51 - Beating The Bloat w/ Rachel Everett, RDN

Hello listeners! On today’s episode of The Down to Earth PCOS Nutrition Podcast, I interview Rachel, a registered dietitian who practices integrative and functional nutrition. Her background was in pre-medicine until she was exposed to a class in nutrition, where her eyes were opened to this new field of study. In a nutshell, Rachel’s mission is to educate women on how to manage their IBS symptoms and repair their digestive tract using integrative and non-pharmaceutical methods.

Rachel was drawn to gut health and integrative nutrition due to her own personal experience with gut issues and IBS, as well as her time working with university students in Dallas, Texas who were suffering from the same issues--especially bloating. In a nutshell, Rachel’s mission is to educate women on how to manage their IBS symptoms and repair their digestive tract using integrative and non-pharmaceutical methods. Even in graduate school, Rachel admits, bloating wasn’t really addressed during her classes. She did a lot of self-education, and dug into the research of bloating and IBS herself. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) affects many people with those who are diagnosed with IBS, including Rachel. But, before her diagnosis, there was a gap in the education and literature about SIBO and how it can affect those with IBS.

Rachel then discusses bloating: it affects all of us. She stresses that there is no right or wrong way to feel bloated, and there isn’t a “right” collection of symptoms for everyone that will lead them to feeling bloated. On the topic of bloating, Rachel addresses:

1. Gassiness and overeating

2. Constipation

3. The overlap between people who have IBS and PCOS

4. Hormones, PCOS, and IBS

As far as the gut goes, the hormones will affect inflammation. Acne, hair growth, and other various PCOS-related symptoms are also affected by hormones and are linked to our monthly cycles, and Rachel says bloating may also be related to this rise in estrogen and change in our hormones.

The rest of this podcast is centered around SIBO and how to treat it with either the antibiotic or the herbal approach. Rachel prefers to recommend the herbal approach when working with her clients who have symptoms of SIBO. It may take multiple rounds of treatment for people to completely get rid of their SIBO, and this will vary based on the individual’s body and gut health.

What You’ll Learn on This Podcast Episode:

1. Bloating and IBS: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

2. Tips for managing bloating and IBS symptoms for those who also have PCOS and SIBO

3. SIBO: What it is, and how to treat it

4. Nutritional tips and advice for better gut health

5. Practicing a holistic lifestyle to promote a healthy gut

6. Taking the first steps of tackling symptoms

Helpful Links:

Check out Rachel’s social media: ibs.nutritionist

Reach out, and send her a DM!

Have any topic suggestions? Shoot me a message on Instagram @pcosnutritionistdafna