Read Only When You Are Ready For The Best Digestion Of Your Life

No more excuses - a good poop and a permanently happy gut is just around the corner

I spent over fifteen years struggling with bulimia and binge eating disorder, and over time, the damage extended far beyond my mental health. My digestion was wrecked—my stomach lining was eroded, I developed ulcers, my motility slowed to a crawl, and I lived with near-constant bloating, constipation, and pain.

But here’s the truth: you don’t have to have a history of an eating disorder to experience gut issues—most people do. Digestive dysfunction can come from chronic stress, antibiotic overuse, low-nutrient diets, poor sleep, inflammation, or simply not knowing how to support your gut.

If you’re dealing with bloating, constipation, sluggish digestion, food fear, or that feeling that your gut is always “off,” this post is for you.

Today, I have what I consider the best digestion of my life. No more daily bloating. No more food anxiety. I can poop on vacation (bless). And I didn’t get here by accident. I got here by committing—day after day—to healing my gut, step by step.

Below, I’m sharing the five key steps that helped me repair my digestion and rebuild gut resilience. These are not hacks or fads—they are researched-backed and rooted in nourishment, consistency, and compassion.

Let’s get into it.

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🧠 What Happens When the Gut Breaks Down

Gut health can be disrupted by so many factors—restrictive eating, chronic stress, medications (especially antibiotics or NSAIDs), poor diet, trauma, hormone imbalance, even burnout.

In my case, years of binging, purging, and restricting eroded my stomach lining, slowed my digestion, and left me with:

• Chronic bloating and constipation

• Ulcers and stomach pain

• Delayed gastric emptying

• Food sensitivities

• An extremely fragile gut lining

• Gut-brain dysregulation that affected my mood, sleep, and immunity

But even if your story is different, your symptoms might feel the same. Gut issues are deeply personal—but healing often follows similar principles..

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🛠️ 5 Steps That Healed My Gut (And Can Help Heal Yours)

Each of these steps is based on what worked for me and supported by research. Although I do have my functional nutrition certification, I am not a doctor. Please speak with your doctor or GI specialist before starting any new supplement or dietary shift—especially if you're dealing with ulcers, GERD, or IBS.

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1. Repair the Gut Lining with Collagen + Glutamine-Rich Foods

What Worked for Me

• I committed to drinking one cup of bone broth daily. It’s rich in glutamine, glycine, proline, and minerals that support the intestinal lining. When I was able to get to a grocery store, I purchased Bonafide Provisions from the freezer aisle, and when I couldn’t, I ordered Brodo or Dr. Kellyann online.

• I took a liquid collagen supplement daily—specifically Biocell. It’s 90% absorbable compared to powdered collagen’s ~10% which means that I was getting the most powerful collagen directly into my body. I noticed a huge difference not only in my digestion, but also in skin.

• I used an L-glutamine supplement for ~4 months. It’s fuel for the cells that line the gut (enterocytes) and supports tissue repair.

What You Can Try

• Sip 1 cup of bone broth daily, or use it in soups/stews. Add lemon + sea salt for flavor.

• Try a high-quality liquid collagen supplement for better absorption.

• Talk to your doctor about L-glutamine if your gut lining feels fragile or inflamed.

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2. Restore the Microbiome with Fermented Foods + Probiotics

What Worked for Me

• I started eating fermented foods every day: sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, yogurt, miso. Even a spoonful with dinner made a difference.

• I took a high-quality probiotic with multiple strains and guaranteed survivability. For years, I used Seed DS-01 Synbiotic, which I still love—2 pills/day. A few months ago I switched to the Modere Probiotic Sticks simply because they’re powder-based and easier to take by dumping the contents into my mouth (kind of like a pixie stick from childhood).

• I added prebiotic fibers (e.g., garlic, onions, bananas, oats) slowly, and increased as my gut got stronger.

What You Can Try

• Add one fermented food into your day—Greek yogurt, kraut, kefir, miso soup, etc.

• Choose a reputable multi-strain probiotic (Seed or Modere are both great).

• Start eating prebiotic fibers gradually—and hydrate well to support digestion.

Me taking the Modere probiotic sticks — see how easy it is to just dump into your mouth. So easy to travel with, too!

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3. Hydrate + Support Gut Motility

What Worked for Me

• I aimed for 72+ oz of water daily—and reduced my consumption of sodas (bye bye to Diet Coke 😣), excessive caffeine, and other dehydrating drinks.

