Today's episode is a bit more nerdy than usual.. So hold onto your hats, remember to hit save & subscribe, so that you remember to listen to this one on REPEAT. 

I carry on alot about the root cause behind your IBS, bloating & stomach pain, and how the gut is cornerstone to EVERY other interaction in your body. 

So today, I want to unpack some of those root causes & how exactly we test for them.

HIGHLIGHTS:
What I look for in symptomatic clients.
What are predisposing factors?
When to do group programs vs 1:1 consults.
What foundation changes can be made today?
What is a stool test (GI MAP) & what does it tell us?
How do we rebalance the microbiome from parasites, yeast, bacteria & leaky gut?
How long does it take to rebalance the microbiomes?
When and how to re-test.
When to move onto hormones & DUTCH testing.

LINKS TO SHERADYN:
Check out my 7-day challenge to overcome bloating & IBS HERE.
Follow me on Instagram HERE. 
Join my Private Facebook group HERE.

Check out my website HERE:

Today's episode is a bit more nerdy than usual.. So hold onto your hats, remember to hit save &amp; subscribe, so that you remember to listen to this one on REPEAT.&nbsp;
I carry on alot about the root cause behind your IBS, bloating &amp; stomach pain, and how the gut is cornerstone to EVERY other interaction in your body.&nbsp;
So today, I want to unpack some of those root causes &amp; how exactly we test for them.
HIGHLIGHTS:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">What I look for in symptomatic clients.</li>
<li aria-level="1">What are predisposing factors?</li>
<li aria-level="1">When to do group programs vs 1:1 consults.</li>
<li aria-level="1">What foundation changes can be made today?</li>
<li aria-level="1">What is a stool test (GI MAP) &amp; what does it tell us?</li>
<li aria-level="1">How do we rebalance the microbiome from parasites, yeast, bacteria &amp; leaky gut?</li>
<li aria-level="1">How long does it take to rebalance the microbiomes?</li>
<li aria-level="1">When and how to re-test.</li>
<li aria-level="1">When to move onto hormones &amp; DUTCH testing.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
LINKS TO SHERADYN:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Check out my 7-day challenge to overcome bloating &amp; IBS<a href="https://sheradyndekker.com/beat-the-bloat-challenge-signup/"> HERE.</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow me on Instagram<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sheradyn_functionalnutrition/?hl=en"> HERE.&nbsp;</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Join my Private Facebook group<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/506200843374243"> HERE.</a></li>
</ul>
Check out my website<a href="http://www.sheradyndekker.com"> HERE:</a>

Living with IBS, digestive pain and hormonal imbalances are considered “normal” for many females. But as a former sufferer, I (Sheradyn) am here to break the trend and educate you on what is actually causing your symptoms. Leading you beyond pills, painful periods & parasites, I will be sharing interviews & conversations with women’s health experts as well as inspiring you with real-life stories. If you’re looking to use nutrition & a natural approach to heal your body and want real talk, with real women, hit that subscribe button now.

Living with IBS, digestive pain and hormonal imbalances are considered &ldquo;normal&rdquo; for many females. But as a former sufferer, I (Sheradyn) am here to break the trend and educate you on what is actually causing your symptoms. Leading you beyond pills, painful periods &amp; parasites, I will be sharing interviews &amp; conversations with women&rsquo;s health experts as well as inspiring you with real-life stories. If you&rsquo;re looking to use nutrition &amp; a natural approach to heal your body and want real talk, with real women, hit that subscribe button now.

Empowered Hormones with Sheradyn Dekker

Using Stool Testing  to get to the root cause with Sheradyn Dekker.

#9 IBS & Bloating | Using stool testing to get to the root cause with Sheradyn Dekker.

The top 10 causes of IBS (that your GP hasn’t told you about)

You’ve been told it’s IBS. Maybe you were given a low FODMAP handout, told to manage your stress, eat more fibre, or “just avoid trigger foods.” And maybe some of that helped for a bit.

