Mood Food

Prreeti Butani

A podcast about Eating Real Food with Dr. Pramila Vishvanath and Prreeti Butani.

  1. Sep 21

    The Gut Health Finale: Pay Attention Before You’re in Pain

    What if your body has been trying to tell you something—and you’ve simply learned to ignore it? After seven episodes exploring the microbiome, hormones, stress, detoxification, the gut-brain connection, and gut repair, the Mood Food Podcast Gut Health Series comes to a close with a conversation about something surprisingly simple: paying attention to your body. Hosts Preeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND bring together the themes of the entire series and explore the space between wellness and a diagnosis of disease—the period when you may not feel right, but conventional testing doesn’t necessarily identify a problem. The conversation asks an important question: What does a healthy gut actually feel like? Rather than accepting bloating, cramps, reflux, fatigue, brain fog, digestive discomfort, or other recurring symptoms as simply “normal,” the hosts discuss the importance of recognizing your own baseline and noticing when something changes.  Gut Series FInale Main.txt The episode also takes the conversation beyond digestion. They explore prevention, health anxiety, self-care, relationships, community, and the pressure so many people—especially women—feel to put themselves last. The message isn’t to become obsessed with monitoring your health, but to develop a relationship with your body based on awareness rather than fear.  Gut Series FInale Main.txt Preeti also opens up about her own health journey and why the Gut Health Series is personal to her. She shares how, over the past two years, she made a commitment to consistently make time for herself—even on the busiest days—and how those small, sustainable choices have changed the way she feels and functions.  Gut Series FInale Main.txt In This Episode: What it means to live in the space between wellness and diagnosis What a healthy gut should actually feel like Why we can normalize dysfunction without realizing it Recognizing your personal health baseline When digestive symptoms may warrant medical attention Prevention without falling into health anxiety Why consistency matters more than intensity Sleep, movement, nutrition, breathing, and social connection Why we need to give ourselves permission to prioritize our health Preeti’s personal health journey and the decision to stop abandoning herself A simple morning routine to start the day with intention The final Mood Food Moment: listen to your body before the pain begins   The Final Challenge As the series comes to an end, the hosts offer one final exercise: Write a letter to your body. Acknowledge everything your body has carried you through. Listen to what it’s telling you. And make one promise to take better care of it.  Gut Series FInale Main.txt The Gut Health Series may be complete, but the journey doesn’t end here. Pay attention before you’re in pain.
Healing is not shock therapy. It is stability.
Attentiveness is a practice of love toward the body. Thank you for joining us on this journey. Subscribe, leave a review, and share the series with someone who might need to hear it.

  2. Aug 14

    Foundations of Gut Repair: The Six Pillars Your Gut Actually Needs

    What does your gut really need to stabilize, repair, and thrive? In this episode of the Mood Food Podcast Gut Health Series, hosts Preeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND take a step back from the latest supplements, trending protocols, and restrictive diets to focus on something more fundamental: the foundations of gut health. After exploring the gut-brain connection, detoxification, hormones, stress, and the microbiome throughout the series, this conversation asks a simple question: What are the non-negotiables when it comes to supporting a healthy gut?  Foundations of Gut Repair Master.txt The discussion looks at how everyday habits—including when you eat, what you eat, how you sleep, how much you move, and how you manage stress—can influence the digestive system and the body’s ability to recover and repair. The hosts also discuss a key distinction between treating disease and restoring health. Conventional medicine has an important role when we’re sick, but recovery doesn’t necessarily end when the immediate illness is treated. Supporting the body as it returns to healthy function can require attention to food, lifestyle, rest, medications, and the underlying factors that contributed to feeling unwell in the first place.  Foundations of Gut Repair Master.txt In This Episode: Why meal timing and digestive rhythm matter What makes a balanced, gut-friendly breakfast The importance of protein and fiber Different types of fiber and how they affect digestion Why hydration is easy to overlook The relationship between sleep, recovery, and gut health How movement and exercise support digestion Sugar, artificial sweeteners, and the microbiome The potential effects of long-term medication use on gut health Leaky gut and intestinal permeability Why gut repair requires more than just changing your diet Creating sustainable habits that support long-term health   The conversation ultimately comes back to a simple idea: there is no single supplement or protocol that can replace the foundations of healthy living. Food, sleep, hydration, movement, rest, and thoughtful medical care all have a role to play. Whether you’re dealing with a diagnosed digestive condition or simply feel like your body hasn’t been functioning the way it should, this episode offers a place to start. Listen, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who is trying to understand their gut health.

