You started magnesium for constipation. It worked.

And then… it didn’t.

Now you’re increasing the dose, relying on it nightly, and wondering why your body won’t cooperate.

Here’s the truth: if magnesium stopped working, it’s not because you need more of it.

Magnesium can support bowel movements. But it doesn’t fix the reason your system slowed down in the first place.

In this episode, I break down:

• What magnesium actually does (and what it doesn’t)
• The mineral patterns I see when it “stops working”
• Why potassium, bile flow, and stress matter more than you think
• How you can poop daily and still be constipated
• What actually restores long-term rhythm instead of relying on stimulation

Constipation is rarely just a colon issue. It’s often a top-down digestion issue.

If you’re tired of bandaids and want a personalized, step-by-step plan to restore your digestion from the root, this is exactly the work we do inside gutTogether.

Find the real root causes of your GI symptoms with our free, 2 minute Quiz!

Take the quiz here!

Connect + Next Steps

Want daily education, stories, and gut-friendly support?
Follow along on Instagram

Ready for personalized 1:1 support and a clear plan?
Apply for gutTogether®

Want a chance to win a free HTMA Bundle? Leave a rating & review and email it to happygut@drheatherfinley.co with [PODCAST REVIEW] in the subject line! We choose a new winner every month!

If you’re constipated… and your ferritin won’t improve… this episode is for you.

Constipation isn’t just uncomfortable, it's often a sign that your digestive system, minerals, and stress response are all under strain, and when that happens, iron can be one of the first things to stall.

In this episode, I connect the dots between:

• Constipation
• Fatigue
• Low ferritin
• Slow stomach acid
• Mineral depletion
• Sluggish bile flow
• Stress (both internal and external)

Because ferritin doesn’t improve just because you take iron.

Ferritin improves when the whole system improves.

If iron has made you feel worse…
If your ferritin only improves while supplementing…
If you’re bloated, sluggish, and exhausted despite “normal labs”…

This conversation will make things click.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why low stomach acid affects both iron and B12
• How slow motility disrupts iron recycling
• Why constipation isn’t a side effect, it’s a signal
• The connection between bile flow, SIBO, and iron storage
• How mineral depletion makes iron harder to tolerate
• Why stress shifts your body out of storage mode

🎁 Giveaway Announcement

To celebrate this being the 100th episode and our upcoming live training, I’m doing a giveaway!

One listener will win a free Lume Box! This is my favorite red light therapy device I use every day!

Here’s how to enter:

1️⃣ Listen to this episode
2️⃣ Leave a rating and review
3️⃣ Screenshot your review and email it to happygut@drheatherfinley.co with [100th giveaway] as the subject line

--> Bonus entries for sharing the podcast and tagging @drheatherfinley on Instagram

The winner will be announced on next weeks podcast!

Connect + Next Steps

Want daily education, stories, and gut-friendly support?
Follow along on Instagram

Ready for personalized 1:1 support and a clear plan?
Apply for gutTogether®

Exhausted, bloated and wondering why your ferritin won't budge, even while taking iron? Join me for a live training covering the exact reasons why you're stuck and how to improve your energy, hair loss, gut and ferritin.

Why Iron Isn’t Enough: The Truth About Low Ferritin

Sign up for the webinar here! (early bird pricing ends Feb 7th!)

If you’ve been told to “just take iron” for low ferritin and it either didn’t work or made you feel worse, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I’m sharing my personal postpartum ferritin story and walking through why iron alone wasn’t the answer for me… or for so many of the clients I work with.

Low ferritin is one of the most misunderstood labs I see. And for most people, it’s not about iron intake. It’s about whether the body is actually ready to absorb, use, recycle, and store iron.

In this episode, we zoom out and talk about the systems that control ferritin, including digestion, motility, minerals, and liver support.

I also cover:

• Why ferritin often stays low even when you’re taking iron
• How postpartum depletion changes how the body handles iron
• Why iron can worsen constipation, bloating, and nausea
• The role of digestion, motility, and mineral balance in ferritin
• Why constipation is often a cause, not a side effect
• How the liver influences iron storage and regulation
• Why ferritin is usually a signal, not the root problem

This episode is especially for you if:

• You’re postpartum or have a history of heavy periods
• You struggle with constipation or slow digestion
• You don’t tolerate iron well
• Your labs are “normal” but you still feel exhausted
• Ferritin only improves while you’re actively taking iron

I’m hosting a free training called Why Iron Isn’t Enough

👉 Learn more and register here

Connect + Next Steps

Want daily education, stories, and gut-friendly support?
Follow along on Instagram

Ready for personalized 1:1 support and a clear plan?
Apply for gutTogether®

Exhausted, bloated and wondering why your ferritin won't budge, even while taking iron? Join me for a live training covering the exact reasons why you're stuck and how to improve your energy, hair loss, gut and ferritin.

Why Iron Isn’t Enough: The Truth About Low Ferritin

Sign up for the webinar here! (early bird pricing ends Feb 7th!)