Love Your Gut

I love trying new things and this episode is my annual roundup of the products that actually earned a spot in my real life this year.In this episode, I’m sharing my Favorite Things of 2025, including gut-friendly staples to nervous system supports, mineral must-haves, mom life helpers, and business tools that genuinely make life easier.Here’s the important part:You don’t need gadgets or a ton of products to heal your gut. The foundations matter most: sunlight, nervous system regulation, laughter, and solid routines. These products simply support that work.To keep it simple and not overwhelming, I gave awards in each category:a Gold Medal if you only choose onea Runner-Upand Honorable Mentions for everything else that made the listIf you’re someone who loves trying new things (like me), or you just want a short list of what’s actually worth it, this episode is for you.Quick note on linksThis episode is not sponsored. Some links on the product page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them. Thanks for supporting the podcast and my small business.LinksView my Favorite Things of 2025 (all products linked here)Follow me on InstagramGrab a walk, a coffee, or your favorite mineral mocktail and listen in.

The holidays can wreak havoc on your gut, but it’s not the food that’s to blame. Stress and digestion habits play a huge role. Discover how minerals like sodium, potassium, and magnesium are your superstars for maintaining balance. Learn to recognize the timing of your bloating to pinpoint root causes. Plus, simple tips like meal mindfulness, bitters, and travel-friendly gut supports can keep you feeling your best. Ready to tackle December with confidence? Empower your gut health for a festive season without restrictions!

So many women do everything right — eat well, exercise, get their labs checked — and still feel tired, puffy, bloated, or frustrated when their skin flares and their energy crashes. And when bloodwork comes back “normal,” it’s easy to feel confused or even dismissed.This conversation brings so much clarity to what your body may actually be asking for: mineral support.In Part 2 of Heather Brown’s HTMA review, we unpack her real mineral test results and explore how hidden imbalances — like high calcium, low sodium + potassium, a high magnesium burn rate, and iron–copper issues — can quietly contribute to symptoms like low energy, stubborn acne, difficulty recovering from workouts, and feeling like your usual habits just aren’t working anymore.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why “normal” bloodwork often misses mineral imbalances — and how HTMA fills the gapsWhat a high magnesium burn rate tells us about stress and adrenal loadWhy low sodium and low potassium matter for energy, blood sugar, and overall resilienceHow long-term fasting can become a stress when your system is depleted — and the signs to look for Why acne may be connected to mineral imbalance vs. food triggers alone The role of sleep, morning sunlight, circadian rhythm, and joy in restoring your adrenalsIf you’ve been wondering why your energy is low, your skin isn’t cooperating, or your usual routine isn’t giving you the results it used to, this episode will help you understand what your minerals might be trying to tell you — and where to go from here.Listen to Part 1 of this episode with Heather Brown on the Healthy by Heather Brown podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mineral-deficiency-is-it-the-root-of-your/id1638763905?i=1000738241297 Want to understand your own mineral patterns like Heather did?Join the waitlist so you are the first to know about our Black Friday Sale! You’ll get your own mineral test, personalized interpretation, and a customized plan to support metabolism, stress, digestion, and energy. (Last year it sold out fast! Once the 50 spots are gone, they’re gone.)Connect with Dr. Heather:💻 Website📸 InstagramConnect with Heather Brown:Heather Brown's ebooks & products: https://www.mylifewellloved.com/product-category/digital-products/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthybyheatherbrown/

So many women move through pregnancy feeling exhausted, puffy, bloated, and overwhelmed by symptoms that never quite make sense. And when labs come back “normal,” it’s easy to feel confused or even dismissed. This conversation brings clarity to what your body is actually asking for: minerals and electrolytes.In this episode, we talk through why electrolytes for pregnancy matter far more than most people realize, how fatigue and bloat are often rooted in mineral depletion, and why supporting minerals can completely change how you feel during pregnancy and postpartum.We unpack what it looks like to enter pregnancy already depleted, how those symptoms get louder as the months go on, and why simple electrolyte support can improve energy, digestion, hydration, skin, and even hair growth. You’ll also hear how personalized mineral support through HTMA testing can help you understand what your body needs so you can finally feel better.Inside this episode, you’ll learn: • Why normal bloodwork doesn’t always show mineral imbalances • How low electrolytes contribute to fatigue, puffiness, and digestive issues • The connection between electrolytes and better stomach acid, hydration, and blood sugar • Simple ways to support sodium, potassium, and magnesium during pregnancy • What a custom mineral blend is and how it can replace multiple supplements • How electrolytes support postpartum recovery, milk supply, and hormone balanceIf you’ve been wondering why you still feel tired, bloated, or dehydrated no matter how healthy you eat or how much water you drink, this episode will help you understand what your body has been trying to tell you.Want to understand your own metabolism and mineral patterns?Join the waitlist so you are the first to know about our Black Friday Sale! You’ll get your own mineral test, personalized interpretation, and a customized plan to support metabolism, stress, digestion, and energy. (Last year it sold out fast! Once the 50 spots are gone, they’re gone.)Connect with Dr. Heather:💻 Website📸 Instagram

