Weekly Gut Check: The Secrets to Drama-Free Digestion 🦠✨
Hey there Reader,
She’s a brilliant marketing executive, runs her own business, works with high-end clients—and yet every day by 2 PM, she was doubled over with stomach pain.
Her mornings would start off fine. But by early afternoon, everything changed.
Everyday like clockwork, her stomach pain would hit hard. The pain became so severe that she was prescribed anti-anxiety medication and a cocktail of THREEdifferent pain medications just to get through the day.
The pain medication made her so groggy that she had to take a nap every afternoon. And her recreational cycling group rides? A thing of the past as the pain and grogginess were hard enough to get through.
Nothing was improving, even with her current medication regimen.
She tried cutting out wheat and thought maybe food was the issue, but that didn’t help. Her doctor told her the pain was probably caused by "stress".
She was also dealing with an autoimmune condition and also taking daily aspirin to prevent blood clots (which makes the gut even more irritated).
Her colonoscopy was clear but her endoscopy showed Barrett’s esophagus. Even with this diagnosis in hand, her doctor just brushed it off and their only suggestion was for her to keep taking her PPI's (which she'd already been on for YEARS).
This client came to me because she wanted a real solution. She was tired of masking her symptoms and wanted to understand what was actually causing her stomach pain, bloating, migraines, and weight gain.
We started with functional medicine testing to get a full picture of what was going on in her body.
Her MRT Food Sensitivity Test revealed strong reactions to foods like coconut, soy, corn, spinach, and artificial food dyes. These were foods she was eating regularly, not knowing they were triggering inflammation.
Her Micronutrient Test showed deficiencies that were likely slowing her gut’s ability to heal. We added zinc, glutamine, carnitine, inositol, and vitamin A to support cellular repair and reduce inflammation.
We also ran a Comprehensive Stool Test. The results showed high levels of Bacteroides fragilis, a bacteria well known to cause stomach pain and gut inflammation. Her immune markers were also elevated, confirming that her gut was in a state of distress.
From there, we built a plan designed just for her. She received a personalized meal planner, recipe ideas, and food product recommendations.
We added mucilaginous herbs to help coat and protect her stomach lining to reduce irritation in the meantime.
Each week, we met for a coaching call to check in, answer questions, and adjust her plan as needed.
By the end of her second week, my client reported that she had not needed her triple pain med cocktail for the past 7 days!
Her brain fog had started to lift. She felt less fatigued and more alert. And as she began reintroducing foods, she could immediately tell which ones were causing problems.
By the end of three months, my client was completely offall three of her pain medications.
She no longer needed her monthly migraine injections. She stopped taking afternoon naps. She started cycling again and completed a 50-mile ride!
The weight began to come off naturally without extreme restriction. Her inflammation markers came down, and she finally felt like herself again.
👉 What made the difference wasn’t more prescriptions. It was the right testing, the right plan, and consistent support.
This story is not unusual. Many of my clients come to me after seeing multiple doctors and specialists. They’re told everything looks fine, yet they still feel awful. They are often handed prescriptions that don’t solve the problem and sometimes make it worse.
If that sounds like you, please know there is another way.
I use functional lab testing, personalized nutrition, and targeted support to finally get to the root-cause of your symptoms. You don’t have to do this alone, and you don’t have to settle for feeling “not terrible” anymore.
You don’t need to live with pain. You need someone on your side who sees the whole picture of your health.
Wishing you health, happiness, & vitality, Sarah Neumann Haske, MS, RDN Gut Health Dietitian & Certified Microbiome Analyst www.neumannwellness.com
What's Growing In My Garden
As a budding herbalist, my garden is blooming with many different medicines.
I started my herbal training 2 years ago and continue to be amazed and excited by the power of herbs.
Last year I planted Skullcaps (variety Scutellaria lateriflora) which is well known for its anxiety reducing and mood enhancing effects.
I'll be harvesting these beauties soon for tincturing! ✂️🌿🧘♀️
Research & News
Herbal Relief for IBS-D May Depend on Gut Bacteria: This clinical trial looked at how an herbal medicine helps relieve abdominal pain in people with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D). The results showed the treatment is both safe and effective, especially for people who have certain helpful gut bacteria that produce butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid known to reduce inflammation and pain. In fact, the presence of specific bacteria like Eubacterium rectale predicted who responded best to the treatment.
Can Gut Health Help You Sleep Better? The Science Says Yes: Researchers explore the growing connection between gut health and sleep, especially how the gut microbiome may play a role in insomnia. They found that certain gut bacteria and their byproducts can influence brain activity, hormones, and immune responses that regulate sleep.
End the cycle of bloating, gas, reflux, diarrhea, and constipation for good.
Done with Prescriptions & Being Told "Everything Looks Normal"?
As a Gut Health Dietitian and Certified Microbiome Analyst, I Offer a Powerful, Personalized Approach to Your Gut Health. With 1:1 Coaching and Advanced Testing, You’ll Break Through the Noise and Feel Like Yourself Again.
Sarah Neumann Haske, MS, RDN is a Gastrointestinal Dietitian & Nutritionist with over 20 years of experience, specializing in digestive health for the past decade. She holds a Master’s of Science in Human Nutrition, is a Certified Microbiome Analyst, and is the Owner of Neumann Nutrition & Wellness, LLC. Her Digestive Reset Program helps clients heal their gut, using a root-cause approach to their digestive health. As a result of her program her clients are able to come off medications, feel more energized, and be more confident in their bodies again. Ready to move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions? Schedule a free digestive assessment with Sarah and find out if her custom-built, 1-on-1 Gut Health Coaching Program is the perfect fit for you.
