298: Food Sensitivities: Why Elimination Diets Stop Working & What To Do Instead - with Hannah Aylward

If you're bloated after eating, reacting to seemingly "healthy" foods, struggling with constipation or diarrhea, or living on an increasingly restrictive diet, the problem may be more complicated—and more fixable—than simply identifying the foods you're "sensitive" to. In this episode of ReversABLE, Josh Dech sits down with gut-health practitioner Hannah Aylward for a deep conversation about food sensitivities, elimination diets, the microbiome, digestion, inflammation, and the search for root cause. Hannah explains why she doesn't recommend relying on IgG food sensitivity testing and how these tests can potentially create unnecessary food fear, particularly when gut-barrier function is compromised. Instead of continually eliminating foods, the conversation explores what may be happening upstream: impaired digestion, low stomach acid, digestive enzyme and bile issues, microbial imbalance, gut-barrier dysfunction, and the gut-brain connection. One of the most important themes is that there may not be a single "root cause." Hannah describes a layered approach in which several dysfunctions can interact, meaning the food someone reacts to may be a clue rather than the fundamental problem. The episode also explores why some people struggle to tolerate fiber-rich foods, why traditionally "gut-healthy" foods such as bone broth, collagen, sauerkraut, garlic, onions, and vegetables aren't necessarily right for everyone at every stage, and why a resilient microbiome should ultimately allow someone to tolerate a wider variety of foods. Hannah shares her own experience of spending nearly a decade on an elimination diet, dealing with severe bloating and food fear, and eventually discovering that there were deeper factors affecting her gut health—including digestion, microbial balance, environmental exposures, and the nervous system. Finally, Josh and Hannah discuss stress and the gut-brain connection, including why "it's just stress" can be an incomplete explanation. Stress can influence digestion, stomach acid, bile, motility, and gut-barrier function—meaning psychological and physiological health cannot always be separated. If you've tried elimination diets, probiotics, supplements, or "clean eating" and still don't understand why your gut isn't improving, this episode offers a different way to think about the problem: stop asking only what you're reacting to, and start asking why.   TOPICS DISCUSSED: Food Sensitivities, Intolerances & Allergies IgG Food Sensitivity Testing And Why Hannah Doesn't Recommend It Root Causes Behind Food Reactions Elimination Diets, Food Restriction & Restoring Food Tolerance Gut Microbiome, Microbial Diversity & Fiber Tolerance Hannah's Personal Journey With Chronic Digestive Issues And Restrictive Eating Low Stomach Acid, Digestion, Enzymes, Bile & SIBO Carnivore Vs. Plant/Fiber Approaches And Individualized Nutrition Gut-Brain Connection, Stress & Nervous-System Regulation Mold Exposure, Environmental Factors & Broader Systemic Contributors   More from Hannah Aylward: Website: hannahaylward.com Instagram: @hannahaylwardhhc TikTok: HAN | Functional Gut Health Facebook: HAN - Hannah Aylward Nutrition Listen To Hannah's Podcast: The NUTRIENT DENSE Podcast Take The Gut Health Root Cause Quiz For Free: Root Cause Quiz Book A Strategy Call With Hannah: HAN Free Strategy Session   Leave us a Review: https://www.reversablepod.com/review   Need help with your gut? Visit my website gutsolution.ca to join a program: Get help now   Contact us: reversablepod.com/tips    FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram  Facebook  YouTube   

