Gut Testing: What’s Worth Doing - and What’s Not
If you’ve been struggling with bloating, irregular bowel habits, IBS-type symptoms or persistent digestive discomfort, it’s natural to start wondering:
Should I get a gut test?
A quick search online brings up everything from microbiome mapping and stool tests to SIBO breath testing, food sensitivity panels and parasite cleanses. It can be hard to know what’s evidence-based, what’s genuinely useful, and what might simply add more confusion (and expense).
In this blog, I’ll walk you through the most common gut tests people ask about, what they can and can’t tell us, and when it’s essential to involve your GP to rule out medical causes.
First: testing should match your symptoms
One of the biggest mistakes I see is people ordering tests before they’ve clarified what they’re trying to understand.
Gut symptoms can be driven by many factors, including:
A sensible testing strategy should always begin with:
For many people, we can make significant progress without extensive testing. But for others, testing can help us build a much more targeted plan.
Comprehensive stool and microbiome testing
One of the most commonly used functional tests is comprehensive stool testing, often referred to as microbiome testing.
A test like Genova GI Effects Stool Test or GI Map can provide insight into:
When this type of test may be useful
In practice, comprehensive stool testing may be worth considering if:
What it can’t do
Microbiome tests are not there to:
However, they can be useful when interpreted in context, particularly when results are combined with symptom patterns, diet quality, lifestyle factors and health history.
SIBO breath testing
SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) is one of the most talked-about causes of bloating online. SIBO occurs when bacteria that normally live in the large intestine overgrow in the small intestine.
The most common test is a breath test, typically measuring hydrogen and methane (and sometimes hydrogen sulphide depending on the test available).
When SIBO testing might be appropriate
SIBO testing may be worth considering if there is:
A note on limitations
SIBO is complex. Breath testing has limitations and results need careful interpretation. Not all bloating is SIBO, and it’s common for people to go through multiple restrictive protocols unnecessarily when the driver is something else entirely (for example constipation, stress patterns, or weak digestion).
Asking your GP to test for coeliac disease
This is one of the most important points in the entire gut testing conversation:
If you have ongoing gut symptoms, especially diarrhoea, bloating, persistent fatigue, or nutrient deficiencies, it is sensible to rule out coeliac disease early. NICE guidelines recommend coeliac disease testing in people with persistent unexplained GI symptoms consistent with IBS, among other presentations.
If you suspect coeliac disease, it’s important that you continue eating gluten before testing. If gluten is removed before the blood test, results may become falsely normal.
This is one reason I don’t recommend removing gluten “just in case” without a clear plan, especially if symptoms are significant.
Your GP can arrange coeliac screening blood tests. If positive (or strongly suspected), further medical follow-up is needed.
FIT testing via your GP (especially if there is blood in stool)
If you notice blood in your stool, it’s important to speak to your GP promptly.
Other red flag symptoms include:
A FIT test (faecal immunochemical test) may be used in primary care to help assess the need for further investigation when symptoms suggest possible bowel disease.
This is not something to self-manage with supplements or elimination diets.
Food sensitivity testing: is it worth it?
Food sensitivity testing is often one of the first things people try when gut symptoms don’t improve. It’s understandable, because it feels like it might give a clear list of foods to avoid.
However, this is an area where it’s easy to spend money and end up more confused (and more restricted) than before.
Why food sensitivity tests often “light up”
With ongoing gut issues, especially if the gut lining is irritated or intestinal permeability is increased (sometimes referred to as “leaky gut”), food sensitivity tests can come back with long lists of positives.
This can happen because the immune system is more reactive when the gut barrier is not functioning optimally. In that situation, results can “light up like a Christmas tree” and leave you feeling like you can’t eat anything at all.
The downside
If we remove lots of foods based on a test result without addressing the underlying gut issue, it can lead to:
In clinic, it’s usually better to:
The Fibre Mistake That’s Making Your Bloating Worse
Many of my clients have been told to cut out fibre due to their IBS symptoms or have gradually whittled down their food options until there’s none left. Fibre can be worrying if you’re bloating.
Fibre is often talked about as a single nutrition target, usually measured in grams. But when it comes to gut health, it isn’t only about how much fibre you eat. It’s also about how many different fibres you include.
Your gut microbiome thrives on variety. Different bacteria prefer different fibres, and the wider the range of plant foods you eat, the more likely you are to support a diverse, resilient microbiome.
