If your mid-day belly sounds like a marching band and your 2 PM bloat makes your 8 AM jeans a distant memory—you’re not alone. In this episode, I (Jess Milner—functional bloodwork specialist, master nutritionist, and quantum energy healer) break down the real reasons perimenopause turns digestion into “traffic-jam city,” and the simple, gentle steps that bring your gut back to calm. We’ll talk about: How falling estrogen slows motility and ramps up fermentation (hello, gas & bloat) Why lower progesterone changes smooth muscle tone (aka: slower transit = louder belly) Foods that suddenly feel different (raw crucifers, beans, dairy, sugar alcohols like xylitol) Food-detective journaling (2 weeks, simple notes, pattern spotting without perfection) Easy swaps that help (cook more, go gentler on raw, test-and-try re-introductions) Helper tools: digestive enzymes, bitters, quality probiotics, peppermint/ginger/fennel The move-after-meals trick (a short walk or a few squats beats “crop-dusting on exit” 😅) Stress → gut link (fight/flight slows digestion; Emotion/Body Code can ease the load) When to dig deeper: intense pain, big changes, or suspected SIBO/food intolerance → functional testing What you’ll leave with: A kind, no-shame plan to track triggers and find your yes-foods Simple habits that calm bloat without over-restricting Permission to laugh, breathe, and keep going—you’re not broken; your body is changing Free gift mentioned:Grab Your Quantum Path to Wellness (my free guide) to connect the energy–body–symptom dots and start feeling like yourself again. If you’re ready for tailored support, my 90-day Functional Bloodwork Program pairs precise lab analysis with emotional energy work (Emotion/Body Code) so your gut, hormones, and nervous system can work together again. If this episode made you feel seen, share it with a friend who’s hiding her belly under an oversized sweater by 3 PM. And if you’ve got a “tuba” story, I’m all ears. 💛