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If you’ve ever struggled with bloating, gas, reflux, constipation, or just feeling uncomfortable after meals, you know how frustrating it can be. Most people want quick answers: “What should I eat? What supplement do I need?”
But real gut healing starts with slowing down and asking the right questions.
In my practice, I guide every new client through a series of nine questions. They uncover patterns, point to possible root causes, and give us the clarity we need to create a personalized plan.
So, if you’ve ever been curious about what it might be like to work with me, in today’s post, I’m pulling back the curtains and sharing those exact questions with you!
? Before we get started:
Be sure to grab access to my Free Wellness Library. It’s packed with e-books, gut health checklists, food trackers, and practical resources to help you feel better faster. You can get your free access below!
9 Gut Healing Questions to Get to the Root Cause
Here are the nine questions I ask all clients I work with, and for this blog post, we’ll use an example of a client who was recently prescribed antibiotics.
1. How long have your digestive issues been going on?
This first question helps set the stage.
If someone says, “Oh, just a few weeks,” that’s different from “Three years.” Sometimes, the timeline reveals a trigger, such as the use of antibiotics.
For example, one client realized their issues started after a bad illness when they were prescribed antibiotics.
That detail was huge because antibiotics can wipe out healthy bacteria, leaving space for yeast (candida) or bacterial overgrowth to take hold.
2. Did your symptoms start after a specific event?
Gut symptoms don’t usually appear out of nowhere. They often follow a stressor such as illness, food poisoning, medication, or even high stress.
Pinpointing that event gives us a clue.
For example, if symptoms start after antibiotics, yeast or bacterial overgrowth is a likely contributing factor.
3. What foods make your symptoms worse?
This question helps us notice patterns. Some people can’t tolerate beans, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts, which are foods that can ferment in the gut if there’s an imbalance.
When your gut bacteria are out of balance, these foods can cause gas, bloating, and discomfort.
4. What foods seem okay?
Equally important is knowing what doesn’t bother you. Many clients say protein and healthy fats feel fine, but carbs (like certain veggies, fruits, or beans) trigger discomfort.
That tells us something: it’s not all food, but specifically carbohydrates fermenting in the gut.
Again, this points to bacterial or yeast overgrowth.
5. Is it after every meal or only some?
Timing matters. For example, smoothies in the morning might feel fine because they’re easy to digest, while lunch salads cause bloating.
Testing patterns like this shows whether it’s the type of food (whole meals vs. blended) or simply the time of day.
6. What have you tried before that helped?
This saves time and shows what’s already worked.
Some clients feel better on a low-carb diet, during a juice fast, or when skipping meals.
Those approaches reduce fermentable carbs, giving the gut a temporary break.
7. Was there ever a time you felt relief?
This question is gold. People often realize their gut feels better on vacation.
Why? Stress levels were lower.
Less stress = better digestion.
The gut has its own nervous system, and when you’re relaxed, it produces more stomach acid, enzymes, and healthy motility.
Stress alone can make symptoms worse, even if nothing else changes.
8. Does stress change your symptoms?
Building on the last point, this question highlights the gut-brain connection.
If you feel worse under stress but better when calm, it’s not “all in your head.”
Stress has a direct impact on digestion, absorption, and gut motility.
9. If you had to guess, what do you think is going on?
Even if you’re not a practitioner, you often know more than you think. Many clients say, “I feel like carbs are the issue.”
They’re right in a way, though, as a practitioner, I know the deeper root is usually yeast or bacterial overgrowth feeding on those carbs.
What Happens Next
Once we’ve gone through these nine questions, the next step is testing and confirming. In my practice, I recommend functional medicine labs like:
- Candida, Metabolic & Vitamins Test: This lab checks yeast, bacteria, vitamin levels, detox, and energy markers.
- Bacteria & Parasite Stool Test: This lab identifies H. pylori, parasites, or bacterial imbalance.
- IgG Food Sensitivity Test: This lab helps to uncover hidden inflammatory foods.
Based on results, we create a protocol:
- Address parasites (if present).
- Rebalance H. pylori (if found).
- Use a CBO (Candida & Bacterial Overgrowth) protocol for yeast/bacteria.
- Seal and strengthen the gut lining with a CBO Finisher.
Related:
How to Do a Safe and Effective Parasite Cleanse at Home
Quick Recap
✅ Ask these 9 questions to find patterns.
✅ Look for root causes like antibiotics, stress, or food triggers.
✅ Use functional labs to confirm what’s happening.
✅ Follow a structured protocol to rebalance, then heal the gut lining.
Final Thoughts
Healing your gut starts with the right questions. These nine questions are like a roadmap for me. They can help you and your practitioner uncover what’s really going on, so you can move past the guesswork and into true healing.
If you’ve been struggling with bloating, reflux, or digestive discomfort, take a moment to reflect on these questions for yourself. They might reveal more than you expect.
Now, I’d love to hear from you! Which of these 9 questions resonated most with your own gut health journey? Let me know in the comments below.
? If you enjoyed this post, find more helpful resources in the Free Wellness Library, including e-books, checklists, trackers, and more!
Additional Resources
- The 4 Root Causes of Digestive Problems (And How to Heal Them Naturally)
- How to Naturally Eliminate Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) in 12 Weeks
- The Truth About the Candida Diet (and Why It Often Fails)
- How to Prepare for a Gut Healing Protocol the Right Way
- Gut Health 101: Everything You Need to Know
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