In this provocative episode of ReversABLE, Josh Dech sits down with physician Dr. Tom Cowan for a wide-ranging conversation about disease, scientific reasoning, the heart, viruses, bacteria, environmental exposures, hormones, and the assumptions underlying conventional medicine. Cowan describes his unusual path into medicine, including 37 years in family practice, and explains the philosophy that drives much of his work: rather than immediately trying to determine what is true, first investigate whether the original claim has actually been demonstrated. That framework takes the conversation into controversial territory. Cowan challenges conventional explanations surrounding viruses and germ theory, using examples involving polio, measles, SARS-CoV-2, bacteria, antibodies, and laboratory procedures. He argues that some commonly accepted demonstrations of causation do not establish what they are claimed to establish. These are among the most contentious claims in the episode and are presented as Cowan's perspective rather than settled medical consensus. The discussion then shifts into physiology, where Cowan challenges the conventional description of the heart as a pressure-propulsion pump. He presents his theory of the heart as part of a vortex-based circulatory system and connects that concept to blood flow, pressure differentials, tissue-level physiology, and electrically charged water. Josh and Tom also explore mold, parasites, bacteria, environmental toxins, EMFs, inflammation, and the question of whether the presence of a microorganism necessarily establishes it as the root cause of illness. One of the most compelling themes throughout the conversation is critical thinking: separating observation from interpretation, correlation from causation, and established evidence from assumptions. For anyone interested in gut health, chronic illness, inflammation, the microbiome, immune system, root-cause health, functional medicine, or simply questioning how medical conclusions are reached, this episode offers a conversation designed to challenge your assumptions—and encourage you to investigate the claims for yourself.   TOPICS DISCUSSED: Viruses, Virology & Germ Theory Scientific Methodology, Claims, Causation & Critical Thinking The Heart As A Pump Vs. Vortex-Based Circulation Polio, Measles & Changing Disease Definitions Bacteria, Mold, Fungi & Parasites As Alleged Disease Causes Water, Electrical Charge & "Fourth-Phase"/Gel-Like Water Environmental Toxins, Pesticides, Arsenic & Chemical Exposure Antibodies, Autoimmune Disease & Immune-System Assumptions Hormones, Testosterone, Insulin & How Biological Substances Are Identified   More from Dr. Tom Cowan: Website: drtomcowan.com Instagram: @talkinturkeywithtom_ Facebook: Dr. Tom Cowan Youtube: Talkin' Turkey with Tom X: @drtomcowan Dr. Tom's Foods: drcowansgarden.com Dr. Tom's Medicine: drtomcowan.com Dr. Tom's Clinic: newbiologyclinic.com   Leave us a Review: https://www.reversablepod.com/review   Need help with your gut? Visit my website gutsolution.ca to join a program: Get help now   Contact us: reversablepod.com/tips    FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram  Facebook  YouTube   

In this episode of ReversABLE, Josh Dech sits down with board-certified clinical nutritionist Inna Topiler, who has spent nearly two decades working in the thyroid and Hashimoto's space. Together, they explore the deeper connection between gut health, inflammation, the microbiome, immune-system regulation, and thyroid function. The conversation begins with an important distinction: Hashimoto's is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid. Inna explains why she believes addressing thyroid hormone alone may not tell the whole story and why identifying potential immune triggers can be an important part of a root-cause investigation. Josh and Inna then explore the gut–thyroid connection, including digestive symptoms, chronic infections, microbial imbalances, intestinal permeability, nutrient absorption, liver and gallbladder function, and thyroid hormone conversion. Inna describes four broad categories of potential triggers she looks at with clients: food, infection, toxins, and stress. The episode also gets into why someone can have thyroid-related problems without obvious digestive symptoms, why Inna says the vast majority of her thyroid clients have some form of gut issue when investigated more deeply, and why she believes different "thyroid types" may require different approaches. You'll also hear a practical discussion about diet, food sensitivities, comprehensive stool testing, nutrient status, water filtration, stress management, nervous-system regulation, and the dangers of randomly experimenting with supplements. If you're dealing with Hashimoto's, hypothyroidism, chronic gut issues, inflammation, fatigue, brain fog, or autoimmune concerns, this conversation offers a systems-based perspective on why the gut and thyroid may need to be considered together.   TOPICS DISCUSSED: The Gut–Thyroid–Immune-System Chicken-And-Egg Relationship Hashimoto's Triggers: Food, Infection, Toxins And Stress The Thyroid's Role Throughout The Body And Its Connection To Gut, Liver, Gallbladder And Metabolism Thyroid Types And Thyroid Hormone Conversion Diet, Stool Testing, Gut Infections And Functional Investigation Stress, Nervous-System Regulation And Reframing Testing For Hashimoto's And Looking Beyond TSH Water, Plastics And Environmental Exposures Nutrients And Supplement Strategy   More from Inna Topiler: Website: innatopiler.com Instagram: @innatopiler Facebook: Inna Topiler Listen To Inna's Podcast: Thyroid Mystery Solved Podcast   Leave us a Review: https://www.reversablepod.com/review   Need help with your gut? Visit my website gutsolution.ca to join a program: Get help now   Contact us: reversablepod.com/tips    FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram  Facebook  YouTube   

