044: Gut Health & Poop: How Digestion Affects Mental Wellness with Functional Nutrition Counselor Katie Kirklin

Episode Summary:Your poop is more than a waste product—it’s a daily health report. In this episode of Real Food Mental Health, Katie Kirklin, Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor and Registered Nurse, explains how your bowel movements can reveal important clues about your digestion, detoxification, and even your mental health.Katie shares her journey from conventional nursing to holistic nutrition, breaking down her three roots, many branches functional nutrition model. We cover what healthy poop looks like, what different stool colors might indicate, and simple, natural ways to improve digestion.We also explore the gut-brain connection—why 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut, how inflammation affects mood, and how small, consistent changes can lead to lasting wellness.If you want to improve your digestion, balance your hormones, and support your mental health naturally, this episode is your step-by-step guide.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How functional nutrition works to address root causes of health issuesSigns of healthy bowel movements & what your poop says about your healthThe three roots, many branches model for digestive healthCommon stool colors and what they may indicate (and when to see a doctor)The “non-negotiable trifecta” for healing: sleep, poop, and blood sugar balanceSimple strategies to improve digestion without drastic dietsHow the gut-brain axis impacts mood, anxiety, and overall mental healthWhy fiber, hydration, and mindful eating are essential for gut healthKeywords to Note for SEO:gut health, digestion, poop health, healthy bowel movements, functional nutrition, gut-brain connection, mental health, constipation, diarrhea, stool color chart, detoxification, serotonin production, digestive health tipsLinks & Resources Mentioned:Katie’s Website: Katie Kirklin NutritionInstagram: @KatieKirklinNutritionFunctional Nutrition Alliance (Andrea Nakayama’s program)Subscribe and review and check back for more soon.To support Cody and the production of this podcast, go to ⁠ko-fi.com/codycox ⁠To access clinical-grade (the highest quality) supplements and other health products, ⁠visit the dispensary⁠.Visit Cody’s website at ⁠beavercreekwellness.com⁠ where you can read more about him and schedule sessions.gut healthgut microbiomeprobiotics for gut healthprebiotics vs probioticshigh-fiber foods for gut healthfermented foods for digestiongut health and mental wellnesshow to heal your gut naturallyfunctional nutrition for digestiongut-brain connection