What if Crohn’s and Colitis weren’t lifelong? Hosted by IBD specialist Josh Dech who has helped over 500 people reverse Crohn's and Colitis, this podcast reveals the hidden root causes of Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis; from microbiome collapse and bile acid dysfunction to mold toxicity, immune imbalance, chronic inflammation, and the gut-brain connection. Every week, learn simple, science-backed strategies to reduce symptoms, calm inflammation, repair your gut, and rebuild your life. Reversing Crohn’s & Colitis Naturally is for anyone who wants real answers, real hope, and a path to real healing.
87: Everything You've Been Told About Crohn's & Colitis Is Wrong - The Three Biggest Myths About Crohn's and Colitis
Josh examines the scientific criteria used to define autoimmune diseases and explains why he believes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are more accurately described as immune-mediated conditions rather than classic autoimmune diseases. He discusses antibodies commonly associated with IBD, the role of the immune system, and why identifying environmental triggers may be more important than simply suppressing inflammation. The conversation also explores genetics, explaining why inherited susceptibility is only one piece of the puzzle. Josh reviews research involving identical twins, immigrant populations, and changing disease rates across industrialized nations to argue that environment, lifestyle, and the microbiome play a significant role in disease development. You'll also learn about common risk factors—including antibiotics, smoking, ultra-processed foods, environmental toxins, mold exposure, and nutrient deficiencies—and how each may influence gut health, inflammation, immune system function, and the intestinal microbiome. Finally, Josh introduces his root-cause framework for restoring health through identifying triggers, replenishing deficiencies, repairing the gut lining, rebuilding the microbiome, and supporting healthy immune regulation. Whether you're living with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or simply interested in functional medicine and root-cause healing, this episode offers a thought-provoking perspective on gut health, chronic inflammation, the microbiome, and the future of IBD treatment. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Autoimmune Theory And Why It's Challenged Root-Cause Model Of Crohn's And Colitis Genetics Versus Environmental Influences Environmental Toxins And Modern Lifestyle Gut Microbiome, Microbes, And Immune Responses Antibiotics, Smoking, Birth Control, And Other Risk Factors Leaky Gut And Immune Dysregulation The Five R Framework For Recovery Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Visit our Website: gutsolution.ca Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
86: Flare Foods - Clinically Proven Diets That Can Calm Crohn's & Colitis Flares Naturally
In this episode, IBD specialist and functional medicine consultant Josh Dech breaks down the three most well-studied dietary approaches for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): the Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED), the Ulcerative Colitis Exclusion Diet (UCED), and the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). Josh explains the clinical evidence behind each approach, including research demonstrating steroid-free remission rates, improved mucosal healing, and strategies for supporting the gut microbiome while reducing inflammation. You'll also learn when an elemental diet becomes necessary—an advanced nutritional intervention used when severe inflammation makes normal eating nearly impossible—and why cleaner elemental formulas may offer advantages over conventional hospital products. Throughout the episode, Josh challenges conventional recommendations commonly given during IBD flares, discussing why many standard hospital diets focus only on reducing digestive workload while overlooking the role of processed foods, additives, sugars, and other factors that may influence gut health and the microbiome. Most importantly, Josh explains why dietary therapy alone is rarely the complete answer. While therapeutic diets can help reduce inflammation and induce remission, long-term recovery requires identifying and addressing the underlying root causes driving chronic immune dysfunction. If you're looking for evidence-based nutrition strategies, a deeper understanding of gut health, microbiome balance, inflammation, immune system function, and root-cause healing for Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, this episode provides a practical roadmap grounded in both clinical research and functional medicine principles. TOPICS DISCUSSED: CDED (Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet) UCED (Ulcerative Colitis Exclusion Diet) Hospital Diets and Criticism of Conventional Nutrition Advice Elemental Diets and Severe Flare Management Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) Root-Cause Healing vs. Symptom Management Gut Microbiome, Dysbiosis, and Bacterial Mechanisms Foods to Include vs. Foods to Eliminate During Flares Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Visit our Website: gutsolution.ca Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
85: Why Healing Is Not Linear
Josh challenges several conventional assumptions surrounding Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis while presenting a root-cause approach focused on identifying the underlying drivers of chronic inflammation. He discusses how toxins, microbial imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, environmental exposures, stress, and immune system dysfunction can interact to influence gut health and recovery. Listeners will learn why healing often occurs in layers, how biofilms can temporarily release toxins as they're disrupted, why the microbiome changes throughout recovery, and how immune system shifts may produce new symptoms even when overall health is improving. Josh also explains the roles of nutrient replenishment, nervous system regulation, detoxification pathways, hormone fluctuations, and individualized treatment protocols in creating the non-linear healing patterns many people experience. Throughout the episode, he emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between expected healing responses and signs that a protocol may need to be adjusted. Rather than chasing symptom suppression alone, Josh encourages listeners to investigate the root cause of inflammation while using data, testing, clinical history, and individualized strategies to guide treatment decisions. If you've ever wondered why your gut health seems to improve one week and worsen the next, this episode provides a framework for understanding the complexities of healing, the microbiome, inflammation, immune system function, and the root-cause approach to long-term digestive wellness. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Why healing is not linear Root-cause model (toxins, microbes, deficiencies) Immune system shifts during healing Biofilms and toxin release Detox pathways and healing reactions Microbiome changes during recovery Nutrient depletion and replenishment Nervous system regulation and healing Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Visit our Website: gutsolution.ca Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
84: Natural Antibiotics: What Actually Works, and What Doesn't
Antibiotics have transformed modern medicine and remain essential for treating serious bacterial infections—but are they being overused? In this episode, Josh explores the growing concern around unnecessary antibiotic use and what it means for your gut health, microbiome, immune system, and long-term recovery from chronic digestive conditions. Drawing on CDC statistics, Josh explains why many antibiotic prescriptions may be avoidable and how repeated exposure can contribute to microbiome disruption, dysbiosis, inflammation, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections. He also explains the science behind how antibiotics work, including their effects on bacterial cell walls, protein synthesis, DNA replication, and metabolic pathways. Josh emphasizes a root cause approach to gut health, encouraging listeners to become informed advocates for their own care by asking better questions before starting antibiotics while recognizing that life-threatening infections still require conventional medical treatment. If you're looking to better understand the relationship between antibiotics, the microbiome, inflammation, immune function, and chronic digestive disease, this episode provides a practical framework for making more informed decisions about your health. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Antibiotic overuse and CDC statistics How antibiotics affect the gut microbiome and immune system How antibiotics work biologically Natural antimicrobials and their mechanisms Oregano, garlic, berberine and other natural options Biofilms, quorum sensing and bacterial resistance When antibiotics are absolutely necessary Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Visit our Website: gutsolution.ca Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
83: The Biggest Lie About Gut Health: Why Probiotics Aren't the Answer
Is taking probiotics really the best way to restore your gut microbiome—or could it actually be keeping you stuck? Josh explains how the gut microbiome develops, why modern lifestyles contribute to chronic inflammation, immune dysfunction, and microbial imbalance, and how factors like ultra-processed foods, chronic stress, environmental toxins, poor sleep, mold exposure, and repeated antibiotic use influence long-term gut health. He also discusses why many probiotics are transient rather than permanent colonizers, why aggressive "kill-the-bad-bacteria" protocols can sometimes worsen symptoms, and how drainage pathways, detoxification, nutrient status, and gut lining repair all influence whether beneficial bacteria can successfully thrive. Whether you're living with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS, chronic digestive symptoms, or persistent inflammation, this episode offers a functional medicine perspective on why lasting healing requires more than simply adding another supplement. You'll learn why the order of healing matters and how creating the right internal environment may be the missing piece in rebuilding a resilient microbiome naturally. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Root causes of gut dysbiosis and microbiome imbalance Why probiotics often fail to create lasting change The 5R gut healing framework Environmental factors affecting gut health (toxins, mold, processed food, stress) How the microbiome develops from infancy through adulthood Drainage pathways, detoxification, and congestion Why antimicrobial protocols can backfire Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Visit our Website: gutsolution.ca Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
82: Detox Isn't What You Think—Why Most People Get It Wrong
Detox has become one of the most talked-about topics in natural health—but it's also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, Josh Dech explains why detox isn't simply about taking supplements, drinking detox teas, or spending hours in the sauna. Instead, successful detoxification depends on whether your body has the capacity to safely eliminate toxins after they're mobilized. Whether you're dealing with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, chronic inflammation, mold illness, or simply looking to improve your overall gut health, this episode provides a root-cause framework for supporting the body's natural detoxification systems safely and effectively. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Drainage pathways and detox foundations Why detox can make people feel worse Environmental toxin exposure in modern life Cellular and mitochondrial health Immune system stabilization before detox Safe detox sequencing/framework Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Visit our Website: gutsolution.ca Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
81: Everything You've Been Told About Crohn's and Colitis Is Wrong