Chronic bloating is one of the most frustrating gut health symptoms—especially when you've already eliminated gluten, dairy, sugar, processed foods, or other suspected triggers and still feel swollen after meals. In this episode of ReversABLE, Josh Dech explores the potential contributors to persistent bloating and why simply removing more foods may not always address the root cause. The conversation examines five food categories discussed in the episode: gluten and refined carbohydrates, dairy, sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners, ultra-processed "health foods," and highly fermentable foods such as legumes and cruciferous vegetables. The discussion then moves beyond diet into the mechanisms that may contribute to chronic digestive symptoms. These include stomach acid and digestion, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), gut motility, the gut-brain connection, stress, and the relationship between the nervous system and digestive function. A central theme is the idea of looking beyond individual foods toward the broader gut health "terrain"—including the microbiome, digestive function, nutritional status, inflammation, and other factors that may influence how someone responds to food. The episode is particularly relevant for people dealing with ongoing bloating alongside IBS or other chronic digestive complaints who feel as though they've already tried every elimination diet available. Josh also discusses why some foods commonly promoted as healthy can be difficult to tolerate during periods of digestive distress, and why personalized assessment can be more useful than endlessly restricting the diet. Importantly, several physiological and treatment-related claims made in the episode should be interpreted in the context of current medical evidence rather than as universal explanations for bloating. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Five Major Food Categories Associated With Bloating Why Bloating Can Persist After Eliminating Trigger Foods Stomach Acid, Digestion, And Acid-Blocking Medications SIBO And Bacterial Fermentation In The Small Intestine Stress, Vagus Nerve Function, And Gut Motility   If you have Crohn's, Colitis or Diverticulitis, be sure to check out my second podcast: Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally.   Leave us a Review: https://www.reversablepod.com/review   Need help with your gut? Visit my website gutsolution.ca to join a program: Get help now   Contact us: reversablepod.com/tips    FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram  Facebook  YouTube

What if the story you tell yourself about your health is not entirely coming from your mind—but is being influenced by what is happening inside your body? In this episode of ReversABLE, Josh Dech sits down with Kyle Gray for a conversation about the intersection of gut health, inflammation, biology, emotions, language, and personal identity. Kyle shares his own decade-long health journey, including Hashimoto's, gut health problems, fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, and the anxiety and self-judgment that accompanied them. His experience raises a powerful question: when your biology makes you feel terrible, how much of the negative story you tell yourself is actually a reflection of your circumstances—and how much is simply your brain trying to explain the feeling? The conversation challenges the simplistic idea that you can simply "think positive" and overcome chronic health problems. Instead, Kyle argues that biological health and belief can influence one another. Improving digestion and addressing underlying health problems may create greater access to positive emotional states, while the language and beliefs we repeatedly use can influence our emotions, behavior, physiology, and relationships. Josh and Kyle explore how gut dysbiosis and inflammation can become intertwined with anxiety, self-worth, imposter syndrome, and hopelessness, as well as how people can begin identifying the stories running underneath their symptoms. Kyle also introduces a practical process for examining those stories word by word—using language to move from helplessness toward agency and purpose. For anyone struggling with chronic gut symptoms, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune issues, fatigue, anxiety, or the feeling that their health has become part of their identity, this episode offers a different lens on the root cause conversation: not as a replacement for addressing biology, but as another layer worth examining.   TOPICS DISCUSSED: Gut Health, Dysbiosis, Inflammation, And The Biological Origins Of Feelings The Relationship Between Biology, Emotions, Thoughts, And Personal Stories How Chronic Symptoms Can Become Self-Judgment, Shame, And Imposter Syndrome Language, Self-Talk, Affirmations, And Changing The Words We Use Finding Purpose And Strength Inside Painful Health Experiences The Practical Process For Identifying And Reframing Limiting Beliefs Communicating Chronic Illness To Family, Partners, And Healthcare Professionals The Role Of Hope, Possibility, And Changing Beliefs In Health Education   More from Kyle Gray: Website: thestoryengine.co Instagram: @heykylegray Facebook: Kyle Gray Youtube: Kyle Gray X: @kylethegray Listen To Kyle's Podcast: The Story Engine Podcast   Leave us a Review: https://www.reversablepod.com/review   Need help with your gut? Visit my website gutsolution.ca to join a program: Get help now   Contact us: reversablepod.com/tips    FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram  Facebook  YouTube   

