"Our goal is to get you to the point where you can tolerate more foods with less pain and you can live your life. You can go on vacation and you can have some chips and guac or whatever, and you can be okay." - Hannah Aylward Hannah Aylward's journey from chronic gut dysfunction to functional gut health practitioner mirrors what so many of us experience in our 40s and beyond - doing everything "right" yet still struggling with mysterious digestive issues. Her story resonates deeply because she discovered that healing isn't just about elimination diets or avoiding certain foods forever. It's about getting to the root cause of the root cause. Hannah shares why gut problems are more prevalent than ever, how stress, toxin exposure, and even birth control pills contribute to digestive dysfunction, and most importantly, how to actually heal your gut so you can enjoy food freedom again. This conversation will shift your perspective from fearing foods to understanding that your body can become resilient enough to handle life's imperfections while maintaining optimal health. What you’ll learn: Why gut problems are more prevalent now than ever, including the role of chronic stress, environmental toxins, and hormonal disruptions The advanced functional testing that reveals what's really happening in your digestive system beyond basic elimination diets How to distinguish between true food sensitivities and underlying gut dysfunction that makes you reactive to healthy foods The connection between gut health and seemingly unrelated symptoms like brain fog, skin issues, anxiety, and thyroid problems Why popular dietary trends like low FODMAP, carnivore, and extreme restriction often miss the mark for long-term healing The role of microbiome diversity and specific beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia in maintaining gut barrier function How to address SIBO, leaky gut, and fat maldigestion without relying solely on prescription antibiotics A balanced perspective on controversial topics like oxalates, histamines, and lectins - and when restriction might actually be harmful Love the Podcast? Here’s what to do: Make My Day & Share Your Thoughts! Subscribe to the podcast & leave me a review Text a screenshot to 813-565-2627 Expect a personal reply because your voice is so important to me. Join 55,000+ followers who make this podcast thrive. Want to listen to the show completely ad-free?  Go to subscribetojj.com Enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99/month or $49.99/year (save 17%!) Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today! Full show notes (including all links mentioned): https://jjvirgin.com/hannah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices