Our gut microbiome consists of trillions of bacteria that play a crucial role in regulating many aspects of our health. It’s the foundation of our well-being, influencing everything from digestion to mental health.
According to the National Library of Medicine, a healthy gut microbiome is essential for proper digestion, immune function, and mental health. However, poor diet, stress, or medication can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria, leading to a variety of health issues.
Maintaining a well-balanced diet rich in fibre and fermented foods supports overall health. A healthy gut also helps fight infections and diseases by keeping the balance of good and bad bacteria in check.
Your gut regulates:
- Digestive Function
- Immune System
- Mental Health
- Inflammation
- Weight Management
- Skin Health
So, if you’re feeling off, whether it’s brain fog, low energy, constipation, bloating, or general discomfort investigating your microbiome can offer valuable insights.
Now, the good news is microbiome testing is available to help uncover the root causes of these symptoms and we do it regularly with our patients.
What Is Microbiome Testing?
Microbiome testing is a form of test that reveals the different types of microorganisms present in your colon (gut). Gut microbiome testing is a way to measure and quantify the bacteria in your gut.
Knowing your microbes and their levels can provide answers as to why you’re experiencing unwanted symptoms like bloating, constipation, pain, acne and/or weight gain, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Gut microbiome testing methods include:
- Culture based testing – this is an ‘old school’ method that isn’t used much anymore because some gut bacteria can’t be cultured. Therefore it gives a very limited picture of your gut microbiome.
- Metabolomic analysis – examines gut microbes’ biochemical markers, offering personalised insights to optimise digestive health.
- Metagenomic sequencing – analyses gut microbes’ genetic material, providing comprehensive data to guide personalised strategies.
16s rRNA sequencing – 16s rRNA sequencing microbiome testing identifies bacterial species in your gut for tailored health solutions.
How does microbiome testing work?
Gut microbiome testing typically involves collecting a stool sample at home or in a clinic. The sample is then sent to a lab where it is analysed.
A report is then created with the results to provide you and us with insights into your overall gut health.
Why Is Gut Health Important?
The gut microbiome aids in the breakdown of certain nutrients and acts as a barrier to prevent harmful microorganisms from seeping through into your body (a condition called leaky gut).
Good gut health also prevents inflammation, which can later lead to chronic diseases such as Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, and more.
Stephan C Bischoff explains in his article “‘Gut health’: a new objective in medicine?”, written for BMC Medicine, explains that our gut plays a key role in the fermentation of fibre. The gut microbiome breaks down dietary fibre, producing short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate, propionate, and acetate. These acids help fuel your intestinal cells, keep your bowels moving (peristalsis), boost your immune system and stimulate your metabolism.
The gut microbiome and your immune system are closely linked. Immune cells reside in the gut, helping to prevent pathogens from entering the bloodstream. Bischoff explains that our gut microbiome regulates T-cells, which helps fight infections and control inflammation.
Lastly, the gut has a profound connection with the brain. Ongoing research shows that the gut influences mental health. Some gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters like serotonin, which plays a role in mood regulation.
Fun fact – Did you know that 90% of the body’s serotonin is found in the gut? So, when you hear that the gut is the “second brain,” it’s truly accurate, detailed further in an article written for Pub Med “The Relationship Between the Serotonin Metabolism, Gut-Microbiota and the Gut-Brain Axis”.
On the flipside, a disrupted gut microbiome leads to conditions like diabetes, insulin resistance, heart disease and autoimmune disorders, according to the National Institutes of Health. When there is inflammation in the bowel, this triggers an inflammatory cascade within the body, resulting in disease.
What Can Microbiome Testing Tell You?
Some of the insights provided by microbiome testing include finding out how diverse your bacterial balance is. The more diverse, the better in the same way an old growth forest is healthier than a plantation forest.
A microbiome test can also detect inflammatory responses to certain foods, such as gluten. This is because it also measures your IgA levels, a specific antibody that increases when your body is fighting inflammation. The test also evaluates your capacity to absorb dietary fats and your ability to secrete specific digestive enzymes in the gut. This information helps you make informed dietary choices and adjust your eating habits accordingly.
As great as microbiome testing is, one of its limitations is that it doesn’t reveal food sensitivities, such as reactivity to certain fruits, vegetables, or grains. The main focus of the gut microbiome test is to examine the balance and function of the bacteria in your gut. This is particularly useful for functional digestive problems like bloating, diarrhoea, constipation and IBS.
Many people with these gut problems will be directed to have or have had a colonoscopy as a way to pinpoint the underlying problem. However, while a colonoscopy is effective for visually identifying ulcers, bulging, and swelling in the intestines it doesn’t give a deep analysis of the function of your gut on a microscopic level.
The Benefits of Microbiome Testing
Dr Alena Pribyl and Rebecca Morehouse of Co-Biome by Microba explain that microbiome testing can identify if there are food sensitivities such as gluten, dairy, fats and FODMAP foods. Overall, it reveals a better understanding as to why you can’t digest certain foods and the reasons behind your symptoms.
It can also help guide the use of probiotics and prebiotics by identifying the beneficial ratio of good and bad bacteria strains.
Microbiome testing also allows you to track your overall health progress, ensuring you’re on the right supplements and nutrition plan. We often find our patients feel better within one month of starting their treatment, depending on the severity of the gut issue.
