Socialize

Functional Lab Testing, Gut Health, Podcast

17// Finding Links in Your Labs to Guide Nutrition with Nutritionist Haleh Olsen MS, CN

November 26, 2020

Finding Links in Your Labs to Guide Nutrition

If you've ever thought…

"I'm eating healthy... so why am I still bloated?"

Or...

"I've cut out gluten, dairy, sugar, and processed foods, but I'm still constipated."

You're not crazy.

And you're definitely not alone.

In fact, this is one of the biggest myths I see in functional medicine.

Nutrition matters.

It matters A LOT.

But here's what almost nobody tells you...

Nutrition is only one piece of the gut health puzzle.

You can eat organic.

Buy the expensive supplements.

Drink green smoothies.

Avoid every food sensitivity you can think of.

…and still feel miserable.

Why?

Because your body may not actually be able to use the nutrition you're giving it.

That was one of the biggest themes in my conversation with nutrition expert Haleh Olsen—a nutritionist with an incredible background in metabolism, genetics, autoimmune disease, biomarkers, and functional nutrition. She shared something I wish every person struggling with digestive symptoms understood:

Your body has to absorb nutrition before it can heal.

That changes everything.

Why Nutrition Alone Doesn't Always Fix Bloating, Constipation, or Food Sensitivities

I love nutrition.

I recommend nourishing foods every single day.

But here's where many practitioners stop...

They assume food is the treatment.

I don't.

Because after working with thousands of gut health labs, I've learned something important.

Many people already eat incredibly healthy diets.

They're eating vegetables.

Protein.

Healthy fats.

Fermented foods.

Maybe they're even working with a dietitian.

Yet they're still dealing with:

  • Bloating
  • Constipation
  • Fatigue
  • Brain fog
  • Food sensitivities
  • Low energy
  • Nutrient deficiencies

Why?

Because the gut has to work before the food can work.

During our conversation, Haleh shared her own experience.

For years she ate nourishing food.

Yet she was still malnourished for more than a decade because her digestive system wasn't functioning properly.

That story hits home for so many of my clients.

They've spent years asking:

"Should I eat paleo?"

"Should I go keto?"

"Maybe carnivore?"

"Maybe vegan?"

Those questions aren't necessarily wrong.

They're just often the wrong first question.

Instead, I ask:

  • Can your gut actually digest your food?
  • Are you absorbing your nutrients?
  • Is inflammation damaging your intestinal lining?
  • Are hidden infections stealing nutrients?
  • Is your nervous system keeping digestion shut down?

Those questions change the outcome.

The Healthiest Diet Can't Overcome a Broken Digestive System

Imagine pouring premium gasoline into a car with a broken fuel pump.

The gasoline isn't bad.

The delivery system is.

Your digestive tract works the same way.

If you have:

  • Leaky gut
  • Poor stomach acid
  • Gut infections
  • Digestive enzyme deficiencies
  • Chronic inflammation
  • Nervous system dysfunction

...your body may never receive the nutrients you're carefully eating.

That's why nutrition and gut health always have to work together.

Not separately.

Gut Health Is About More Than Food: The Body Works as One System

One thing I loved about Haleh's approach is that she refuses to isolate one organ.

Neither do I.

She described the body as one connected system.

Sleep.

Stress.

Family life.

Metabolism.

Brain health.

The microbiome.

Genetics.

Inflammation.

Everything influences everything else.

That's exactly how I practice, too.

Because when someone tells me they have constipation...

I don't just think about their colon.

I think about:

  • The brain
  • The vagus nerve
  • The liver
  • Nutrient status
  • Blood sugar
  • Stress hormones
  • Mineral balance
  • Hidden infections
  • The intestinal lining

Your body isn't a collection of disconnected organs.

It's one conversation happening all day long.

And when one part struggles...

Everything else starts compensating.

That's why people often experience bloating and constipation alongside symptoms like:

  • Anxiety
  • Fatigue
  • Brain fog
  • Hormone problems
  • Skin issues
  • Food sensitivities

They're not random.

They're connected.

Stop Chasing Symptoms—Start Looking for the Missing Puzzle Pieces

One analogy from our conversation perfectly captures how I think about functional medicine.

I often tell clients we're looking for the missing puzzle pieces.

Most of the puzzle is already there.

Your doctor may have checked your thyroid.

Your gastroenterologist may have performed a colonoscopy.

