A granola shot that goes down like bourbon and lands like a health upgrade. We bring Gita, the founder of Gut BFF, into the studio with Gabby to taste three flavors, Honey Glow, Apple Cinnamon Raisin, and Chocolate Peanut Butter, and dig into the big idea behind the crunch: 20 different plant ingredients per bag, designed to help you get closer to the 30-plants-per-week guideline from the American Gut Study.

Gita shares how food-first changes helped her navigate insulin resistance and post-COVID cholesterol concerns, and why prebiotics plus probiotics beat supplements alone. Think of probiotics as seeds and prebiotics as fertilizer; feed both and you generate short-chain fatty acids that support immunity, brain energy, digestion, and overall wellness. We get practical about how people really eat granola, on yogurt for texture, by the handful at 4 p.m., or as a lighter cereal, while calling out what makes this different from the usual sugar bombs: popped ancient grains for clean crunch, nuts and seeds for fiber and protein, and restrained sweetness that lets flavor win.

If you’re building a consumer brand, there’s a playbook here. Bootstrapping forced fast feedback loops, farmers markets, yoga studios, sampler three-packs, while an FDA-inspected regional facility bridged the scary gap between home production and big co-pack runs. We talk pricing, local retail rollout, and smart timing for a raise, plus how to scale without losing quality or shelf life. There’s also a cultural shift powering demand: Gen Z is leaning into gut health and clean labels, not just because of dietary restrictions like celiac or alpha-gal, but because they want snacks that feel good and actually taste great.

By the end, you’ll know which flavor stole the show, how to hit your plant diversity goals without overthinking breakfast, and why taste is the most underrated health strategy. Try the sampler, top your favorite yogurt, and tell us your winner. 

Subscribe, share with a friend who lives on “healthy” snacks, and drop a review with your flavor pick, what should the next berry be?

More About this Episode

How Gut BFF Is Redefining Healthy Snacking with Purpose and Flavor

In an era where food is no longer just about flavor but function, few products are capturing the attention of conscious consumers quite like gutBFF, a brand born at the intersection of personal health transformation, nutritional science, and grassroots entrepreneurship. Behind this emerging brand is Gita Chakrabarti, a former Walmart executive who left behind the security of corporate life to pursue a purpose-driven mission: make gut health accessible, enjoyable, and, above all, delicious.

We had the chance to sit down with Gita on the B Team Podcast, alongside Josh Saffran, co-host Jim Corbett, and a special guest appearance by Josh's daughter Gabrielle. The discussion turned into much more than a tasting session. It became a case study in entrepreneurial courage, clean eating, generational health trends, and the business of building a wellness brand from the ground up.

Let’s dive into what makes gutBFF more than just granola, and why it could be a game-changer in both the food and functional wellness industries.

From Walmart to Wellness: Gita’s Journey

Gita didn’t just wake up one day and decide to make granola. This journey began years ago as she personally struggled with insulin resistance and fertility challenges. Rather than immediately accepting a prescription for Metformin, a common medication for diabetes, she made a radical choice: change her diet first.

Her experiment worked. By cutting sugar and leaning into whole, plant-based foods, she improved her metabolic health and ultimately achieved pregnancy. Years later, after dealing with post-pandemic weight gain and high cholesterol, she used food once again to get her health back on track.

These experiences weren’t just eye-opening, they were transformational. Gita realized food could be powerful medicine, and she started exploring ways to bring that truth to more people through real, convenient, functional food.

What Is Gut Health, And Why Should You Care?

If you think "gut health" is just another wellness buzzword, think again. Gita breaks it down simply: your gut is home to billions of bacteria that influence your immunity, brain function, and digestion. To keep your gut healthy, you need the right mix of probiotics (good bacteria) and prebiotics (what those bacteria eat).

And here’s the kicker: prebiotics come from plants, and not just any plants. The variety matters.

A landmark study called the American Gut Project found that people with the healthiest gut microbiomes consumed 30 different plant types each week. Not 30 servings, but 30 distinct types, from seeds and grains to legumes and vegetables.

This finding became the inspiration for gutBFF. Each bag of Gita’s granola packs in 20 different plants, from seeds like chia and pumpkin to ancient grains like millet, amaranth, and quinoa. That’s two-thirds of the weekly goal, conveniently packed into one high-fiber, flavor-forward snack.

