Ep 43: The sleep–gut connection no one is talking about – Dr Jessica Salwen-Deremer

In this episode, I'm joined by Jessica Salwen-Deremer, Director of Behavioral Medicine for Digestive Health at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Associate Professor at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Dr Salwen-Deremer specialises in the intersection of sleep, gut health, and gastrointestinal behavioural medicine, with a particular focus on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this episode, we explore the powerful and often overlooked relationship between sleep and the gut — including how poor sleep can worsen pain, fatigue, and inflammation, and how gut symptoms can in turn disrupt sleep. We unpack the bidirectional nature of this relationship, the role of the gut microbiome and circadian rhythms, and why sleep should be considered a core part of managing conditions like IBD and IBS. We also discuss how to recognise and assess sleep problems in clinical practice, the difference between insomnia and symptom-driven sleep disruption, and why treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) can be so effective. Whether you're a clinician or someone living with gut symptoms, this episode highlights why sleep is not just a side issue — it's central to gut health and overall wellbeing. Please enjoy my conversation with Dr Jessica Salwen-Deremer.