Know Thyself E175 - Dr. Will Bulsiewicz: How Stress, Trauma, and Modern Life Break Your Gut & How To Restore Balance
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Dec 9, 2025 
Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, a renowned gastroenterologist and author, reveals the critical connection between gut health and our emotional well-being. He discusses how modern life’s stressors and environmental toxins disrupt our microbiome, leading to chronic inflammation and fatigue. Will highlights the importance of mindful eating, emphasizing real food, fiber, and gut-friendly practices. He also explores how societal pressures contribute to individual health challenges, urging listeners to take ownership of their wellness through holistic approaches.
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Gut-Driven Mood And Neuroinflammation
- The gut strongly influences mood via inflammatory patterns linked to depression and anxiety.
- Neuroinflammation from an unhealthy microbiome can shape everyday mood and cognitive function.
Stress Physiology Breaks The Gut Barrier
- Sympathetic overdrive disrupts the gut barrier and drives inflammation through CRH and adrenaline.
- Activating the parasympathetic (via the vagus nerve) restores gut barrier, microbes, and immune precision.
Gut Feelings Are Biological Signals
- The vagus nerve sends massive gut input to the brain, underpinning 'gut feelings.'
- About 80% of vagal fibers carry gut-to-brain signals, making intuition partly visceral sensing.