Weight Loss Resistance, Stress, and the Mineral Patterns Behind a “Stuck” MetabolismToday’s episode features an incredibly relatable story from Lindsay, a marriage and family therapist, military wife, mom of two, and someone who felt like she was doing everything “right”: eating well, following the plan, exercising, pushing herself… and still gaining weight, feeling exhausted, and being told her labs were “normal.”After pregnancy and years of intense stress, deployments, and living abroad, her body felt completely out of control. Doctors offered restrictive diets, a thousand-calorie meal plan, and no real answers. Even after following those recommendations perfectly, nothing changed.What did change?Seeing her HTMA results and finally understanding why her metabolism was struggling and what her body needed to feel safe enough to start healing.In this episode, Lindsay shares: • What weight loss resistance felt like when nothing worked • How chronic stress, postpartum depletion, and metabolism are deeply connected • Why “normal labs” don’t tell the full story • The moment she realized she wasn’t crazy and that she was actually depleted • The difference mineral repletion made in her energy, digestion, mood, and confidence • How improving her health shifted her marriage, parenting, and work life • How she maintained her progress months laterWant to understand your own metabolism and mineral patterns?Join the waitlist so you are the first to know about our Black Friday Sale! You’ll get your own mineral test, personalized interpretation, and a customized plan to support metabolism, stress, digestion, and energy. (Last year it sold out fast! Once the 50 spots are gone, they’re gone.)Connect with LindsayFind her on Instagram: @marriedafterkids Website: www.marriedafterkids.comHer work supports couples navigating the stress and identity shifts that come with parenting and she shares how her own healing journey has made her a better partner and parent.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by my mom, aka the one and only Queen Alice, to share her hilarious (and kind of wild) story about how supporting her minerals completely changed her health.For years, she struggled with intense leg cramps, we’re talking full-body, middle-of-the-night, can’t-move kind of cramps. Doctors told her to drink more water, stretch, or just “deal with it.” But nothing worked… until we ran an HTMA test and discovered the real root cause: mineral depletion from years of stress.You’ll hear:The moment we both realized something had to change (it involved an “exorcism-level” leg cramp)How stress, dehydration, and even margaritas were making things worseWhy her magnesium was high but still not working and what that actually meansThe surprising benefits she noticed after balancing her minerals (better sleep, calmer moods, no more cramps!)How she titrated her custom mineral blend after her body said “uh, too fast!”Some sweet and slightly emotional memories about my journey as a shy child who is now an entrepreneurIf you’ve ever dealt with leg cramps, restless sleep, anxiety, or constant dehydration no matter how much water you drink this episode will help you connect the dots and see how simple mineral support can change everything.✨ HTMA Black Friday Sale We’re opening 50 spots for our biggest sale of the year on the HTMA Bundle which includes your mineral test, personalized results, and custom recommendations. Join the Waitlist HereWaitlisters get first access when doors open. Once those 50 spots are gone, the sale closes until 2026.Connect with Dr. Heather:💻 Website📸 Instagram

When Lacey started losing handfuls of hair postpartum, she thought it had to be a hormone problem. Her labs were “normal,” her doctor told her to give it more time, and yet, she didn’t feel like herself.That’s when we ran an HTMA test (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) and found what was really going on beneath the surface: extreme mineral depletion from pregnancy, breastfeeding, stress, and lack of sleep.In this episode, you’ll hear:How mineral depletion can mimic hormone issues like hair loss, fatigue, anxiety, and poor sleepWhat a “four lows” pattern means on an HTMA test and why it’s so common for momsHow quickly Lacey started feeling better once she replenished her mineralsThe surprising benefits she noticed beyond hair growth including better digestion, energy, and calmIf you’ve ever wondered why your labs look normal but you still feel off, this episode will show you how looking at your minerals can finally give you answers.✨ Join the HTMA Bundle Waitlist for Black Friday We’re opening just 50 spots for our biggest sale of the year on the HTMA Bundle, which includes your mineral test, personalized results, and custom recommendations.Join the Waitlist HereOnce spots are gone, the sale closes, so make sure you’re on the list!Connect with Dr. Heather:💻 Website📸 Instagram