Josh Dech sits down with Dr. Cassie Smith, a dual board-certified endocrinologist and founder of Modern Endocrine, to unpack why testosterone matters in women and why hormone health cannot always be separated from gut health, stress, sleep, metabolism, and the microbiome. The conversation challenges the common perception that testosterone is primarily a "male hormone." Dr. Smith explains that women produce testosterone through the ovaries and adrenal glands and discusses the broad role she sees it playing in mood, libido, muscle mass, recovery, fertility, thyroid function and overall wellbeing. From there, the conversation moves into what Dr. Smith sees as a major root-cause issue: chronic stress. Rather than defining stress purely as emotional distress, she describes the cumulative effects of poor sleep, excessive workloads, lack of sunlight and movement, late-night light exposure, social media, and modern "go-go-go" lifestyles. She connects these factors to gut dysfunction and discusses dysbiosis, gut permeability, immune activation, insulin, cortisol and downstream hormone changes. Sleep becomes another major focus, including circadian rhythm, morning sunlight, consistent bedtimes and how couples might divide nighttime responsibilities after having children. The episode also examines the gut microbiome from infancy, including birth, antibiotics, nutrition and other early-life factors, before turning toward solutions. Dr. Smith explains how Modern Endocrine approaches complex cases through detailed history-taking, laboratory testing, gut testing, lifestyle interventions, coaching and, where appropriate, hormone or other therapeutic support. Ultimately, the episode delivers a simple message: don't just chase symptoms—look for the root causes, start with the fundamentals, and make sustainable changes one step at a time.   TOPICS DISCUSSED: Testosterone In Women: Importance, Decline And Symptoms Chronic Stress And Its Effects On Gut And Hormones Gut Health, Dysbiosis, Leaky Gut And The Microbiome Sleep, Circadian Rhythm And Hormone Recovery Female Fertility, Reproductive Hormones And Metabolism Postpartum Sleep, Breastfeeding And Parent/Partner Roles Root-Cause Clinical Assessment And Modern Endocrine's Approach Lifestyle Fundamentals: Food, Movement, Sunlight And Stress Reduction Environmental Toxins And Overall Toxic Burden Gut Recovery, Therapeutic Interventions And Long-Term Health Maintenance   More from Dr. Cassie Smith: Website: modern-endocrine.com Instagram: @modernendocrine_ TikTok: Modernendocrine Facebook: Modern Endocrine Youtube: Modern Endocrine   Leave us a Review: https://www.reversablepod.com/review   Need help with your gut? Visit my website gutsolution.ca to join a program: Get help now   Contact us: reversablepod.com/tips    FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram  Facebook  YouTube   

We're facing a serious bowel disease epidemic that's icnreased by 50,000% in 70 years, and will affect 1 in 100 people. This is everything you need to know... TOPICS DISCUSSED: 5 things driving this epidemic Why Canada, US, UK, New Zealand and Australia are hit the hardest Why most doctors still call it "unknown"   If you have Crohn's, Colitis or Diverticulitis, be sure to check out my second podcast: Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally.   Leave us a Review: https://www.reversablepod.com/review   Need help with your gut? Visit my website gutsolution.ca to join a program: Get help now   Contact us: reversablepod.com/tips    FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram  Facebook  YouTube

