In this episode of On the Ascent: Health, Dr. Laura Peterson Wright sits down with Dr. Breana Hauskins, a licensed naturopathic physician practicing in Alaska and Montana, to break down gut health in a clear, practical way.

We cover what gut health actually means, why it plays such a foundational role in energy, hormones, immunity, and inflammation, and how food sensitivity testing and functional lab work can be used as tools to guide healing.

This episode also includes a real-life look at Dr. Laura’s own food sensitivity results and why unexpected foods can sometimes show up, while common offenders don’t.

Description)In this episode, we discuss:

• What “gut health” really includes (beyond just digestion)

• The role of stomach acid, enzymes, motility, and absorption

• The gut microbiome and why it matters

• How the standard American diet impacts gut balance and inflammation

• Keto and carnivore diets — potential benefits, limitations, and context

• Processed foods, preservatives, and agricultural chemicals

• Fermented foods and why modern diets are missing them

• Food sensitivity testing (IgG vs IgE) and how to interpret results

• Common mistakes people make when trying to fix gut health on their own

• Why extreme diets and supplement overload often backfire

• When probiotics, enzymes, or testing may actually be helpful

Dr. Bre emphasizes a “test, don’t guess” approach—using objective data, thoughtful diet changes, and realistic lifestyle strategies rather than extremes.

If you’ve ever wondered why your gut symptoms don’t seem to make sense—or why fixing them feels overwhelming—this episode brings clarity and balance to a very noisy topic.

🔗 Learn More About Dr. Bre

Northern Lights Natural Medicine
🌿 Website: https://www.northernlightsnaturalmedicine.com/

🤍 Connect With Us:

On the Ascent: Health is brought to you by Ascent Health & Performance — a multidisciplinary clinic in Anchorage, Alaska offering chiropractic care, physical therapy, shockwave therapy, personal training, and small-group fitness.

📍 Anchorage, Alaska
🌐 https://www.ascenthealthak.com
📸 Instagram: @ascenthealth_ak