Let’s take a look at the different types of fibre, why variety matters, common myths that keep people stuck, and how to build fibre diversity gently - especially if you’re prone to IBS symptoms.
Different Types of Fibre Explained
Fibre is the part of plant foods that the body can’t fully digest. Instead, fibre becomes fuel for gut bacteria and helps support bowel regularity, blood sugar balance and digestive comfort.
But not all fibre behaves the same way.
Soluble fibre
Soluble fibre dissolves in water and forms a gel-like texture in the gut. It can help support:
Sources include oats, chia seeds, flaxseed, beans/lentils, apples, pears, carrots and sweet potato.
Insoluble fibre
Insoluble fibre adds bulk and helps move food through the digestive tract.
Sources include wholegrains, nuts and seeds, skins of fruit/veg, kale, cabbage and green beans.
Some people with IBS symptoms find large amounts of insoluble fibre harder to tolerate, especially during flare-ups. This doesn’t mean insoluble fibre is “bad”, but it does mean the type and timing matters.
Resistant starch
Resistant starch reaches the large intestine intact, where gut bacteria ferment it.
Sources include:
Prebiotic fibres
Prebiotics are specific fibres that feed certain beneficial bacteria.
Sources include onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus, chicory and some wholegrains.
If these trigger bloating, it’s often a sign that your gut needs a gentler approach, not that you need to avoid them forever.
Why Diversity Matters More Than Fibre Counts
It’s easy to think of fibre as something you either “hit” or you don’t. But fibre intake isn’t only a numbers game.
Different fibres create different effects in the gut. They support different bacterial species, and those bacteria produce compounds (such as short-chain fatty acids) that influence gut lining integrity and immune signalling.
This is why fibre diversity can be more meaningful for long-term gut health than simply increasing fibre grams quickly.
A useful goal is to aim for:
This can be done without turning food into a tracking exercise.
If you’d like to understand more about how the microbiome affects whole-body health, you may enjoy my March blog: How Your Gut Microbiome Shapes Hormones and Immunity.
Common Fibre Myths
Myth 1: “If fibre makes me bloated, fibre is the problem.”
Often it’s the speed of increase or the types of fibre being introduced. Rapid changes can increase fermentation quickly, leading to temporary bloating and wind. This is why slow, steady changes tend to work best.
Or it can be a sign that there is an imbalance on the gut microbiome that needs investigating.
Myth 2: “I need lots of raw salads for good gut health.”
Raw veg can be difficult for some people with IBS symptoms. You can support your gut just as effectively with:
In many cases, cooked veg is the most gut-friendly starting point.
Myth 3: “Fibre only matters for constipation.”
Fibre supports far more than gut transit. The microbiome is involved in inflammation regulation, immune resilience and hormone metabolism, which is why gut support can benefit the whole body.
Building Fibre Variety Gently
If you’re prone to bloating or IBS symptoms, the goal is not to overload your gut. The goal is to build tolerance and confidence.
1. Add one new fibre-rich food every few days
For example:
2. Rotate rather than restrict
Keep your staples, but rotate one or two each week:
3. Prioritise soluble fibre first
If your gut is reactive, start with gentler fibres:
4. Use small portions of common triggers
Rather than avoiding foods completely, try micro portions:
Your Gut Called… It Wants You to Stop Ignoring It
If you’ve ever been told that bloating, IBS symptoms or fatigue are “just digestion issues”, you’re not alone. Many clients come to me feeling confused and overwhelmed after receiving restrictive gut advice, unsure what they can eat without triggering symptoms.
The truth is that the gut has roles that go far beyond digestion. Your gut microbiome (the community of microbes living in your digestive tract) helps shape immune function, impacts inflammation, and plays an important role in hormone balance and metabolism.
Let’s explore how gut microbes influence hormones and immunity, and how food can support a healthier, more diverse microbiome without falling into crazy restrictive patterns.
What Is the Gut Microbiome?
Your gut microbiome refers to the trillions of microorganisms living primarily in your large intestine, including bacteria, yeasts and other microbes. Many are beneficial, some are neutral, and a smaller number can be problematic if they overgrow.
A “healthy” microbiome isn’t defined by having one perfect strain of bacteria. Instead, research suggests that microbiome diversity is one of the key features associated with resilience, better gut barrier function and healthier immune responses.
Your microbiome is also constantly changing. It can be influenced by:
So, if you’ve tried multiple gut protocols in the past and still don’t feel better, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re failing. It may mean that your gut needs a more supportive, sustainable plan.