But if you are still bloated, constipated, gassy, reacting to foods, or thinking about your gut all day — something has been missed. Because IBS is not a root cause.

It’s a label doctors use when your gut symptoms are real, but no one has properly figured out why they’re happening.

And that’s where women get stuck.

They spend years cutting foods, trying supplements, managing symptoms, and blaming themselves. Thinking they need more discipline. More restriction. More probiotics. But there is always a reason your gut is struggling.

And no — it is not “just stress.”

Today’s episode breaks down the most common root causes I see driving IBS symptoms in clinic, why generic IBS advice keeps women stuck, and what actually needs to be investigated if you want to fix your gut properly.

In this episode, we cover:
SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth): Why bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine causes bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhoea, and food reactions — and why low FODMAP only masks symptoms.
Methane-Dominant IMO: How methane-producing organisms slow gut motility and drive chronic constipation.
Low Stomach Acid: Why poor digestion leads to fermentation, bloating, reflux, and bacteria thriving where they shouldn’t.
Parasites & Infections: Why hidden infections are more common than women realise and can quietly drive symptoms for years.
Dysbiosis: How imbalances in your microbiome affect digestion, hormones, inflammation, immunity, and overall gut function.
H. pylori: Why this common infection contributes to reflux, nausea, bloating, and poor digestion.
The Nervous System Connection: How chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation directly affect gut motility and digestion.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Why some women are not dealing with a gut issue at all — but a muscular coordination issue affecting bowel movements.
Food Fear & Restriction: How years of cutting foods and under-eating can make gut function worse over time.
The Testing Gap: Why standard testing often misses the real drivers behind IBS symptoms — and why proper testing changes the whole treatment approach.

You are not failing because you ate broccoli, and you are not “bad” at gut health because another probiotic didn’t work.

If you’ve been stuck bloated for years, reacting to foods, planning your day around your gut, and feeling like nothing is helping… that is not something you just ignore and manage forever.

Something underneath is driving it, and until you figure out what that is, you’ll keep going in circles trying random diets and supplements hoping one finally fixes it.

You don’t need more guessing. You need proper investigation, proper testing, and a plan that actually matches what is going on in your body.

LINKS TO SHERADYN:
Assess your gut health in 3min HERE
Follow me on Instagram HERE. 
Join my Private Gut Health Facebook group HERE.
Book a Free Gut Health Planning Session HERE.

