Dietitian Ellen

Dietitian Ellen Ellen Smartt is a Digestive Health Dietitian who provides education to support Digestive Health.

Did you know your gut health could be directly connected to your eczema? 🤔The gut and skin are in constant communication...
12/17/2025

Did you know your gut health could be directly connected to your eczema? 🤔

The gut and skin are in constant communication, it's often called the gut-skin axis. When the balance of bacteria in your gut (your microbiome) is off, it can lead to inflammation that shows up on your skin as flares, dryness, and itchiness.

It's not just about what you put on your skin; it's about what's going on inside!

➡️ Ready to understand the root cause and take control of your skin health? Head to the link in my bio to watch our detailed workshop on the gut-skin connection and the actionable steps you can take to calm your skin from the inside out!

🤧 Feeling the cold & flu season creeping in? Let food be your first line of defense! 💪🍲Your immune system works around t...
12/15/2025

🤧 Feeling the cold & flu season creeping in? Let food be your first line of defense! 💪🍲

Your immune system works around the clock, and what you eat plays a HUGE role in how well it protects you. Whether you're looking to prevent illness or soothe symptoms, nourishing your body with immune-supportive foods is key.

Garlic to fight off infections
🍋 Citrus for a boost of vitamin C
Ginger to calm inflammation
🥬 Leafy greens for immune support
🍵 Bone broth for gut + immune strength
🍓 Berries for antioxidant power
🐟 Omega-3 rich fish to reduce inflammation
🌰 Nuts & seeds to support cellular defense

Add these power foods to your meals this week! Your gut and immune system will thank you 💚

Save this post to stay well this winter and tag a friend who needs an immune boost!


Are you doing all the right things but still struggling to lose weight? 😣 Eating clean, exercising consistently, cutting...
12/11/2025

Are you doing all the right things but still struggling to lose weight? 😣 Eating clean, exercising consistently, cutting calories… yet the scale won’t budge? It’s frustrating—and often not your fault.

Here’s the missing piece: your gut health.

🦠 Your microbiome does WAY more than just affect digestion. It influences how your body:

Extracts and stores calories

Regulates critical hormones like insulin & cortisol

Manages inflammation

Sends signals about hunger and satiety

Supports metabolic flexibility and energy production

When your gut is imbalanced—whether from dysbiosis, leaky gut, inflammation, or low SCFAs—it can create a metabolic roadblock. This means your body is less responsive to weight loss efforts, even when you're doing everything "right."

Healing your gut can change the game.
With the right functional approach, you can restore balance, support your metabolism, and finally get unstuck.

✨ Curious how your gut and hormones might be holding you back?
👉 Head to the link in my bio to download my Hormonal Changes + Weight Loss Resistance Guide. Learn how your hormones, nutrition strategy, and gut are hindering/helping your metabolism.

Let’s move beyond the calories and dig into what your body really needs to heal. 💪

🎁 Stocking Stuffers for Gut Health 🎄💚Looking for thoughtful gifts for yourself or a loved one with gut issues? These lit...
12/07/2025

🎁 Stocking Stuffers for Gut Health 🎄💚

Looking for thoughtful gifts for yourself or a loved one with gut issues? These little helpers are perfect to tuck into a stocking (or your own wellness stash)! From fiber support to soothing herbs and gut-friendly goodies, small gifts can make a BIG difference when it comes to digestion, comfort, and overall well-being.

Whether it's for you or someone you care about, let this list inspire you to gift a little gut health this holiday 💫

Save & share with someone who needs a little extra digestive TLC this season ✨

Dietitian-Approved Snack Bars: Clean Ingredients, Real Nourishment ✨As a functional dietitian, I get asked all the time ...
12/03/2025

Dietitian-Approved Snack Bars: Clean Ingredients, Real Nourishment ✨

As a functional dietitian, I get asked all the time what snack bars I recommend. The truth? Not all bars are created equal. Many are loaded with added sugars, oils, and preservatives—but there are some gems with whole-food ingredients and balanced macros you can feel good about. 🙌

💡 Look for bars with:

The most wonderful season yet! 👶We have so much to be thankful for this year. So excited to welcome the holiday magic an...
12/01/2025

The most wonderful season yet! 👶
We have so much to be thankful for this year.

So excited to welcome the holiday magic and our sweet baby girl this month. 🎀❄️

✨ December Seasonal Produce ❄️🥕🥬Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean your plate has to look dull! Eating seasonal...
12/01/2025

✨ December Seasonal Produce ❄️🥕🥬

Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean your plate has to look dull! Eating seasonally in winter helps you nourish your body with the nutrients it needs right now, especially for immune health, digestion, and mood.

🥕 What’s in season in December?

Brussels sprouts

Carrots

Cabbage

Winter squash

Kale & leafy greens

Sweet potatoes

Citrus fruits like oranges & grapefruit

Pomegranates

🌿 Why seasonal eating still matters in winter:

More nutrients: Winter produce is packed with immune-supporting vitamins like C & A.

Better digestion: Fiber-rich veggies help support your gut health during the holiday season.

Budget-friendly: Seasonal foods are often cheaper and fresher.

Warms your body: Root veggies + warming spices = perfect comfort food.