The Gut–Hormone and Gut–Immune Links
Many people are surprised to learn just how connected the gut is to whole-body health. Your gut microbiome doesn’t work in isolation. It communicates with both the immune system and endocrine system (hormones) via multiple pathways.
Let’s break it all down:
1. Gut microbes help regulate inflammation
A large proportion of the immune system sits around the gut. This makes sense because the gut is one of the biggest points of contact between the outside world and the inside of your body.
When the microbiome becomes less diverse (or more imbalanced), it may contribute to:
This can show up as symptoms that don’t feel gut-related at all, such as skin flare-ups, fatigue, headaches or joint discomfort.
2. The microbiome influences oestrogen balance
The gut plays a role in how oestrogen is processed and eliminated. Certain gut bacteria help break down and re-circulate oestrogen, which means the microbiome can influence overall hormone balance.
If gut transit time is slow (constipation) or the microbiome is imbalanced, this may affect the way hormones are metabolised and cleared, which can contribute to symptoms such as:
Nutrition is not a replacement for medical treatment, but it can be a powerful tool in supporting healthy elimination pathways and overall hormonal resilience.
3. Gut health may influence stress hormones
The microbiome interacts with the brain and nervous system through the gut–brain axis. Some bacteria even produce neurotransmitters and metabolites that influence mood and stress resilience.
This is one reason why people often notice their gut symptoms worsen during stressful life periods, even when their diet hasn’t changed.
Supporting the Microbiome with Food
If you’ve been told you need to cut out gluten, dairy, FODMAP foods and sugar forever to “fix your gut”, it’s understandable you might feel anxious around eating.
While short-term therapeutic approaches can sometimes be useful (and should always be personalised), long-term gut health is rarely about restriction alone.
In clinic, I often focus on rebuilding confidence with food, improving microbiome diversity gradually, and supporting digestion in a way that feels sustainable. (And gut testing can be a part of this – don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to know more).
Here are the key nutrition foundations that I use to support microbiome health.
1. Prioritise fibre diversity (not just fibre quantity)
Many people associate fibre with bran cereals and digestive discomfort. But the microbiome thrives on a range of fibres from different plant foods, including:
If you’re prone to bloating or IBS symptoms, this doesn’t mean fibre is “wrong” for you. It may mean you need the right type, dose, and pacing.
A useful goal for many people is aiming for 30 different plant foods per week (including herbs, spices, nuts and seeds) to encourage microbial diversity. This is often a more helpful metric than focusing only on grams.
2. Include fermented foods, if tolerated
Fermented foods can be a helpful way to introduce beneficial microbes, for example:
These foods aren’t suitable for everyone (especially if histamine intolerance is suspected), but for many people they can support microbial variety and gut function.
3. Support gut motility and bowel regularity
Constipation is very common, and it matters for hormone and immune health. Regular bowel movements help reduce the recirculation of metabolic waste, including waste hormones.
Key nutrition supports include:
4. Don’t underestimate blood sugar balance
Unstable blood sugar can contribute to inflammation, stress hormone dysregulation and cravings, which can all indirectly affect the gut.
A simple but powerful strategy is to build meals around:
5. Reduce ultra-processed foods where possible
You don’t need perfection, but research suggests that diets high in ultra-processed foods may negatively impact microbiome diversity and gut barrier function over time.
If this feels daunting, start small. One practical approach is to keep convenience, but upgrade quality, such as:
Gut health isn’t about chasing the “perfect” microbiome. It’s about creating the conditions that allow the gut ecosystem to become more resilient over time.
If you’re dealing with ongoing bloating, IBS symptoms, or you feel stuck after restrictive advice, a personalised approach can help you understand what your gut needs, without unnecessary fear around food.
Ready for personalised support?
Winter Wellness Starts in the Gut
When winter arrives, many of my clients tell me that they feel more tired, sluggish, and run down. Frequent colds, a flare-up in digestive symptoms, or lingering fatigue can all be signs that your immune system is under extra strain.
What’s less well known is that much of your immune strength actually begins in your gut. Your gut microbiome - that vast community of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes living in your colon - plays a major role in keeping your immune system balanced and responsive.
In this blog, we’ll explore how your gut influences immunity, why microbial diversity matters most during the colder months, and which foods can help to support both your gut and immune resilience this winter.
