The Tara Thorne Wellness Podcast

Could one of the most overlooked factors affecting your gut health be hiding in your diet?
In this episode, Tara explores how excess saturated fat may affect your gut microbiome, particularly by promoting the growth of a bacteria called Bilophila wadsworthia. This bacteria thrives in bile-rich environments and can contribute to increased hydrogen sulfide production, which may be associated with symptoms like foul-smelling gas, bloating, constipation, loose stools, and fatigue.
Tara explains why diets such as keto, carnivore, and paleo can sometimes lead to excessive saturated fat intake, especially when they include large amounts of butter, high-fat dairy, and other saturated fat sources. She shares practical ways to become more aware of your daily intake, make simple dietary adjustments, and monitor how your symptoms respond.
She also discusses why not all stool tests provide the same level of insight into your gut microbiome, and why identifying the underlying issue is often more helpful than continually eliminating foods.
If you're struggling with persistent digestive symptoms, this episode offers a different perspective on a common dietary habit and practical steps you can consider to better support your gut health.
 
Episode Highlights
Why excess saturated fat may negatively affect your gut microbiome
The connection between saturated fat, bile production, and Bilophila wadsworthia
How hydrogen sulfide-producing bacteria may contribute to rotten-egg-smelling gas, bloating, constipation, and loose stools
Why gut imbalances may be associated with symptoms beyond digestion, including fatigue and inflammation
How high-fat diets, including keto, carnivore, and paleo, can lead to excessive saturated fat intake
Why high-fat dairy products, butter, and other common foods deserve a closer look
Tara's perspective on saturated fat, plant-based butter, and the ongoing debate around seed oils
How reading nutrition labels and tracking macros can help you understand your saturated fat intake
Why Tara suggests that some clients with elevated Bilophila and hydrogen sulfide consider reducing saturated fat to 10 grams or less per day
How to gradually reduce saturated fat intake and monitor changes in your symptoms
Why choosing the right stool test matters when investigating potential microbiome imbalances
Why removing more and more foods isn't necessarily the answer to better gut health
What Tara will cover in her upcoming live masterclass, including gut testing, nourishing the microbiome, and a special Black Friday announcement
 




































You're Invited to my upcoming Gut Masterclass!
Why Expensive Testing, Restrictive Diets and Traditional Gut Protocols Haven't Fixed Your Bloating & Pooping Problems.
This is the simple fix nobody has told you about!
Here's what I'll be covering:
Why chasing trigger foods keeps you stuck in a harmful elimination cycle that makes your gut worse, and the shift that changes your relationship with food
Why "I've done the testing and taken the supplements" has not given you answers or relief yet, and what to do instead
The missing layer to gut healing that moves you from the test-supplement-restrict cycle to a strategy that heals your gut for good
[ SAVE YOUR SPOT HERE ]
 
 
CONNECT WITH TARA: 

On Instagram: @tarathornewellness
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaraThorneNutrition
Book A 30- Minute Consultation with Tara HERE
FREE GUIDE: 5 Reasons Why You're Still Bloated and Have Poop Problems, Despite Doing Everything "Right" [DOWNLOAD HERE]

Taking NAC for liver support or general health? There's something important you need to understand about how this supplement may affect your gut.
In this episode, I explain why I urge caution with long-term use of NAC (N-acetyl cysteine), particularly when gut health is a concern. NAC is known for its mucus-thinning properties, but the mucus lining in your gut serves an essential purpose: it helps protect your intestinal cells from gut bacteria. Disrupting that protective layer may have unintended consequences, including potentially affecting Akkermansia muciniphila, an important gut bacterium that relies on mucus as a food source.
I also discuss why supporting your liver starts with the foundations, including gut health, adequate nutrients, a healthy diet and lifestyle, and understanding your individual needs rather than reaching for another supplement. We explore the role of Akkermansia in gut health and why balance matters when interpreting stool test results.
NAC may have a place in certain circumstances, but more supplementation isn't always better, and long-term use deserves careful consideration. If you're taking NAC for gut or liver support, this episode will help you understand the concerns I want you to discuss with a qualified healthcare professional before deciding whether it's right for you.
 