Swipe to see my top winter recipes using these seasonal stars ➡️

✨ Enjoy your Thanksgiving meal without the bloat or guilt ✨This holiday isn’t about restriction, it’s about nourishment,...
11/27/2025

✨ Enjoy your Thanksgiving meal without the bloat or guilt ✨

This holiday isn’t about restriction, it’s about nourishment, gratitude, and connection.
Here are a few simple ways to support digestion (and your mindset) before, during, and after your meal 🦃💛

🌿 Digestive Support:

Take a few deep breaths before eating to activate your rest-and-digest mode

Have protein and fiber earlier in the day to balance blood sugar

Try digestive bitters or enzymes before your meal

Eat slowly — chew thoroughly and set your fork down between bites

Sip on ginger or peppermint tea after your meal

Take a gentle walk to help motility

💛 Mindset Shifts:

You don’t need to “earn” your meal — you deserve to enjoy it

One meal won’t derail your health; what matters is consistency

Release the guilt — gratitude and joy support digestion, too

Focus on how you want to feel, not on perfection

Your body digests best when it feels safe, relaxed, and nourished — not stressed or restricted 🌸

✨ Low FODMAP Thanksgiving Swaps for Better Digestion ✨Love Thanksgiving but dread the post-meal bloat? 😩You don’t have t...
11/24/2025

✨ Low FODMAP Thanksgiving Swaps for Better Digestion ✨

Love Thanksgiving but dread the post-meal bloat? 😩
You don’t have to miss out on your favorite dishes, just make a few simple swaps!

These low FODMAP alternatives help reduce bloating, gas, and discomfort while still keeping all the cozy holiday flavor 🦃💛

🌿 Try sourdough or gluten-free stuffing with garlic-infused oil
🥔 Swap mashed potatoes for a lactose-free version w/o the garlic or onions
🥣 Make your own cranberry sauce with maple syrup
🍰 Go crustless with a low FODMAP pumpkin pie
🍵 End the night with ginger tea for easy digestion

A few mindful swaps can make your Thanksgiving meal feel so much lighter without sacrificing taste!

Your gut lining is so much more than just a digestive surface, it’s your body’s first line of defense. 🧠💪When this linin...
11/19/2025

Your gut lining is so much more than just a digestive surface, it’s your body’s first line of defense. 🧠💪

When this lining becomes damaged (often called “leaky gut”), tiny food particles, toxins, and bacteria can pass into your bloodstream. That triggers inflammation, immune reactions, and symptoms like bloating, fatigue, brain fog, skin issues, and even hormone imbalances.

You can support your gut’s ability to repair itself through targeted nutrients that rebuild and protect the intestinal barrier. 🌿

Some of my go-to nutrients for gut repair include:
✨ L-glutamine – the primary fuel source for your intestinal cells
🧡 Zinc – supports tissue repair + tight junction integrity
🐟 Omega-3s – calm inflammation + strengthen the mucosal layer
🍲 Collagen + gelatin – provide the amino acids to rebuild connective tissue
☀️ Vitamin D – regulates immune balance + strengthens the barrier
🌿 Vitamins A + E – nourish and protect mucosal membranes
🍇 Polyphenols – feed beneficial bacteria + reduce oxidative stress

When these nutrients are paired with an anti-inflammatory, whole-food diet and lifestyle factors like stress management and quality sleep, your gut can actually heal.

Healing your gut isn’t about endless restriction, but about rebuilding and giving your body what it needs to restore balance. 💫

👉 Save this post for your next grocery trip and share it with someone working on their gut health too!

Want a personalized plan to repair your gut lining and reduce inflammation? This is exactly what we do in Flora Gut Foundations, head to the link in my bio for more information!

Feeling bloated and dealing with reflux? These two symptoms are often connected. 💨🔥Most people assume reflux comes from ...
11/17/2025

Feeling bloated and dealing with reflux? These two symptoms are often connected. 💨🔥

Most people assume reflux comes from too much stomach acid, but in many cases, it’s actually the opposite. Low stomach acid, sluggish digestion, and gut imbalances can all lead to that uncomfortable combo of bloating + burning after meals.

Here’s what might really be going on 👇
1️⃣ Low stomach acid → food sits too long and ferments, creating pressure that pushes acid upward
2️⃣ Slow motility → delayed emptying causes fullness, bloating, and reflux
3️⃣ Gut dysbiosis or SIBO → excess gas from imbalanced bacteria increases intra-abdominal pressure
4️⃣ Sluggish bile flow → poor fat digestion can mimic reflux and cause bloating
5️⃣ Stress + nervous system dysregulation → when your body’s in “fight or flight,” digestion slows way down

✨ Instead of suppressing acid, focus on supporting digestion: eat slowly, add bitter foods, manage stress, and nurture your gut-liver connection.

Wanting to dive deeper and learn specific lifestyle and supplemental strategies to help with your reflux? This is exactly what you'll find in my Functional Reflux Guide - find it at the link in my bio!

Your Gut-Loving Grocery List 🛒✨If you’re ready to nourish your gut from the inside out, start in your grocery cart! The ...
11/10/2025

Your Gut-Loving Grocery List 🛒✨

If you’re ready to nourish your gut from the inside out, start in your grocery cart! The foods you eat daily have a powerful impact on your digestion, microbiome diversity, hormones, and even mood.

Here’s what to load up on for a happy, balanced gut 👇
🥦 Veggies for fiber + phytonutrients
🍎 Fruits for prebiotics + antioxidants
🌾 Whole grains + legumes to feed your good bacteria
🥑 Healthy fats to reduce inflammation
🍗 Protein sources to repair and strengthen your gut lining
🥛 Fermented foods for probiotics and better digestion
🌿 Herbs + spices to support your microbiome naturally

Small, consistent choices like these can make a big difference in your gut health, energy, and overall well-being. 🌿

💚 Save this post for your next grocery run!

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16880 Myers Lake Avenue NE
Sand Lake, MI
49343

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