The top 10 causes of IBS (that your GP hasn&rsquo;t told you about)
You&rsquo;ve been told it&rsquo;s IBS. Maybe you were given a low FODMAP handout, told to manage your stress, eat more fibre, or &ldquo;just avoid trigger foods.&rdquo;&nbsp;And maybe some of that helped for a bit.
But if you are still bloated, constipated, gassy, reacting to foods, or thinking about your gut all day &mdash; something has been missed.&nbsp;Because IBS is not a root cause.
It&rsquo;s a label doctors use when your gut symptoms are real, but no one has properly figured out why they&rsquo;re happening.
And that&rsquo;s where women get stuck.
They spend years cutting foods, trying supplements, managing symptoms, and blaming themselves. Thinking they need more discipline. More restriction. More probiotics.&nbsp;But there is always a reason your gut is struggling.
And no &mdash; it is not &ldquo;just stress.&rdquo;
Today&rsquo;s episode breaks down the most common root causes I see driving IBS symptoms in clinic, why generic IBS advice keeps women stuck, and what actually needs to be investigated if you want to fix your gut properly.
In this episode, we cover:
<ul>
<li data-start="1081" data-end="1282">SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth): Why bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine causes bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhoea, and food reactions &mdash; and why low FODMAP only masks symptoms.</li>
<li data-start="1284" data-end="1387">Methane-Dominant IMO: How methane-producing organisms slow gut motility and drive chronic constipation.</li>
<li data-start="1389" data-end="1510">Low Stomach Acid: Why poor digestion leads to fermentation, bloating, reflux, and bacteria thriving where they shouldn&rsquo;t.</li>
<li data-start="1512" data-end="1634">Parasites &amp; Infections: Why hidden infections are more common than women realise and can quietly drive symptoms for years.</li>
<li data-start="1636" data-end="1758">Dysbiosis: How imbalances in your microbiome affect digestion, hormones, inflammation, immunity, and overall gut function.</li>
<li data-start="1760" data-end="1857">H. pylori: Why this common infection contributes to reflux, nausea, bloating, and poor digestion.</li>
<li data-start="1859" data-end="1985">The Nervous System Connection: How chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation directly affect gut motility and digestion.</li>
<li data-start="1987" data-end="2130">Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Why some women are not dealing with a gut issue at all &mdash; but a muscular coordination issue affecting bowel movements.</li>
<li data-start="2132" data-end="2239">Food Fear &amp; Restriction: How years of cutting foods and under-eating can make gut function worse over time.</li>
<li data-start="2241" data-end="2391">The Testing Gap: Why standard testing often misses the real drivers behind IBS symptoms &mdash; and why proper testing changes the whole treatment approach.</li>
</ul>
You are not failing because you ate broccoli, and you are not &ldquo;bad&rdquo; at gut health because another probiotic didn&rsquo;t work.
If you&rsquo;ve been stuck bloated for years, reacting to foods, planning your day around your gut, and feeling like nothing is helping&hellip; that is not something you just ignore and manage forever.
Something underneath is driving it, and until you figure out what that is, you&rsquo;ll keep going in circles trying random diets and supplements hoping one finally fixes it.
You don&rsquo;t need more guessing.&nbsp;You need proper investigation, proper testing, and a plan that actually matches what is going on in your body.
<hr>
LINKS TO SHERADYN:
<ul>
<li>Assess your gut&nbsp;health in 3min <a href="https://sheradyndekker.com/gut-health-quiz/" data-outlook-id="3eb53866-7033-42fd-989b-d37f70dd749d">HERE</a></li>
<li>Follow me on Instagram<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sheradyn_functionalnutrition/?hl=en" data-outlook-id="77c6c035-eea0-4f05-b656-bc9ca9c5cbce">&nbsp;HERE.&nbsp;</a></li>
<li>Join my Private Gut Health Facebook group<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/412163273677745" data-outlook-id="50f42e02-21fd-4221-992d-57fce0bbb379">&nbsp;HERE.</a></li>
<li>Book a Free Gut Health Planning Session <a href="https://sheradyndekker.com/gut-health-session/" data-outlook-id="c419fad2-3b43-428f-81aa-ad211e6b64ab">HERE.</a></li>
</ul>

The top 10 causes of IBS (that your GP hasn't told you about)

EP #203 The top 10 causes of IBS (that your GP hasn't told you about)

The perfect poop, laxative use & overcoming constipation

You have been pooping your entire life… and I would bet nobody has ever actually told you what a healthy one looks like, how often you should be going, or what it means when you’re not.

And honestly? That is a problem.

Because what happens when nobody talks about bowel movements is that women start normalising symptoms that are not normal. Going every three or four days becomes “just how you are.” Straining becomes normal. Living on laxatives becomes normal.

And the medical system has not helped.

You go to your GP, say you’re constipated, and get told to eat more fibre, drink more water, and take Movicol. But nobody explains why you’re constipated in the first place.

Because constipation is not a diagnosis.

It’s a symptom.

And treating all constipation the same way is exactly why so many women stay stuck.

Today’s episode breaks down what a healthy bowel movement actually looks like, what your poop tells you about your hormones and gut health, the different types of constipation, and why laxatives are not fixing the root cause.

In this episode, we cover:

What a Healthy Poop Actually Looks Like: The bowel frequency, consistency, colour, and ease of passing that actually tell us your gut is functioning properly — including how to use the Bristol Stool Chart.

Why Constipation Affects Your Hormones: How slow bowel transit impacts oestrogen clearance, contributes to PMS, bloating, painful periods, and leaves your body literally reabsorbing hormones it was trying to eliminate.

