My Journey to a Healthy Gut & Helping Others Heal
My path to becoming a nutrition specialist with a focus on good gut heath began with my own personal, healing journey.
For years, I struggled with uncomfortable and frustrating symptoms: IBS, persistent bloating, fatigue, food sensitivities, and reactive skin. Like many people, I bounced between quick fixes, restrictive diets with temporary relief, but nothing offered lasting change.
Things truly shifted when I began to understand the deeper connection between nutrition, gut health, and the body’s natural healing capacity. Through targeted nutritional changes, gut-healing protocols, and a more self-compassionate approach to wellness, I began to feel like myself again, energized, comfortable, and more in tune with my body than ever before.
That transformation inspired me to help others do the same.
Today, I work with individuals who are ready to get to the root of their digestive issues and reclaim their well-being. My guided approach is a gentle, step-by-step process, that is deeply integrative and rooted in evidence-based practices. It’s shaped by my own experiences.
Understanding Gut Health and Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leaky gut syndrome is a term commonly used to describe a condition linked with various gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. This condition is referred to as increased intestinal permeability.
🔬 What Is Increased Intestinal Permeability?
Increased intestinal permeability occurs when the lining of the small intestine becomes compromised. This allows substances that are normally contained within the gut, such as undigested food particles, toxins, and microbes to pass through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream. Problems occur when harmful or improperly digested particles cross the barrier. This can trigger inflammatory responses and immune system activation, potentially leading to a range of symptoms and complications.
⚠️ Conditions Linked to Leaky Gut
Conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), autoimmune disorders, and celiac disease are frequently associated with increased intestinal permeability. Issues like food intolerances (such as nightshades, lactose, and histamine intolerance), nutrient malabsorption, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may also be linked to this condition.
🛠️ Root Causes: Diet and Lifestyle
GI health is intimately connected to dietary and lifestyle habits. Chronic stress, poor nutrition, overuse of medications (like over the counter pain medications and antibiotics), and exposure to environmental toxins can all contribute to the breakdown of the gut lining.
🧘♀️ Healing the Gut
Restoring gut integrity and function requires a holistic and consistent approach, ideally under the guidance of a qualified health professional like me 😊.
🟢 Gut-Healing Nutrition and Lifestyle Support
• Increase Fiber Intake
Emphasize leafy greens and root vegetables for mucosal healing. Include low-fructose fruits like berries for their antioxidant and gut-supportive benefits.
• Consume Bone Broth
Rich in collagen and glutamine, bone broth supports intestinal barrier integrity and tissue repair.
• Consider Supplementation
Use high-quality probiotics, collagen, and deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) to enhance gut repair. Ginger and turmeric stimulate digestion and reduce inflammation. Peppermint and chamomile soothe the gut and support overall digestive function. Consider supplementing with Omega-3s reduce inflammation and protect cell health.
• Stay Hydrated & Manage Stress
Hydration supports digestion and detoxification. Stress management is vital to maintaining gut-brain axis balance.
🔴 What to Avoid During Gut Healing
• Avoid Common Allergens
Temporarily eliminate gluten, dairy, and high-fructose foods to minimize inflammation and support mucosal health.
• Eliminate Processed Foods
Processed products often contain additives, preservatives, and inflammatory fats, and glyphosate, that irritate the gut lining.
• Limit or Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol can disrupt microbiome balance and damage intestinal tissue, especially during healing phases.
• Reduce Sugar Intake
Excess sugar, refined or unrefined, increases inflammation, and burdens the digestive system.
These recommendations provide a general framework for supporting intestinal health. However, deeper healing may sometimes require additional support, such as targeted gut repair protocols or guided detoxification strategies. Avoid trying to implement every step at once, this can lead to being overwhelmed and inconsistent application of protocols. Sustainable change happens step-by-step. A healthy gut is central to overall wellness. It influences immunity, mood balance, nutrient absorption, and systemic health. Prioritizing digestive health is one of the most powerful things you can do to support long-term vitality.
Personalized guidance is highly recommended. Everyone’s gut is different, and a one-size-fits-all approach rarely addresses individual needs. As a qualified nutritionist 😊, I can help you build a customized protocol, identify foods to introduce or avoid, instruct you how to combine them for optimal digestive comfort, and how to progress at a pace that works for you.
Take the Next Step Toward Gut Healing
Whether you're just starting to explore gut healing or you’ve been struggling for years, know that you're not alone and healing is possible. I’m here to support you with clarity, compassion, and a plan that actually works for your body and your life.
If you’re ready to move beyond general guidelines and into a personalized gut-healing plan, I’m here to help!
As a certified nutritionist, I specialize in individualized protocols that addresses root causes of digestive discomfort, food sensitivities, and gut imbalance. Whether you’re dealing with bloating, fatigue, leaky gut, or chronic inflammation, we’ll work together to create a targeted, step-by-step approach that’s realistic and sustainable.
🌿 Services Include:
• 1:1 Nutrition Consultations – In-depth assessments and custom plans
• Gut-Healing Protocols – Tailored food, supplement, and lifestyle strategies
• Food Sensitivity & Elimination Guidance
• Ongoing Support & Accountability
• Functional Lab Test Reviews
📩 Ready to Start? Let's Connect.
➡️ Book a Free Discovery Call:
https://www.healthyintuitive.com/services
➡️ Send a Message or Inquiry:
cswiedoff@gmail.com
➡️ Have questions?
I’m happy to chat during a FREE 20-minute consultation. Healing your gut is possible, and it starts with a conversation with me.