The Turd Nerds

the integrative gastroenterology podcast
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The Turd Nerds is an integrative gastroenterology podcast. Drs. Rebecca Sand, Ami Kapadia and Ilana Gurevich tackle complex digestive topics, spanning IBS, Celiac, parasites, SIBO, biofilms, the gut-brain connection and more. Tune in to hear clinical pearls, research updates and think with us through some tough cases. 

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    #83 – The Vagus Nerve Explained: Gut–Brain Connection, IBS, and What Actually Helps

    What does the vagus nerve actually do—and why does it matter for gut health, IBS, and anxiety? In this episode, we break down the vagus nerve in a clear, practical way, focusing on how it connects the gut and brain and why low vagal tone is linked to conditions like IBS, IBD, anxiety, depression, and chronic inflammation. We also explore why common advice like humming, gargling, or cold exposure which often isn’t enough on its own, and what actually makes a meaningful difference clinically. You’ll learn how the vagus nerve regulates digestion, stress response, inflammation, and gut motility, and how disruptions in this system can create a cycle of persistent symptoms. In this episode, we discuss: - What the vagus nerve is and how it connects the gut and brain - Why low vagal tone is linked to IBS, anxiety, and inflammation - How stress and the microbiome impact vagus nerve function - Why gut symptoms and mental health symptoms often overlap - Evidence-based ways to support vagal tone (breathing, cold exposure, exercise, social connection, and more) - When vagus nerve stimulators and clinical tools may be helpful This episode is for anyone dealing with IBS, chronic gut symptoms, anxiety, or feeling “stuck” despite trying multiple approaches to gut health. 👋 Connect with the Turds! Rebecca Sand ND, LAc, MSOM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drrebeccasand.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@drrebeccasand⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ilana Gurevich ND, FABNG, LAc, MSOM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.openwellnesspdx.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@openwellness_pdx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ilana.gurevich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ami Kapadia, MD, ABFM, ABIHM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amikapadia.com

    27 min

  2. 5 MAY

    #82 – Chronic Diarrhea That Won’t Resolve: Understanding Microscopic Colitis

    Why does chronic diarrhea continue even when testing is normal? In this episode, we walk through a case of microscopic colitis and how to approach persistent gut symptoms that don’t respond to standard treatment. We break down what microscopic colitis is, why it’s often missed on routine colonoscopy, and how it can present as long-standing, non-bloody diarrhea. We also explore how medications like PPIs, NSAIDs, and SSRIs may contribute, and how overlapping factors like dysbiosis, inflammation, and even constipation can complicate the clinical picture.In this episode, we discuss:- Chronic diarrhea and when to look beyond IBS- What microscopic colitis is and how it’s diagnosed- Why colonoscopies can miss key findings- The role of medications in gut inflammation- Treatment approaches, including budesonide, bismuth, and bile acid binders- Functional medicine perspectives on persistent gut symptomsMusic provided by Blue Dot.👋 Connect with the Turds!Rebecca Sand ND, LAc, MSOM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drrebeccasand.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@drrebeccasand⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ilana Gurevich ND, FABNG, LAc, MSOM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.openwellnesspdx.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@openwellness_pdx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ilana.gurevich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ami Kapadia, MD, ABFM, ABIHM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amikapadia.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    33 min

  3. 21 APR

    #81 – When Digestion Stalls: A Chinese Medicine View of Bloating and Brain Fog with Ellen Goldsmith

    In this episode, we revisit bloating through a Chinese medicine lens with Ellen Goldsmith, focusing on digestion as a process of movement, not just intake. We explore how patterns like stagnation, dysregulation, and impaired “downward flow” contribute to symptoms like distension, brain fog, and discomfort. The conversation highlights common contributors such as stress, irregular eating, cold foods, and dietary excesses. We also discuss practical strategies like meal timing, warming foods, and simple dietary adjustments to support more efficient digestion. It’s a systems-based approach to understanding why bloating happens and how to address it in a more individualized way. Music provided by Blue Dot. 👋 Connect with the Ellen Goldsmith ⁠https://pearlnaturalhealth.com/⁠ ⁠Nutritional Healing with Chinese Medicine by Ellen Goldsmith⁠ 👋 Connect with the Turds! Rebecca Sand ND, LAc, MSOM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drrebeccasand.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@drrebeccasand⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ilana Gurevich ND, FABNG, LAc, MSOM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.openwellnesspdx.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@openwellness_pdx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ilana.gurevich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ami Kapadia, MD, ABFM, ABIHM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amikapadia.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    34 min

