Have you ever felt off, exhausted, or like your anxiety and mood swings just won’t let up? Then, on top of this, no matter what you do, you struggle to lose weight.
Maybe you’ve tried prescriptions, diets, or pushing yourself at the gym, and still nothing changes. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone.
On episode 22 of Safe Place for Brown Girls, I had the pleasure of speaking with Paula Richardson, a board-certified nurse practitioner and self-proclaimed “Gutpreneur.”
She shared her personal journey from taking five medications every day and feeling completely burned out to reclaiming her energy and vitality by focusing on healing her gut.
We’re getting real about something we do not hear much about in traditional healthcare circles: the gut-brain connection.
Paula explains that the health of your gut microbiome affects your mood, energy, sleep, and even your ability to maintain a healthy weight.
For women of color, who often juggle enormous responsibilities and stress, this connection is especially important.
Paula’s Story: From Burnout to Balance
At 43, Paula was thriving professionally as Emory Healthcare’s only lead African American nurse practitioner, but she was barely getting through her days.
Off the clock, she struggled with depression and fatigue. She tried counseling and medications like Lexapro, diabetic drugs, and blood pressure medication, but nothing seemed to help.
What changed everything was her decision to look inward and explore what was happening in her gut.
Paula discovered a severely leaky gut and an overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria, issues she once only saw in ICU patients.
This was not just about bloating or cravings. Her gut health had gotten so out of balance that it triggered mood swings, anxiety, and difficulty losing weight.
Even GLP-1 weight-loss injections, which are derived from hormones naturally produced in the gut, could not fully compensate.
Paula had to focus on healing her gut step by step, and slowly her energy, clarity, and mood returned.
Two and a half years later, she is off all medications, sleeping well, and living with focus and vitality.
The SHIFT Framework: A Practical Guide
Paula’s personal transformation inspired her to develop the SHIFT framework, a simple, practical blueprint for gut and overall health. Here is how she breaks it down:
S: Stress, Sleep, and Spiritual Balance
Stress, lack of sleep, and ignoring your spiritual needs allow unhealthy bacteria to take over your gut.
Paula recommends unplugging, setting boundaries, and caring for your nervous system with meditation, prayer, massage, or sound therapy.
Aim for seven hours of sleep each night to help your body detoxify naturally.
H: Healthy, Balanced Eating
Forget restrictive diets. True change comes from balanced eating that supports your gut. Paula encourages whole foods, fiber, and quality protein at every meal.
Processed sugars and carbs can destabilize your microbiome, fuel cravings, and trigger mood swings.
I: Intestinal Healing and Inflammation
A gut analysis can help identify issues like leaky gut or missing key bacteria. If that is not possible, start by cutting sugar, refined carbs, and processed foods.
A high-quality probiotic can help, but it cannot undo the effects of a consistently poor diet.
F: Fitness and Mindful Movement
Aggressive workouts may feel productive, but gentle exercise such as walking, yoga, or pilates is easier on the gut and supports hormonal balance.
Movement that restores rather than depletes is especially important as we age.
T: Toxicity and Trusting the Process
Let go of toxic foods, chemicals, and even relationships that drain you. Bioengineered and heavily processed foods disrupt mental health and gut function.
Healing is a process. Honor your journey and trust your body’s ability to restore itself.
Listen to Your Gut to Restore Health
If anything in Paula’s story resonates, remember this: healing does not start with more prescriptions or self-blame. It starts with awareness.
Be mindful of what you are putting in your body, how you manage stress, and what environments you are allowing to shape you.
Small, consistent steps add up to real, lasting change. You deserve to feel good in your body, and healing is possible.
If you are ready to make your SHIFT, tune into episode 22 of the Safe Place for Brown Girls podcast.