Oct27
The Hidden Root Causes of IBS with Dr. Izabella Wentz
What if your bloating, gas, or reflux had a deeper story to tell?
In this episode of the ReThink Health Podcast, I sit down with my dear friend Dr. Izabella Wentz, a pharmacist, bestselling author, and one of the most trusted voices in functional medicine for thyroid health. Her new book takes on a condition that affects millions of people and often leaves them without answers: irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS.
This topic is personal for both of us. Izabella was diagnosed with IBS in pharmacy school. Over time, her symptoms grew to include anxiety, hair loss, acid reflux, and joint pain, and she was eventually diagnosed with Hashimoto’s.
I also struggled with IBS and was told it was stress, handed a few remedies, and wished good luck. Learning to work with food and digestion changed everything for me.
Izabella explains why an IBS diagnosis is a starting point, not an answer. Drawing on her training as a pharmacist and her work with thousands of clients, she shares why there’s no one-size-fits-all IBS diet and why your symptoms are clues worth following. She also explains how an unhappy gut may be connected to issues far beyond digestion, from mood to autoimmunity.
You’ll learn:
- The many possible root causes of IBS, including infections, enzyme gaps, hormone imbalances, mold, and medications
- Why some infections may linger long after a stomach bug or food poisoning seems to be gone
- How H. pylori may set the stage for reflux, food sensitivities, and SIBO, plus a simple toothbrush tip to avoid reinfection
- The surprising connection between vitamin B1 (thiamine) and digestion
- How nickel sensitivity, including from cutlery and certain foods, may affect your gut
- The food additives Izabella avoids most, including some common in “keto” snacks
- Why some people react to raw vegetables, and what it may mean if you only feel good on a carnivore diet
- The tests Izabella uses to uncover root causes, and how to think about food sensitivity testing
- Simple mealtime habits and supplements Izabella uses to support digestion
If you’ve been told your digestive symptoms are “just IBS,” this episode offers a new way to look for answers and better questions to bring to your healthcare provider.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube.
Prefer audio? Listen below or on Spotify & Apple iTunes Podcasts.
Helpful Resources
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About Dr. Izabella Wentz
Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD, is an internationally acclaimed thyroid specialist and licensed pharmacist known as the Thyroid Pharmacist. After being diagnosed with IBS in pharmacy school and later with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, she dedicated her career to finding and addressing the root causes of chronic illness. Healing her own gut was a key part of putting her Hashimoto’s into remission.
She is a New York Times bestselling author and has worked with thousands of people on thyroid and gut health. Her newest book focuses on uncovering the root causes of IBS. She also hosts the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast and founded the supplement company Rootcology. Learn more at ThyroidPharmacist.com or follow her on social media at @IzabellaWentzPharmD.
Thanks so much for spending time with us this week! Have a question or feedback? Email us at [email protected]—we would genuinely love to hear from you.
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