  4. 7 APR

    # 80 - A Different Way to Think About Digestion with Ellen Goldsmith

    In this episode, we’re joined by Chinese dietetics expert Ellen Goldsmith to explore how traditional food systems approach digestion, health, and prevention. We discuss the framework of the five flavors, seasonal eating, and how these principles influence digestive function, satiety, and overall physiology. The conversation also highlights how modern dietary patterns can disrupt these regulatory signals, leading to persistent symptoms and cravings. Rather than focusing on restriction, this approach emphasizes restoring balance through everyday food choices. It’s a practical, systems-based perspective on how to think about food as part of long-term digestive health. Music provided by Blue Dot. 👋 Connect with the Ellen Goldsmith https://pearlnaturalhealth.com/ Nutritional Healing with Chinese Medicine by Ellen Goldsmith 👋 Connect with the Turds! Rebecca Sand ND, LAc, MSOM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drrebeccasand.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@drrebeccasand⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ilana Gurevich ND, FABNG, LAc, MSOM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.openwellnesspdx.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@openwellness_pdx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ilana.gurevich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ami Kapadia, MD, ABFM, ABIHM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amikapadia.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    33 min

  5. 24 MAR

    #79 -Unlocking the Secrets of Fiber and Prebiotics with Dr. Mark Davis

    In this conversation, the Turd Nerds are joined by Dr. Mark Davis and the hosts discuss the significance of fiber and prebiotics in gut health, emphasizing personalized approaches to treatment. They explore the challenges of microbiome testing, the management of conditions like C. diff and chronic candida, and the role of prebiotics in treating constipation. The discussion also touches on SIBO testing and treatment perspectives, highlighting the evolving landscape of gut health and the importance of individualized care. Music provided by Blue Dot. 👋 Connect with the Dr. Mark Davis ⁠https://www.foundational-medicine.com/⁠ ⁠https://www.probioticinfusions.com/about⁠ 👋 Connect with the Turds! Rebecca Sand ND, LAc, MSOM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drrebeccasand.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@drrebeccasand⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ilana Gurevich ND, FABNG, LAc, MSOM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.openwellnesspdx.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@openwellness_pdx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ilana.gurevich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ami Kapadia, MD, ABFM, ABIHM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amikapadia.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    36 min

  6. 10 MAR

    #78 -Fecal Microbiota Transplant with Dr. Mark Davis

    In this episode of The Turd Nerds, the Turds are joined by Dr. Mark Davis, ND and we take a deep dive into the strange but powerful world of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)—what happens when you transplant an entire microbial ecosystem into the human gut and why it can be so effective for certain diseases. We explore why FMT is nearly curative for C. difficile, how dosing and delivery affect outcomes in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and share striking clinical stories of severe inflammatory bowel disease improving after repeated treatments. Music provided by Blue Dot. 👋 Connect with the Dr. Mark Davis https://www.foundational-medicine.com/ https://www.probioticinfusions.com/about 👋 Connect with the Turds! Rebecca Sand ND, LAc, MSOM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drrebeccasand.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@drrebeccasand⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ilana Gurevich ND, FABNG, LAc, MSOM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.openwellnesspdx.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@openwellness_pdx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ilana.gurevich⁠⁠⁠⁠Ami Kapadia, MD, ABFM, ABIHM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amikapadia.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    31 min

  7. 24 FEB

    #77 - Navigating Menopause: Hormone Therapy Insights

    In this conversation, the docs discuss the treatment of menopause, focusing on hormone therapy, diet, herbal remedies, and the importance of movement. She emphasizes the role of estrogen and progesterone in managing symptoms, the significance of a balanced diet rich in fiber and polyphenols, and the benefits of herbal supplements. Additionally, she highlights the necessity of regular exercise and monitoring health markers to improve overall well-being during the perimenopausal and menopausal stages. Music provided by Blue Dot. 👋 Connect with the Turds! Rebecca Sand ND, LAc, MSOM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drrebeccasand.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@drrebeccasand⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ilana Gurevich ND, FABNG, LAc, MSOM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.openwellnesspdx.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@openwellness_pdx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ilana.gurevich⁠⁠⁠Ami Kapadia, MD, ABFM, ABIHM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amikapadia.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    39 min

  8. 10 FEB

    #76 - The Hormonal Shift: Understanding Insulin Resistance in Perimenopause

    This conversation delves into the intricate relationship between perimenopause, insulin resistance, and the microbiome. Dr. Rebecca Sand discusses how hormonal changes during perimenopause affect insulin sensitivity, fat distribution, and overall health. The importance of dietary adjustments, particularly increasing protein intake and maintaining gut health, is emphasized as a means to manage symptoms and improve well-being during this transitional phase. The discussion also touches on the implications of aging and inflammation on mental health, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to treatment. Music provided by Blue Dot. 👋 Connect with the Turds! Rebecca Sand ND, LAc, MSOM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drrebeccasand.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@drrebeccasand⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ilana Gurevich ND, FABNG, LAc, MSOM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.openwellnesspdx.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@openwellness_pdx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ilana.gurevich⁠⁠Ami Kapadia, MD, ABFM, ABIHM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amikapadia.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    41 min
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About

The Turd Nerds is an integrative gastroenterology podcast. Drs. Rebecca Sand, Ami Kapadia and Ilana Gurevich tackle complex digestive topics, spanning IBS, Celiac, parasites, SIBO, biofilms, the gut-brain connection and more. Tune in to hear clinical pearls, research updates and think with us through some tough cases. 

Information

  • Creator
    the integrative gastroenterology podcast
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © the integrative gastroenterology podcast
  • Show Website
    The Turd Nerds

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