July 06, 2026 | Source: Purewow | by Alexia Dellner
Gut health is all the buzz these days, but most advice tends to focus on what to put on your plate. You know the drill—eat more fiber, add fermented foods, take a probiotic, rinse and repeat. And while diet definitely matters, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. I reached out to a gastroenterologist and functional medicine expert to talk about how to support your gut without starting every morning with a bowl of All-Bran. As it turns out, the things happening outside of your meals—like how you sleep, move, stress and even medicate—can be just as important as what you eat.
Meet the Expert
Dr. Elena Ivanina is a triple board-certified gastroenterologist with expertise in Gastroenterology, Preventive Medicine & Public Health and Obesity Medicine. She completed her medical training from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and her advanced training in functional medicine at the Institute for Functional Medicine. She is the founder of the Center for Integrative Gut Health.