Why Pooping Matters for Detoxification: How your bowel movements help remove hormones, waste products, and endotoxins from the body — and what happens when that process slows down.

The Different Types of Constipation: Why slow transit constipation, pelvic floor dysfunction, IBS-C, and methane-dominant IMO are completely different problems that require completely different solutions.

Methane-Dominant IMO: How methane-producing organisms chemically slow gut motility, why fibre can actually make symptoms worse, and why breath testing matters.

Laxative Dependency: What actually happens when stimulant laxatives are used long-term, why dependency develops, and why the laxative becomes the management strategy instead of fixing the problem.

What to Do Instead: Simple, practical strategies to support motility naturally, including toilet posture, magnesium, meal spacing, nervous system regulation, and supporting your migrating motor complex.

You are not constipated because your body is lazy.

And you are not “bad at digestion.”

There is always a reason your gut is slowing down — whether that is methane overgrowth, stress, pelvic floor dysfunction, nervous system dysregulation, or impaired motility.

Big difference.

You don’t need to keep cycling through fibre supplements and laxatives hoping something finally works.

You need to understand what type of constipation you actually have — and what is driving it underneath.

LINKS TO SHERADYN:
Assess your gut health in 3min HERE
Follow me on Instagram HERE. 
Join my Private Gut Health Facebook group HERE.
Book a Free Gut Health Planning Session HERE.

The perfect poop, laxative use &amp; overcoming constipation
You have been pooping your entire life&hellip; and I would bet nobody has ever actually told you what a healthy one looks like, how often you should be going, or what it means when you&rsquo;re not.
And honestly? That is a problem.
Because what happens when nobody talks about bowel movements is that women start normalising symptoms that are not normal. Going every three or four days becomes &ldquo;just how you are.&rdquo; Straining becomes normal. Living on laxatives becomes normal.
And the medical system has not helped.
You go to your GP, say you&rsquo;re constipated, and get told to eat more fibre, drink more water, and take Movicol. But nobody explains why you&rsquo;re constipated in the first place.
Because constipation is not a diagnosis.
It&rsquo;s a symptom.
And treating all constipation the same way is exactly why so many women stay stuck.
Today&rsquo;s episode breaks down what a healthy bowel movement actually looks like, what your poop tells you about your hormones and gut health, the different types of constipation, and why laxatives are not fixing the root cause.
In this episode, we cover:
What a Healthy Poop Actually Looks Like: The bowel frequency, consistency, colour, and ease of passing that actually tell us your gut is functioning properly &mdash; including how to use the Bristol Stool Chart.
Why Constipation Affects Your Hormones: How slow bowel transit impacts oestrogen clearance, contributes to PMS, bloating, painful periods, and leaves your body literally reabsorbing hormones it was trying to eliminate.
Why Pooping Matters for Detoxification: How your bowel movements help remove hormones, waste products, and endotoxins from the body &mdash; and what happens when that process slows down.
The Different Types of Constipation: Why slow transit constipation, pelvic floor dysfunction, IBS-C, and methane-dominant IMO are completely different problems that require completely different solutions.
Methane-Dominant IMO: How methane-producing organisms chemically slow gut motility, why fibre can actually make symptoms worse, and why breath testing matters.
Laxative Dependency: What actually happens when stimulant laxatives are used long-term, why dependency develops, and why the laxative becomes the management strategy instead of fixing the problem.
What to Do Instead: Simple, practical strategies to support motility naturally, including toilet posture, magnesium, meal spacing, nervous system regulation, and supporting your migrating motor complex.
You are not constipated because your body is lazy.
And you are not &ldquo;bad at digestion.&rdquo;
There is always a reason your gut is slowing down &mdash; whether that is methane overgrowth, stress, pelvic floor dysfunction, nervous system dysregulation, or impaired motility.
Big difference.
You don&rsquo;t need to keep cycling through fibre supplements and laxatives hoping something finally works.
You need to understand what type of constipation you actually have &mdash; and what is driving it underneath.
<hr>
LINKS TO SHERADYN:
<ul>
<li>Assess your gut&nbsp;health in 3min <a href="https://sheradyndekker.com/gut-health-quiz/" data-outlook-id="3eb53866-7033-42fd-989b-d37f70dd749d">HERE</a></li>
<li>Follow me on Instagram<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sheradyn_functionalnutrition/?hl=en" data-outlook-id="77c6c035-eea0-4f05-b656-bc9ca9c5cbce">&nbsp;HERE.&nbsp;</a></li>
<li>Join my Private Gut Health Facebook group<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/412163273677745" data-outlook-id="50f42e02-21fd-4221-992d-57fce0bbb379">&nbsp;HERE.</a></li>
<li>Book a Free Gut Health Planning Session <a href="https://sheradyndekker.com/gut-health-session/" data-outlook-id="c419fad2-3b43-428f-81aa-ad211e6b64ab">HERE.</a></li>
</ul>

