Your Go-To Functional Medicine Guide To Gut Microbiome Testing
As a functional medicine practitioner, I have spent years consulting patients through chronic gut dysfunction that has no signs of slowing down. In fact, the American Gastroenterological Association, (1) states that an estimated 60-70 million people are currently living with digestive problems with 40% of Americans having to stop routine activities due to the debilitating nature of their symptoms.
This unfortunate reality shows me that there needs to not only be more education around proper gut health (a mission that I have chosen to accept as a practitioner) but also more answers as to what is happening beneath the surface. That’s where gut microbiome testing comes into play. By harnessing the power of advanced gut testing, we can pave the way for personalized interventions aimed at restoring balance and optimizing gut health. Read on to learn more about why microbiome testing is vital for understanding your gut health and achieving long-term, sustainable healing.
What is the gut microbiome?
Your gut is home to trillions of different bacteria, viruses, and fungi that collectively make up your microbiome. Together, these organisms influence all aspects of your health from your digestion, mood, immunity, energy levels, hormone balance, and more.
Basically, when your microbiome thrives, your overall health tends to follow suit. However, your stress levels, exposure to toxins, and dietary habits can compromise gut health, resulting in a cascade of health problems.
Everyone’s microbiome is unique, so your particular microbiome composition is going to look different than someone else’s. It also ebbs and flows throughout the day, with the seasons, and with your environment. A healthy gut for you might not be a healthy gut for someone else. That’s why gut microbiome testing is so helpful, because it shows you the exact areas of weakness in your microbiome so that you can take the next right steps to elevate your health.
How to know if you need gut microbiome testing
The reality is, most of us know when something is off with our health. Even if our symptoms are mild, it’s easy to tell when we don’t feel right, especially when those symptoms persist without a straightforward explanation. Digestive distress is the first sign that something isn’t right with your gut and is worth exploring through microbiome testing.
- Bloating
- Gas
- Food sensitivities
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Acid reflux
And since your gut is the foundation of your overall health, if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, gut microbiome testing can give you insight if your gut is a contributing factor to your health problems.
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- Skin problems
- Weight loss resistance
- Mood swings
- Blood sugar problems
- Hormone imbalances
Ultimately, consulting with a functional medicine practitioner can help you determine if gut microbiome testing is appropriate for your specific health case. In my telehealth functional medicine clinic, we take a comprehensive look at your health to determine if there are any factors that could have negatively impacted your microbiome such as a history of antibiotic use, high stress levels, autoimmune conditions, or a poor diet.
How gut microbiome testing works
Gut microbiome testing is pretty straightforward. On the patient side, the process begins by collecting a small stool sample (yes, this means you have to collect your poop!) which is then sent off to a laboratory for analysis. From there, the lab is able to identify the various bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, and other microorganisms present in your gut.
This comprehensive assessment is able to give us insight into your unique microbiome composition by shedding light on any imbalances. Gut microbiome tests can also look for inflammatory markers that can be beneficial at distinguishing between inflammatory gut dysfunctions like irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. With this knowledge, your doctor will be able to determine the best course of action to rebalance your microbiome, optimize your digestive health, and facilitate overall wellbeing.
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Types of gut health tests
A stool microbiome test is the most common type of assessment for your gut. This kind of test uses your stool to analyze your microbial makeup to determine the presence of conditions like bacterial dysbiosis, candida overgrowth, and parasites.
But there are other tests that look for specific markers outside to identify certain conditions.
1. Leaky gut antibodies
A blood or stool test looks for the presence of certain antibodies that are associated with leaky gut syndrome.
- Zonulin and occludin: These two proteins control gut permeability, and the presence of antibodies can indicate damage to the tight junctions that keep your gut lining sealed.
- Actomyosin: This can indicate that there has been destruction of the gut lining.
- Lipopolysaccharides (LPS): The presence of these antibodies outside of the digestive tract can also indicate leaky gut syndrome.
2. SIBO breath test
If your doctor suspects that SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) is behind your symptoms, they might recommend a hydrogen breath test that measures the presence and amount of hydrogen and methane gas that is produced by the wayward bacteria in the small intestine.
To complete the test, you drink a solution containing a sugar such as lactulose (most commonly used in SIBO tests), glucose, or xylose. If the bacteria is present it will feed off the sugar and release the hydrogen or methane gas.
How do I get my gut microbiome tested?