In this episode:
What NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) is and why it's commonly taken for liver support
Why supporting liver health also means paying attention to your gut
The role of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals and amino acids, in supporting liver function
Why the gut's mucus lining is an important protective barrier
How NAC's mucus-thinning properties may affect the intestinal mucus layer
What Akkermansia muciniphila does and why it matters for gut health
Why long-term NAC use may affect the mucus layer and the bacteria that rely on it
Why both low and elevated Akkermansia levels need to be interpreted in context
How stool testing can help identify areas of the microbiome that may need support
Why I recommend caution with long-term NAC use and why the reason for taking it matters
The foundational steps to consider before relying on supplements for liver and gut support
Why personalized testing and professional guidance matter when deciding which supplements to use


 




 




































You're Invited to my upcoming Gut Masterclass!
Why Expensive Testing, Restrictive Diets and Traditional Gut Protocols Haven't Fixed Your Bloating & Pooping Problems.
This is the simple fix nobody has told you about!
Here's what I'll be covering:
Why chasing trigger foods keeps you stuck in a harmful elimination cycle that makes your gut worse, and the shift that changes your relationship with food
Why "I've done the testing and taken the supplements" has not given you answers or relief yet, and what to do instead
The missing layer to gut healing that moves you from the test-supplement-restrict cycle to a strategy that heals your gut for good
[ SAVE YOUR SPOT HERE ]
 
 
CONNECT WITH TARA: 

On Instagram: @tarathornewellness
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaraThorneNutrition
Book A 30- Minute Consultation with Tara HERE
FREE GUIDE: 5 Reasons Why You're Still Bloated and Have Poop Problems, Despite Doing Everything "Right" [DOWNLOAD HERE]

Could some of the supplements you're taking to improve your health actually be working against your gut?
In this episode, I'm breaking down why certain popular supplements deserve a closer look before you add them to your routine. From TUDCA, ox bile and digestive bitters to broccoli sprout extracts and joint supplements, I explain how some products may influence bile flow and feed opportunistic bacteria like Bilophila wadsworthia, which can produce hydrogen sulfide in the gut.
I also share why I avoid using berberine and oil of oregano in my gut protocols, and how these powerful antimicrobials may affect beneficial bacteria alongside the unwanted ones. We explore the potential connections between gut imbalances, bloating, bowel changes, fatigue and inflammation, and why symptoms alone may not tell you the whole story.
The key takeaway? More supplements don't necessarily mean better gut health. Before spending money on another product, it's worth understanding what's happening in your microbiome and whether your approach is actually addressing the underlying issue.
 
In this episode:
Why TUDCA, ox bile and digestive bitters aren't right for everyone



How bile flow can influence Bilophila wadsworthia and hydrogen sulfide production



The potential connection between high hydrogen sulfide, bloating, bowel changes, fatigue and inflammation



Why a diet high in saturated fat may contribute to elevated Bilophila levels in some people



The surprising supplements that may influence Bilophila, including broccoli sprout extracts, MSM and certain joint support formulas



Why you can have a gut imbalance even without obvious digestive symptoms



What to look for in a comprehensive stool test, including bacterial profiles and microbial metabolites



Why I don't routinely recommend berberine for gut protocols



How powerful antimicrobials may affect beneficial bacteria as well as potentially harmful strains



Why oil of oregano isn't a staple in my gut health protocols



The foundational role of nutrition, protein, fibre, exercise, sleep and stress management in metabolic health



Why testing and a targeted approach can be more useful than randomly adding supplements
 
 





 
 




































You're Invited to my upcoming Gut Masterclass!
Why Expensive Testing, Restrictive Diets and Traditional Gut Protocols Haven't Fixed Your Bloating & Pooping Problems.
This is the simple fix nobody has told you about!
Here's what I'll be covering:
Why chasing trigger foods keeps you stuck in a harmful elimination cycle that makes your gut worse, and the shift that changes your relationship with food
Why "I've done the testing and taken the supplements" has not given you answers or relief yet, and what to do instead
The missing layer to gut healing that moves you from the test-supplement-restrict cycle to a strategy that heals your gut for good
[ SAVE YOUR SPOT HERE ]
 
 
 
CONNECT WITH TARA: 

On Instagram: @tarathornewellness
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaraThorneNutrition
Book A 30- Minute Consultation with Tara HERE
FREE GUIDE: 5 Reasons Why You're Still Bloated and Have Poop Problems, Despite Doing Everything "Right" [DOWNLOAD HERE]

Are your supplements actually helping you, or could they be making things worse?
In this episode, Tara explores the potential downsides of blanket supplementation and explains why taking nutrients like vitamin D, zinc, iron and selenium without understanding your individual needs can create unintended problems. Using a client's hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) as an example, she discusses the relationships between calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc, and why supplementing one nutrient can affect the balance of others.
Tara also challenges common assumptions about vitamin D deficiency, discusses the potential risks of excessive supplementation, and explains why she believes testing and investigating the underlying cause of an imbalance should come before simply trying to correct a number on a lab report. The takeaway? More supplements don't necessarily mean better health. Understanding your individual needs and working with a qualified healthcare professional can help you make more informed decisions about supplementation.
 