The perfect poop, laxative use & overcoming constipation

EP #202 The perfect poop, laxative use & overcoming constipation

IBS or IBD? What’s the difference & how do you test?

You’ve been told it’s IBS. Maybe you’ve had tests done. Maybe you’ve even had a colonoscopy that came back “clear.” And then… you’re sent home and told to manage it. But if you’re still dealing with bloating, urgency, diarrhea, constipation, or pain — and no one has properly explained what’s going on — something isn’t adding up.

Because IBS and IBD get confused all the time. And when that happens, women either get over-medicalised… or completely dismissed. Same symptoms. Completely different problems. And that’s where things start to fall apart.

Because here’s the reality. The symptoms overlap — cramping, bloating, bowel changes, food reactions, fatigue. So it’s easy to assume it’s “just IBS,” especially when nothing serious shows up on initial testing. But let’s be clear.

IBS is not a diagnosis.
IBD is.

One is a structural, inflammatory disease. The other is a label for symptoms when no one has found the cause. Big difference.

Today’s episode breaks down what IBS actually means, what IBD actually is, why they get confused, and what testing should be done if you actually want answers — not just another label.

In this episode, we cover:


IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease): What conditions like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis actually involve, how inflammation damages the gut lining, and why proper diagnosis requires colonoscopy and biopsy.


Key Inflammatory Markers: How tools like faecal calprotectin, CRP, ESR, and blood markers help identify inflammation and distinguish IBD from IBS.


The IBS Label Problem: Why IBS tells you what is happening — your gut is irritated — but tells you nothing about why.


What Gets Missed in Standard Testing: Why colonoscopies don’t show bacterial overgrowth, parasites, stomach acid issues, or microbiome imbalances.


SIBO and IMO: How bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine drives bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhoea — and why it requires specific breath testing.


Parasites and H. pylori: Why these are more common than you think, often missed, and can quietly drive chronic gut symptoms.


Dysbiosis and the Microbiome: How imbalances in your gut bacteria affect digestion, immunity, and overall health — and why you need proper mapping to see it.


What to Test Next: The functional tests that actually give you answers — not guesses.

You’re not confused because this is complicated. You’re confused because the explanation you were given was incomplete. You don’t need to keep guessing whether it’s IBS or something more serious. You need to understand what has been ruled out — and what hasn’t even been looked at yet. Your symptoms are not random. This isn’t “just your gut being sensitive.”

And it’s not something you have to manage forever.

Your gut isn’t broken. It just hasn’t been properly investigated.

LINKS TO SHERADYN:
Assess your gut health in 3min HERE
Follow me on Instagram HERE. 
Join my Private Gut Health Facebook group HERE.
Book a Free Gut Health Planning Session HERE.