  3. Jul 18

    What Does “Detox” Really Mean? Separating Wellness Myths from Science

    Should you do a detox? And if so, what does a healthy detox actually look like?   In this episode of the Mood Food Podcast Gut Health Series, hosts Prreeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in wellness: detoxification. From juice cleanses and fasting trends to social media “resets,” there’s no shortage of advice—but is any of it actually helping? In this thoughtful discussion, the hosts explore what detoxification really means, why the body’s natural detox systems deserve more attention than fad cleanses, and how supporting the gut microbiome is an essential part of creating lasting health. Rather than promoting a one-size-fits-all approach, the episode emphasizes that detoxification should be individualized and guided by a person’s health, lifestyle, and goals. The conversation also explores the importance of preparing the body before beginning a detox, including supporting gut health, considering underlying conditions, and understanding how factors like nutrition, stress, medications, and environmental exposures influence the body’s ability to heal.   ⸻   In This Episode: What “detox” really means—and what it doesn’t Why supporting the gut microbiome comes first Who may benefit from a detox and who should proceed with caution The body’s natural detoxification pathways Common misconceptions about juice cleanses and fasting Why sustainable lifestyle changes matter more than quick fixes The connection between stress, mindset, and gut health How to approach detoxification safely and realistically ⸻ This episode isn’t about finding a miracle cleanse—it’s about understanding your body, supporting its natural processes, and building habits that promote long-term health.   Join the Conversation Have you ever tried a detox or cleanse? What did you learn from the experience? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear your perspective.

  4. Jun 26

    The Gut-Brain Connection: How Your Microbiome May Influence Mood, Stress & Hormones?

    Could your gut be influencing your mood, anxiety levels, hormones, and even the way you think?   In this episode of the Mood Food Podcast Gut Health Series, hosts Prreeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND bring together many of the topics explored throughout the series to examine one of the most fascinating areas of health science today: the gut-brain connection.   The conversation explores how the microbiome communicates with the brain and how disruptions in gut health may contribute to symptoms such as anxiety, brain fog, migraines, digestive discomfort, PMS, inflammation, and mood changes. Through personal experiences and practical discussion, the hosts examine how lifestyle, diet, stress, hormones, and the microbiome may all be connected.     The episode also dives into questions many people ask themselves:   Why do stress and digestive issues often occur together? Can gut health affect anxiety and mood? What role does the microbiome play in hormone balance? Why do some foods trigger brain fog, cravings, or inflammation? How can we create an environment where both the gut and the brain can thrive?     ⸻   In This Episode:   Understanding the gut-brain connection How stress impacts digestion—and vice versa The microbiome’s role in mood and anxiety Brain fog, migraines, and inflammation Hormones, PMS, and gut health Why lifestyle habits matter more than we think Supporting long-term health through a healthier gut Creating resilience from the inside out   ⸻   The gut and brain are in constant communication. Understanding that relationship may change the way you think about your health.   Join the Conversation   Have you ever noticed changes in your digestion when you’re stressed—or changes in your mood when your diet changes?   Share your experience in the comments below.

  5. Jun 12

    Stress & Gut Health Part 2: How to Build Resilience and Heal

    You can’t eliminate stress—but you can change how your body responds to it. In Part 2 of the Mood Food Podcast Stress & Gut Health Series, hosts Preeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND continue their exploration of the powerful relationship between stress and the digestive system. After examining the science behind the gut-brain connection in Part 1, this episode focuses on the practical side of stress management: what we can do each day to support both our mental and physical health. Through an engaging discussion, the hosts explore how simple lifestyle choices—from sleep and nutrition to movement, breathing, and social connection—can help regulate the nervous system, improve gut function, and build long-term resilience.  In This Episode: Why managing stress is essential for gut health The role of sleep in recovery and healing How movement supports both the brain and digestive system Nutrition strategies for times of high stress Breathing, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation The importance of relationships and social connection Building resilience instead of chasing a stress-free life Small daily habits that can make a big difference Stress is an unavoidable part of life. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s developing the tools to respond in healthier ways and create a stronger foundation for long-term wellness. This episode completes our two-part series on Stress & Gut Health, offering practical insights that listeners can begin applying immediately.  Join the Conversation Watch Part 1 to learn how stress affects the gut and overall health Subscribe for more conversations on gut health, nutrition, and wellness Comment below: What’s your favorite way to manage stress?

  6. May 22

    Can stress make you sick? More than most people realize.

    In this episode of the Mood Food Podcast Gut Health Series, hosts Preeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND begin a special two-part conversation exploring the relationship between stress and gut health.   This first episode focuses on how chronic stress impacts the body — especially the digestive system — and why the gut is often one of the first places stress shows up physically.   Joined by a gut health expert, the discussion explores the science of the gut-brain connection, the role of the nervous system, and how stress can contribute to symptoms like bloating, reflux, digestive discomfort, inflammation, fatigue, brain fog, and mood changes.   ⸻    In This Episode:   The connection between the brain and the gut How chronic stress affects digestion and the microbiome Why stress can trigger inflammation and GI symptoms The nervous system’s role in gut health Physical signs your body may be stuck in “fight or flight” mode How modern lifestyles contribute to chronic stress Foundational strategies to support stress resilience and healing   ⸻   Stress affects more than the mind — it affects the entire body. Understanding that connection is the first step toward better health.   ⸻    Join the Conversation   Subscribe for Part 2 of our stress and gut health series Share this episode with someone navigating stress or digestive issues Comment below: Where do you notice stress affecting your body the most?

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

A podcast about Eating Real Food with Dr. Pramila Vishvanath and Prreeti Butani.