How Gut Health Shapes Immunity
It’s estimated that around 70% of the body’s immune cells are located in and around the gut wall. This isn’t just coincidence, it’s where your immune system and the outside world meet. Every day, your gut encounters potential pathogens, allergens, and toxins, all of which must be distinguished from harmless food particles or beneficial microbes.
This delicate balance is controlled by a network called the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). The GALT is responsible for training immune cells to respond appropriately, strong enough to eliminate genuine threats but tolerant enough to avoid excessive inflammation.
When the gut barrier is strong and populated by diverse, beneficial microbes, it sends healthy signals to the immune system, promoting tolerance and repair. When that balance is disrupted, a state known as dysbiosis, communication becomes distorted. The immune system can become either overactive (triggering inflammation, allergies, or autoimmunity) or underactive (leaving you more susceptible to infections).
Research increasingly shows that changes in the gut microbiome can directly influence the effectiveness of immune responses, including how well the body responds to viral infections and vaccines. Seasonal shifts in diet, lifestyle, and stress may all affect this balance, making winter a particularly important time to focus on gut health.
Does any of this sound familiar to you?
Microbiome Diversity and Immune Defence
A healthy gut is a diverse one. Each species of gut microbe plays a unique role in maintaining balance, producing beneficial metabolites, and interacting with the immune system. Reduced microbial diversity, often seen in people with stress, poor diet, antibiotic use, or chronic illness, is associated with lower immune resilience.
One of the most important functions of a diverse microbiome is the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate, acetate, and propionate. These compounds are made when gut bacteria ferment dietary fibre.
SCFAs help to:
In winter, several factors can reduce SCFA production. People tend to eat fewer plant-based foods and less soluble fibre, which are key fuels for beneficial bacteria.
Cold weather and lower activity can also slow gut motility, altering microbial composition. As SCFA levels fall, the gut barrier becomes more permeable, and low-grade inflammation can increase, leaving the immune system less efficient and more easily fatigued.
A number of recent studies show that individuals with greater microbial diversity and higher SCFA production have lower rates of respiratory infections and recover more quickly when they do get sick. Maintaining a balanced microbiome can therefore provide indirect protection for the lungs, sinuses, and other mucosal surfaces that rely on immune communication with the gut.
Prebiotics and Probiotics Explained
This is an area that many of my clients find confusing – what are we supposed to do? Simply put, supporting gut health in winter often comes down to nourishing beneficial microbes (with prebiotics) and topping up helpful strains (through probiotics).
Prebiotics are types of fibre or resistant starch that your body cannot digest but your gut microbes can. They are fermented in the colon to produce SCFAs, which feed intestinal cells and modulate inflammation. Examples include inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and galactooligosaccharides (GOS), found naturally in foods such as leeks, onions, garlic, bananas, oats, and Jerusalem artichokes.
Probiotics, on the other hand, are live microorganisms that can help restore microbial balance when consumed regularly in adequate amounts. They act by:
Clinical trials and systematic reviews have found that certain probiotic strains can reduce the risk and duration of upper respiratory tract infections. The benefits are strain-specific and usually appear after consistent use over several weeks.
Often the best choice is to go for food rather than a supplement. Probiotic food sources like live yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and fermented vegetables are an excellent place to start, especially when introduced gradually for those with sensitive digestion.
If you find that your gut reacts badly to prebiotic fibres or probiotic foods, it’s worth getting in touch, as this could be a telltale sign of some imbalance in your microbiome – something we can investigate.
Best Foods for a Winter-Proof Gut
In winter, digestion naturally slows, and our food choices often become heavier, starchier, and lower in fibre. The result can be reduced microbial diversity and a weakened gut barrier.
Fortunately, small, consistent changes can have a big impact on gut and immune resilience.
Eat more fibre-rich plants
Aim for a variety of vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, nuts, and seeds each week. Diversity is key: each type of fibre feeds different groups of beneficial bacteria. Soluble fibre, found in oats, carrots, apples, courgettes, and flaxseed, is especially valuable for SCFA production.
Include fermented foods regularly
Incorporate small servings of live yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, or tempeh. These foods supply live microorganisms and help reinforce the gut barrier. If you’re sensitive to FODMAPs or histamine, start with very small portions and monitor tolerance.
Feed your microbes with prebiotics
Use foods like leeks, garlic, onions, green bananas, and chicory root to feed beneficial bacteria. These can be combined with probiotic foods for a synergistic effect, often called synbiotic eating.
