The Gut-Brain Axis & How Health Coaches Support Lifestyle Changes | Mpho Tshukudu | HCA Talks Health

What if the secret to better mood, weight, and energy started in your gut?📖 Download our Healthy Futures Magazine → https://tinyurl.com/healthyfuturesmag 📗 Download our Careers Guide → https://tinyurl.com/careersguidehca 💻 Register for one of our Introductory Webinars → https://tinyurl.com/hcafreewebinar You could be eating the finest, most nutritious food on the planet, but if your gut isn't working well, your body barely benefits from it. In this episode, Zena Le Roux sits down with Mpho Tshukudu, registered dietitian and author of Your Health Begins In Your Gut (2025) and co-author of the award-winning Eat, Think, Lose Weight, Gain Health, and Find Yourself. Together they explore why the gut truly is the cornerstone of your health, and how understanding it can transform the way Health Coaches support their clients.In this episode, you will discover:- Why the gut is the cornerstone of your overall health, and why "you are what you absorb"- How the gut-brain axis works, and why around 90% of your serotonin is made in your gut- The surprising connections between your gut and your skin, muscles, liver, and hormones- How your gut microbiome influences weight, body composition, and insulin resistance- The way sleep, stress, and exercise can either heal or harm your gut- The simple "30 plant points a week" strategy for a healthier, happier gut- What a healthy gut actually looks like, and how to know if yours needs some loveTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Mpho Tshukudu and her new book01:00 - Why Mpho chose to write about gut health03:30 - The links between the gut and conditions like weight, cholesterol, and skin06:00 - How the gut affects weight, body composition, and insulin resistance08:30 - What a healthy gut really looks like12:00 - The gut-brain axis and mental health14:30 - Nutritional psychiatry and rethinking depression17:00 - The gut's connection to ADHD and dementia18:00 - How the gut influences hormones and appetite21:00 - Causes of poor gut health: sleep, stress, and exercise23:30 - Where to start: dietary and lifestyle strategies26:00 - The 30 plant points strategy and colourful eating29:00 - A simple plant-rich meal idea and the magic of sorghum31:00 - Where to find Mpho and her book, Your Health Begins In Your Gut32:00 - Final message: take care of your gutWhether you're already guiding clients on their wellness journeys or simply curious about how the gut shapes so much of our health, this conversation is warm, practical, and full of insight. Mpho makes gut health genuinely accessible, showing that small, colourful changes can make a real difference, no strict rules or wellness hacks required. A truly nourishing listen for any Health Coach wanting to support their clients to feel their best.Connect with us:📸  Instagram → https://tinyurl.com/hca-instagram 👨‍💻  LinkedIn → https://tinyurl.com/hca-s-linkedin 👍 Facebook → https://tinyurl.com/facebook-hca 🌐 Website → https://tinyurl.com/healthcoachesacademy