The Best Gut Health Supplements and Vitamins Approved by a Trusted Functional Medicine Doctor
Your gut and your hormones are on a two-way street. Your microbiome influences how you metabolize estrogen, manage stress, and produce feel-good neurotransmitters. When your gut is healthy, you feel more balanced, focused, and energized. (Harvard Health on gut-brain connection).
Bloating, mood swings, food sensitivities, stubborn weight gain, brain fog, and fatigue are all signs your gut is struggling to keep up, especially during perimenopause and menopause.
If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Many women are handed a probiotic and told to “try it out.” But real gut healing requires more than guesswork.
In case we haven’t met yet… We’re Dr. Erin Hendriks and Dr. Maricela Castillo MacKenzie, founders of Elle MD, a functionalmedicine and weight loss clinic based in Royal Oak, Michigan.
We specialize in helping women—especially in midlife—restore their gut health, balance their hormones, and finally feel like themselves again. If you're ready to stop guessing and start healing, explore our gut health services in Michigan to see how we can support you with a personalized plan.
How to Improve Gut Health Holistically
Before you reach for a bottle, make sure your foundations are in place. Gut health begins with sleep, hydration, blood sugar balance, stress management, and eating the right foods. Supplements help, but they are not a substitute for lifestyle.
Step 1: Start with Food and Daily Habits
Eat more fiber-rich vegetables, fermented foods, and clean protein. Drink water and sleep at least seven hours a night. Reduce alcohol, sugar, and processed snacks.
Step 2: Add Supplements Strategically (Not Randomly)
Start small. Add one supplement at a time so you can track how you feel. No megadoses. No mystery capsules. And please—no DIY detox kits. If you’ve already cleaned up your daily habits and still deal with digestive drama, supplements may help you get over the hump—especially when paired with personalized support.
Step 3: Seek Testing If Symptoms Persist
Still struggling? It might be time for functional stool testing, hormone panels, or a micronutrient analysis to identify deeper imbalances.
What Vitamins Are Good for Gut Health?
Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps regulate immune function and strengthens your gut lining. If you’re constantly sick or dealing with bloat and sensitivities, you might be low on D.
B Vitamins (Especially B12 and Folate)
B vitamins support energy production, hormone metabolism, and cell repair—especially important when rebuilding a damaged gut lining.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is crucial for protecting mucosal barriers and reducing inflammation. It’s especially helpful for women with autoimmune or inflammatory symptoms.
What are the Best Gut Health Supplements?
- Probiotics: Replenish healthy gut flora, support immunity, and aid digestion (Cleveland Clinic on probiotics)
- Prebiotics: Feed good bacteria and promote a diverse microbiome
- L-Glutamine: Helps heal and seal the gut lining, especially after stress or illness
- Digestive enzymes: Assist with breaking down food and absorbing nutrients
- Magnesium: Relieves constipation and supports regular motility
The best gut health supplement for you depends on your unique hormonal and digestive picture. What works for your best friend might make your symptoms worse. You can also check our list of trusted products here.
Are Gut Health Supplements Worth It?
When They Can Help
- After taking antibiotics
- During times of high stress or burnout
- When experiencing hormone-driven changes (perimenopause or menopause)
Supplements can fill in the gaps and support your system when it’s under pressure.
When They’re Not Enough
If you’re leaning on supplements while ignoring poor sleep, chronic stress, and blood sugar crashes, they won’t do much. That’s where functional medicine steps in—with lab testing and a whole-person approach.
Want to go deeper? Our gut health services at Elle MD can help you find exactly what your body needs.
Is Apple Cider Vinegar Good for Gut Health?
It’s a popular trend, but the truth is more nuanced. For some people, ACV may offer mild digestive support. But for others, especially those dealing with acid reflux or a sensitive stomach, it can make symptoms worse. While it’s often hyped as a gut health fix, apple cider vinegar is far from a cure-all. At best, it’s a maybe, and definitely not the first place to start if you’re looking to heal your gut from the root. Real, lasting results come from personalized strategies, not quick-fix wellness trends.
The Importance of Practitioner Guidance
A trusted functional medicine provider can guide you through the maze of options. At Elle MD, we use functional testing to make sure your supplements are tailored to your body—not someone else’s.
The Takeaway: Gut Healing Needs Strategy
If you’ve tried probiotics, collagen, or even ACV and you’re still dealing with fatigue, bloating, or food sensitivities—it’s time to stop guessing.
At Elle MD, we help women in perimenopause and menopause create personalized healing plans that restore gut health, rebalance hormones, and get them back to feeling like themselves.
Ready to heal your gut the right way?
We offer more than supplements. We offer strategy, science, and support. Explore our Michigan gut health services and book your consultation today. Your path to balance starts here.
*AI Disclosure:
This content may contain sections generated with AI with the purpose of providing you with condensed helpful and relevant content, however all personal opinions are 100% human made as well as the blog post structure, outline and key takeaways.
* Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on www.elle-md.com may contain affiliate links meaning that we will get a commission for recommending products at no extra cost to you.
*Blog Disclaimer: Please note that reading our blog does not replace any health or medical advice consultation. Read our blog disclaimer here.
Meet the Drs.
Dr. Hendriks and Dr. Castillo MacKenzie are board-certified physicians, female, specialized, with over 10 years of experience.
Elle MD started after practicing in a traditional primary care setting together for over a decade. We grew frustrated with the current healthcare model, which places no emphasis on addressing the root cause of chronic disease. A lot of times, conventional care doesn’t even promote overall wellness!
We founded Elle MD in Royal Oak, MI, with a vision of providing this care in a compassionate and personalized way.
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