Your blood work may look "normal."

Yet you still don't feel well.

That doesn't mean nothing is wrong.

It usually means one or two missing pieces haven't been found yet.

Sometimes those pieces include:

  • Hidden gut infections
  • Leaky gut
  • Food sensitivities
  • Low stomach acid
  • Mineral imbalances
  • Methylation issues
  • Poor nutrient absorption
  • Nervous system dysfunction

Haleh shared a great example of this.

A client had seen multiple excellent practitioners.

Everyone had identified small abnormalities.

But no one connected them together.

Once the missing link became clear—and they combined nutrition with GI mapping, inflammation support, and gut healing—the client's brain fog disappeared, digestion improved, and symptoms she'd lived with for years finally started resolving.

That's why I don't believe in guessing.

I believe in testing.

Because when you know why your body is struggling...

You stop wasting years trying random supplements and restrictive diets.

Instead, you finally have a roadmap.

17 quote

The 80/20 Rule: The Secret to Sustainable Nutrition and Gut Health

Here's another myth I'd love to erase forever...

Healing doesn't require perfection.

Actually...

Perfection often gets in the way of healing.

I see it all the time.

Someone develops bloating.

Then constipation.

Maybe they discover a food sensitivity.

Suddenly they're afraid of food.

They eliminate dairy.

Then gluten.

Then grains.

Then fruit.

Then legumes.

Then they avoid restaurants.

Family dinners become stressful.

Vacations revolve around food.

Instead of feeling healthier...

They're exhausted.

Mentally.

Emotionally.

Physically.

Haleh shared one of my favorite concepts from our conversation: the 80/20 rule.

Not the business version.

The health version.

Her philosophy is simple.

Give your body your best effort about 80% of the time.

Allow life to happen the other 20%.

Because life will happen.

You'll eat birthday cake.

You'll travel.

You'll forget your supplements.

You'll have a stressful week.

You'll miss a workout.

That doesn't erase months of progress.

It just means you're human.

Healing Isn't a Wagon You Fall Off

I absolutely loved how Haleh explained this.

She said there is no wagon to fall off.

There are simply moments where life gets messy.

Then...

You get back to your routine.

That's it.

No guilt.

No shame.

No starting over Monday.

This mindset matters because chronic stress affects digestion.

Every time we panic over one meal...

Our nervous system notices.

Every time we convince ourselves we've "ruined everything"...

Our body believes the emergency.

And emergencies aren't great for digestion.

Instead of focusing on perfection, focus on consistency.

Consistency heals.

Perfection burns people out.

Why Food Sensitivity Diets Sometimes Make Gut Health Worse

Food sensitivity testing has become incredibly popular.

Sometimes appropriately.

Sometimes not.

Here's what concerns me.

Many people assume removing foods automatically heals the gut.

It doesn't.

Food elimination can reduce symptoms.

But symptoms aren't the same thing as healing.

Think about it.

If your kitchen ceiling leaks every time it rains...

Putting a bucket underneath catches the water.

But it doesn't fix the roof.

The same thing happens with food.

Removing foods may reduce:

  • Bloating
  • Constipation
  • Gas
  • Brain fog
  • Fatigue
  • Skin reactions

But if the root cause remains...

The problem usually comes back.

That's why in our practice we always ask:

Why is this food causing inflammation in the first place?

Could it be:

  • Increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut)?
  • Chronic infections?
  • An overactive immune system?
  • Poor digestion?
  • Low stomach acid?
  • Enzyme deficiencies?

Food is often exposing the problem.

Not creating it.

Why Functional Testing Matters More Than Guessing

One of my favorite stories Haleh shared involved a client who had already worked with multiple skilled practitioners.

Everyone found little clues.

No one connected them.

Then something changed.

By looking at GI mapping alongside inflammatory markers, they noticed something everyone had missed.

The client wasn't simply eating the wrong foods.

She wasn't absorbing nutrients properly.

One example stood out.

Large amounts of vitamin A appeared in her stool.

She wasn't deficient because she wasn't consuming enough.

She was struggling because her digestive system wasn't utilizing what she was taking.

That completely changed the treatment plan.

Instead of endlessly changing her diet...

They focused on healing her gut.

Supporting the intestinal lining.

Reducing inflammation.

Improving blood sugar regulation.

Using targeted nutrition.

Teaching her how to prepare foods differently.

