I Used to Think Gut Healing Meant Restricting More — Here’s What Actually Helped

for years, i believed the only way to “fix” my gut was to cut out more foods.
dairy? gone. gluten? gone. sugar? gone.
+ every time a symptom popped up, I’d ask myself the same question:

“okay… what do I need to eliminate next?”

i thought shrinking my plate was the path to feeling better.
but here’s the truth i wish i knew sooner:

restriction doesn’t heal your gut. 

safety does
nourishment does
consistency does

once i stopped cutting more things out + started supporting my body instead, everything shifted.

why restriction backfires

when you’re constantly stressed about food, your nervous system stays in a mild state of fight-or-flight.
and as we’ve talked about, your body cannot digest in survival mode.

over-restricting can lead to:

lower stomach acid
more bloating
sluggish motility
higher food fear
a less diverse microbiome
+ ironically… more symptoms

it’s not that removing certain trigger foods is never appropriate — it’s that restriction alone is not a strategy
your gut isn’t punishing you.
it’s trying to convey something to you.

what actually started healing my gut

adding more food diversity

instead of eliminating, I started adding:
fiber, colors, textures, fermented foods, fats, protein, minerals.
my microbiome finally had something to work with.

creating safety around meals

i learned how much my digestion responded to my state of mind.
eating while calm, grounded + present made a bigger difference than i ever would have thought.

hydration + minerals

i realized most of my “constipation flare-ups” were actually under-hydration… especially postpartum while breastfeeding.

supporting my nervous system

breathwork, baby walks after meals, slowing down my mornings, screen-free nights as much as possible— simple things that made my body feel safe enough to digest.

disciplined structure (not perfection)

my gut thrives on routine:
consistent meal timing, sleep rhythms, light exposure + balanced plates.
not rigidity. — just rhythm + consistency.

the shift that changed everything

i stopped asking:
“what else should I cut out?”

and started asking:
“what does my body need more support with + what can i add to support that?”

gut healing became less about fear + more about a deep understanding.
less about control + more about nourishment.
less about restriction + more about creating safety inside my body.

once i embraced that… digestion finally felt easier.
my body softened.
my joy came back.
food became enjoyable again.

+ the healing actually started happening.

if you’re stuck in the restrict → symptom → restrict cycle… you’re not alone.

 + if you want support breaking out of that loop + rebuilding trust with your gut again, i’d love to guide you.

click the link in my bio or DM me via instagram @floraglohealth “GUT RESET”or schedule a free call on the “WORK WITH ME” tab of my website to learn more about my 1:1 holistic gut healing program.

healing isn’t about shrinking your life —
it’s about expanding it.