#27 - How Gut Health Affects Hormones, Anxiety & Autoimmune Disease | Jo Brownlow: “The Root Of Autoimmune Diseases Is A Leaky Gut!” “You Can Eat Healthy & Still Have Type 2 Diabetes!”

Could your anxiety, fatigue, or arthritis actually be coming from your gut?

In episode 27 of the You Never Know podcast, Nicole Lee sits down with functional medicine coach Jo Brownlow to explore the link between gut health, hormone balance, autoimmune conditions, and emotional well-being.

Jo shares her personal journey healing from Hashimoto’s disease, quitting alcohol, and transforming her son’s focus and neurodivergence through gut repair. They dive deep into the misunderstood symptoms of autoimmune disorders, and how stress, toxins, mold, food, and even botox, affect you.

💡 What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How functional medicine uncovers root causes, not just symptoms
• The surprising gut-hormone-anxiety connection
• Why 95% of serotonin, the happy neurotransmitter, is made in your gut
• The link between alcohol, inflammation, and autoimmune issues
• Perimenopause and thyroid healing
• Why over-exercising and under-resting depletes your body
• Jo’s story of healing her son’s brain fog and neurodivergence through diet

If you’ve been dismissed, overwhelmed, or just want to understand your body better—this one is for you.

🎧 Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:10 – What is functional medicine?

02:30 – The bloodwork & intake process

06:15 – Perimenopause and hormones

10:50 – Cortisol, stress & progesterone

15:20 – Autoimmune disease: Hashimoto’s, psoriasis, arthritis

17:30 – Leaky gut and what causes it

22:15 – How Jo manages Hashimoto’s

26:20 – The gluten and mold connection

29:00 – Quitting alcohol and its impact on healing

34:00 – Over-exercising and adrenal fatigue

37:20 – Jo’s son’s healing journey

41:00 – Gut-brain connection: serotonin, dopamine, ADHD

43:00 – Best tips for gut health

46:00 – Anxiety isn’t just in your head

47:20 – Final thoughts on listening to your body

🔗 Connect with Jo Brownlow

Website: www.jobrownlow.com

Instagram: @jobrownlowwellness

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jo-brownlow

🔗 Follow Nicole Lee

Website: www.youneverknow.co

IG / TikTok / YouTube: @nicoleleethisisme

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme

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