Most people are still told their gut symptoms are just digestive.

Bloating. Constipation. Food reactions.

But both the research and what I see every week in clinical practice tell a much bigger story. Gut health and weight loss are deeply connected, and when the gut becomes imbalanced, the body doesn’t respond in isolation — it responds system-wide.

This is one of the most overlooked reasons weight loss feels harder than it should.

Gut Health Isn’t Just About Digestion

The gut is not an isolated system. It’s deeply intertwined with metabolism, hormones, immune signaling, and the nervous system.

Our gut microbes help regulate blood sugar, appetite, inflammation, and even how safe or stressed the body feels. This is part of what I explore more deeply in my post on nutrition to support the gut–brain axis .

When the gut ecosystem is supported, the body has the capacity to regulate.
When it’s inflamed, everything downstream is affected.

The Gut Is a Metabolic Organ

A healthy gu...

Just mentioning the word parasites (eeks!) can draw a reaction from anyone.  

If you are someone who feels like you have tried everything to heal and improve your health through testing, supplements, and diet changes, but you’re still feeling sick, fatigued, and have GI symptoms, listen up.  Parasites may be the reason.

I’m Kari, an integrative and functional dietitian who specializes in working with people with GI-related conditions such as IBS, chronic diarrhea, constipation, bloating, reflux, and nausea.  

In this article, we’ll explore what parasites are, where they come from, how to test for parasites, and everything you need to know if you do have them. 

Am I at risk of a parasitic infection?

Some of the key system imbalances in the body that can make you vulnerable to infections in the gut, such as parasites, include immune dysregulation, inflammation, impaired detoxification, hormonal imbalances, GI structural dysfunction, circadian rhythm disturbances, stress,...