Most people think of health in terms of diet, supplements, workouts and stress.
But in this Gut Check episode, Matt Maruca makes a striking case: light may be the most overlooked driver of gut health, hormone balance, mitochondrial function and emotional well-being.
Too often, hormone imbalance is treated in isolation—“Here’s your estrogen, here’s your progesterone.” But what if the underlying disruptor is deeper?
In episode 27 of the Gut Check Podcast, Dr. Patrick Flynn, founder of The Wellness Way and veteran clinician, pulls back the curtain on why gut health, immune dysfunction, and chronic inflammation are often the missing links in hormone problems — especially for women.
In a world full of extreme diet trends and rigid routines, a more grounded approach to wellness is emerging—one that prioritizes feeling good in your body over chasing perfection. At the center of this approach are three interconnected pillars: gut health, hormone balance, and supportive daily habits. When these systems work together, the body becomes more resilient, energized, and adaptable to life’s changing phases.
We often treat oral health as a cosmetic afterthought — white teeth, fresh breath, maybe flossing here and there. But emerging conversations (including the one with Dr. Whitman) reveal a deeper truth: your mouth is a gateway to your body’s systems—gut, hormones, immune function, brain health. A well-balanced oral ecosystem supports your whole-body health; a disrupted one can create ripple effects far beyond cavities.
In the landscape of wellness, a few foundational themes keep emerging: insulin sensitivity, hormone balance, gut health, and the way all of these shift depending on where we are in life.
For many couples, infertility is framed as a mystery or a game of chance. But what if the roots of this struggle extend beyond fertility clinics and into the gut, the immune system, and daily exposures? In Episode 23 of the Gut Check Podcast, Dr. Samantha Ess shines a spotlight on how gut health, inflammation, toxins and lifestyle all converge to shape fertility outcomes for both men and women.
