Gut and brain
An active research field describing two-way signaling between the digestive system and the nervous system.
Founded by Dr Berit Nordstrand, MDFrom knowing
From knowing
to doing.
One step at a time.
gutWise helps you understand your gut and build healthier habits across food, sleep, stress, movement and recovery, through a simple 12-step journey designed by physician and author Dr Berit Nordstrand.
1 week free. Cancel anytime.
"With gutWise my stomach settled and my energy came back. It is the first thing that has stuck."
Dr Berit Nordstrand
Physician and founder of gutWise
The gutWise app
Know where to start.Build habits that last.Track your progress.
Knowing what’s healthy is one thing. Making it part of your day is another. gutWise brings Dr Berit Nordstrand’s science-informed method into one practical app, helping you care for your gut through food, sleep, stress, movement and recovery.
- A clear place to startFollow a guided 12-step journey, one focus at a time.
- Turn knowledge into actionShort videos and simple daily tasks help you put advice into practice.
- Make healthier choices easierExplore recipes, food tools, guided breathing and relaxation.
- See your patterns over timeFollow trends in sleep, HRV and physical activity with gutScore.
Take your first step today.
Available in English and Norwegian.
Areas of active research
Your gut is connected to much more than digestion.
Digestion is where most people notice their gut first. It is not where the story ends, which is why gutWise works across food, sleep, stress, movement and recovery rather than food alone.
Gut and immune system
A large share of immune tissue sits close to the gut, and researchers continue to study how the two interact.
Gut and metabolism
Studies explore how gut bacteria take part in how food is broken down and used by the body.
Gut, sleep and stress
Sleep, stress responses and digestion appear to influence one another, and the mechanisms are still being mapped.
Gut and energy
Research looks at how digestion and nutrient availability relate to how energetic people feel through the day.
12 steps. Small changes.
A healthier everyday life, one bend at a time.
Not a content library or a tracker. A guided journey with one clear focus at a time.
- 1Cut sugar
- 2Cut out modern wheat
- 3Eat something fermented
- 4Eat enough fiber
- 5Choose cultured dairy
- 6Use bone broth
- 7Eat less meat
- 8Eat food from the sea
- 9Use good fats
- 10Use more spices
- 11Establish good eating habits
- 12Stay the course
You don't need another perfect diet. You need habits you can live with.
What gutWise helps you do
Good habits begin with one small step.
Understand your gut
Learn more about what may be influencing your digestion and everyday wellbeing.
Step detail and daily tasksEat for your microbiome
Build greater plant diversity and learn how to nourish your gut bacteria.
Recipes and food toolsSleep and recover better
Understand how sleep, stress and recovery interact with your gut and overall health.
Courses, breath work, relaxationMake change that lasts
Take manageable steps rather than starting another all-or-nothing health plan.
12-step journeyThe science
Built on published research. Designed for a normal week.
Variety feeds diversity
In the largest citizen-science microbiome study to date, people eating more than 30 different plant types a week had more diverse gut microbiomes than those eating fewer than 10.
McDonald et al., mSystems, 2018Diet shows up faster than you'd think
A 17-week randomised trial found a diet high in fermented foods raised microbiota diversity and lowered a set of inflammatory markers in blood.
Wastyk et al., Cell, 2021The techniques are named, not invented
Action planning, self-monitoring, feedback and goal setting are catalogued behaviour-change techniques, not house terminology.
Michie et al., 2013; Gollwitzer & Sheeran, 2006Twelve weeks is a considered length
Habit research finds automaticity building over roughly two to three months, and that missing a single day does not derail it.
Lally et al., Eur J Soc Psychol, 2010gutWise has not been evaluated in a clinical trial. When programme outcome data exists, we will publish it.
About Berit Nordstrand
Created by Dr Berit Nordstrand.
Physician, author and lifestyle-medicine expert. Dr Nordstrand has spent her career helping people understand the connections between food, physical health, mental health, sleep and stress. gutWise is that work, turned into a programme you can follow.