• I started my day with warm lemon water to gently wake up digestion.

• I drank room temp water with meals (rather than ice-cold).

• I walked daily, especially after meals. Even 10 minutes made a big difference.

• I did yoga 2–3x/week—twists and breath work helped stimulate gut movement.

• I stopped using laxatives, which were doing more harm than good.

What You Can Try

• Set a hydration goal (e.g., 70–90 oz/day depending on your body size), get yourself a cute refillable water bottle, and sip throughout the day.

• Begin your morning with warm lemon water.

• Walk after meals—10–15 minutes helps stimulate digestion.

• Incorporate yoga into your weekly rhythm for natural motility support.

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4. Remove Triggers + Reduce Stress

What Worked for Me

• I minimized gut irritants: spicy foods, alcohol, sugar, caffeine, and (for me) gluten and dairy.

• I saw a GI doctor to test for H. pylori and monitor ulcers.

• I introduced nervous system support: therapy, breathwork, journaling, slower mornings.

• I committed to deep rest—healing requires recovery. This meant going to sleep earlier (no later than 9pm unless absolutely necessary) and getting 7 quality hours of sleep. I still use the Sleep Cycle app each night!

What You Can Try

• Keep a symptom + food journal to spot patterns and reduce triggers.

• Get tested for H. pylori or ulcers if you have persistent pain or reflux.

• Practice daily stress relief—start with 5 minutes of breathing or walking.

• Improve sleep hygiene: same bedtime, cool room, minimal screens at night. Download the Sleep Cycle app if you have trouble sleeping and invest in a cute silk face mask so your room is dark.

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5. Be Patient + Stay Consistent

What Worked for Me

• I committed to small, daily habits over time—bone broth, probiotics, walking, etc.

• I celebrated progress: less bloating, regular poops, no more stomach pain.

• I learned to go slow. Adding too much fiber or too many supplements too fast backfired.

• I accepted that healing isn’t linear—some days felt worse, but overall I was moving forward.

What You Can Try

• Don’t wait for a “perfect” moment—just start with one habit.

• Track small wins to stay motivated.

• Build a sustainable rhythm rather than chasing fast fixes.

• Remind yourself: setbacks aren’t failure. Healing is a long-term investment.

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📆 My Timeline (For Perspective)

• Months 1–3: Focused on hydration, food consistency, bone broth, and probiotics.

• Months 3–6: Added collagen, fermented foods, light movement, rest, and nervous system work.

• Months 6–12: My digestion stabilized—regular BMs, better food tolerance, less pain. Continued all of the above.

• Year 1+: My ulcers healed (confirmed by my GI), and I finally felt free in my body.

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🧾 My Favorite Gut Healing Products

1. Dr. Kelly Ann Bone Broth Packets - mix into water, soups, and more!

2. Brodo Slow Simmered Bone Broth Variety Pack - drink on its own or add to soups, etc.

3. Patented Liquid Biocell Collagen - two bottles is a one month supply and this will repair your gut lining in 3 months due to its high absorbability. My link gets you 15% off plus free shipping and additional discounts when you subscribe.

4. Glutamine - reasonably priced glutamine to support tissue repair in the gut.

5. Seed Ds-01 Daily Synbiotic - fantastic high quality probiotic, in pill form.

6. Probiotic Stick Packs - fantastic high quality probiotic, in powder form—no liquid needed, just pour packet contents directly into your mouth. Bundle this with the Liquid Biocell Collagen for a huge discount.

7. Refillable Water Bottle - I am a girl that loves her Stanley! Hydration is nature’s gut healer!

This is one bottle of Pure collagen and one bottle of Beauty. Both contain the same amount of the proprietary collagen - the difference is that Beauty contains added biotin for hair, skin and nail support. Two bottles = one month. Get your duo here.

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💌 Final Thoughts

Healing my gut after years of dysfunction felt impossible some days. But I learned that healing is available when you choose to nourish instead of punish. Every small act—every cup of broth, every walk after dinner, every night of deep sleep—was a vote for the version of me I was becoming.

If you’re in the middle of your gut healing journey, be patient and don’t give up—it’s a marathon, not a sprint. And if I can do it after the torture I put my own body through, so can you!

🥳 Community Chat

Please let me know which of these steps you already implement or which you will be trying. And of course, please share your own product recommendations or tips so that the KJ community can learn from you too.

XO,

Nicole