Even if you don’t think of yourself as outdoorsy, the research is pretty clear: time spent unplugged - bonus if it’s got a little “outside thrown in” - is pretty dang good for you.

And if you, like me, think you might need more of it…today’s episode might be just the inspiration you need to get your hands dirty and grow something.

I’m speaking with the lovely Jessica Murnane about how even just a little nature can help you heal. Jessica is a horticultural therapy practitioner based in Charleston, South Carolina and she is the growing inspiration you didn’t realize you needed…particularly if you’ve never thought of yourself as an earthy person.

She believes that interacting with the plant world, even if all you have is a windowsill, or a bit of time to cook or craft, is a powerful way of connecting to the natural world and there is science to back it up.

I love this episode: I speak with Jessica about everything from how she - very much a city person - stumbled upon a love of gardening and found her way to horticultural therapy. We talk about the history and science of horticultural therapy and how you can bring a little bit of nature’s medicine into your own life.

Even if you’re not the type to wax lyrical about a landscape. And especially if you don’t have a lot of time or money.

About Jessica Murnane:

Jessica Murnane is an author, creative consultant, and Horticultural Therapy Practitioner. She's the founder of Basker, where she helps people use gardening and nature as a tool for mental, physical, emotional, and social health.

Jessica has written two books, the cookbook One Part Plant and the women's health book Know Your Endo. Her work has appeared in Bon Appétit, Goop, House Beautiful, People, and Shape Magazine, among others. She's an avid cut flower gardener and loves giving away flowers even more than she likes growing them. She lives in Charleston, SC with her husband and son.

On this episode we chat about:

• How growing things builds connection with others and nature

• How Jessica, a city dweller, fell in love with growing flowers

• Why growing things can help non-nature lovers connect with nature

• What is horticultural therapy?

• Research behind the practice

• How growing things - even in a single pot - can improve access to nature

• How to access community nature resources and education

• Ways to get started with growing

• How growing things democratizes what is a luxury item in our society

Support the Pod!

We couldn’t make this podcast happen without the support of our amazing listeners…

I love hearing your feedback on these episodes to be sure to join the conversation on our instagram @theallsortspod@desireenielsenrd@jessicamurnane

If you love this episode, please share it with your friends and family, or take a minute to rate, review or subscribe on your favourite podcast app. We appreciate EVERY. SINGLE. LISTEN!

Connect with Jessica!

Website: baskergardens.com

Want some FREE flower seeds? The first 10 people to email Jessica (Canada and USA only) will receive some! hello@baskergardens.com

You’ve got IBS. And you don’t want to live a life of restrictive eating. What do you do? Well, in today’s episode two dietitians with IBS-D are going to share what they know to help you enjoy what you’re eating and feel your absolute best.

Sometimes, eating with irritable bowel syndrome is like playing the slots: you never know what’s going to pop up next. Maybe you’ve been doing well on a low FODMAP diet but all of a sudden your symptoms crop up again….with zero changes to your diet. Or, maybe you can’t seem to figure out which foods are causing issues because sometimes you get symptoms and sometimes you don’t…with the same food!

Which is why I’m chatting with⁠Jessica Roocroft⁠, a dietitian who’s an expert in caring for the different subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome and also somewhat unique in her practice because her programs include gut-directed hypnotherapy as a way to help symptoms reside with as few dietary restrictions as possible.

We’re going to chat about how nutrition influences IBS…and also why foods aren’t necessarily causing your symptoms. They may in fact just be exacerbating the symptoms caused by something else entirely. We’re going to talk about the gut brain connection so you understand its impact on digestive health, totally free of the psuedoscience you usually see on social media.

Jess shares a wealth of very specific and detailed information on tools and practices that might help you get your symptoms under control so you can actually enjoy food again and learn to live a less restrictive and more enjoyable food life.

About Jessica Roocroft RD:

Jessica Roocroft (just call her Jess) is a Registered Dietitian from North Vancouver, BC who owns and operates an Irritable Bowel Syndrome-focused private practice. Most importantly, she knows first-hand what it's like to deal with gut drama due to IBS-D. It is her life's work to combine her lived experience with IBS with hundreds of hours of research and continuing education over the years and direct it right back at supporting clients navigate the overwhelming world of IBS.

On this episode we chat about:

How a family trauma initiated Jess’ IBS-DHow does eating cause symptoms in IBS

Why low FODMAP isn’t right for everyoneUnderstanding the gut-brain connection in IBSThe stress-symptom cycle How the heck does gut directed hypnotherapy work in IBS

What happens low FODMAP or hypnotherapy don’t work for you

Unlearning a restrictive diet in IBSHow to build up your tolerance to fibre

Digestive enzymes in IBS

Correction: around 1h 9m, I misspeak and say 30 different foods a day, I meant a week!

Support the Pod!

We couldn’t make this podcast happen without the support of our amazing listeners…I love hearing your feedback on these episodes to be sure to join the conversation on our instagram⁠@theallsortspod⁠⁠@desireenielsenrd⁠⁠@jess_nourishes⁠If you love this episode, please share it with your friends and family, or take a minute to rate, review or subscribe on your favourite podcast app. We appreciate EVERY. SINGLE. LISTEN

Are you constipated? Better question: did you know that you could be constipated even if you poop regularly?

As a gut health dietitian, I’m no stranger to the constipation conversation…because constipation is super common: according to the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation, constipation affects roughly 25% of Canadians.

In the US? According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), constipation affects about 15% of the US population and that number skyrockets if looking at older adults.

And people live with constipation for years - sometimes their whole lives - without realizing that proper nutritional care can actually do a lot to relieve their symptoms.

Which is why we are chatting with my friend and dietitian colleague Andrea Hardy RD, who is one of my most trusted sources of digestive health information..and the author of a brand new ebook about constipation called Backed UP.

Andrea is going to drop a lot of practical, useful information about what constipation is, what causes it and most importantly, what you can do about it.

We cover everything from exactly what counts as constipation - even if you poop daily! - to the root causes of constipation, how nutrition helps and why throwing a ton of fibre into a constipated body can actually backfire, dramatically. This episode is a must listen for anyone who has a gut, AKA every single human on the planet.

About Andrea Hardy RD:

Andrea Hardy is a registered dietitian from Calgary, Canada where she runs a multi-disciplinary digestive health practice called Ignite Nutrition.

Her focus is gut health & gastrointestinal diseases and is recognized in the media as Canada’s Gut Health Expert. She is passionate about translating science into ‘easy to digest’ information to support a healthy gut.  She has spoken on the TEDx stage, as well as internationally about digestive health.

On this episode we chat about:

• Andrea’s own experience with constipation-predominant IBS
• How do we know if we’re constipated?
• The different types of constipation, and what causes them
• The foundation of healthy bowel movements
• Fibre supplements for constipation
• Should you do low FODMAP if you have IBS-C?
• Signs you want to see your doctor right away
• Hypothyroid and bowel movements
• How your pelvic floor interacts with constipation
• How to increase fibre in the diet for long term bowel health

Support the Pod!

We couldn’t make this podcast happen without the support of our amazing listeners…and our sponsors!

A huge thank you to the wonderful folks at One Degree Organics for sponsoring this episode...we love their 100% sprouted oatmeal and granolas!

I love hearing your feedback on these episodes to be sure to join the conversation on our instagram @theallsortspod @desireenielsenrd @andreahardyrd
If you love this episode, please share it with your friends and family, or take a minute to rate, review or subscribe on your favourite podcast app. We appreciate EVERY. SINGLE. LISTEN!

available at www.desireerd.com/podcast