Blog 1: Why Gut Health Is the Root of It All

Introduction: My Why 🌿

I’ve been an athlete most of my life — from softball and gymnastics to the thrill of competing with horses. Competition gave me discipline, strength, and joy, but behind the scenes my body was sending signals I didn’t understand. I had back pain that flared from something as simple as reaching for a ketchup bottle, cluster headaches that left me desperate for relief, and digestive struggles that kept me home until noon.

Over time, the symptoms stacked up: allergies, skin flare-ups, and unexplained fatigue. I tried painkillers, steroids, and even experimental treatments, but nothing brought lasting relief. It wasn’t until I began learning about functional nutrition and cellular detox that the pattern clicked. It wasn’t one thing making me sick — it was an overflowing toxic bucket. realization was life-changing. Once I began addressing root causes, my energy started to return, my skin healed, and my digestion improved. It became clear to me that the gut is at the center of it all. When the gut is overwhelmed, the whole body feels it. When the gut is supported, healing begins.

Just as I trained for competition, I learned that gut healing requires steady practice, not quick fixes. This series is about that connection — how supporting the gut can steady your energy, calm your digestion, and light the path toward balance.

Table of Contents: The Gut Reset Series

This four-part series will guide you through the essentials of digestive wellness:

• Part 1: Why Gut Health Is the Root of It All

  How the gut supports immunity, energy, detox, and mood.

• Part 2: 5 Signs Your Gut Is Asking for Help

  Symptoms that act as trail markers when digestion is out of balance.

• Part 3: How to Support Digestion with Food & Daily Habits

  Simple, daily practices that strengthen the gut’s capacity.

• Part 4: The Gut-Brain Connection

  How stress and microbiome health shape mood, focus, and resilience.

The Wellness Journey with Michelle 🌿

Healing isn’t about chasing symptoms or finding the perfect supplement. It’s about building capacity step by step. That’s why I call this work The Wellness Journey with Michelle. Just like training for competition, gut healing is a process — steady, intentional, and worth the effort.

The Gut: Your Body’s Root System 🌱

Immunity lives here

About 70% of your immune system resides in the digestive tract.¹ Gut microbes act like teachers, showing immune cells how to tell the difference between friend and foe. When balanced, they’re like skilled trail guides. When imbalanced, they overreact to every branch that cracks, fueling unnecessary inflammation and autoimmunity.

 Nutrient absorption = energy ⚡

Food isn’t fuel until it’s broken down and absorbed.² If stomach acid, enzymes, or microbial support are lacking, nutrients never make it to your cells. This means mitochondria — the body’s power plants — are running on empty. That’s why fatigue, brain fog, and stubborn weight often trace back to poor absorption, not poor willpower.

Detox partnership ♻️

The liver and gut are detox partners. The liver packages toxins, but it’s the gut that takes out the trash.³ Without elimination, toxins recirculate like garbage missed on pickup day. Add sluggish bile flow or constipation, and symptoms multiply: headaches, acne, hormone swings, and that “toxic” feeling of heaviness.

Mood connection 🌞

Nearly 90% of serotonin — the “feel-good” neurotransmitter — is made in the gut.⁴ But the gut also influences dopamine (motivation) and GABA (calm). When the microbiome is thriving, these chemical messengers bring clarity and resilience. When imbalance sets in, the lantern 🏮 flickers, and anxiety or low mood follow.

Symptoms Are Trail Markers, Not Mistakes 🚩

In functional nutrition, symptoms are signals, not failures. They’re trail markers pointing toward imbalance:

• 🚩 Digestive distress → bloating, reflux, constipation.⁵

• 🚩 Skin issues → acne, eczema, rosacea, often tied to gut permeability.⁶

• 🚩 Brain fog & mood swings → linked to vagus nerve signaling and stress hormones.⁷

• 🚩 Fatigue → nutrient malabsorption and inflammation.²

It’s not just the what, but the when. Morning reflux may point to sluggish gastric emptying, while evening bloating could suggest microbial imbalance. A client once ignored “mild” reflux until it became daily. Once we looked deeper, the pattern revealed insufficient stomach acid, and the fix was simple — slowing down at meals and adding bitters.

Beyond Band-Aids: Root-Cause Healing 🌿

Quick fixes like antacids, elimination diets, or cleanses can bring temporary relief. But they don’t address why symptoms keep returning. Long-term resilience comes from addressing root causes:

• Food-first shifts → Add bone broth, colorful plants, and fermented foods. Replace soda with sparkling water. Swap seed oils for olive oil. Small changes, repeated daily, add up.⁷

• Toxin-light living → Reduce refined sugar, alcohol, and ultra-processed foods to calm inflammation.⁸

• Lifestyle levers → Chewing thoroughly, sipping water throughout the day, sleeping consistently, and practicing stress care.

One client described herself as “living on antacids.” Once she began eating more slowly, adding fermented foods, and reducing sugar, she no longer relied on daily pills.

Healing is less about perfection and more about capacity. When you tend the soil of the gut, the whole system begins to flourish.

Conclusion: Your Next Step 🌟

Gut health is the root system of wellness. By supporting it, you set the stage for lasting energy, balanced immunity, stable mood, and sustainable metabolism.

This Gut Reset Series is just the beginning. In my coaching, I guide clients through five phases that make healing sustainable:

• ILLUMINATE → uncover what’s driving symptoms.

• RELEASE → gently reduce the burden.

• NOURISH → rebuild resilience with nutrient-dense meals.

• ALIGN → lock in rhythms for sleep, stress, and movement.

• THRIVE → maintain results and expand into a lifestyle you love.

These same steps shape the journey from digestive chaos to clarity. Because when you support the gut, you don’t just quiet symptoms — you create the capacity to live your best life.

This is the first step in the Gut Reset Series. Next up: 5 Signs Your Gut Is Asking for Help.

👉 Ready to begin now? Download the Gut Reset Map 5 Phases to Healing and take your first step toward a calmer, more energized gut.

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, lifestyle, or supplement routine. The author does not claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References (Blog 1)

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3. Afzaal M, Saeed F, Anjum FM, et al. Human gut microbiota in health and disease: unveiling the relationship. Front Microbiol. 2022;13:999001.

4. Cani PD. Human gut microbiome: hopes, threats and promises. Gut. 2018;67(9):1716-1725.

5. Van Hul M, Cani PD. What defines a healthy gut microbiome? Gut. 2024;73(11):1893-1905.

6. Owyang C, Wu GD. The gut microbiome in health and disease. Gastroenterology. 2014;146(6):1433-1446.

7. Singh RK, Chang HW, Yan D, et al. Influence of diet on the gut microbiome and implications for human health. J Transl Med. 2017;15:73.

8. Hou K, Wu ZX, Chen XY, et al. Microbiota in health and diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2022;7:135.