IBS or IBD? What&rsquo;s the difference &amp; how do you test?
You&rsquo;ve been told it&rsquo;s IBS. Maybe you&rsquo;ve had tests done. Maybe you&rsquo;ve even had a colonoscopy that came back &ldquo;clear.&rdquo; And then&hellip; you&rsquo;re sent home and told to manage it. But if you&rsquo;re still dealing with bloating, urgency, diarrhea, constipation, or pain &mdash; and no one has properly explained what&rsquo;s going on &mdash; something isn&rsquo;t adding up.
Because IBS and IBD get confused all the time. And when that happens, women either get over-medicalised&hellip; or completely dismissed. Same symptoms. Completely different problems. And that&rsquo;s where things start to fall apart.
Because here&rsquo;s the reality. The symptoms overlap &mdash; cramping, bloating, bowel changes, food reactions, fatigue. So it&rsquo;s easy to assume it&rsquo;s &ldquo;just IBS,&rdquo; especially when nothing serious shows up on initial testing. But let&rsquo;s be clear.
IBS is not a diagnosis. IBD is.
One is a structural, inflammatory disease. The other is a label for symptoms when no one has found the cause. Big difference.
Today&rsquo;s episode breaks down what IBS actually means, what IBD actually is, why they get confused, and what testing should be done if you actually want answers &mdash; not just another label.
In this episode, we cover:
<ul data-editing-info="{&quot;applyListStyleFromLevel&quot;:true,&quot;unorderedStyleType&quot;:1}">
<li>
IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease): What conditions like Crohn&rsquo;s and ulcerative colitis actually involve, how inflammation damages the gut lining, and why proper diagnosis requires colonoscopy and biopsy.
</li>
<li>
Key Inflammatory Markers: How tools like faecal calprotectin, CRP, ESR, and blood markers help identify inflammation and distinguish IBD from IBS.
</li>
<li>
The IBS Label Problem:&nbsp;Why IBS tells you what is happening &mdash; your gut is irritated &mdash; but tells you nothing about why.
</li>
<li>
What Gets Missed in Standard Testing: Why colonoscopies don&rsquo;t show bacterial overgrowth, parasites, stomach acid issues, or microbiome imbalances.
</li>
<li>
SIBO and IMO: How bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine drives bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhoea &mdash; and why it requires specific breath testing.
</li>
<li>
Parasites and H. pylori: Why these are more common than you think, often missed, and can quietly drive chronic gut symptoms.
</li>
<li>
Dysbiosis and the Microbiome: How imbalances in your gut bacteria affect digestion, immunity, and overall health &mdash; and why you need proper mapping to see it.
</li>
<li>
What to Test Next: The functional tests that actually give you answers &mdash; not guesses.
</li>
</ul>
You&rsquo;re not confused because this is complicated. You&rsquo;re confused because the explanation you were given was incomplete. You don&rsquo;t need to keep guessing whether it&rsquo;s IBS or something more serious. You need to understand what has been ruled out &mdash; and what hasn&rsquo;t even been looked at yet. Your symptoms are not random. This isn&rsquo;t &ldquo;just your gut being sensitive.&rdquo;
And it&rsquo;s not something you have to manage forever.
Your gut isn&rsquo;t broken. It just hasn&rsquo;t been properly investigated.
<hr>
LINKS TO SHERADYN:
<ul>
<li>Assess your gut&nbsp;health in 3min <a href="https://sheradyndekker.com/gut-health-quiz/" data-outlook-id="3eb53866-7033-42fd-989b-d37f70dd749d">HERE</a></li>
<li>Follow me on Instagram<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sheradyn_functionalnutrition/?hl=en" data-outlook-id="77c6c035-eea0-4f05-b656-bc9ca9c5cbce">&nbsp;HERE.&nbsp;</a></li>
<li>Join my Private Gut Health Facebook group<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/412163273677745" data-outlook-id="50f42e02-21fd-4221-992d-57fce0bbb379">&nbsp;HERE.</a></li>
<li>Book a Free Gut Health Planning Session <a href="https://sheradyndekker.com/gut-health-session/" data-outlook-id="c419fad2-3b43-428f-81aa-ad211e6b64ab">HERE.</a></li>
</ul>

201 IBS or IBD? What's the difference & how do I test

#9 IBS & Bloating | Using stool testing to get to the root cause with Sheradyn Dekker.

Empowered Hormones with Sheradyn Dekker

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