mechanical stimulation, and why constipation is one of the most commonly reported and least discussed consequences of long-term dietary restriction. I also cover the conditions — including SIBO, where a low FODMAP approach may be appropriate for longer than the standard timeframe, and why even in those cases, reintroduction is always the goal. If you feel better on a restricted diet but can't seem to reintroduce foods without your symptoms returning, this episode will help you understand why — and what to do about it. In this episode: What Monash University actually says about how long the low FODMAP diet should be followed Why prolonged FODMAP restriction affects Bifidobacteria, butyrate production, and bowel function What the research shows about the ketogenic diet, microbiome diversity, fibre intake, and constipation The latest evidence on the carnivore diet — including a 2026 cross-sectional study and 2025 scoping review Why symptom relief on a restricted diet is the beginning of the investigation, not the end of it A clear path forward for anyone stuck in a cycle of restriction with no resolution in sight Resources mentioned: Get Things Moving — Evidence-based guide to overcoming constipation:  Book a consultation BetterMe Tea Lynda Griparic is a degree-qualified naturopath and certified Healthy Gut Practitioner with extensive experience in constipation, SIBO, and gut microbiome health. Telehealth consultations available across Australia and internationally. This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

#318 What if the gut symptoms no one can explain are connected to something your gastroenterologist was never trained to look for? Dr. Susan Trachman is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 30 years of experience treating medically unexplained illness — and the gut shows up at the centre of those mystery cases more often than you'd think. In this episode, we explore the bidirectional relationship between the brain and gut, why chronic stress and unresolved trauma can silently reshape the microbiome, and what it takes to break the cycle of symptoms that won't respond to conventional treatment. You'll discover: What alexithymia is and why it keeps gut symptoms stuck How early childhood trauma wires the gut for dysfunction decades later Why anxiety and gut distress feed each other — and which one comes first Dr. Trachman's MENDS framework: Medication, Exercise, Nutrition, Dhyana, Sleep Why exercise may be the single most underrated gut health tool The threshold effect of over-exercise on the microbiome What leaky gut looks like from a psychiatric perspective How to identify anxiety as the hidden driver when gut treatment isn't working The connection between sleep deprivation and neurodegenerative disease Dr. Trachman is the author of It's Not Just In Your Head: Demystifying the Brain-Body Connection in Medical Illness — a must-read for anyone whose symptoms have been dismissed. Find Dr. Trachman's book here To work with Lynda or explore Microba gut microbiome testing, visit lyndagriparic.com.

#317 I'm a degree-qualified naturopath with over 20 years of clinical experience, with a primary focus on complex gut health conditions — and in this video, I'm doing something I've never done before. I'm turning the lens on myself. I recently got my own gut microbiome tested, and I want to walk you through every single result. I didn't get tested because I had gut symptoms — my bowels are actually moving beautifully. I got tested because I'd been dealing with over a year of persistent rosacea and wanted to know: could what's happening in my gut be connected to what's showing up on my skin? I also wanted to show you exactly what this test looks like when it's interpreted by someone who does this for a living. We cover every section of the report — the pathogen panel, the diagnostic GI markers, microbiome diversity and richness, short-chain fatty acids, TMA, emerging metabolites, the species table, and more. I also share the result that was flagged as severely abnormal — and why, in context, it almost certainly isn't. This is what it looks like to use real data to motivate real change — not because something has gone terribly wrong, but because catching the trajectory early is the whole point. What we cover What makes shotgun metagenomics different from other stool tests The targeted pathogen panel — what it tests for and what my results showed Pancreatic elastase — the result that flagged severely low, and why context changes everything Lactoferrin, calprotectin, zonulin, secretory IgA, and faecal occult blood Microbial diversity and richness — what we're aiming for and why it matters Butyrate, acetate, propionate, and TMA — what they mean and how diet influences them Prevotella copri — nuanced, misunderstood, and more common in traditional diets than you'd think Emerging markers, including GABA, and why we need to hold them lightly Human DNA elevation — and why collection context explains it My action steps and why seeing this data now motivates me to act I'm Lynda Griparic, a degree-qualified naturopath with extensive experience in complex gut health conditions, including SIBO, IMO, and chronic constipation. Book a consultation or shop BetterMe Tea at lyndagriparic.com This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your health routine.

