Ep 90: What's REALLY Driving Crohn's & Colitis? with Josh Dech

Rates of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have risen dramatically over the last several decades, but why? In today's episode, I'm joined by holistic nutritionist and physician consultant Josh Dech for a conversation about inflammatory bowel disease, the gut microbiome, environmental exposures, and the many factors that may influence why someone develops chronic digestive disease. Josh specializes in Crohn's, colitis, and severe IBS and shares both his personal health journey and the framework he uses when working with complex IBD cases.   If you have Crohn's, colitis, IBS, or simply want to better understand the environmental factors shaping our gut health, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE: Why Josh believes the dramatic rise in IBD points toward environmental and lifestyle influences, not genetics alone. How antibiotics, ultra-processed foods, birth and feeding history, environmental exposures, and other factors may shape the gut microbiome over time. The concept of "terrain" and why simply adding more probiotics, prebiotics, or fiber may not fix a dysregulated gut. Why mold exposure receives significant attention in Josh's clinical framework and how he believes mycotoxins can affect the microbiome, immune system, gut lining, mitochondria, and detoxification pathways. How early-life factors may influence microbiome development The bidirectional relationship between the gut and brain and why stress and nervous system regulation matter without necessarily being the entire solution. Why Josh believes people with IBD may have more influence over their health trajectory than they have been led to believe.                       LINKS: Book a strategy call with Hannah HERE Take the Gut Health Root Cause Quiz for free! Equip Protein: use the code hannahaylwardhhc for 15% off Create a Fullscript account and get access to 15% off our recommended practitioner-grade supplements here. Listen to Episode 62 - The Hidden Gut Disruptor: How Mold Exposure Impacts Your Digestion, Gut Microbiome & Histamine Listen to Episode 87 - What Came First—Your Anxiety or Your Gut Issues? Understanding the Gut–Brain Connection Listen to Episode 63 - Is IBS an Early Warning Sign for Autoimmunity with Dr. Izabella Wentz               CONNECT WITH HANNAH: Instagram  |   Website             CONNECT WITH JOSH: Instagram  |  Website  |  Podcast          </strong