This week, Joy chats with Desiree Nielsen, ​​a registered dietitian who takes an evidence-based, integrative approach to her dietetics work, with a focus on anti-inflammatory, plant-centred nutrition and digestive health. ​​She is the author of multiple books, including one on anti-inflammatory nutrition called Un-Junk Your Diet, a plant-based cookbook called Eat More Plants: 100 Anti-inflammatory Plant-centred Recipes for Vibrant Living, which became a #1 National Bestseller, and her new cookbook on gut health, Good For Your Gut: A Plant-based Digestive Health Guide and Nourishing Recipes for Living Well. She also hosts the evidence-informed wellness podcast, The Allsorts Podcast, where she interviews leading experts on topics such as gut health, plant-based nutrition, and more. In this episode Desiree shares actionable steps to help reduce bloating and train your digestive tract to enjoy more plant-based foods. Desiree is a wealth of knowledge and the simple, but powerful information she shares will change your gut and your life forever! After listening to this episode you will feel empowered to make small, sustainable changes to your diet and lifestyle in order to support lasting health.  If you’ve been struggling with digestive health and overwhelmed with conflicting information on how to heal then you won’t want to miss this episode! So grab your favourite cup of tea, settle in with your notebook, and get ready to heal your gut, naturally.    Episode Highlights: How Desire’s love of food led her to a career in dietetics.  Desiree’s aha moment of learning how food can impact health. The decision she made to switch from pursuing a medical degree to becoming a dietician.  What plant-based nutrition means to Desiree.   Her focus as a dietician: digestive health, plant-based nutrition, and chronic inflammatory disorders. Why she thinks dieticians can be more specific in their recommendations to empower clients.  Why you should eat 30 different plants a week to nourish your microbiome.  How to incorporate this many plants into your diet. Hint: herbs, spices, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains all count as plants! The role of a healthy microbiome, especially in the ascending colon, for overall health. What are short chain fatty acids and why should you care?  The interaction between gut health, immune health, and nervous system function.  The power of butyrate in improving the inflammatory response.  Why inflammation is a critical immune response.  How short chain fatty acids impact the nervous system.  Why IBS is considered a disorder of gut-brain communication.  How changes in the enteric nervous system may impact our mental wellbeing. Different causes of bloating and what to do about them. The role of psychological stress in altering the function of the digestive system.  How dysregulation in the abdominal wall can impact digestive function.  Why tight pants can cause bloating.  The importance of chewing your food thoroughly.  Desiree’s perspective on digestive bitters and other quick & easy fixes for bloating. Why she suggests everyone incorporate more bitter veggies into their lives.  Why she thinks coffee can be a beneficial addition to a healthy diet, based on context. The importance of understanding your body’s unique needs to create your healthiest diet. Why you don’t need to adhere to strict dietary guidelines for optimal health. The role of the migrating motor complex in maintaining gut health. How Desiree’s eating habits have evolved over the years.  How much time you should leave between when you eat your last meal and when you go to bed. The importance of consistency for digestive health.  What food intolerances can say about your gut health.  How training the gut can improve your capacity to digest a variety of foods. How cooking and blending high fibre foods can start training the gut. Desiree’s goal in writing her new book Good For Your Gut.  The rol