Add polyphenol-rich foods
Brightly coloured plant foods such as berries, red cabbage, beetroot, herbs, and green tea provide polyphenols that act as antioxidants and microbial regulators. These compounds can encourage the growth of beneficial species like Akkermansia muciniphila and Bifidobacteria.
Stay hydrated and support motility
Hydration is often overlooked in winter when thirst cues are weaker. Adequate water intake supports regular bowel movements, ensuring waste and microbial metabolites move efficiently through the colon. Gentle daily movement, warmth, and fibre all help stimulate healthy peristalsis.
Mind the stress–gut link
Winter often brings more psychological stress, which can suppress the vagus nerve and slow digestion. Mindful eating, deep breathing, and restorative sleep all support the parasympathetic “rest and digest” state that keeps your gut working optimally.
If your gut feels out of balance this winter - with bloating, irregular digestion, or increased fatigue - it may be a sign your microbiome needs more support. By nurturing your gut, you’re also building a stronger foundation for your immune health, mood, and energy.
Or, if you’re interested in finding out more via microbiome testing, why not book a free call?
Travel without the tummy drama:
Your guide to a happy gut on holiday
We all know the feeling. You’re on holiday. The sun’s out, the sangria’s flowing, and everything should be feeling great - except your tummy has decided to stage a protest. You’re bloated and uncomfortable and you’re only a few days in. What if the rest of your well-earned rest is just like this? And didn’t the same happen last year?
If your digestion tends to fall apart the minute you step outside your usual routine, you’re not alone. Travel might be great for the soul but it’s not always great for the gut. Flying, new foods, disrupted sleep, eating at odd times (or just eating everything), can be a perfect storm for bloating, constipation, wind, or that “I’ve swallowed a beach ball” feeling. Now’s the time for a new holiday regime so you can enjoy your time away – and it starts in the weeks before you travel.
Why travel upsets your digestion
Let’s start with the obvious: travel puts pressure on your digestive system in all sorts of ways.
Air travel is dehydrating, which dries out your gut (even your colon gets thirsty). You’re probably sitting more and moving less, which slows down motility. There’s also jet lag, sleep disruption, foreign bugs, a totally different diet as well as the fact that your usual ‘go-to’ breakfast has been replaced with a hotel buffet and a lot of croissants.
Even just not having a routine can be enough to throw your gut off. Our digestive systems are creatures of habit; they thrive on rhythm. Suddenly eating three hours later than usual or skipping meals altogether (hi, travel day chaos) can leave your gut going, “What. Is. Happening.”
How to give your gut a fighting chance
Your holiday digestive health action plan doesn’t need to be a military operation, just a few small habits that can slide easily into your suitcase.
First, hydration. Start drinking more water the day before you travel, not just once you’re already airborne and begging the flight attendant for another thimble-sized cup. If you’re flying, take an empty water bottle and fill it up after security.
A magnesium supplement can be a game-changer especially if you’re prone to constipation or feel tense when travelling. It’s an important mineral that is involved in hundreds of different reactions in the body and plays a key role in anything involving muscle – and everything to do with the digestive system is muscular one way or another. Pop a supplement into your evening routine or bring a sachet of magnesium citrate. Do this ahead of travel so you have time to see how your body responds.
What about probiotics? These are definitely worth considering. Whether it’s capsules or travel-friendly sachets, they can help buffer the shock of unfamiliar food and keep your gut bacteria a little more balanced. Ideally, start your probiotics two weeks ahead of time and introduce them before you travel. Look out for formulations that also include the beneficial yeast Saccharomyces boulardii. Probiotics may help prevent / reduce likelihood of some of the common problems associated with holiday travel, including bloating, constipation, food poisoning and diarrhoea.
Anchor your habits
No one wants to be batch-cooking quinoa in your Airbnb or counting macros at the poolside buffet, and nor should you. But you can keep a few gentle habits going that support your gut - and your overall health.
Maybe it’s starting your day with a short walk. Just ten minutes outside can get things moving (in every sense). Maybe it’s packing a few familiar snacks - like oatcakes, trail mix, or a protein bar so you don’t go from “mildly peckish” to eating half a baguette as a snack.
Try to keep at least one or two meals a day consistent with what you’d normally eat. That could be a veggie-packed lunch or your usual breakfast (bonus points if there’s some fibre involved). Your gut loves routine and giving it some familiar fuel can make a big difference.
Don’t underestimate the power of slowing down. Chew your food properly. Breathe while you eat. Enjoy it. Not only will this help your digestion, but it means you’ll actually taste the food instead of inhaling it between excursions.