There are a few ways to go about getting your gut microbiome tested but it is typically done through at-home tests or doctor recommended tests. At-home tests of all kinds have risen in popularity due to their accessibility, convenience, and overall affordability. For the most part, these tests aren’t any different than what you would get from your doctor in terms of how they are carried out - you collect a sample (in this case, stool) and it gets sent off to a lab for analysis.
The biggest difference happens when it comes time for the results. Even though at-home tests shine in terms of convenience by delivering results directly to you, they are often only a broad overview of your gut health and can lack the deeper analysis that only professional microbiome tests can provide.
On the other hand, a microbiome test from your doctor offers a more comprehensive insight into your gut health by taking into account a broader range of factors, such as your health history and current symptoms, allowing for a more personalized assessment and targeted treatment plan. While at-home tests can be a helpful starting point for general insights, a doctor's microbiome test offers a deeper understanding of your unique microbiome and its potential impact on your health.
How much are gut microbiome tests?
In general, at-home gut microbiome tests range from $100 to $400, depending on the level of analysis provided. These kits typically include the cost of the test itself, shipping, and the analysis of the sample. Whereas professional microbiome testing from your functional medicine practitioner may include additional costs for the interpretation of the results and any appointment fees, with the total cost varying depending on the specific practitioner, their expertise, and the depth of analysis provided.
Gut microbiome testing - whether professional or at-home - is not usually covered by insurance as this is considered elective care, but it may be covered by an HSA or FSA account. With that being said, it is important to remember that gut microbiome testing is an investment in your health and provides invaluable insights into the state of your entire health.
If you are thinking about going the at-home testing route, these are my favorite companies:
As the one of most advanced at-home health tests available to consumers, your comprehensive results come with a personalized list of recommended foods, supplements, probiotics, and prebiotics.
This at-home gut microbiome test is unique because it also offers customized probiotics created just for you based on your test results. They offer probiotics for adults, kids, toddlers, and babies.
Although this is one of the more budget-friendly options, it also isn’t the most comprehensive. But if you are looking to just get a baseline understanding of the bacterial composition of your microbiome, this is the perfect test for you.
How to support a healthy gut microbiome
So you’ve received your results, now what? If your gut health could use a little overhaul, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can implement to nourish and balance your microbiome, but I always recommend starting with these two to set the stage for life-long gut health.
1. Reassess your diet
First and foremost, eating a clean, whole foods diet is foundational for your entire health. When it comes to your gut, everything you eat fuels either good or bad bacteria strains. Focus on eating more fiber-rich foods like artichokes, onions, and asparagus as these provide essential prebiotics that your good gut bacteria eat to thrive and multiply.
Adding in more fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, and yogurt can be a great way to introduce beneficial bacteria into your gut. Check out my podcast episode to learn more about the best and worst foods for your gut microbiome.
2. Take a daily probiotic
The most straightforward way to introduce more good bacteria in your gut is through a daily supplement. Although food is foundational, if you are struggling with bacterial dysbiosis, it can be difficult to reverse this through diet alone. I personally formulated The Probiotic with 100 billion CFUs per capsule,and four strains of beneficial bacteria, including the extensively studied HN019 strain of Bifidobacterium lactis for enhanced microbiome health.
Seeking help from a functional medicine doctor
We are continually learning more about how our gut health impacts our overall health. Whether you are dealing with digestive distress or another chronic health problem, gut microbiome testing gives you much-needed answers to what’s going on underneath the surface.
In my telehealth functional medicine clinic, microbiome testing is the very first step in everyone’s health journey. By taking out the guesswork we are able to get a full picture of your health and come up with an action plan based on exactly what your gut needs to thrive.
If you are ready to take the next steps in healing your gut, schedule a telehealth consultation to learn more about getting your microbiome tested.
As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe.
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- American Gastroenterological Association "New survey finds forty percent of Americans' daily lives are disrupted by digestive troubles" https://gastro.org/press-releases/new-survey-finds-forty-percent-of-americans-daily-lives-are-disrupted-by-digestive-troubles/ Accessed June 2023
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BY DR. WILL COLE
Dr. Will Cole, DNM, IFMCP, DC is a leading functional medicine expert who consults people around the globe, starting one of the first functional medicine telehealth centers in the world. Named one of the top 50 functional and integrative doctors in the nation, Dr. Will Cole provides a functional medicine approach for thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, and brain problems. He is also the host of the popular The Art of Being Well podcast and the New York Times bestselling author of Intuitive Fasting, Ketotarian, Gut Feelings, and The Inflammation Spectrum.
Gut Feelings
Healing The Shame-Fueled Relationship
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