In this episode: 
Why blanket supplementation can do more harm than good
Hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) and understanding mineral patterns
Why stress, sleep, diet and lifestyle can influence mineral balance
Vitamin D testing, reference ranges and the difference between storage and active vitamin D
The potential risks of excessive vitamin D and its relationship with calcium and magnesium
How long-term zinc supplementation may affect copper levels
Why copper matters for thyroid function and iron transport
The problem with generic thyroid supplements that don't account for individual mineral needs
Selenium supplementation and concerns about excessive intake
Why investigating the root cause of a nutrient imbalance matters more than chasing a lab number
The importance of appropriate testing and individualized supplement recommendations
 


 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 
EPS 134: We are not in a low vitamin D epidemic, with Regina Nuzzo PhD & Kristin Cobb PhD


 




































You're Invited to my upcoming Gut Masterclass!
Why Expensive Testing, Restrictive Diets and Traditional Gut Protocols Haven't Fixed Your Bloating & Pooping Problems.
This is the simple fix nobody has told you about!
Here's what I'll be covering:
Why chasing trigger foods keeps you stuck in a harmful elimination cycle that makes your gut worse, and the shift that changes your relationship with food
Why "I've done the testing and taken the supplements" has not given you answers or relief yet, and what to do instead
The missing layer to gut healing that moves you from the test-supplement-restrict cycle to a strategy that heals your gut for good
[ SAVE YOUR SPOT HERE ]
 
 
CONNECT WITH TARA: 

On Instagram: @tarathornewellness
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaraThorneNutrition
Book A 30- Minute Consultation with Tara HERE
FREE GUIDE: 5 Reasons Why You're Still Bloated and Have Poop Problems, Despite Doing Everything "Right" [DOWNLOAD HERE]

In this episode, Tara answers your health questions straight from Instagram, covering everything from gastritis and SIBO to leaky gut, insulin resistance, thyroid issues, low ferritin and B12, and GLP-1 medications.
She dives into why H. pylori should be properly ruled out with gastritis, why SIBO requires breath testing, the limitations of zonulin testing, and why low ferritin doesn't automatically mean iron deficiency. She also shares her thoughts on supporting insulin sensitivity through muscle, protein, fibre, stress management and lifestyle before reaching for supplements.
The conversation also gets into thyroid health and Hashimoto's, the realities of aging, iron and B12 testing, and GLP-1 medications. It's a wide-ranging Q&A designed to help you look beyond symptoms and single test results and take a more thoughtful approach to your health.

In this episode: 
Chronic gastritis and the importance of ruling out H. pylori
SIBO testing: why symptoms and stool tests aren't enough
Leaky gut, intestinal permeability and the limitations of zonulin testing
Insulin resistance and PCOS: supplements vs. foundational lifestyle strategies
Building muscle, protein and fibre for metabolic health
Thyroid health, Hashimoto's and the impact of stress and viral illness
Why aging doesn't mean you have to suffer through symptoms
Understanding low ferritin, iron deficiency and more comprehensive iron testing
B12 testing, absorption and the gut connection
GLP-1 medications, muscle preservation, digestion and side effects


MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

EPS 130: Do not take oral / IV iron until you've listened to this.
 
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You're Invited to my upcoming Gut Masterclass!


Cut gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, gone low FODMAP, and paid for expensive tests, yet still having bloating and poop problems?

This is the simple fix nobody has told you about!
 
Here's what I'll be covering: 
Why chasing trigger foods keeps you stuck in a harmful elimination cycle that makes your gut worse, and the shift that changes your relationship with food
Why "I've done the testing and taken the supplements" has not given you answers or relief yet, and what to do instead 
The missing layer to gut healing that moves you from the test-supplement-restrict cycle to a strategy that heals your gut for good
[ SAVE YOUR SPOT HERE ]
 
 
 
CONNECT WITH TARA: 

On Instagram: @tarathornewellness
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaraThorneNutrition
Book A 30- Minute Consultation with Tara HERE
FREE GUIDE: 5 Reasons Why You're Still Bloated and Have Poop Problems, Despite Doing Everything "Right" [DOWNLOAD HERE]