And when things still go wrong
Despite your best efforts, travel tummy sometimes happens. If you’re a bit bloated or backed up, don’t panic. Up your water, move more, eat lighter (but still nourishing) meals, and prioritise sleep. And if your gut’s not playing ball after you get back? That’s the perfect time to reset. You know where I am if you need me.
If you’re heading away soon and want a gut-friendly travel plan tailored to your body, let’s chat. I can help you feel confident, not constipated. Just click here to book a free call.
Spotlight on IBS
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a problem I see so often in clinic, and it is problematic on many different levels. If you have been diagnosed with this condition, you may well have been suffering with it for years and, while a diagnosis can – at first– offer comfort in finally having a recognised problem, the satisfaction is short lived because often that’s where all support ends, and you’re left no further forward in actually fixing what the problem is.
The difficulty begins because IBS is essentially meaningless; it’s a catch-all term used to encompass a huge variety of digestive issues. If you’re serious about getting to the bottom of the problem (no pun intended), I’m happy to discuss your symptoms and help find a way forward. You can book a free IBS health check with me by clicking here.
In my experience, it’s likely to be one of the following five conditions.
1 SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth)
Around 60% of people with IBS will have SIBO. Though you might have heard about good (and bad) bacteria in the gut, really what experts are talking about is the balance of bacteria in the large intestine: the colon.
The small intestine shouldn’t have any bacteria, and each day the body should perform a flush to sweep bacteria from the small intestine and into the large intestine. This flush is called the ‘migrating motor complex’. For a huge variety of reasons (historic food poisoning being the most common, but also low levels of stomach acid or adhesions play a role, among others) the bacteria are not swept away.
The trouble is that these bacteria can ferment the food in your small intestine, causing gas, belching, bloating, pain and a variety of other symptoms, including constipation and/or loose stools, and even anxiety. A breath test can establish which gases are present, and we can devise an action plan based on your results.
2 Lactose intolerance
This is when your body is not able to tolerate lactose, a type of sugar found naturally in milk and other dairy products. Essentially, bacteria in your intestine feed on these milk sugars, leading to a host of IBS symptoms, like bloating and gas, nausea, constipation or diarrhoea.
It can go hand in hand with other digestive complaints, such as coeliac disease or increased intestinal permeability (‘leaky gut’). Lactose intolerance can be diagnosed via a simple at-home breath test.
3 Fructose malabsorption
The symptoms are very similar to lactose intolerance. Fructose (which is found in fruit, honey and many processed foods) is a sugar, which, like lactose, is digested in the small intestine.
Some people cannot absorb fructose, and what is not absorbed is fermented by intestinal bacteria, causing bloating, cramping, gas and distension of the stomach. You might also experience brain fog and headaches. A breath test will diagnose the condition.
4 Dysbiosis
This is an imbalance in the levels of beneficial (good) and pathogenic (bad) bacteria in the large intestine or colon.
This is now common due to overuse of antibiotics and alcohol, an increase in high sugar diets, and stress.
Symptoms can vary from a sluggish bowel or diarrhoea, pain, bloating and flatulence, to chronic bad breath, joint pain, fatigue and food sensitivities.
Dysbiosis is also implicated in a variety of health conditions like diabetes, heart disease and obesity. A stool test can help establish whether your gut bacteria are out of balance, along with a host of other markers that might be useful in getting to the root of your digestive problems.
5 Yeast overgrowth
Where the gut environment becomes out of balance (due to dysbiosis), yeast can thrive. Diets high in sugar feed the yeast – although if you think you might have a yeast overgrowth, it’s worth noting that long-term yeast problems can mean that the yeast cells are pathogenic or disease causing, and that the yeast has switched its metabolism to also be able to digest protein and fat.
Symptoms of yeast overgrowth include recurring thrush, gas or bloating, fatigue, bad breath, cravings for sweet foods, joint pain and brain fog.
A stool test can establish the presence of candida or other yeast overgrowth.
Some people struggle with digestive problems for years. If you are ready to make fixing your gut health a priority, I would love to work with you. Please click the link here to book your free IBS health check now.
Please get in touch and find out more - I offer a free 30-minute exploratory call.
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Disclaimer: ‘Please note that nutritional therapy is not medical advice - this should always be sought from your doctor or other medical provider. I aim to work alongside your doctor or GP to provide nutritional and lifestyle advice to support any underlying imbalances.'