The result?

Within months she noticed improvements she hadn't even realized were possible.

Her brain fog improved.

Her dry mouth disappeared.

Her taste returned to normal.

Her energy increased.

That's why I love functional testing.

It removes the guessing.

Nutrition Only Works If Your Body Can Use It

This is probably the biggest takeaway from the entire conversation.

Nutrition is powerful.

But nutrients still have to become usable inside the body.

Haleh explained something called bioavailability.

In simple terms...

Your body has to activate certain nutrients before it can use them.

Some people have genetic differences that make this harder.

One example is methylation.

Certain B vitamins must become methylated before the body can fully use them.

If someone has genetic variants affecting that process...

They may take high-quality supplements for years...

And still feel exhausted.

Not because supplements don't work.

Because their body needs a different form.

That's such an important reminder.

Your body isn't broken.

It simply needs the right support.

Sometimes that's food.

Sometimes that's targeted supplementation.

Sometimes it's addressing gut dysfunction first.

Sometimes it's all three.

Gut Health Starts Long Before Food Reaches Your Stomach

One of the most fascinating parts of our conversation had nothing to do with food.

It had everything to do with breathing.

Most people never think about this.

But digestion starts before you take your first bite.

Your nervous system decides whether digestion even happens.

If your body feels stressed...

It shifts into survival mode.

Blood moves away from digestion.

Stomach emptying slows.

Peristalsis decreases.

Digestive secretions drop.

The vagus nerve becomes less active.

That's a perfect recipe for:

  • Bloating
  • Constipation
  • Acid reflux
  • Gastroparesis
  • Feeling full quickly

Haleh shared her own experience recovering from a traumatic brain injury.

She realized she had been breathing into her chest instead of her diaphragm.

That changed everything.

When breathing improved...

Her nervous system became calmer.

And her digestive system began functioning more normally.

I see this every single week.

People think they have a stomach problem.

Often...

Their nervous system is asking for help.

And when we restore movement, breathing, and nervous system regulation alongside gut healing...

That's when the magic starts.

17 vs

Healing Happens When You Stop Treating Symptoms and Start Supporting Your Whole Body

If you've followed me for any length of time, you've probably heard me say this before...

Symptoms aren't the problem.

They're messages.

Your body is trying to get your attention.

Bloating isn't the enemy.

Constipation isn't the enemy.

Food sensitivities aren't the enemy.

They're clues.

The real question becomes:

What's creating those symptoms?

That's why I love collaborating with practitioners like Haleh.

Neither of us believes one profession has every answer.

Medicine matters.

Nutrition matters.

Functional testing matters.

The nervous system matters.

Sleep matters.

Stress matters.

Movement matters.

When you put those pieces together...

That's when healing accelerates.

During our conversation, Haleh shared something that really stuck with me.

She said she never wants clients to become dependent on her forever.

Instead, she wants them to understand their own body.

I couldn't agree more.

That's exactly what I want for every client who comes through Better Belly Therapies.

I don't want you guessing forever.

I don't want you Googling every symptom.

I want you to understand why your body is responding the way it is.

Because confidence changes everything.

Your Gut Health Journey Doesn't Have to Be Perfect

One of the most encouraging parts of Haleh's story is that she's lived through many of the struggles her clients face.

She has experienced:

  • Autoimmune disease
  • Gastroparesis
  • Breast cancer
  • A traumatic brain injury
  • Multiple shingles flare-ups

Yet she continues helping others because she knows healing is possible—even when life feels overwhelming.

That matters.

Because if you're reading this today...

Maybe you've already tried:

  • Working with a dietitian
  • Elimination diets
  • Supplements
  • Probiotics
  • Prescription medications
  • Functional medicine
  • Conventional medicine

Maybe you've even seen improvements...

Only to watch symptoms return.

Please don't mistake that for failure.

Healing is rarely a straight line.

There will be setbacks.

There will be seasons of stress.

There will be birthdays.

Vacations.

Busy weeks.

Life.

That doesn't mean your body has stopped healing.

It simply means you're human.

My Biggest Advice If You're Still Bloated or Constipated

If I could leave you with one piece of advice...

It would be this.

Stop asking, "What food should I eliminate next?"

Start asking...

"Why can't my body tolerate this food?"

That single shift changes everything.

Instead of fearing food...

You begin investigating your body.

Instead of collecting more supplements...

