Episode 1: Why Your Gut Feels Bloated
Bloating, Abdominal Distension, Hormones, Food Triggers & Common Causes Explained
Why is bloating so common — and what does “bloating” actually mean?
In Episode 1 of the Team Gut Girls Podcast, Dr. Christina Carew, ND, Dr. Dominique Vanier, ND, and Dr. Whitney Baxter, ND explore one of the most common digestive complaints: bloating.
We discuss the difference between subjective bloating and visible abdominal distension, common digestive and non-digestive contributors, practical symptom assessment questions, food patterns, constipation clues, hormones, medications, and important red flags that may warrant investigation.
Watch or Listen to this Episode
What You'll Learn in this Episode
In this episode, we discuss:
Why abdominal bloating is so common
The difference between bloating and abdominal distension
Questions that help characterize bloating symptoms
Morning bloating vs. post-meal bloating vs. end-of-day bloating
Constipation, gas patterns, and incomplete evacuation
Eating behaviours that may influence symptoms
Hormonal and pelvic contributors to bloating
Thyroid dysfunction, motility disorders, medications, and non-gut causes
Elimination diets, food patterns, and dietary nuance
Red flags and situations that may warrant medical evaluation
Episode Chapters
00:00 — Why Bloating Is Common. Why bloating is one of the most frequent digestive complaints and why clear symptom definitions matter.
03:57 — Patient Questions Checklist. Questions about timing, onset, bowel habits, medications, food patterns, and symptom characteristics.
06:58 — Constipation and Gas Clues. Constipation, incomplete evacuation, gas patterns, and symptom interpretation.
07:46 — Hormones and Pelvic Causes. Menstrual cycles, endometriosis, PCOS, pelvic cysts, fibroids, and hormonal contributors.
09:57 — Other Organs and Medications. Motility disorders, GLP-1 medications, diabetes/gastroparesis, gallbladder and liver considerations, ascites, and non-gut contributors.
12:32 — Food Triggers and Elimination Diets. Dietary patterns, elimination diets, and caution around overly restrictive approaches.
16:11 — Fiber Nuance and Travel Changes. Fiber considerations, illness, travel, and digestive shifts.
18:04 — Red Flags and When to Investigate. Bleeding, warning signs, and when symptoms may warrant further evaluation.