What if the biggest thing holding you back from healing isn’t your diet, your labs, or your supplement routine, but your beliefs about what’s possible?In this episode, Dr. Heather shares a deeply personal look at how she went from being the “shy girl” no one expected much from, to struggling with gut issues and exhaustion, to finally building a thriving practice, all by learning to stop defending her limitations.You’ll learn how the stories you tell yourself shape your physiology, why your nervous system can’t heal when it feels unsafe, and the small mindset and lifestyle shifts that can completely change your trajectory.If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “Must be nice for her…” — this one’s for you.In this episode, you’ll hear:The difference between limitation and belief, and how both impact healingThe science behind how your thoughts create neural pathways that shape your body’s responseReal stories of fear, grit, and consistency from Dr. Heather’s own healing and business journeyHow to retrain your nervous system to feel safe enough to healFive practical steps to start shifting from comparison to curiosity (and bring joy back into the process)Why the most successful clients aren’t the ones with the most resources, but instead they’re the ones who can hold the vision that healing is possibleResources & Links Mentioned:✨ Apply for gutTogether® VIP(Our 6-month high-touch program includes personalized testing, mineral and gut protocols, and integrated nervous system coaching.)💬 Follow Dr. Heather on Instagram for more daily gut and hormone tips🔍 Take the free quiz to uncover what might be keeping you stuckShare this episode:If this conversation helped shift your mindset, share it with a friend or tag @drheatherfinley 

If you’ve ever looked at a stool test and felt completely overwhelmed by all the bacteria names, numbers, and colors, you’re not alone.In this episode, Dr. Heather breaks down exactly what your stool test says about your symptoms, from bloating and constipation to hormone imbalance, fatigue, and skin issues. You’ll learn why stool testing goes far beyond “good vs. bad bacteria,” and how it maps out your digestion, detox pathways, immune health, and overall gut terrain.Dr. Heather explains what it really means when markers like beta-glucuronidase, H. pylori, calprotectin, or secretory IgA are high or low, and how these patterns overlap to reveal the root cause of your symptoms.You’ll walk away with a whole new perspective on testing and why it’s not about just "treating the test" and more about understanding what your gut is trying to tell you about how your symptoms are connected. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why stool testing is about function, not just “fixing” numbers The connection between high beta-glucuronidase and estrogen or histamine symptoms How low commensal bacteria can drive leaky gut, fatigue, and skin issues Why H. pylori suppresses stomach acid and leads to low iron or reflux What low elastase means for digestion, bloating, and nutrient absorption How low secretory IgA reflects stress, burnout, and food sensitivities The link between fat malabsorption and low sodium or bile flow Why calprotectin and anti-gliadin IgA reveal deeper inflammation How to interpret patterns instead of chasing isolated markersDon’t Miss This Sunday’s (Oct 19) Live Training! SIBO Unlocked You’ll leave knowing exactly why SIBO (or chronic symptoms) keep coming back, and what to do about it so you can find relief for good! Register hereResources Mentioned:Apply for gutTogether: www.guttogetherprogram.comFollow Dr. Heather on Instagram: @drheatherfinleyWant Dr. Heather'e eyes on your case? Purchase a Gut Health Audit Rate, Review & FollowIf this episode helped you connect the dots about your gut health, take 30 seconds to leave a review! It means the world and helps more women find the show. Plus, when you screenshot and send your review to happygut@drheatherfinley.co you will have a chance to win a free HTMA bundle each month! 

If you’ve ever been told your iron or ferritin is “low”  but no one can explain why then this episode is for you.Iron issues are rarely just about your diet or supplements. They’re often a reflection of what’s happening in your gut. In this episode, Dr. Heather breaks down how stomach acid, infections like H. pylori, mineral balance, and inflammation all impact how your body absorbs and uses iron.You’ll learn: ✅ The real difference between ferritin and serum iron (and why both matter) ✅ What high or low ferritin actually means and the hidden gut clues behind it ✅ How minerals like copper, zinc, and potassium influence iron utilization ✅ Why iron supplements can make symptoms worse if the root cause isn’t addressed ✅ Practical steps to rebuild your terrain for better energy, digestion, and balanceIf your labs have never made sense or you’ve been stuck taking iron without feeling any better  this episode will help you see why.Links Mentioned:Register for the Free Webinar (October 19): Learn why SIBO and slow motility might be keeping you stuck and how to finally rebuild your gut for lasting relief.Try Lactoferrin A gentle, food-derived way to support iron balance and immune health without feeding infections.Work with Our Team: Get personalized testing and root-cause support through our gutTogether® program.Connect with Dr. Heather on Instagram:  For daily gut health tips, case studies, and behind-the-scenes updates.Tune in to discover how your gut and minerals could be the missing link to finally balancing your iron and feeling like yourself again.