Gut symptoms that improve, then flare again, are incredibly common in perimenopause — even when you’re trying hard to eat well and look after yourself.

In this episode, registered gut health dietitian Christel Lyell explains why gut symptoms so often keep coming back in perimenopause, and why this is not a sign that you’re failing or doing something wrong.

We explore how hormonal changes, stress and repeated over-correction can make the gut more reactive in midlife, and why trying harder can sometimes make symptoms worse rather than better.

This episode is about understanding patterns, reducing pressure, and making sense of why your gut feels so unpredictable during perimenopause.

⭐ In this episode, we cover:

• Why gut symptoms often become more unpredictable in perimenopause
• How hormonal fluctuations affect digestion and gut sensitivity
• Why trying harder doesn’t always help the gut settle
• The link between stress, restriction and gut flares
• Why symptoms improve, then return again
• How to think about flares without panic or over-correction

⭐ The Gut Reset (waitlist)

If your gut feels unpredictable and you’re tired of constantly reacting to symptoms, you may want to explore The Gut Reset — a structured, food-first approach designed to help calm the gut before moving forward.

You can join the waitlist here:
👉 www.christellyelldietitian.com/gutreset

Joining doesn’t commit you to anything — it simply means you’ll hear about it first when it opens.

⭐ Who this episode is for:

• Women in perimenopause whose gut symptoms keep flaring
• Anyone stuck in cycles of restriction and over-correction
• Women who feel confused or frustrated that symptoms keep returning
• Listeners who want understanding, not another diet
• Anyone wanting calm, evidence-based gut health support

⭐ Links & Resources

Learn more about The Gut Reset:
👉 www.christellyelldietitian.com/gutreset

Work with me 1:1 (UK-wide online):
👉 www.christellyelldietitian.com

📻 Related Episodes:

Episode 17: Why Your Gut Keeps Flaring
Episode 19: What Actually Helps Calm Your Gut in Perimenopause

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode

Please follow the podcast, leave a review, or share this episode with someone who might find it helpful. Your support helps more women find calm, evidence-based gut health guidance.

Have you noticed that your gut symptoms improve for a while… only to flare again out of nowhere?

You’re not imagining it — and it’s not because you’re doing something wrong.

In this episode, I explain a very common pattern I see in women in perimenopause:

- gut symptoms that settle temporarily after food changes or “being careful”, then return again weeks or even days later.

We’ll talk about why this happens, why short-term relief can be misleading, and why “feeling better” doesn’t always mean your gut has become more resilient.

This episode isn’t about quick fixes or food rules.
It’s about understanding what’s really going on — so you can stop blaming yourself and start thinking differently about gut health in midlife.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why gut symptoms often improve… then flare again in perimenopause
• The common flare → fix → calm → flare cycle
• Why food restriction and simplification can help temporarily — but don’t last
• The difference between relief and stability
• Why perimenopause makes the gut more reactive
• The hidden mental load of constantly managing symptoms
• What “stability” actually looks like (and why it isn’t perfection)

Mentioned in this episode

I also briefly mention the Gut Reset — a calm, structured approach I’ve created to help women move out of this repeated cycle of flares and firefighting.

It’s not a strict diet, and it’s not about eliminating symptoms forever.
It’s designed for women who recognise this pattern and want a steadier way forward.

You can join the waitlist here:
👉 christellyelldietitian.com/gutreset

Joining the waitlist doesn’t commit you to buying anything — it just means you’ll be the first to hear when it opens, with early access at a reduced price.

If this episode resonated
If this episode felt like it was describing your experience, you’re not alone. This pattern is incredibly common in perimenopause — and understanding it is often the first step towards real change.

🎧 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode, where we’ll go deeper into the mental load of managing a sensitive gut in midlife.

As Christmas approaches, many women worry that a few festive days will undo all the progress they’ve made with their gut.

In this short, reflective end-of-year episode, I talk about how to support your digestion over Christmas in a realistic, kind way — without restriction, guilt, or pressure to be perfect.

If your gut has been unpredictable this year, especially in perimenopause, this episode is here to reassure you and offer simple ways to keep things calmer through the festive season.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Christmas doesn’t undo your gut health progress
• How food guilt and pressure can creep in at this time of year
• Why your gut is more resilient than you might think
• The role of rest and the nervous system in digestion
• Simple, realistic ways to keep your gut calmer over Christmas
• What’s coming next in the New Year

Free Calm-Gut Christmas Guide

I’ve created a free guide called Simple Steps for a Calmer Gut This Christmas, which I talk you through in this episode.

It’s designed to help you feel more comfortable and confident over the festive period — without restrictive rules or complicated plans.

👉 Download the free guide here:

https://christellyelldietitian.com/calmchristmas

Looking ahead to the New Year: The Gut Reset

If your gut has felt unpredictable this year and you’d like calmer digestion and more confidence around food in the New Year, you may want to join the waitlist for The Gut Reset.

The Gut Reset is a gentle, food-first guide designed for women in midlife who want fewer flare-ups and clearer understanding — without restriction or overwhelm.

👉 Join the waitlist:

https://christellyelldietitian.com/gutreset

Related episodes:

Episode 13 – Bloated Again in Menopause? Your SOS Rescue Plan

Episode 14 – Menopause and Constipation: What to Eat for Relief

Episode 15 – Menopause Diarrhoea & Urgency: What to Eat to calm your Gut

The podcast will be back in the New Year.

Until then, I hope you can take the pressure off, rest when you can, and enjoy Christmas in a way that feels right for you.