69: The Anti-Elimination Approach to Gut Healing with Steven Wright

In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews gut health expert Steven Wright, founder of Healthy Gut. Steven shares his 15-year healing journey and explains why restrictive elimination diets often fail to resolve the root causes of digestive distress. Together, they explore how low stomach acid, SIBO, histamine overload, and stress contribute to food sensitivities – and how to build a more resilient gut that allows for food freedom.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why endless food elimination often backfires. While cutting out certain foods can help in the short term, staying overly restrictive can harm the microbiome, create nutrient deficiencies, and worsen food reactions over time. Healing requires more than just “the perfect diet.”

• The overlooked role of stomach acid in gut health. Low stomach acid is common in people with Hashimoto’s and can drive SIBO, reflux, nutrient deficiencies, and ongoing inflammation. Steven explains how simple HCl support can restore digestion, energy, and overall resilience.

• How histamine intolerance fuels food sensitivities. Symptoms like headaches, rashes, diarrhea, anxiety, or migraines can stem from histamine overload. Steven and Dr. Wentz discuss how mast cells, DAO enzymes, and butyrate help calm inflammation and support histamine tolerance.

• Why probiotics and prebiotics aren’t enough on their own. A healthy gut requires proper digestion, enzymes, and microbial balance. Butyrate and brush border enzymes may be the missing link in rebuilding tolerance to plants and fibers.

• Stress, the nervous system, and digestion. Even a perfect diet and supplements won’t work if you’re stuck in “fight-or-flight” mode. Discover practical ways to support your parasympathetic nervous system and adrenals, so your body can be in a state of healing.

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For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/

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