Josh sits down with Steven, founder of Masa Chips, to explore how products like cottonseed oil, Crisco, and modern vegetable oils entered the food supply, and why many processed foods bear little resemblance to the foods humans historically consumed. Together they examine how industrial agriculture, food processing, pesticides, and modern manufacturing practices may influence gut health, inflammation, and overall wellness from a root-cause perspective. Steven also shares his personal journey through chronic digestive issues, immune challenges, and pancreatitis as a child—an experience that ultimately led him to study nutrition and build a company focused on producing snacks using traditional preparation methods rather than modern shortcuts. The discussion explores topics including organic farming, regenerative agriculture, sourdough fermentation, nixtamalization, gluten, GMOs, glyphosate, beef tallow, ancestral diets, and why food quality often depends more on processing methods than individual ingredients alone. Rather than simply debating whether grains are "good" or "bad," the conversation focuses on how traditional cultures prepared foods to improve digestibility and nutrient availability.   TOPICS DISCUSSED: History And Origins Of Seed Oils Traditional Food Preparation (Nixtamalization & Sourdough) Modern Food Processing & Industrial Agriculture Organic Farming, Pesticides & GMOs Ancient Vs. Modern Diets Building Ancient Crunch / Masa Chips Consumer Responsibility & Voting With Your Dollar   More from Steven Rofrano: Website: masachips.com Instagram: @reallytanman X: @reallytanman Potato Chips: vandycrisps.com Get 25% Off Your First Order: masachips.com/reversable   Leave us a Review: https://www.reversablepod.com/review   Need help with your gut? Visit my website gutsolution.ca to join a program: Get help now   Contact us: reversablepod.com/tips    FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram  Facebook  YouTube   

Science is always evolving, which means we're always learning. Today, we're talking about 5 organic you didn't know you had, and one is brand new that was just discovered in 2016! TOPICS DISCUSSED: 5 organs in your gut you didn't know you had a new organ that was just disocovered in 2016 What they do and how they work   If you have Crohn's, Colitis or Diverticulitis, be sure to check out my second podcast: Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally.   Leave us a Review: https://www.reversablepod.com/review   Need help with your gut? Visit my website gutsolution.ca to join a program: Get help now   Contact us: reversablepod.com/tips    FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram  Facebook  YouTube

In this thought-provoking episode of ReversABLE, Josh Dech sits down with Dr. John Demartini to explore the connection between personal values, chronic stress, nervous system regulation, and long-term health. Drawing from more than five decades of teaching and research, Dr. Demartini explains why many people remain exhausted, overwhelmed, and chronically inflamed despite doing "all the right things" for their health. The discussion explores his framework of the seven areas of life mastery, why living according to your highest values can dramatically change your physiology, and how prioritization may influence everything from energy levels to emotional resilience. The conversation also dives into neuroscience, the role of the prefrontal cortex, decision-making, delegation, and why constantly operating from obligation rather than inspiration may contribute to ongoing stress. Josh brings the discussion back to the world of functional medicine and root-cause healing, connecting these concepts to the everyday struggles faced by people dealing with digestive disorders, autoimmune disease, fatigue, and persistent inflammation. Together they challenge conventional thinking around productivity, burnout, and success while offering practical strategies for building a life that supports both physical and emotional well-being. Whether you're searching for answers to chronic gut issues, trying to reduce inflammation naturally, or simply looking for a more sustainable approach to health and performance, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on how mindset, purpose, and daily priorities may influence the body's ability to heal.   TOPICS DISCUSSED: Living According to Your Highest Values & Priorities Delegation, Time Leverage & Productivity The Seven Areas of Life Mastery Authenticity vs. Living by Other People's Expectations Stress, Brain Function & Health (Mind-Body Connection) Financial Independence & Wealth Building Purpose, Motivation & Human Potential   More from Dr. John Demartini: Website: drdemartini.com Instagram: @drjohndemartini Facebook: Dr John Demartini Youtube: @DrDemartini Listen Dr. Demaritini's Podcast: The Demaritini Show   Leave us a Review: https://www.reversablepod.com/review   Need help with your gut? Visit my website gutsolution.ca to join a program: Get help now   Contact us: reversablepod.com/tips    FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram  Facebook  YouTube