✨Join my FREE MASTERCLASS - Steal My Ultimate Gut Relief Roadmap: 6 Steps to Lasting IBS Control on June 3rd & 4th. Save your seat here.

Welcome back to another Listener Q&A episode! In this episode, we’re diving into the actual diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). As an IBS and gut health Dietitian, I am always explaining to my clients and community that IBS is a true medical diagnosis and that your symptoms are valid! We discuss the hallmark symptoms of IBS, IBS subtypes, common drivers and causes of IBS, and how to receive a proper diagnosis.

⏱️ Chapters:

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👩🏻‍💻 RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED: ⤵️

📌 IBS Explained Article

📌 Learn More About My Gut Harmony Method Program (IBS & Gut Health Coaching)

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✉️ CONNECT WITH ME: ⤵️

📱⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🎁 ⁠⁠⁠Grab a Freebie!⁠⁠⁠

🖥️ ⁠⁠ Shop the Resource Suite⁠⁠⁠

👩🏻‍⚕️ ⁠⁠⁠Apply For Coaching⁠⁠⁠

If the GutFit Nutrition Podcast is giving you value - helped your digestion and fitness, made you rethink how you approach your gut health, please consider leaving a review! 🎧

If you have questions for my listener Q & A episodes, you can submit them here, or send me an email at ⁠leigh@leighmerotto.com⁠. See you soon!

In today’s Episode, we’re exploring PCOS and dysbiosis—specifically, how your gut microbiome can influence the development and management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. We break down the science behind the gut-hormone connection and what it means for those navigating gut symptoms like IBS, SIBO, or GERD alongside hormonal conditions like PCOS.

⏱️ Chapters:

0:35 – Intro
1:24 – Exploring the Gut-Hormone Connection in PCOS
2:07 – Guest Intro: Sana Motlekar, PCOS & Metabolic Health RD
4:35 – Sana’s Personal Journey & Cultural Focus
8:25 – What Is PCOS? Diagnosis Criteria Explained
10:35 – Misdiagnosis & Dismissal of PCOS Symptoms
15:49 – Root Causes: Insulin Resistance, Stress, Inflammation
21:31 – Conventional vs. Functional Approaches (Metformin, Birth Control)
27:15 – The Role of Gut Health in Hormone Regulation
33:35 – IBS, Dysbiosis & PCOS – What's the Link?
39:39 – How Gut Microbes Impact Estrogen & Androgens
43:57 – Top Nutrition Strategies for Managing PCOS
49:10 – Lifestyle Factors: Products, Toxins & Stress
52:52 – Movement & Exercise: Building from the Ground Up
57:05 – Can You Do HIIT with PCOS? (Yes, with Context)
1:00:35 – Final Takeaways: Mindset, Credible Guidance & Patience

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👤 Today’s Guest: Sana Motlekar

Sana Motlekar is a Registered Dietitian with a Master of Public Health, specializing in PCOS, weight loss, fatty liver, and diabetes. Based in Toronto, Sana brings over 12 years of experience helping women feel at home in their bodies without restriction, shame, or sacrificing their cultural food roots.

📌 Sana’s Website: https://www.pcosweightlossdietitian.com/

📌 Sana’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcos.weightloss.dietitian/

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👩🏻‍💻 RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED: ⤵️

📌 Body Composition Meal Plan & Resource Set: https://www.leighmerotto.com/shop

📌 The Upside of Stress Book: https://amzn.to/4jXHdlE

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✉️ CONNECT WITH ME: ⤵️

📱⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🎁 ⁠⁠⁠Grab a Freebie!⁠⁠⁠

🖥️ ⁠⁠ Shop the Resource Suite⁠⁠⁠

👩🏻‍⚕️ ⁠⁠⁠Apply For Coaching⁠⁠⁠

If the GutFit Nutrition Podcast is giving you value - helped your digestion and fitness, made you rethink how you approach your gut health, please consider leaving a review! 🎧

If you have questions for my listener Q & A episodes, you can submit them here, or send me an email at ⁠leigh@leighmerotto.com⁠. See you soon!

Welcome to our first listener Q&A Episode! This question comes from Bianca from Canada: Why does stress make my IBS and digestive symptoms worse?

This topic is super important, and fairly complex. I see the connection play out very often in my clients with digestive issues like IBS, SIBO and IBD. More often than not, they know that stress is a huge trigger for flare-ups. And when they come to me, many are often in a high-stress state due to their life commitments, work, family, etc.But also more often than not, they don’t realize how much stress is actually affecting their digestion and ability to heal from IBS.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Intro
01:14 – What Listener Q&As Will Cover
02:30 – Question: Why Does Stress Make My IBS Worse?
03:18 – The Stress-Gut Connection in IBS and Other Conditions
05:01 – What Happens in the Body During Stress?
07:04 – When Stress Becomes Harmful
08:40 – Cortisol, Adrenaline, and Digestion
10:30 – Chronic Stress and the Nervous System
12:20 – Gut-Brain Axis and the Vagus Nerve
14:15 – How Stress Impacts Gut Motility
16:05 – Stress-Driven Changes in Eating Habits
17:35 – The Gut Microbiome and Stress-Induced Dysbiosis
19:25 – Inflammation and Cortisol Dysfunction
21:40 – Long-Term Strategies for Stress Resilience
24:14 – Quick Stress-Relief Tools for IBS Management
26:43 – Final Thoughts on Managing Stress for Gut Health

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👩🏻‍💻 RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED: ⤵️

📌 The Tapping Solution App (50% Off Annual Subscription + 2 Week Free Trial)

📌 The Powerful Effect of Stress on Your Gut Health and IBS Symptoms

—

✉️ CONNECT WITH ME: ⤵️

📱⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🎁 ⁠⁠⁠Grab a Freebie!⁠⁠⁠

🖥️ ⁠⁠ Shop the Resource Suite⁠⁠⁠

👩🏻‍⚕️ ⁠⁠⁠Apply For Coaching⁠⁠⁠

If the GutFit Nutrition Podcast is giving you value - helped your digestion and fitness, made you rethink how you approach your gut health, please consider leaving a review! 🎧

If you have questions for my listener Q & A episodes, you can submit them here, or send me an email at ⁠leigh@leighmerotto.com⁠. See you soon!