The Dr. Brighten Show

• Is It Just Gas? The Shocking Truth About Gut Pain, SIBO, and What Your Poop Is Telling You | Doc Paco de la Vega

  If you’ve ever been told your bloating, reflux, or abdominal pain is “just IBS” or “probably stress,” you’re not alone—and you’re not crazy. In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I’m joined by leading surgeon and endoscopist, Dr. Paco de la Vega, to uncover the truth about gut dysfunction and why your digestive system deserves better answers. Dr. de la Vega practices in Mexico City and is a rare kind of GI expert—one who blends surgical precision with lifestyle-centered gut care. We go deep into the real root causes of bloating, constipation, and gas, the surprising link between your emotions and digestion, and why your “healthy” diet might be secretly sabotaging your microbiome. Whether you're someone navigating unexplained gut pain or simply curious about how to improve your digestion without endless supplements or elimination diets, this episode will shift how you think about your belly—for good. This Episode Is Brought to You By: Dr. Brighten Essentials: use code POD15 for 15% off – Supporting parents and families with tools that work. Lumebox: http://drbrighten.com/lumebox use code drbrighten for our exclusive community discount on your purchase.   Chorus: http://chorusforlife.com/drbrighten and receive 10 percent off your order or subscription Want to sponsor an episode? Reach out to us at [email protected] Links & Resources Mentioned: Dr. Paco de la Vega’s Instagram: @docpacodelavega Dr. Paco de la Vega’s Website: https://drfranciscodelavegafacs.com/ Book Mentioned: Fiber Fueled by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz Related Episode:  Children’s Gut Health https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/child-gut-health/  How your oral microbiome is connected to your gut microbiome https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/shocking-truth-about-gum-disease/  What your tongue says about your gut health https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/pots-treatment-fibromyalgia-chronic-illness/  Anti-Inflammatory Meal Plan with 21 Recipes to get you started by Dr. Brighten: https://drbrighten.com/plan/  Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: Website: https://www.drbrighten.com Instagram:@drjolenebrighten TikTok: @drjolenebrighten Threads: @drjolenebrighten Grab my free Hormone Friendly Recipes https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  1:41:38
• Stop People-Pleasing, Start Living: Gabby Reece on Strength, Aging, and Raising Resilient Kids

  What happens when a pro athlete, model, wife, mother, and wellness powerhouse sits down to speak the unfiltered truth about being a woman in midlife? You get one of the most real, raw, and revolutionary conversations we’ve ever had on this show. In this episode, I sit down with the legendary Gabby Reece to unpack the evolution of strength, womanhood, parenting, and partnership—especially in a world that expects women to be everything to everyone while quietly disappearing in the process. If you’ve ever felt torn between being “nice” and being ruthlessly honest, or wondered how to navigate midlife without blowing up your marriage, this episode is your wake-up call—and your roadmap. In This Candid and Transformational Conversation, You’ll Learn: Gabby and I explore what it really takes to thrive in womanhood, relationships, and parenting when the world tells you to keep shrinking—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. From her unapologetic views on feminine and masculine energy, to her wisdom on aging, sexual intimacy, and identity, this is a masterclass in embodied strength and conscious living. 🔗 Links Mentioned in This Episode: 🎙 Gabby Reece’s podcast: The Gabby Reece Show 🥥 Laird Superfood 🌬 XPT Life (Breath, Movement & Recovery) 📘 The Good Life by Dr. Robert Waldinger 📖 Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl 📲 Follow Gabby on Instagram: @gabbyreece 💻 Learn more at: https://drbrighten.com 💼 This Episode Is Brought to You By: Dr. Brighten Essentials: drbrightenessentials.com use code POD15 for 15% off. Lumebox: drbrighten.com/lumebox  use code drbrighten for our exclusive community discount on your purchase.   Sunlighten Infrared Saunas: use the code drbrighten to save up to $1,400 on your sauna purchase. https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten Support our sponsors—they make this free content possible and keep the mic on for conversations that matter 💛 Follow Gabby Reece: 💻 Website: https://gabriellereece.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/gabbyreece 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabbyreeceofficial?lang=en 👩🏻‍⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten ✨ A Small Ask That Makes a Big Impact If you found value in this episode, please take a moment to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend. It’s a small act that helps more than you know—your support allows us to keep creating meaningful conversations and bringing expert-backed insights to more women around the world. Thank you for being here with us 💛 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  1:23:06
• Urinary Incontinence Treatment, Pelvic Pain & the Problem with Just Doing Kegels | Dr. Diana Mendez

