What if your clean, plant-based, fiber-packed diet was actually the root of your bloating, brain fog, and fatigue? That’s exactly what holistic nutritionist Grace Terrell discovered on her personal journey to healing, and it’s not the foundation of her practice helping hundreds of women find relief from chronic digestive and hormone issues.
We sat down with Grace to explore the lesser-known truths about gut health, why nervous system regulation matters just as much as food, and how to figure out what your body needs, not what Instagram says it should.
From “Healthy” to Hollow: Rethinking Her Vegan Diet
Like many health professionals, Grace’s journey started with her own pain. Raised in a holistic household (her dad and her grandfather were chiropractors), she leaned into plant-based eating early on. As a long-term vegan, she felt amazing for the first few years: glowing skin, high energy, and strong digestion.
But that all changed.
“Everything I ate made me bloated. I had no energy; I felt like trash. I thought I was doing everything right,” Grace shared. She tried all the functional fixes: candida cleanses, low-FODMAP diets, and cutting out common triggers. But things only got worse. Eventually, she reintroduced meat in her diet, and her symptoms disappeared almost overnight.
“I felt amazing immediately. I was afraid it would make me sick, but it was exactly what my body needed.”
Bioindividuality Over Diet
What changed everything for Grace was learning about bioindividuality: the idea that not one diet (or solution) works for everyone. Even so-called “healthy” foods like cruciferous vegetables and high-fiber grains can be disastrous for someone with poor gut motility or imbalanced bacteria.
“If you have SIBO or sluggish digestion, too much fiber can actually make things worse,” Grace explained. “We’re told to eat kale, broccoli, and high-fiber wraps, but if your gut isn’t in a good place, that stuff will ferment and cause more gas and bloating.”
Her current approach is rooted in personalization. She helps clients figure out what works for their unique gut, hormone, and lifestyle needs instead of pushing blanket solutions.
What Are the Top Gut Health Triggers Grace Sees?
Grace pointed to a few sneaky sources of digestive distress that many clients overlook:
- Sugar-free and low-fat products like protein bars, high-fiber tortillas, and sugar-free yogurts often contain artificial sweeteners and fillers that disrupt the gut microbiome.
- Energy drinks and protein powders can be full of ingredients like sucralose and erythritol that feed the wrong bacteria.
- Poor nervous system regulation slows down digestion and keeps the body stuck in a stress response.
- Low stomach acid, especially common in women who were vegan or plant-based for a long time. “Stomach acid is your first line of defense. If you don’t have enough, you can’t break down protein or fight off pathogens effectively.”
The Problem with Smoothies, Salads, and “Wellness Culture”
Many of Grace’s clients come in doing similar things: sipping on smoothies, snacking on vegetables, and drinking coffee first thing on an empty stomach.
Turns out, those choices might be wrecking your digestion.
“We forget that digestion starts in the mouth. If you’re skipping chewing by drinking a smoothie, you’re skipping the signal that tells your stomach to produce acid and enzymes,” she said.
Cold foods, cruciferous veggies, and stress can all contribute to sluggish digestion. Grace recommends warm, cooked foods and slowing down your mealtime routine to support gut function.
Nervous System First, Everything Else Second
While diet gets all the attention, Grace emphasized that healing is about much more than what you eat.
“Nervous system regulation is at the core of it all. If you’re constantly in fight or flight, nothing you eat will digest properly. It affects your hormones, sleep, mood, and inflammation.”
Graced encourages grounding practices that help regulate your system. That could be a walk outside, journaling, sunlight exposure, or even just chewing your food more slowly. “We’ve created a world that’s so disconnected from nature. But when we get back to the basics (eating whole foods, going outside, simplifying), our bodies remember how to heal.”
The Truth About Sugar, Leaky Gut, and Elimination Diets
Grace got real about sugar addiction, too. For many women, cravings aren’t a willpower issue. They’re biological.
“Sugar gives us a dopamine hit. Cutting it out cold turkey for a month helps reset the brain and the palate,” she advised. “But I never ask people to cut fruit. Natural sugar isn’t the enemy, it’s about the added stuff.”
As for leaky gut, Grace explained it simply: your gut lining is like a coffee filter. When it’s damaged by stress, alcohol, medications, or processed foods, undigested particles leak through and trigger inflammation, food sensitivities, and hormonal chaos. The solution? Remove the triggers, support the gut lining with whole foods, and give the body time to recalibrate. Grace sometimes uses targeted supplements like glutathione, curcumin, or HCL, but she avoids overloading clients with pills.
Building Resilience, Not Restriction
Grace’s ultimate goal isn’t to have her clients on restrictive diets forever. Instead, it’s to build resilience.
“I want people to get to a place where they tolerate all kinds of foods again. Maybe not every single thing, but a place where your body feels strong and flexible.”
For some people, that means going gluten-free or dairy-free temporarily. For others, it’s about improving liver function or balancing blood sugar before reintroducing trigger foods. The process is deeply personal, and that’s the point.
Final Takeaways: Gut Health Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
At the end of the day, Grace believes in simplifying health, not making it more overwhelming. “Get outside. Eat real food. Learn how to regulate your stress. That’s where healing really starts.”
Her no-nonsense, real-world approach resonates with anyone who’s tired of the bloating, the fatigue, and the constant cycle of guessing what’s wrong. Whether you’re navigating food sensitivities, hormone issues, or just trying to feel good again, Grace’s story is proof that healing is possible when you start listening to your body, not just the latest trend. Watch the full episode here.
Struggling with unresolved gut problems, hormone disruptions, or inflammation? Our Functional Medicine Program offers in-depth testing and customized care to help you feel like yourself again. Book a consultation here.
Click here to listen to the podcast!