Reinventing Granola: From Sugar Bomb to Superfood

Let’s face it, granola has a bit of an identity crisis. It’s often marketed as a health food, but many store-bought options are loaded with sugar and poor-quality oils. Gita knew if she wanted to reinvent it, she had to make a version that was nutrient-dense, clean, and satisfying.

To do this, she partnered with an Oregon-based food developer with decades of experience in granola formulation. Their goal: keep the crunch, ditch the junk, and supercharge the ingredients list with gut-loving, plant-based goodness.

The result? Granola that doesn’t just taste healthy, it actually is. Low in added sugar, high in fiber, free of gluten and dairy, and filled with prebiotic ingredients to support gut health.

Meet the Flavors: Taste-Testing the Lineup

During the podcast, the team sampled three flavors, each met with enthusiastic approval. Gabrielle, who has alpha-gal syndrome (a condition that restricts meat consumption), and other food sensitivities, declared it the best granola she’s ever had. That’s high praise from someone whose pantry is filled with options that rarely meet the mark.

Here's the breakdown:

  • Honey Glow: The “OG” of the lineup, this one was praised for its light sweetness and clean flavor. A versatile option that works as a snack or yogurt topping.
  • Apple Cinnamon Raisin: A crowd favorite with real dried apple pieces baked into the mix. Kids love it. Adults do too. It delivers a classic breakfast flavor without the sugar spike.
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter: Rich and indulgent, but not overpowering. With its balanced flavor and crunch, it’s the brand’s best seller and a go-to for fans who want a guilt-free treat.

A fourth berry-based flavor is in the works, possibly blueberry or strawberry, highlighting the brand’s focus on variety and customization, both critical to gut health and consumer appeal.

Why gutBFF Hits Different: Clean Ingredients, Real Impact

What sets gutBFF apart isn’t just its taste or health halo. It’s the story, the transparency, and the heart behind it. In a world dominated by big CPG brands, this is an indie startup led by someone who lives and breathes the mission.

The ingredient list reads like a nutritionist’s dream: lion’s mane mushroom (for cognitive health), coconut (a prebiotic powerhouse), and a blend of ancient grains and seeds that are often missing from the modern Western diet.

Plus, the granola is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Refined sugar-free
  • Rich in fiber
  • Made with whole, recognizable ingredients

Whether you have alpha-gal, celiac, IBS, or you’re simply trying to optimize your microbiome, gutBFF offers a safe, satisfying solution.

Building a Business the Bentonville Way

Launching a food business isn’t easy, especially when you’re self-funded and trying to scale. But Gita is resourceful.

She started by selling out of her car and through local yoga studios (shoutout to Yoga Story in Bentonville). Early customers became fans, and word of mouth started spreading. She used farmer’s markets to test the product and get feedback, iterating as she went.

Now, production has shifted to the Market Center of the Ozarks, a new facility in Springdale that helps early-stage food companies scale up safely and affordably. It's a perfect example of how Northwest Arkansas is nurturing entrepreneurship, especially in health-focused CPG.

The Next Chapter: Scaling, Investing, and Spreading the Word

GutBFF is available online now at www.gutbff.com, with sampler packs selling briskly. Local retail distribution is starting soon, and by mid-2025, the brand plans to raise capital for larger-scale production.

Until then, Gita is focused on:

  • Growing the direct-to-consumer channel
  • Listening to real feedback from customers
  • Building a community of health-conscious fans
  • Developing new flavors based on actual need (and craving)

She’s also welcoming investor interest and offers a contact form on the site for those who want to get involved early.

Final Thoughts: Why gutBFF Is More Than a Granola Brand

GutBFF is more than granola. It’s a symbol of what modern wellness brands can be, authentic, informed by science, driven by personal mission, and designed for real people with real dietary challenges.

It’s also a sign of where the food industry is heading: toward functional snacks, microbiome health, and purposeful eating.

If you’re tired of “health food” that tastes like cardboard or brands that talk about wellness without walking the walk, this one’s for you.

Gita’s not just building a business. She’s building a movement, one crunch at a time.