In this episode, Josh Dech challenges some of the most widely accepted beliefs surrounding inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), arguing that chronic gut inflammation should be viewed through the lens of root-cause medicine rather than lifelong disease management. Josh explores why he believes the autoimmune label does not fully explain Crohn's and colitis, discusses research involving immune-mediated responses, and examines evidence around antibodies, genetics, and environmental triggers. He explains why genetics may represent susceptibility rather than destiny and why factors such as toxins, antibiotics, processed foods, mold exposure, microbiome disruption, nutrient deficiencies, and lifestyle stressors deserve greater attention. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Why Crohn's and Colitis Are Described as Non-Autoimmune Root Cause vs Symptom Suppression Philosophy Genetics vs Environmental Factors Immune-Mediated Responses and Antibody Discussion The Five R Healing Framework Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Visit our Website: gutsolution.ca Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
Biologics are not as reliable as your doctor makes them sound. In fact, 30% of patients who get one have no response, and 1 in 6 will have it fail within the first year. Worse than that, once you do get your biologics - it's almost guaranteed to fail at some point in the near future anyways. So why is this happening and what can you do to reduce the risk of your biologics from failing? TOPICS DISCUSSED: How biologics work (Humira, Remicade, Stelara, Skyrizi, Entyvio, etc.) Important stats on biologics you need to know Why biologics fail Why some biologics work better than others How to get the most from you biologic drug(s) and how to reduce the risk of failure Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Visit our Website: gutsolution.ca Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
79: Stop Doing GI Maps If You Have Crohn's or Colitis
GI Maps are a great tool, but most people are using them wrong; which means you're not only looking for your root causes in the wrong place, but you're also wasting your money - to the tune of $400-$500 per test! TOPICS DISCUSSED: Why GI maps are a waste of money Why they won't identify your root cause When a GI map is a good idea vs a bad idea (waste of money) When to get a GI map to get the most out of it How to identify root causes of your IBD Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Visit our Website: gutsolution.ca Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
78: Why Natural Solutions Don't Work for Crohn's and (Ulcerative) Colitis
There’s a long list of reasons why natural solutions aren’t helping your inflammatory bowel disease – but that’s doesn’t mean natural doesn’t work... It simply means you’re doing it wrong. In this episode, you're going to learn the different between taking simply taking “plant based medication” and actually finding a root cause and reversing your IBD naturally. TOPICS DISCUSSED: The only 2 types of illnesses you can get The only 3 reasons you get sick The 3 things you need to heal any disease Why your natural solutions aren't working and why you're doing them wrong How to use natural treatments properly and get the most out of them Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Visit our Website: gutsolution.ca Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
77: Gut vs. Seasonal Allergies - Why Crohn's, Colitis and Allergies Make Eachother Worse And What To Do About It
Your alleriges and your bowels go hand in hand - and if your allergies make your gut symptoms worse, or if your allergies increase when your gut symptoms are at their worst, you'll need to hear this. TOPICS DISCUSSED: What allergies are and how they work The gut-allergy connection How your immune system works to cause allergy/histamine responses Why your gut and allergies can make each other worse The biggest drivers of histamines in bowel disease Supplements to stabilize/calm your allergies and gut symptoms How to stop symptoms for good Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Visit our Website: gutsolution.ca Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
76: What the Gut-Brain Connection Really Is And How You Can Repair It To Help Heal Your Bowels
The gut-brain connection is often grossly misunderstood. It's not just about one big vagus nerve: there are actually 5 key components that all work together to create a healthy connection. And you can't fix something until you understand it. That's why this episode is all about the gut-brain connection and how to repair it to help heal your Crohn's and colitis. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Explaining the gut-brain connection The 5 key components that make up the gut-brain connection How these pieces all work together The biggest things you're doing to damage the gut-brain connection 5 steps to repairing and healing it naturally Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Visit our Website: gutsolution.ca Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
75: How Stress and Trauma Causes Crohn's and Colitis, and Treatments You Can Use To Heal Naturally
Stress and trauma and major drivers of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis... but why? Oddly enough, your doctor may recognize them as something that can trigger a flare, but they don't tend to acknowledge that they can actually be what caused your bowel disease in the first place. TOPICS DISCUSSED: How stress and trauma cause bowel disease and contribute to flares How stressors affect your immune system The gut-brain connection Cell danger responses and detoxing What stress does to your gut microbiome The different types of treatments for stress and trauma Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
74: Why You Still Feel Like Crap Even With "Normal" Lab Tests
Ever wondered why your doctor does your blood work and tells you that it’s “normal, even though you still feel like trash? This is because "normal" reference ranges do not mean "optimal". We’re talking about the difference between “normal” and “optimal”, how you can easily understand your blood or other lab results without going back to school to become a doctor, and what other options there are to see what’s actually going on, so you can truly understand why you feel like crap. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Normal vs Optimal How to easily understand your blood work and other lab tests What other tests you can do that are actually useful How to compare "optimal" or "functional medicine" ranges vs what your doctor calls "normal" Alternative options for help with your health Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
73: What Caused Your First Flare, And What's Causing You To Flare Now?
