What the start of my gut healing journey looked like

In my 20s (and even at age 30) I used to battle depression on and off.

I would recluse hardcore for weeks. Neglect myself and everyone around me. Hide out. It was so tough to get ahead in life at the time because I always felt this massive weight following me around.

You know what grinds my gears though? I would tell doctors all the time I didn’t believe it was situational because it was very rare that I didn’t love my life. The people in my life, my careers, God, my dating life, etc., I had SO many reasons to be happy. It was never one thing bringing me down. And yet! Not one doctor said, “You know what, it could be your gut.”

I suppose now is a good time to tell you this blog post is sponsored by Peoples Rx! They have a huge campaign right now on the Gut/Brain axis aka the gut being the second brain and I was like oh I have a huge story around this! And it involves Peoples Rx too!

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When I was 31 I could finally afford to see a functional medicine doctor. And with my intake and realizing I had taken over 500 rounds of antibiotics she was like, “No wonder you get depressed! Your gut has to be a WRECK. And the gut is your second brain!”

After testing we realized I was absorbing close to ZERO nutrients. At this time I was also practically bed ridden so this makes sense. I was sleeping almost 16 hours a day when I first moved to Austin. Not because I was depressed, I suppose I was a little, but because I had no more energy left.

My functional medicine doctor looked me dead in the eyes and said, “I’m calling it right now- when we clean up your gut so much of that brain fog and depression is going to lift.”

She put me on a protocol that was SUPER strict. I mean like all the frivolous fun was taken out of my life for a good six months haha.

She had charged me for all these supplements and I remember first thinking- Dang supplements can be sooo expensive (I still think that way but sometimes they are so necessary!)

I was new to Austin and wanted to get plugged in, so after my first bottles of supplements were used, I wanted to see if I could find these supplements “in person” somewhere– because wherever that was, they probably had a health/wellness community attached to it which I was looking for.

Dan suggested Peoples Rx and I fell in LOVE. Like immediately. Think of the most cozy, helpful supplement store and wellness store and pharmacy all in one. Just GOOD VIBES all around.

I ended up talking to one of their staff members for a good 30 min (I went in at an off hour I think) and we were going over my gut protocol and she was like, “Yes this sounds like a great protocol for you! Is it working?” And I told her yes but I thought *some* of the products were slightly overpriced. She ended up going through ALL of them they had at Peoples and while some of them were the same price, others were much cheaper at Peoples!

It was so cool to go over my protocol with another health professional. So, I got my order, and every other month I would go back and refill at Peoples and I got to give them updates and also learn more about other supplements that are great for the gut.

I always tell people- you want to learn some quick things about health and get other opinions? Stop in Peoples! I always get something out of it when I stop there. More than just my favorite snacks and supplements. There is this human touch that makes me feel more connected to my Austin, Texas community.

What ended up happening was… I did a LOT of healing. A lot a lot.

Present day- I have had some very sad things happen. I have even had times when life didn’t feel like it was going the direction I wanted. AND YET- I did not fall depressed. I had enough serotonin and dopamine and B9 and B6 and on and my body was SO happy. It was revived. Refreshed.

For the first time in a long time, my brain really turned on. It was a direct correlation- the more my gut healed, the more my brain got healthier and more sharp. I FIRMLY believe in the gut/brain connection. That’s why I find it so cool that Peoples is focusing on that so much lately. People need to be aware.

If you are wondering about some of my favorite GUT supplements at Peoples Rx– let me tell you!

MY favorite gut supplements (That worked for ME. Because individual needs are different!)

1. Megaspore probiotic
2. Digestive Enzymes (Pure Encapsulations is a great one)
3. Aloe Vera Juice
4. NAC