A crash course on the famous (and often misunderstood) gut microbiome
I always talk about the gut microbiome and it dawned on me today, do people know what the hell I am even talking about? Let's learn.
I always talk about the gut microbiome and it dawned on me today, do people know what the hell I’m even talking about? So if you're part of the crew that has no idea what the gut microbiome means, buckle up. I have a crash course for you that will leave you with fascination, awe, and wonder by the time we’re done.
If you’ve heard the term “gut microbiome” and are relatively familiar, dare I say you’ll still get something out of this read? Stick with me and let me know in the comments after.
Modern, systematic research on the human microbiota began in the late 1990s. Key milestones include the early 1990s, when research into the gut-brain axis began; however, we have evidence of philosophers, thought makers, and doctors referencing the gut in history millennia ago. Greek philosopher and physician Hippocrates is famously known for saying, "All disease begins in the gut.” If Hippocrates knew this back then, how are we getting health so wrong in the modern world?
Obesity is on the rise, lifespan is increasing yet healthspan is deteriorating and the average American adult takes four prescription medications per year. If this isn’t scaring you, wake up.
Lifespan refers to the total number of years a person lives, while healthspan refers to the number of years a person lives in good health, free from chronic diseases and disabilities. In essence, lifespan is about the quantity of life, and healthspan is about the quality of life.
The gut microbiome is suffering in the modern world.
We need a full referendum on the food and farming in this country. This starts with being educated and learning how to heal your health, your family’s health and then sharing with your broader community. This, my friends, is the power of healing our world through our community.
The first place to heal is always the gut.
The gut is where we begin. Once you have a foundation of gut health, everything in your world will become easier - weight management, sleep, mood, energy, skin, mental clarity and showing up for yourself and your loved ones.
The key word here is foundation. If you don’t have optimal gut health you cannot biohack or supplement your way into healing. No cleanse, detox, red light therapy, cold plunge or fancy colostrum supplement will fix your situation. It’s like building a new home on a cracked foundation - there will absolutely be issues down the road.
Why do we start in the gut?
Gut-Brain Connection: A healthy gut supports neurotransmitter production (like serotonin), directly impacting mood, focus, and anxiety levels.
Skin Health: Inflammation and poor digestion can show up as acne, rosacea, or eczema—clearer skin often starts in the gut.
Energy Levels: The gut plays a major role in nutrient absorption—when it's off, fatigue and sluggishness follow.
Sleep Quality: Gut health influences melatonin production and circadian rhythm regulation, which are key for restful sleep.
Weight Management: A balanced microbiome supports stable blood sugar, reduces cravings, and improves metabolism.
First things first: What is the gut microbiome?
The gut microbiome refers to collection of bacteria and microbes that live in your large intestines. I know a lot of people hear the words “gut” and think of the stomach, but the microbiome is actually located in the colon, which is the last step of digestion.
*If you’re taking a probiotic, you better make sure that supplement is designed to actually make it to the colon or else your stomach acid is just killing it off, effectively wasting hundreds of dollars a year*
What’s fascinating is that it takes about 36 hours for food to move through the entire colon. If we were to open and spread the surface area of the gut lining it would cover the entire length and width of a tennis court, doubles included. 👀
The Gut as a Garden 🌱
I love explaining the gut as a garden, so indulge me:
Soil = Gut Lining: Just like plants need healthy soil to grow, your body needs a strong, intact gut lining to absorb nutrients and keep out harmful invaders.
Plants = Good Bacteria: The beneficial microbes in your gut are like the beautiful, thriving plants in a garden. They help with digestion, produce vitamins, and keep harmful bacteria (weeds) in check.
Water & Sunlight = Nutrients & Lifestyle: Just as gardens need water and sunlight, your gut needs quality food, hydration, sleep, and movement to flourish.
Weeds = Harmful Bacteria & Toxins: If left unchecked, bad bacteria can take over, like weeds crowding out healthy plants, leading to symptoms like bloating, fatigue, and skin issues.
Compost = Fiber & Prebiotics: Fiber and prebiotic foods (like garlic, onions, and greens) feed the good bacteria—like compost enriching the soil.
