🙋♀️"Is This Causing My Bloating?" — Real Client Q&A
You’re not alone. These are the top questions (and clean swaps) from real women healing their gut.
One thing I love most about our community?
The questions. Because they’re real. They come from women who are doing the work, reading labels, and still wondering:
“Why am I still bloated?”
“Why does eating clean still feel so hard?”
“Why does everyone say this food is healthy—but it’s not working for me?”
So today, I’m opening up my inbox and coaching notes to answer some of the most common (and misunderstood) questions I get.
Let’s go.
Q: Why white rice over brown rice? And why no quinoa?
Most people think brown rice is “healthier” because it’s whole grain. But that outer bran layer? It’s loaded with phytic acid, which blocks mineral absorption and stresses your gut.
White rice has that layer removed—which makes it easier to digest and way less inflammatory.
As for quinoa, it’s a seed that contains saponins, a natural plant chemical that can irritate your gut lining. If you’re bloated or inflamed, quinoa is likely making things worse, not better.
✅ Swap: Organic white jasmine or basmati rice, cooked in bone broth or with a splash of ACV to help digestion.
Q: What’s the best flour to use that’s close to all-purpose?
If you’re ditching white flour but still want that soft, fluffy texture—good news. You don’t need to grind your own!
✅ Swap: Organic cassava flour is my go-to. It’s neutral in flavor, gluten-free, and great for baking and thickening sauces. Otto’s Naturals makes a clean version.
You can also try tiger nut flour (despite the name, it’s a root!) for muffins and pancakes.
Q: What clean coffee do you recommend?
Coffee can be moldy, sprayed with pesticides, and cause major energy crashes if you’re not careful.
✅ Swap:
Purity Coffee (organic, tested for mold, super smooth)
Paleovalley Coffee (my favorite that also tastes amazing black)
Add a clean protein or electrolytes in the morning to balance your cortisol before sipping.
Q: Are supplements necessary? If so, which ones?
Food first, always. But sometimes, your body needs a little extra help.
These are the few I consistently recommend (especially for women 35+):
✅ Clean multivitamin: Seeking Health or Pure Encapsulations
✅ Magnesium (glycinate or L-threonate) – Helps with sleep, mood, and digestion
✅ Beef organ capsules – Great for energy, iron, and B vitamins if you’re not eating liver
✅ Digestive enzymes – Especially if you're bloated after meals
*consult a doctor bc i’m not a physician :)
Q: I’m trying to eat clean, but I’m tired of making everything from scratch. What clean swaps do you recommend?
I hear this every single week. Eating clean shouldn't feel like a full-time job.
Here are some of my go-to swaps that save time and support your gut:
✅ Creamer:
Live Vessel (code: wakeup25)
Laird Superfood Creamer (powder only bc that is coconut sugar. liquid is cane sugar and you want to avoid that)
Make your own with coconut milk + a splash of vanilla extract + cinnamon
✅ GF Pasta:
Jovial Foods cassava pasta
Cappello’s Almond Flour Pasta
Avoid chickpea and quinoa blends—they usually contain additives
✅ Crackers:
Simple Mills almond flour crackers
Hu Kitchen crackers (watch sodium if sensitive)
Or try homemade flax crackers if you’re feeling ambitious
✅ Quick snacks:
Chomps or Paleovalley meat sticks
Organic dates stuffed with nut butter
Apple + raw almond butter
Quick Clean Snack (you will enjoy this unedited video)
💡 Pro tip: You don’t need to reinvent your routine every week. Find your 3–5 clean go-to’s and keep them stocked.
If you’ve been asking these questions too—
You’re not alone. Healing your gut, reducing bloat, and feeling energized isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being informed.
And that’s why I created the Wake Up & Read the Labels app — to be your cheat sheet at the grocery store.
So you don’t have to memorize ingredients or stress over “is this clean enough?”
You just scan, swap, and shop smarter.
xo,
Jen Smiley
