What if your digestive issues, hormonal symptoms, skin problems, brain fog and persistent fatigue are not separate problems — but part of a much bigger picture?
In this episode of The Health Review, I sit down with Yalda Alaoui — naturopathic nutritionist, gut health and inflammation expert, and founder of Eat Burn Sleep — to talk about chronic inflammation, SIBO, IBS, gut health, hormones, cortisol, liver health and what it really means to live an anti-inflammatory lifestyle.
Yalda’s interest in health began with her own experience of autoimmune illness. After being diagnosed with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and ulcerative colitis, she spent years researching nutrition, lifestyle and inflammation alongside conventional medical treatment. She later went back to study biomedicine, nutrition and naturopathy, before founding Eat Burn Sleep.
In this conversation, Yalda explains why inflammation itself is not the enemy — it is a normal and necessary immune response — but why persistent low-grade inflammation may become problematic when it continues long-term.
We also explore why gut health is about far more than food. Yalda talks about the role of stress, cortisol, sleep, movement, social connection and the nervous system, and why trying to fix digestive symptoms with an increasingly restrictive diet can sometimes create problems of its own.
We go deep into SIBO and IBS, why gut issues can be so stubborn and recurrent, the importance of gut motility, and why Yalda believes overly restrictive diets should only ever be used carefully and for limited periods.
She also shares her own experience of trying low-FODMAP, keto and even the carnivore diet — including why something that initially made her feel incredible eventually stopped working for her.
We also discuss the liver and hormonal health, including why liver function matters for women navigating PCOS, perimenopause, fertility, hormonal acne and IVF, as well as the wider relationship between stress, the gut, the brain and the immune system.
In this episode, we cover:
What chronic inflammation actually is
Why inflammation is a normal and necessary immune response
The difference between acute and chronic inflammation
Yalda’s experience of autoimmune illness and ulcerative colitis
The gut–brain connection and nervous system regulation
Cortisol, stress and inflammation
Why sleep and circadian rhythm matter for gut health
Exercise, movement and the gut
IBS and why it can be difficult to treat
SIBO and why symptoms can keep coming back
Gut motility and digestive health
The risks of staying on restrictive diets for too long
Yalda’s experience with low-FODMAP, keto and carnivore diets
Why fibre and carbohydrates still matter for gut health
The relationship between the gut and mood
Liver health and hormone metabolism
PCOS, perimenopause, fertility and the liver
Why gut health is about much more than food
The role of mindset and mental wellbeing in chronic illness
How Yalda approaches an anti-inflammatory lifestyle
Find Yalda:
Website: eatburnsleep.com Social media: @eatburnsleep
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This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own doctor or qualified clinician before making changes to your diet, supplements, medication or treatment plan.
A huge thank you to our sponsors Vilgain, whose whole philosophy around clean, real food felt like a perfect fit for this conversation. Head to vilgain.co.uk and use code HEALTHREVIEW for 10% off your order.