- Dual specialist and trained cognitive therapist
- Author of 18 books
- One of Norway's best-known voices on food and health
What members say
Real everyday change.
5 star reviews from gutWise members
"There was a time I barely dared leave the house because of my stomach. With gutWise I got my everyday life back."
Morten GjerdegutWise member
"A fantastic tool for anyone who wants to make good lifestyle choices. I recommend the gutWise app, both because I use it myself and because of my work."
Rebekka NøklinggutWise member
"I struggled with a bloated stomach and low energy for as long as I can remember. With gutWise my stomach settled and my energy came back. It is the first thing that has stuck."
Hanne Kristin RhodegutWise member
Your next stepStart free,
Start free,
then subscribe.
1 week free.Access to step one. No charge during the trial.
Then £14.00 / month or £79.99 / year
Cancel anytime in the App Store or Google Play.
Everything you need to begin.
- All 12 steps, at your own pace, once you subscribe
- Recipes and practical food tools
- Courses and classes
- Available in English and Norwegian
UK prices shown. In Norway you pay in NOK through the App Store or Google Play. The exact amount is confirmed before you subscribe.
What is gutWise?
gutWise is your personal coach for gut health. The app gives you knowledge, inspiration and practical tools that help you build and keep a gut-friendly lifestyle through food, meal routines and good everyday habits.
What are the 12 steps?
The 12 steps are the start of your path to a lasting, gut-friendly lifestyle. Step by step, you learn simple ways to make better food choices and improve your meal routines, and you build on each one as it starts to become a natural part of everyday life.
Do I have to complete one step a week?
No. Take the 12 steps at your own pace. Twelve steps doesn't have to mean twelve weeks. Feel free to spend a week or more on each step, so your body has time to adjust and each new change can become a habit before you move on.
What will I get out of following gutWise?
You learn to build a well-rounded, gut-friendly lifestyle through food, meal timing, sleep, stress management, activity and recovery. The goal is to give your gut and your body a good foundation for energy, metabolic health, recovery and good health over time.
Who is gutWise for?
gutWise is for you if you want to invest in your own health, whether you feel well or want support with a lifestyle change. It can be a good fit if you're losing weight, quitting smoking, on GLP-1 treatment or living with a lifestyle-related condition, or if you simply want to build better habits for the future.
Can the whole family use the gutWise principles?
Yes. The principles of good ingredients, meal routines and gut-friendly food choices work for young and old alike. Simple swaps and a range of dietary preferences make it easier to find meals that work for everyone around the same dinner table.
What makes gutWise different from other nutrition programs?
gutWise is built on Dr Berit Nordstrand's method, developed from research and practical experience. You start with your gut, your food and your meal timing, then build on that with activity, sleep, stress management and recovery.
Why does gutWise start with the gut?
Your gut is influenced by what you eat every day, and your gut bacteria interact with both your immune system and your metabolism. That's why gutWise starts with food: simple food choices and meal routines that give your good gut bacteria better conditions to thrive and lay the foundation for a gut-friendly lifestyle.
Is gutWise a weight-loss diet?
No. With gutWise, you don't count calories. Instead, you learn to choose food that keeps you full, feeds your gut bacteria and contributes to steadier energy, lower inflammation and fewer sugar cravings. Together with good habits around meals, sleep and activity, you build a lifestyle that's easier to enjoy and stick with over time.
Can gutWise make it easier to lose weight?
For many people, better food quality and feeling full for longer, fewer sugar cravings and less snacking, more activity, better sleep and less stress can make weight loss easier. Together, these habits can support appetite regulation, energy metabolism and metabolic health, and make it easier to reach and keep a weight you feel good at over time.
Is gutWise hard to follow when life is busy?
No. You change one thing at a time and get simple swaps, recipes and practical tools. The goal isn't perfect weeks, but gut-friendly habits that still work when everyday life gets busy.
Do I need any prior knowledge of nutrition or health?
No. gutWise makes research and knowledge about gut health, nutrition and lifestyle simple and practical. Along the way, you learn what you can do, why it can help and how to make it work in everyday life.