Vitamin E for IBS: Food Sources, Deficiency Rates, and Gut Barrier Benefits

On the IBS Freedom Podcast, Amy and Nikki discuss vitamin E in their single-nutrient series, opening with jokes and then covering practical food sources such as wheat germ, sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, and various seed oils, while noting wheat avoidance and gluten-free diets can make intake harder.

00:00 Vitamin E Kickoff Joke
01:50 Real Food Sources
02:49 Wheat Germ Mishap
05:45 Seed Oils Debate
07:59 How Common Deficiency Is
10:27 IBS and IBD Evidence
15:21 Limits of Nutrition Research
21:25 What Vitamin E Does
24:04 Deficiency Signs and Fertility
27:13 Nutrient Interactions
28:53 Vitamin E Supplement Risks
31:11 Goldilocks Dosing Principle
36:53 Vitamin D Toxicity Caution
38:59 Who Should Supplement Vitamin E
43:45 Food Sources and Palm Oil
46:05 RDA and PUFA Ratio Debate
51:07 Vitamin E and Gut Microbiome
54:47 Final Summary and Wrap Up

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Nikki's Info:
- Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TriangleHolisticGutHealth
- Instagram: @Gut.Microbiome.Queen
- FODMAP Freedom in 90 Days: https://www.fodmapfreedom.com/enroll
- Private Appts: https://infinityholistichealth.com/

Amy's Info:
- Practice: https://sibodiaries.com/
- Instagram: @Amy_Hollenkamp_RD

Nitric Oxide, Dietary Nitrates, and Gut Health (IBS Freedom Podcast with Cathy Eason)

Nikki and Amy host Cathy Eason, a functional nutritional therapy practitioner with over 20 years of experience, autoimmune specialist, and Chief Science Officer at Berkeley Life, to discuss the role of nitric oxide in gut health and overall physiology.

00:00 Welcome Back + Meet Kathy (Functional Medicine & Berkeley Life)
01:16 A Nitric Oxide Horror Story: The ‘Nitric Balance’ Flush
04:49 Nitric Oxide 101: What It Is, Why It Matters for Blood Flow & Gut Health
12:40 Why NO Runs Low: Enzymes, Nutrient Cofactors, Aging & Oxidative Stress
14:34 The Nitrate-to-NO Pathway: Oral Microbiome, Chewing & Stomach Acid (PPIs)
18:33 Gut Payoffs: Motility, Barrier Repair, SIBO Risk & Why Diversity Beats Restriction
26:00 Beyond Food: Trauma, Vagus Nerve, Nasal Breathing & Nervous System Balance
31:31 Morning nitric oxide boost: grounding, sunlight & nasal breathing
32:04 Mitochondria, energy, and why dietary nitrates matter for fatigue
33:08 Weight balance & the 'unsexy basics' (moderate habits over overtraining)
34:48 Food first: why a multivitamin can’t replace nitrates & polyphenols
38:07 Supplement overload & the psychology of feeling 'broken'
41:38 Smart off-ramps: using supplements strategically (and when to stop)
43:23 Long-game heart health: aging, blood flow, and monitoring BP/pulse
48:17 Bridging restricted diets: parallels with butyrate + nitrate support
50:45 Protect your oral microbiome: mouthwash, smoking, and tongue scraping
55:10 Closing Q&A setup + practical starting steps & Berkeley Life resources

Love this episode?
Be sure to LIKE it and SUBSCRIBE :)

Nikki's Info:
- Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TriangleHolisticGutHealth
- Instagram: @Gut.Microbiome.Queen
- FODMAP Freedom in 90 Days: https://www.fodmapfreedom.com/enroll
- Private Appts: https://infinityholistichealth.com/

Amy's Info:
- Practice: https://sibodiaries.com/
- Instagram: @Amy_Hollenkamp_RD

In this episode of the IBS Freedom Podcast, Nikki and Amy transition from discussing water-soluble vitamins to exploring the world of fat-soluble vitamins, starting with Vitamin A. They delve into the underappreciated role of Vitamin A in gut health, its synergy with other nutrients, and its widespread deficiency within the population. The hosts also discuss signs of Vitamin A deficiency, its sources in food, and the importance of a balanced intake of fat-soluble vitamins.

Practical tips on enhancing dietary Vitamin A and cautionary notes about supplementation are provided. Additionally, Nikki shares a humorous story about an encounter with a multi-level marketing company pitching a photonic scanner measuring carotenoids. Tune in for an insightful conversation on why Vitamin A deserves more attention in your diet.

00:00 Introduction to Fat-Soluble Vitamins
00:30 The Importance of Vitamin A
01:03 Clinical Observations and Deficiency Risks
04:22 Safety Warnings and Supplementation
05:48 Beta-Carotene vs. Retinol
08:10 Absorption and Bioavailability
10:57 Personal Experiences and Genetic Factors
14:59 Vitamin A Deficiency Symptoms
19:08 Interactions with Other Nutrients
35:08 Vitamin A Deficiency and Iron Intake
35:51 The Importance of Iron for Taller Women
37:20 Vitamin A and Gut Health
38:11 Vitamin A's Role in Immune Function
43:39 Nutritional Status and Microbial Regulation
45:53 Vitamin A Deficiency and GI Infections
51:46 Digestive Function and Vitamin A Absorption
56:40 Sources of Vitamin A in Food
59:10 A Funny Story About Carotenoid Scanners
01:05:49 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

Love this episode?
Be sure to LIKE it and SUBSCRIBE :)

Nikki's Info:
- Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TriangleHolisticGutHealth
- Instagram: @Gut.Microbiome.Queen
- FODMAP Freedom in 90 Days: https://www.fodmapfreedom.com/enroll
- Private Appts: https://infinityholistichealth.com/

Amy's Info:
- Practice: https://sibodiaries.com/
- Instagram: @Amy_Hollenkamp_RD