96 | Gut Health & the Momma Microbiome: What Actually Works (And What's Just Hype)

Is your gut the missing piece of your postpartum recovery? If you have been dealing with bloating after meals, irregular digestion, postpartum anxiety, or weight that just will not budge despite doing everything right — this episode is going to connect some serious dots for you.

In this episode sports dietitian, functional medicine practitioner, and postpartum wellness expert Val Warner breaks down what actually happens to your gut microbiome during and after pregnancy, why postpartum gut disruption is so common and so underdiagnosed, and what you can do about it starting today — with food first, always.

Val covers the difference between leaky gut hype and the real clinical concept of intestinal permeability, what the research actually says about probiotics, why fermented foods are safe while breastfeeding, and when advanced gut testing like a GI Map is actually warranted versus when it is premature and expensive.

What you'll learn:

• What your gut microbiome actually is and why it affects so much more than just digestion
• How pregnancy, birth, antibiotics, C-sections, and chronic stress disrupt your microbiome
• What intestinal permeability (leaky gut) really means — and what actually heals it
• The difference between prebiotics and probiotics and why both matter
• What to actually look for in a probiotic supplement — and what is just marketing
• Why fermented foods are safe and beneficial while breastfeeding
• The best anti-inflammatory foods for gut lining repair
• When a GI Map is worth it — and when food foundations come first
• How gut health connects to postpartum anxiety, weight resistance, and energy

Episodes mentioned:

• Episode 94 — Why You're Always Tired as a Momma: 4 Root Causes of Fatigue
• Episode 95 — The 4 Nutrient Deficiencies Stealing Your Energy as a Momma
• Episode 68 — The Gut-Weight Connection: How Gut Health Impacts Postpartum Fat Loss
• Episodes 6 — Constipation Awareness Month: Part 1
• Episodes 7 — Constipation Awareness Month: Part 2

Resources & Links:

🔬 Book your Functional Lab Review (inflammatory markers, foundational gut labs)
👉 http://wellnessbyval.com/labs 

🌟 Join the Strong, Nourished & Energized Mom Method (8-week group coaching) → wellnessbyval.com/program

✨ Become a Strong & Nourished Momma Insider
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👉 https://wellnessbyval.kit.com/insider

📲 Follow Val on Instagram
Daily nutrition tips, postpartum support, workouts, and real-life mom wellness.
👉 https://www.instagram.com/wellnessbyval_/

🎥 Follow on TikTok
Quick tips, education, and behind-the-scenes mom life + wellness content.
👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@wellnessbyval_?_r=1&_t=ZP-939HwTbMNup 

🌐 Website
https://wellnessbyval.com

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