#316 Chloe Turner has lived with Crohn's disease for 25 years. She's also a degree-qualified naturopath and clinical microbiome consultant at Microba — one of Australia's most advanced gut microbiome testing companies. In this conversation, she brings both worlds together: the science of what microbiome testing actually reveals in IBD, and the deeply human experience of living inside a body that can turn on you without warning. Chloe talks candidly about the psychological weight of waiting for the next flare, why clinical remission doesn't always mean your microbiome is safe, and how shotgun metagenomics testing is catching things that colonoscopies and blood tests simply miss — including stealth pathogens like EPEC quietly driving inflammation while everything else looks stable.   In this episode, you'll discover: What gut microbiome testing reveals that conventional IBD workups cannot How EPEC and E. coli species silently fuel flares — and what to do about it Why clinical remission doesn't mean your microbiome is out of the danger zone How microbiome shifts can precede a flare before symptoms appear The emerging link between microbiome state and biologic medication response The psychological weight of the relapse-recovery cycle and how Chloe navigates it personally Why intuition and anxiety around food can look identical and how to tell them apart Practical dietary and supplement strategies used alongside conventional IBD care Why annual microbiome testing could be one of the most powerful tools for flare prevention What Chloe wishes she'd known 25 years ago If you're living with Crohn's, colitis, or any form of IBD, or you're a practitioner working in this space, this episode is for you. Connect with Chloe Turner: chloturner.com.au Register for a Microba Practitioner account   I'm Lynda Griparic, a degree-qualified naturopath with extensive experience in complex gut health conditions, including SIBO, IMO, and chronic constipation. Book a consultation or shop BetterMe Tea at lyndagriparic.com This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your health routine.

#315 Should you test your baby's microbiome — and if so, when? In this episode, I sit down with naturopath, herbalist, lactation consultant, and infant microbiome expert Dawn Whitten to take a critical and balanced look at the new wave of paediatric microbiome testing. Dawn brings over 20 years of clinical experience in perinatal and early life health, and in this conversation, she covers what these tests get right, where they fall short, and the very real risk of over-interpreting a rapidly changing ecosystem. In this episode, you'll discover: What "normal" actually looks like in the infant microbiome across the first two to three years of life Why the infant microbiome can shift dramatically in just a few weeks without any intervention The clinical risk of testing too early and acting too fast Why Bifidobacterium is the keystone genus of the infant gut — and which species matter most The age grouping problem with current paediatric tests Why organisms like Blastocystis and Dientamoeba in a baby's report may not be cause for alarm The problem with functional markers like faecal calprotectin in infants What responsible interpretation actually looks like in clinical practice  What Dawn wishes these tests would do differently Dawn's Natural Early Life Health course and how it equips practitioners to use these tests wisely Love & Guts listeners receive 25% off Dawn's Natural Early Life Health course via the links below. Jason Hawrelak's Healthy Gut course is a prerequisite — bundle options are available. Offer available until 15 April 2026. Love & Guts podcast special discount links Natural Early Life Course & Bridging Course Bundle https://probiotic-advisor.teachable.com/p/early-life-health11?affcode=186042_ituurmer Natural Early Life Health 2026 term https://probiotic-advisor.teachable.com/p/early-life-health12?affcode=186042_ituurmer If you work with infants and young children, or you're a parent navigating gut health in early life, this episode is for you.

#314 What if chronic constipation, gut dysbiosis, and microbial imbalance were early warning signs of Parkinson's disease — appearing up to 20 years before a diagnosis? In this episode, I sit down with microbiome researcher and founder of The BioCollective, Martha Carlin, whose journey into Parkinson's research began when her husband John was diagnosed at just 44 years old. Martha spent over two decades studying the gut-brain connection in Parkinson's, building one of the first independent IRB-approved human microbiome research initiatives in the world. In this episode, you'll discover: Why chronic constipation can precede a Parkinson's diagnosis by 20+ years — and why it is never normal The two phenotypes of Parkinson's disease and how gut bacteria can distinguish between them The role of hydrogen sulphide, LPS endotoxins, and leaky gut in Parkinson's pathology The mycobacteria connection to Parkinson's that almost nobody is talking about How glyphosate is decimating the good bacteria we need most The glycocalyx — what it is, why it matters, and how to restore it The overlooked cardiovascular risks in Parkinson's disease. Where to start if you or someone you love has just received a diagnosis If you are living with chronic constipation, have a family member with Parkinson's, or want to understand the deeper gut-brain connection — this episode is for you.   Find Martha at biotiquest.com    I'm Lynda Griparic, a degree-qualified naturopath specialising in complex gut health conditions, including SIBO, IMO, and chronic constipation. Book a consultation or shop BetterMe Tea at lyndagriparic.com