  Ever been told that leaking pee when you laugh, sneeze, or jump is just part of being a woman—especially after having kids? What if I told you that’s not only false, but that your workouts, posture, or even the way you breathe could be making it worse? In this episode of The Dr. Brighten Show, I sit down with pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Diana Mendez to break down the real reasons behind urinary incontinence, painful sex, prolapse, and so many misunderstood symptoms tied to pelvic floor dysfunction. This episode is a game-changer for anyone who’s ever been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or handed a prescription for Kegels without a proper evaluation. If you’ve ever searched for urinary incontinence treatment and been told to “just do Kegels,” you’re going to want to hit play immediately—because there’s a lot more to the story. Whether you’ve had babies or not, this conversation will help you reconnect with your body, understand how stress and trauma live in your pelvic floor, and take back control of your bladder, your sex life, and your confidence. 👉 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more expert-led conversations to help you take back your health. This Episode is brought to you by: Chorus: http://chorusforlife.com/drbrighten and receive 10 percent off your order or subscription Dr. Brighten Essentials: https://drbrightenessentials.com use code POD15 for 15% off  Sunlighten Infrared Saunas: use the code drbrighten to save up to $1,400 on your sauna purchase. https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten Support our sponsors and help keep this show free and packed with amazing guests! 🔗 Links mentioned in this episode Dr. Diana Mendez Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapelvix/ Therapelvix: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3g5TdgbfT1nSCESw9 Book: Is This Normal? by Dr. Jolene Brighten https://amzn.to/3wvdgWy Guided Body Scan Meditation 👇 Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever been told to “just do Kegels”—and how that worked out for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  1:44:43
• Mouth Breathing, ADHD & the Cavity Conspiracy: What Your Dentist Isn’t Telling You | Dr. Staci Whitman

  Is your child’s ADHD, anxiety, or picky eating actually caused by mouth breathing? And what does fluoride in your water really do to your brain? In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Staci Whitman—founder of NoPo Kids Dentistry and global leader in functional pediatric oral health—joins me to expose the hidden links between oral health, airway issues, the microbiome, and behavior. 👉 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more expert-led conversations to help you take back your health. This episode is brought to you by:  Dr. Brighten Essentials https://drbrightenessentials.com  use code POD15 for 15% off   Fygg  https://fygg.sjv.io/ragbBv use code DRBRIGHTEN for 15% off of their products (both one-time and subscription) Support our sponsors and help keep this show free and packed with amazing guests! 🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:   🦷Website: Dr. Staci Whitman’s Practice & Resources 🎧Dr. Elisa Song’s episode: https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/child-gut-health/ 🎧Dr. Victoria Sampson’s episode: https://drbrighten.com/podcasts/shocking-truth-about-gum-disease/ 📘 Book: “Sleep Wrecked Kids” by Sharon Moore https://amzn.to/44rDhET 📘 Book: “Breath” by James Nestor https://amzn.to/4luQXoJ 🧪Research Paper: National Toxicology Program report on fluoride and neurotoxicity: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/assessments/noncancer/completed/fluoride  🔬Association Between Maternal Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy and IQ Scores in Offspring in Canada: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2748634 🧪Fluoride Exposure and Children’s IQ Scores - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2828425  🛒Product: MyoTape for kids https://www.myotape.com 🛒Functional Tools: - Myo Munchie https://myomunchee.com/ - Cordless Waterpik https://www.waterpik.com/ 🔬Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries (Cochrane Review): https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010856.pub3/full#CD010856-abs-0001  🔬Time to Reassess Systemic Fluoride Exposure, Again (JAMA): https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2828429  🦷American Academy of Oral Systemic Health: https://www.aaosh.org/ 🦷International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology: https://iaomt.org/ 🦷Holistic Dental Association: https://holisticdental.org/ 🦷American Academy of Physiological Medicine & Dentistry: https://aapmd.org/  🌬️The Breath Institute: https://thebreatheinstitute.com/ 🔬Institute for Functional Dentistry: https://functionaldentistry.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  1:33:30
• Should You Consider HRT? How to Know If It's Time & What to Ask Your Doctor

  You’re doing everything right—eating well, exercising, managing stress—and yet you still feel exhausted, inflamed, and like your body’s working against you. If the weight won’t budge, sleep is elusive, and your mood feels unfamiliar, this episode will open your eyes to a whole new way of understanding what’s happening in your body. In this second part of our perimenopause deep dive, we’re pulling back the curtain on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)—not as a last resort, but as a proactive, personalized tool to support your brain, metabolism, sleep, and overall vitality. If you've ever felt dismissed, confused, or even afraid of HRT, this science-backed episode will help you make an empowered, informed decision. If you missed the first episode, Perimenopause? How to Lose Weight (without starving yourself), you’ll definitely want to listen in to make sure you’re getting the complete picture of how nutrition, lifestyle, and HRT fit together. Once in menopause, these compliment each other and many people make the mistake of thinking that HRT will be enough on its own. This Episode is Brought To You by: Dr. Brighten Essentials: https://drbrightenessentials.com  use code POD15 for 15% off   Natural Cycles: https://naturalcycles.app/DrBrighten use code DrBrighten to get 15% off an annual subscription plus a free Bluetooth thermometer. Links Mentioned in This Episode: - Free Download: Perimenopause Weight Loss Action Plan: http://drbrighten.com/plan - Perimenopause 101 – Foundational episode on what’s happening to your hormones: https://drbrt.in/AERxT2 - Dr. Brighten Essentials: Metabolic Reset Kit: https://drbrightenessentials.com/products/metabolic-reset-kit - Dr. Carrie Jones on GABA & Progesterone (podcast episode): https://drbrt.in/ByveEr - Adrenal Calm by Dr. Brighten Essentials – L-theanine, passionflower & phosphatidylserine to support stress and sleep: https://drbrightenessentials.com/products/adrenal-calm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  22:50

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