Gut Mapping - What a gut health test can tell you?

Gut health test

If you’ve struggled with:

# Constipation/ slow bowels

# Excessive bloating and gas

# Loose stools

# Food sensitivities

# Pain and discomfort after meals

You may have been diagnosed at some time with IBS, SIBO or even leaky gut.

What we discover in a functional gut mapping test goes above and beyond a standard stool test.

You can spend years in pain, trialing different nutraceuticals, probiotics and medications without really knowing what’s going on in the first place.

Only the cost of not knowing is higher because chronic gut issues can lead to more systemic issues including hormonal imbalances- endometriosis, poor immune function, anxiety, depression, autoimmune conditions and the list goes on. Good health it seems really does start in the gut.

There’s been a lot of research done in recent years and we’re now seeing that poor gut function and low grade gut inflammation can lead to many common chronic health conditions.

This is why the Complete microbiome mapping is an essential test to have done.

Types of stool tests

Generally your standard run of the mill stool test will look for some of the most common bugs that are known to cause acute pain or issues and that’s often where they stop.

When you have a microbiome test what we get is a very in depth look at key markers in the gut as well as some of the key factors that might lead to imbalance and issues with function.

Let’s take a closer look at why running this test is a significant step forward in getting your health back on track

Microbiome Gut Testing is a US based, FDA approved test that uses PCR based technology and assay that is used by major hospital labs. PCR means it identifies the micro-organism’s DNA, this is important because it means that we’re now able to get a clear snapshot of what micro-organisms are present in your gut.

By understanding your microbiome as well as the gut function it’s possible to make very specific diet and supplement recommendations that will get you healing faster and see your symptoms improve long term.

What will you see on a comprehensive stool test?

The entire report is several pages long but let’s take a look at just a few of the panels you’ll see on your GI stool test.

Opportunistic bacteria: Present for many of us but given the ‘right environment’ we know can overgrow leading to gut symptoms.

Some of these have been linked to IBS, IBD and other chronic health issues.

Pathogenic bacteria: Campylobacter, C difficile Toxin A & B, E coli 0157, Salmonella, Shiga-like Toxins, Shigella, etc.

These usually enter your gut from a dodgy meal or holiday. Many IBS cases start with one of these infections.

In addition you’ll see on this panel a breakdown of some of the commonly seen viral pathogens as well as the normal bacterial gut flora.

In this particular patient sample the overview is telling with may of the good bacteria needed for a healthy symptom free gut very low.

This can be helpful also for selecting appropriate probiotics.

Some of the other key points covered in the report:

Helicobacter Pylori screening- Comprehensive gut mapping tells us whether it’s a pathogenic strain or not. This is key because it’s one of the only tests that can actually tell us if it’s a problematic strain or not.

Parasites: Blastocystis, D. Fragilis, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia

Fungi/Yeast: Including Candida

I will often also request this test for conditions outside of gut symptoms. Like; Endometriosis, auto-immune conditions, and chronic skin issues. Click on any of these conditions to head across to some of the latest research showing how these have been linked to gut health and the microbiome.

How can I get my gut health test?

This functional pathology testing can only be done through a qualified health care practitioner.

Book an initial appointment for an online consultation.

The referral for the testing will be emailed to you.

Once you’ve been sent the stool test kit (sent all over Australia) all you need to do is collect a sample and post it back to the lab.

The results will then be discussed during your first consultation.

You will then be given an individualized protocol which may include dietary suggestions and supplements based on your test results.

Please note test results can take up to 20 days to come back from the lab.