Crohn's, colitis and diverticulitis flares are the worse - but why do they keep happening? It's certainly not random like your doctor's told you. TOPICS DISCUSSED: What caused your first flare Why flares keep happening The 3 biggest reasons you get sick Why flares and inflammation are not random and the science behind it The 4 stages of immune dysregulation that lead to flares and immune hyper-reactivity Real client scenarios of how they ended up with IBD so you can understand your root causes What the path to healing actually looks like for you Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
72: Why Your IBD Keeps Getting Worse No Matter What You Try
If it feels like you've tried every intervention (pharmaceuticals, natural remedies, herbs, etc.) and keep getting worse, there's a very explainable reason for that. You'll learn why this is happening and what you can do to fix it and finally start healing. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Immune reactivity and hyper-vigilance Leaky gut and gut barrier breakdown Microbial instability Detox and drainage overload bogging down your system Threat signals and the "cell danger response" The order of steps needed to intervene What is involved in these steps Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
71: The Biggest Reason Your Bowel Disease Isn't Healing
One of the biggest contributors to long term bowel disease, and your inability to heal, is nutrient deficiencies. This is dangerous because your body needs raw materials – nutrient deficiencies disrupt cellular signalling, weaken your ability to repair, and they force your immune system to operate in a constant state of chaos and breakdown, which is one of the reasons IBD appears to be autoimmune, even though it isn’t. TOPICS DISCUSSED: The role of nutrients in healing and immunity The top nutrients you're deficient on and what each of them do for you The symptoms of specific nutrient deficiencies How to get them into your body safely, and effetively Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
70: Finding The Root Cause of Your Crohn's or Colitis - A Real World Example With A Real Client
Have you ever wondered how I find the root cause of your bowel disease? This episode is a real recording from a client who just joined our program and is already seeing amazing results in less than 2 months - because we found her root cause. Listen to this episode to see how we do it, live and in real time. TOPICS DISCUSSED: How to find your root cause Why your history matters Putting all the pieces together to understand your story Want help with your IBD? Schedule a call with me and my team Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
69: How to Control Inflammation Naturally When You Have Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease
When your gut hurts, controlling inflammation is the highest priority but your doctor’s tools are limited to drugs like steroids and immune suppressing medications. But if you want to learn how to control your inflammation naturally, this episode is for you. TOPICS DISCUSSED: How inflammation works in IBD What it looks like to manage inflammation Natural solutions for control inflammation in Crohn's and colitis Want help with your IBD? Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Schedule a call with me and my team Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
68: Biologics for Bowel Disease - What You Need To Know and Alternatives
Biologics are scary immuno-suppresive drugs used to control the symptoms of bowel disease; and the top 5 most common drugs used in the USA run the risk of more than 200 side effects between them. So, is it worth the risk or is there a way to avoid having to be put on biologics? TOPICS DISCUSSED: What are biologics and how they work Pros and cons of biologics Risks vs beenfits Potential side effects Alternative options and how to make the best treatment decision for yourself Want help with your IBD? Join the Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally Community Schedule a call with me and my team Video Podcast: Watch the video podcast on YouTube Follow me on Social Media: Facebook: @joshdech.health Instagram: @joshdech.health Join my free Facebook group: IBD Support and Solutions Support the show
Keep the useful structure, then change the audience, point of view, and voice until the idea is unmistakably yours.
