The Gut Guy’s journey to healing

The college’s supportive environment was starkly different to his previous school, where he was bullied due to a lip deformity.

Teaching staff Mr Williams now counts as mentors helped to cultivate his interest in science, but losing his grandfather to prostate cancer ― and seeing his dad’s pained reaction ― sparked a desire to enter preventative health.

“I just wanted to make a difference in the world and prevent that from happening to other people as well,” he said.

“My maths and science teachers kind of shaped my future, and really supported me through my science journey.”

Following high school, Mr Williams was accepted into RMIT University to study a double degree in biotechnology and biomedicine, launching his involvement in gut health.

During his studies, he pioneered research that linked leaky gut syndrome to autism in animals while completing a Master’s degree in gut health.

Initially keen on completing a PhD, Mr Williams decided against further study after graduating, and instead founded his own gut health clinic two and a half years ago.

“Being able to help people one-on-one is really rewarding for me because a lot of people are just unsure about their health,” he said.

“They just don’t know where to go, and their symptoms are unexplained by traditional medical options as well.”

With gut health treatment emerging as a more commonplace therapy, patients experiencing a wide array of issues now visit Mr Williams’ clinic in search of help.

Anxiety, depression, weight problems, poor sleep, gastrointestinal concerns, pain and hormonal challenges are among the common issues he’s seen for.

Clinical action begins with a microbiome mapping test, which provides a roadmap for prescribing clinically proven products, including probiotics.

While probiotics are often key to treatments, Mr Williams warned against over-the-counter products and wellness influencers pushing affiliate links online.

“It's a marketing ― I wouldn't say scam, but it's pretty close to it,” he said.

Store-bought probiotics are often dead, and different strains may be ineffective for certain people, and can make some conditions worse.

“Once we figure out which probiotics you need, we can order them through practitioner-only portals that aren’t available to the general public,” Mr Williams said.

The outcomes from gut health therapy can vary, from minimal results to a complete reversal of symptoms, with a commitment to treatment plans often yielding positive results.

Clinical evidence about the benefits of good gut health grows daily, especially in mental health, where strong correlations have already been established.

Mr Williams said his own struggle with generalised anxiety improved significantly after treating himself, and he saw initial improvements within two hours.

“I felt a massive amount of relief. It was like a weight had been lifted off my mind, and I just felt incredible,” he said.

“Once I restored my gut health myself, I felt long-term benefits within about a month.”

Feel-good molecules produced in the gut like serotonin, dopamine and GABA travel via the gut-brain axis ― a “nerve highway” between both organs ― to produce positive feelings and antianxiety effects.

Mr Williams likened restoring gut health to growing a successful garden, which needs proper foundations for success.

Once the essentials are looked after, gut health clinicians can go on to remove any weeds to make way for seeds, or replace bad bugs with good ones.

Although a lot of information is available online about gut health, Mr Williams recommends seeing a professional for effective treatment, a job he enjoys performing.

“It’s really good to do something that’s meaningful, and try to provide a solution, or a roadmap for people,” he said.

“If your gut’s not right, everything else is not right, essentially, and 99.1 per cent of people on the planet have some level of poor gut health.”

For more information on Mr Williams’ online-based clinic, visit thegutguy.com.au