Digestion 101
When you think of digestion, you probably think about chewing your food, the bolus hitting your stomach, and then having a nice bowel movement a short while later. But it’s quite the contrary, digestion involved many complex steps from the brain to the colon.
We have many critical and accessory organs involved and when they don’t get activated during digestion, you start to experience the unwanted symptoms of digestive dread: bloat, gas, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, lethargy, the list goes on…
Digestive Overview
Now we understand the gut microbiome , we roll into healing the gut. Another trendy phrase that’s probably surfacing your TikTok or Instagram feed daily at this point.
Which, personally, I love, but we need to understand the why and how before falling victim to another magical greens powder or “beat the bloat” supplement (I hope you can sense my irony).
How do you heal your gut?
When I say I help my clients heal their gut, I am speaking to the TPW systematic approach that involves diet and lifestyle changes alongside diagnostic testing to uncover the root of symptom presentation.
Remember, the body wants to heal, BUT if it’s in a stressful, nutrient-void environment, it’s really hard to do so.
Testing I use in practice includes:
Stool tests
Food sensitivity panels
Blood work
Hormone and cortisol panels
DUTCH tests (for hormones and cortisol combined)
From testing, I can determine whether someone is dealing with:
Parasites
Candida/yeast
Overgrowth of harmful bacteria
Digestive issues like low bile or enzyme production
Elevated immune response to gluten
Reduced immune function
Leaky gut ...and more.
Healing the gut means addressing these issues in a phased, comprehensive way. I use targeted herbs and supplements in a 12-week protocol—the proper timeframe to see real, lasting change. Majority of client protocols follow the Four R approach.
Remove – Irritants like pathogens, overgrowths, and inflammatory triggers.
Replace – Support digestion with enzymes, bile, and nutrients.
Re-inoculate – Add in beneficial prebiotics, probiotics, and healing foods.
Repair – Heal the mucosal lining.
And Here’s the Star of the Show: The Mucosal Lining
Am I a nerd? Oh well.
The mucosal lining is arguably the most important part of your digestive system. This is where nutrient absorption and immune surveillance occur.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “You are what you eat.”
While that’s cute, I challenge you to adopt a better mantra:
“You aren’t what you eat—you’re what you absorb.”
You could eat the most amazing, nutrient-dense, organic, seed oil free diet but if you lack the digestive fire to break down those nutrients… you’re just having an expensive bowel movement.
Healing and sealing the mucosal lining is a core principle in all of my work with clients. You need to ensure the villi (finger like projections in the gut - see above in purple) are strong and healthy to absorb nutrient properly.
What blows my mind? The cells in the gut repopulate every 3-5 days.
This is why gut healing, if given the right support can happen quickly. That said, I always offer this quick calculation: Take the number of years you have been dealing with GI issues and count each year as a month of healing. So, if you’ve had 10 years of symptoms, you might not feel fully healed until ~10 months time, but that doesn't mean you won't see progress every single month along the way.
When you truly understand the gut microbiome and how foundational it is to your health, everything begins to make sense. It's not just about digestion—it’s about the systems that keep you energized, clear-headed, emotionally balanced, and thriving. The gut is the hub. It's not a trend or a buzzword—it’s biology.
The body is incredibly resilient when given the right tools and support. Healing is possible, and it often begins with simply turning your attention inward and asking: what does my body need to feel safe, nourished, and supported?
So whether you're brand new to the gut conversation or you've been down the rabbit hole of “gut talk” for years, I hope this left you with a deeper appreciation for the garden within you. Tend to it, water it, feed it well, and watch how your entire life begins to bloom.🌱
Ready for deeper healing?
If you’re tired of guessing which supplements might work or piecing together advice from TikTok, my Gut Healing Guide was made for you. Inside, you'll find specific, client-tested protocols tailored to common GI issues like heartburn, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.
These aren’t one-size-fits-all tips—they're strategic steps that have helped hundreds of women heal their gut, restore function, and finally get relief. Whether you’re just starting or need direction in your healing journey, this guide is the clarity you’ve been looking for.
All the best,
Morgan