How to Get Started with Microbiome Testing
To get started with microbiome testing, it is imperative that you go through a qualified health practitioner. As Naturopaths, we have access to many different types of functional testing which gives better test accuracy and the level of detail offered. The process typically involves collecting a stool sample at home and sending it to a lab for analysis. After receiving your results, we then analyse your results and give you personalised recommendations regarding your overall gut health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What factors can affect my microbiome?
Diet, stress, antibiotics, sleep, physical activity, the environment, and hygiene all impact gut health.
Why should I get microbiome testing?
It helps identify imbalances that contribute to digestive issues and provides valuable insights into your overall health.
How accurate is microbiome testing?
DNA sequencing tests tend to be more accurate in identifying specific species of bacteria in your gut.
What can I learn about my gut health?
You’ll learn about your gut’s balance of good and bad bacteria, the presence of parasites or worms, and potential signs of inflammation.
Are there any risks associated with microbiome testing?
No, microbiome testing is considered safe with no known risks.
Can microbiome testing inform dietary choices?
Yes, it can identify which bacteria are affecting your ability to digest certain foods and help you make informed dietary choices.
What conditions can microbiome testing help identify?
It can help identify IBS, dysbiosis, food sensitivities, obesity, and autoimmune conditions.
How often should I consider microbiome testing?
It depends on your health concerns, but a good rule of thumb is every 3 years.
How are the results interpreted?
Results should be interpreted by a naturopath, nutritionist, or dietitian for personalised guidance.
How reliable is microbiome testing?
It’s fairly accurate and offers specific insights into microbial changes in your gut.
Improving Gut Health After Testing
Here are 3 practical tips we often give patients after they do microbiome testing. However, these will not be suitable for everyone because everyone’s microbiome is different. Hence, the importance of testing your microbiome.
- Eating a diet high in prebiotic and probiotic foods: This includes garlic, onion, kefir, and sauerkraut.
- Increasing your fibre intake: Incorporating foods like kiwi, psyllium husks, oats, berries, and legumes will boost your fiber intake and support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.
- Adding gut-healing foods: According to Pub Med’s article “Leaky Gut and the Ingredients That Help Treat It: A Review“, these foods have a soothing effect on the lining of your gastrointestinal tract, helping to block inflammation. Examples include bone broth, slippery elm, marshmallow root, and liquorice.
Microbiome testing is becoming more and more accessible. However, it is important to remember that without the expertise to interpret the results you could take gut supplements that make you worse rather than better.
But if you feel like there is something not right with your gut even though you’ve been told by conventional practitioners that there is nothing wrong with you, then now is probably the right time for you to complete a gut microbiome test because –
A healthy gut microbiome is essential for digestion, immune function and mental well-being. Poor diet, stress or medication can disrupt the gut microbiome and lead to a variety of health problems.
Microbiome testing can reveal unexpected insights into your own gut bacteria, digestive function and whether you have any nasty parasites, worms or viruses.
Looking into your own health at a deeper level can solve the puzzle of your symptoms and prevent you from developing a chronic disease in the future.
To discover our natural way to rid yourself of your gut health woes, all you need to do is schedule an initial appointment.
During your consultation, we will thoroughly assess your current gut issues, your previous medical and lifestyle history, and your diet and refer you for a microbiome test.
Once you complete the test, and we analyse your results, we’ll then create a personalised natural herb and supplement plan that fits your needs and lifestyle so you can be free of gut problems and live the rich, rewarding life you deserve.
To book an initial consultation to get to the bottom of what’s happening in your gut call us us now, (+61) 2 9524 2471, or click here to book online.
If you aren’t local that’s okay because we offer online appoints via Zoom.
Citations & further resources:
Hills, R. D., Jr, Pontefract, B. A., Mishcon, H. R., Black, C. A., Sutton, S. C., & Theberge, C. R. (2019). Gut Microbiome: Profound Implications for Diet and Disease. Nutrients, 11(7), 1613. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11071613
Aleman, R. S., Moncada, M., & Aryana, K. J. (2023). Leaky Gut and the Ingredients That Help Treat It: A Review. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 28(2), 619. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28020619
Ferranti, E. P., Dunbar, S. B., Dunlop, A. L., & Corwin, E. J. (2014). 20 things you didn’t know about the human gut microbiome. The Journal of cardiovascular nursing, 29(6), 479–481. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCN.0000000000000166
de Vos, W. M., Tilg, H., Van Hul, M., & Cani, P. D. (2022). Gut microbiome and health: mechanistic insights. Gut, 71(5), 1020–1032. https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2021-326789
Bischoff, S.C. ‘Gut health’: a new objective in medicine?. BMC Med 9, 24 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-9-24
Stasi, C., Sadalla, S., & Milani, S. (2019). The Relationship Between the Serotonin Metabolism, Gut-Microbiota and the Gut-Brain Axis. Current drug metabolism, 20(8), 646–655. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389200220666190725115503
Ferranti, E. P., Dunbar, S. B., Dunlop, A. L., & Corwin, E. J. (2014). 20 things you didn’t know about the human gut microbiome. The Journal of cardiovascular nursing, 29(6), 479–481. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCN.0000000000000166
Aleman, R. S., Moncada, M., & Aryana, K. J. (2023). Leaky Gut and the Ingredients That Help Treat It: A Review. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 28(2), 619. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28020619
