Understanding Your Gut is a patient education podcast series created by Carrie Eckersley, the dietitian from the Newcastle North Primary Care Network, and is primarily for people experiencing common digestive symptoms such as:

• bloating 
• abdominal discomfort 
• constipation 
• diarrhoea 
• food-related gut symptoms 
• IBS and functional bowel symptoms 

The series is designed to explain gut symptoms in a simple, reassuring and evidence-based way.

Each episode is less than 8 minutes long and focuses on helping patients understand:

• How the gut works 
• why symptoms happen 
• How food, stress, routine and gut sensitivity interact 
• When symptoms are common and manageable 
• and when medical review is important 

Topics include:

• IBS explained simply 
• Bloating and gas 
• Constipation and diarrhoea 
• Food, FODMAPs and digestion 
• Eating patterns and meal timing 
• The gut–brain connection 
• Gluten, coeliac disease and food intolerances 
• Diverticular disease vs IBS 
• And red flag symptoms requiring further assessment