You gather better information.

Instead of chasing symptoms...

You uncover root causes.

That's exactly why my entire approach focuses on testing before guessing.

When we identify what's actually happening inside your gut, we can build a plan that's specific to your body.

Not someone else's.

No more endless trial and error.

No more wondering if another restrictive diet will finally be "the one."

Just answers.

And a roadmap.

Ready to Stop Guessing?

If you've been eating healthy but still struggle with bloating, constipation, food sensitivities, or low energy, your diet may not be the missing piece.

Your body may be asking for deeper investigation.

That's exactly why I created the Better Belly Blueprint.

Inside, I'll show you how to identify the hidden root causes that keep people stuck for years, including digestive infections, poor nutrient absorption, mineral imbalances, inflammation, and more.

👉 Learn more about the Better Belly Blueprint to discover which functional lab tests make the most sense for your symptoms.

If you'd rather have personalized support, our VIP Program walks with you through every step—from choosing the right labs to building a customized healing plan based on your results.

And if you're just beginning your journey, don't forget to explore the Better Belly Podcast Episode Vault, where you'll find hundreds of free episodes covering gut health, constipation, bloating, food sensitivities, mold, parasites, hormones, and root-cause healing.

Your body isn't broken.

It may simply be missing the right pieces.

Let's find them together.

Quick Recap

  • Nutrition is essential, but it isn't the only answer to gut health.
  • A healthy diet can't overcome poor digestion or nutrient absorption.
  • Chronic bloating and constipation often point toward deeper root causes.
  • Functional testing helps uncover hidden issues instead of relying on guesswork.
  • Food sensitivities usually signal an underlying problem rather than being the problem.
  • The nervous system plays a major role in digestion and healing.
  • Progress doesn't require perfection—consistency beats the "all-or-nothing" mindset.
  • Healing happens when nutrition, lifestyle, testing, and personalized care work together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can nutrition alone heal gut health?

Nutrition provides the building blocks for healing, but many people also need to address poor digestion, infections, inflammation, nervous system dysfunction, or nutrient absorption problems before they fully recover.

Can food sensitivities cause bloating and constipation?

They can contribute to symptoms, but food sensitivities are often a sign that something deeper—like leaky gut, inflammation, or digestive dysfunction—is happening.

Should I work with a dietitian if I have chronic digestive issues?

A knowledgeable dietitian or nutrition professional can be incredibly valuable, especially when they look beyond calorie counting and help connect nutrition with digestion, metabolism, and lab findings.

Why do I still feel tired if I eat healthy?

Healthy food only helps if your body can digest, absorb, and utilize those nutrients. Gut dysfunction, inflammation, genetics, or poor nutrient bioavailability may prevent your body from fully benefiting from your diet.

Is constipation always caused by diet?

No. Constipation can involve nervous system dysfunction, poor motility, mineral imbalances, dehydration, stress, infections, hormone imbalances, or other underlying digestive issues. Diet is only one piece of the picture.

About the Author

Written by Allison Jordan, FDN-P — Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, gut health specialist, host of The Better Belly Podcast, and founder of Better Belly Therapies. Allison helps women uncover the hidden root causes behind chronic constipation, bloating, mold illness, food sensitivities, fatigue, and hormone imbalances using functional lab testing and a personalized, root-cause approach to healing.

17 title

Have you ever felt like in your diet was a puzzle piece you were trying to make fit - and just didn’t?

Have you ever felt that you weren’t sure what foods would get you the healthy results you want?

If so, you are not alone!

That is why I brought in my friend Haleh Olsen, Certified Nutritionist, to talk with us about food. Haleh has a less common skill among nutritionists, and that is - reading lab results.

Haleh has learned over years of experience how to read lab results and find holes in health to know exactly what nutrition will get therapeutic results for her clients.

Haleh has worked with patients with cancer, autoimmune disorders, and other forms of trauma such as traumatic brain injuries because SHE HERSELF has gone through that!

I am so excited for today’s episode and hope that you are inspired for more health in your life today!

Other episodes mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Haleh:

Connect with Better Belly Therapies:

  • Instagram: @betterbellytherapies
  • Facebook: @betterbellytherapies

Or Email us!

Subscribe to our Weekly Podcast Newsletter 💌

Share your name and email below, and we'll share our new podcast episodes with you - every week!

+ view comments . . .

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

back to top