#313 You've been told to take probiotics. But nobody told you how — or whether what you're taking is actually doing anything. Probiotics are one of the most talked-about tools in gut health, and one of the most misused. In this solo episode, Lynda busts 7 of the most common probiotic myths she sees in clinic and online — and by the end, you'll understand probiotics at a level most people never do. You'll discover: Why probiotics don't permanently colonise your gut — and what that means for how you take them - Why "a probiotic is a probiotic" is one of the most misleading claims in the supplement industry - Why more strains in a bottle doesn't mean more effective - Why you should absolutely take probiotics during antibiotic treatment — and what the research actually shows - Why taking probiotics on an empty stomach is outdated advice - Why kefir and kombucha won't reliably restore your gut after antibiotics — and what will - Why probiotics are not the automatic answer to every gut condition If you've been taking probiotics without results, this episode will show you exactly why — and what to do instead. References & show notes: https://www.lyndagriparic.com/[YOUR-SHOW-NOTES-URL]   🧳 WORK WITH ME 💝 Book a 1:1 Consultation: https://www.lyndagriparic.com/book-an... 🫖 Shop BetterMe Tea (Digestive Support): https://www.lyndagriparic.com/shop/ 🌐 Website: https://lyndagriparic.com 📱 CONNECT WITH ME 📷 Instagram: @lynda_griparic_naturopath  🎙️ Podcast on Youtube: https://youtu.be/HEZK2T4nrAs?si=LL6Hd3inlMAW1vhg

#312 Shame around our bodies — including gut symptoms like bloating and constipation — can quietly erode desire, intimacy, and our relationship with ourselves. In this episode, I'm joined by Rebecca Levy, Somatic Sexologist, Sex Educator and Relationship Counsellor, to explore the hidden link between gut health, body shame and sexual desire. We discuss how nervous system dysregulation impacts both digestion and desire, what somatic sexology actually is, and simple practices you can start today to rebuild body awareness and reconnect with pleasure. If you've ever felt disconnected from your body or struggled with intimacy because of how you feel in your skin — this one is for you.   CONNECT WITH REBECCA LEVY Website: www.rebeccalevy.com.au  Find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccalevy_somaticsexologist/   WORK WITH LYNDA Book a 1:1 Consultation: https://www.lyndagriparic.com/book-an... Shop BetterMe Tea (Digestive Support): https://www.lyndagriparic.com/shop/ Website: https://lyndagriparic.com   ABOUT ME I'm Lynda Griparic, a degree-qualified naturopath specialising in complex gut health conditions, including SIBO, IMO, chronic constipation, and microbiome dysfunction. I help people who have tried everything and still can't get answers. I use advanced Microba shotgun metagenomics testing — analysing thousands of bacterial species compared to the ~50 detected by standard tests — to find the root cause others have missed. University of Tasmania Roll of Excellence 2024 | Bachelor of Medicines Management ProfHonsCM | 20+ years clinical experience | Host of the Love & Guts Podcast | Creator of BetterMe Tea | Telehealth consultations available Australia-wide and internationally.

#311 If you've been drinking the water, eating the fibre, taking the  magnesium and prebiotics — and you're still constipated — this episode is for you. Chronic constipation is rarely just a lifestyle problem. In most cases, there is a deeper, physiological root cause that hasn't been properly investigated. In this solo episode, Lynda walks you through five of the most commonly missed drivers of chronic constipation, what the research says, and why getting the right investigation changes everything. You'll discover: - Why do methane-producing gut organisms (IMO) physically slow down your bowel movement — and why fibre and resistant starch can make it worse - Dyssynergic defecation — when your pelvic floor tightens instead of releasing - Secondary medical causes that are frequently overlooked, including thyroid dysfunction and medications - What advanced microbiome testing reveals that standard tests simply miss - How chronic stress, nervous system dysregulation, and trauma keep you stuck - Why chronic constipation has been linked to cognitive decline and can precede Parkinson's disease motor symptoms by 20 or more years If you've been at this for a long time without answers, this episode  was made for you. References & show notes: https://www.lyndagriparic.com/chronic-constipation-naturopath-root-causes/ ——————————————————— 💼 WORK WITH ME 💝 Book a 1:1 Consultation: https://www.lyndagriparic.com/book-an... 🍵 Shop BetterMe Tea (Digestive Support): https://www.lyndagriparic.com/shop/ 🌐 Website: https://lyndagriparic.com ——————————————————— 📱 CONNECT WITH ME 📸 Instagram: 📷 / lynda_griparic_naturopath 🎙️ Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0SoDelo... 🎙️ Podcast on Youtube: https://youtu.be/KK9_CtFIUUA?si=-onF1Us9a4vPDczy ——————————————————— 🔥 ABOUT ME I'm Lynda Griparic, a degree-qualified naturopath specialising in complex gut health conditions, including SIBO, IMO, chronic constipation, and microbiome dysfunction. I help people who have tried everything and still can't get answers. I use advanced Microba shotgun metagenomics testing — analysing thousands of bacterial species compared to the ~50 detected by standard tests — to find the root cause others have missed.  University of Tasmania Roll of Excellence 2024 | Bachelor of Medicines Management ProfHonsCM | 20+ years clinical experience | Host of the Love & Guts Podcast | Creator of BetterMe Tea | Telehealth consultations available Australia-wide and internationally. ——————————————————— ⚠️ This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your health routine.