Your Gut: The “Second Brain” Behind Your Health and Well-Being

Aug 12, 2026

Why Your Gut Is Called the Second Brain

Have you ever had a “gut feeling” or noticed that stress immediately affects your digestion? That’s because your gut and brain are in constant communication through what scientists call the gut-brain axis. The digestive tract contains an extensive network of nerves known as the enteric nervous system, which is why the gut is often referred to as the “second brain.” At Well Humans, our functional medicine health coach and functional practitioner help clients understand how improving gut health can support not only digestion, but also mood, focus, resilience, and overall wellness.

Your gut influences many aspects of your health, including:

  • Communication between the gut and brain
  • Immune system function
  • Nutrient absorption needed for brain health
  • Hormone balance and stress resilience
  • The production of compounds that influence mood and well-being

The Connection Between Gut Health and Anxiety

Your digestive system is home to trillions of microorganisms that help regulate inflammation, support the immune system, and communicate with the brain. When the gut microbiome becomes imbalanced, it may contribute to gut health and anxiety, along with digestive discomfort and other health concerns. While anxiety has many contributing factors, supporting a healthy gut can be an important piece of a comprehensive wellness plan.

An imbalanced gut may be associated with:

  • Increased digestive discomfort during periods of stress
  • Changes in mood and emotional resilience
  • Fatigue and low energy
  • Difficulty concentrating or mental fog
  • Reduced overall sense of well-being

Looking Beyond Symptoms to Find the Root Cause

If you’ve been living with chronic brain related symptoms like brain fog, poor concentration, memory challenges, or persistent fatigue, it’s time to look beyond the brain alone. At Well Humans, we take a root-cause approach to health by exploring how digestive health, nutrition, lifestyle, stress, and the gut microbiome may be influencing how you feel. As your functional medicine health coach and functional practitioner, we create personalized strategies that address your unique needs instead of relying on one-size-fits-all solutions.

Your personalized wellness plan may include:

  • Comprehensive nutrition and lifestyle assessments
  • Personalized recommendations to support gut health
  • Stress management and nervous system regulation strategies
  • Education that empowers you to make lasting lifestyle changes

Restore Your Gut, Support Your Mind, Transform Your Health

When your gut is functioning optimally, you may notice improvements that extend far beyond digestion. Supporting a healthy gut can help optimize energy, improve digestive comfort, enhance mental clarity, and promote greater resilience throughout daily life. At Well Humans, we combine personalized coaching with evidence-informed functional wellness strategies to help you restore balance from the inside out.

Why clients choose Well Humans:

  • Boutique concierge care tailored to your individual health goals
  • One-on-one support from a functional medicine health coach who is also a functional practitioner
  • A root-cause approach to addressing gut health and anxiety
  • Personalized strategies for managing chronic brain related symptoms
  • Sustainable lifestyle changes designed to support lifelong wellness

At Well Humans, we believe your gut is the foundation of whole-body health. By nurturing the communication between your gut and brain, you can create the conditions for better digestion, improved mental clarity, greater emotional resilience, and a healthier, more vibrant life.

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Fix Your Gut and Feel Your Best

carla alpert functional medicine practitioner

Hello and Welcome! My name is Carla Alpert, and I’m a Board Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach and Diagnostic Practitioner, focusing on the gut and how it affects your overall health. Think of me as a health detective and wellness coach working in partnership with you to restore your health. We work together to uncover the contributing factors to your chronic symptoms, to eat well, sleep well, move more and stress less.

I love the GI MAP test because it helps my clients and I discover gut dysfunction that may be contributing to daily digestive issues as well as other chronic symptoms like anxiety, fatigue and brain fog. I created this GI MAP Coaching Package to help you stop struggling with your health and get back to living your best life.

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What Clients Are Saying

Carla really helped me to figure out my gut pain and issues after so many years. I finally feel like I have energy and clarity around my health! She was so easy to talk to and helped me discover problem areas that were causing me so much distress, when no other doctors could help.
VICTORIA

Well Humans changed my life. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis accompanied by chronic hives. It sprang up out of nowhere and caused bizarre “food allergies” that I’d never had before. Because of Carla’s coaching and dietary recommendations as well as GI Map testing, I can happily say that I am now symptom-free, and I have been in remission for over a year now. All of the doctors I saw told me I would have to deal with my symptoms because there was no cure, but here I am, back to living a mostly normal life. I highly recommend Carla and Well Humans for anyone looking for real answers and treatments that work.
KALYN

When working with Carla, you are in capable, compassionate, knowledgeable and caring hands. Carla truly cares about your well being and wants to help you be the healthiest that you can be. My health was truly suffering and with her guidance and suggested testing, we uncovered some issues that nobody else had uncovered, despite my going to some of the top rated medical institutions. My health and pain improved greatly due to Carla’s sleuthing…she knew where to look. Through many health challenges, I was quite emotional and Carla showed me what compassion looks like. If you want to truly improve your health, start with Well Humans.
BETH

Over years, I’ve tried various “alternative” medicine as well as conventional “western” medicine approaches. Skin ailments are hard to treat – so many aspects of a life can produce skin symptoms. I enthusiastically recommend Well Humans and Carla for a simple reason – I’ve experienced sustained, substantial improvement! I have hardly ever posted a review of anything, but writing this was an easy choice to make. I wish you all the best in your journey towards better health!
JON

I searched the U.S. to find someone who does what Carla does. Carla has used her knowledge, support and expertise to optimize my health and well-being with a blend of scientific medical tests, supplements and diet changes. I wasted a lot of time on my hunches, the internet and experiments with supplements and food and NOW i have an actual plan. Superb supportive knowledge and guidance. I highly recommend Carla. Grateful.
LISA

I never knew that I had a gluten allergy and intolerance until Carla discovered it in my blood work! I’m so grateful that she made this discovery and I have been gluten free ever since. I sleep better, don’t feel bloated and have much more energy. It was a life-changing insight.
ROB

Carla is very knowledgeable and kind. She helped me navigate a health issue with grace and the utmost care. Carla goes above and beyond with her clients and I highly recommend her. She genuinely cares!
ALLISON

I have been working with Carla for quite some time and she has helped me turn my life and health around. She is non-judgmental, and always wants the best for her clients. She is extremely knowledgeable and has a fantastic bedside manner. She has truly changed my life for the better and I will always be grateful for everything she has done.
ROB

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