A gut health test is a great way to determine how well your gastrointestinal (GI) tract functions.
But what exactly does the gut do? And why does it matter if it’s healthy anyway?
An unhealthy gut puts you at an increased risk of developing cancer, diabetes, obesity, mood disorders, hormonal imbalance, and other diseases. In this blog post, we’re going to take a closer look at the importance of GI health, more specifically…
- How to tell if your GI tract is in good health
- Does gut health affect weight?
- How to improve gut health and bloating
- What a GI test is and how it can help you
- Where you can get a doctor-approved test
Think you may benefit from a healthier gut? Read on to find out more!
How Does Your Gut Affect Your Health?
The health of your gut can affect every organ in your body. It’s known as our “second brain” due to the gut-brain or neurenteric connection.
That means if you have an unhealthy gut, you’ll experience more than just stomach pains.
Some full-body symptoms you may also experience include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Increased anxiety & depression
- Issues sleeping
- Painful bloating
- Constipation
- Weight gain
- Skin irritation
- Food intolerances
- Hormone imbalances
If you’re not familiar with the intricacies of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, then you may be skeptical about the relationship of your GI health to the rest of your body.
Let’s break it down.
Your gut starts with your mouth and ends at the rectum, and consists of everything in between:
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestines
- Colon
Your gut also contains millions to trillions of microbes, consisting of bacteria, fungi, and micro-organisms.
Did you know that 5-7 pounds of anybody’s body weight is centered in the gut due to the microbiome?
Don’t be afraid! These microbes aren’t all bad and are essential for helping your body digest food and turn it into nutrients.
Studies indicate that having diverse bacteria can lead to a healthy microbiome.
The key is having enough good bacteria and increasing diversity in your bacteria to promote great gut health, eliminating the painful symptoms.
Does Gut Health Affect Weight?
YES! Gut health affects weight and can significantly impact your hormones and metabolism, leading to unintended weight gain.
An unhealthy gut can make it difficult for your system to absorb nutrients, regulate your blood sugar, and in some cases, create insulin resistance.
Worried this might be happening to you? Read the next section to learn how to determine your GI tract’s health.
How Do You Tell if You Have a Healthy Gut?
One of the best ways to tell you if you have a healthy gut is to be in tune with your body.
Check in with yourself. If you experience the following symptoms, there’s a higher likelihood that you have a healthy gut:
- No painful bloating
- No stomach pains
- No diarrhea
- Daily & pain-free bowel movements
- No excessive gas (from either end)
- Consistent energy levels throughout the day
While this isn’t an extensive list of indicators of a healthy gut, it’s a good starting point.
If you can’t remember the last time you’ve been bloat-free or had a healthy bowel movement, then it’s time to ask your doctor about improving your GI health.
Common Gut Problems – Gastrointestinal Diseases
At this point you may be wondering, “It’s just my gut. These symptoms don’t seem life-threatening, does getting my GI tract checked out really matter?”
Yes, it matters! You should take the health of your gut as seriously as any other health condition.
Gut problems can range from uncomfortable stomach pains to colon cancer–that’s why you must take action when you notice something’s amiss!
If you experience heartburn, nausea, and other GI-related symptoms, you may be experiencing a gastrointestinal disease.
Some common GI disorders and diseases that can stem from an unhealthy gut:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Leaky gut syndrome
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD – autoimmune)
- SIBO
- Dysbiosis
- Parasites or Candida or H pylori
- Anal fissures
- Hemorrhoids
- Colon polyps and cancer
Make sure to consult your doctor if you experience any GI issues to prevent and/or treat potential diseases.
How to Improve Gut Health & Bloating
If you’re wondering how to improve gut health and bloating, the answer can vary depending on each individual.
However, one of the best ways to improve your health starts with making simple changes at home.
Eating foods high in fiber, taking regular walks, and avoiding processed foods all aid in healthy digestion, eliminating full-body symptoms such as weight gain and fatigue.
If you want to know how to improve gut health and bloating, check out these other changes:
- Take a probiotic & prebiotic
- Eat fermented foods
- Eat foods high in fiber
- Take regular walks
- Eliminate processed foods
- Eliminate foods high in sugar
- Eliminate dairy and gluten
- Avoid chemicals in food and topical products like skincare
- Eat slowly during each meal
- Drink plenty of water, before or after, not during meals
Even if you practice all of these techniques, there is a test to help you check up on GI health and make sure all is well.
What Is a Gut Health Test?
A gut health test, otherwise known as a gut microbiome test, can detect different kinds of microbiomes in your system.
It can also diagnose leaky gut, SIBO, dysbiosis, infections and more.
How Do Gut Tests Work?
A GI test requires a stool sample.
When it comes to choosing the right test, you’ll want to me sure you get an advanced test like a DNA/PCR analysis of the stool.
In general, here are the steps you’ll have to take:
- Collect a stool sample using the provided kit and packaging
- Mail the sample to the indicated address for examination
- Once results are complete, the doctor will go over it with you and define a treatment plan if needed
Always see your doctor if you have any concerns about your health.
4 Reasons Why You Should Schedule a Gut Health Test ASAP
Still not sure if investing time and money into a test is right for you?
Check out these 4 reasons why you should pick up the phone and schedule your test today:
1. Get the Pep Back in Your Step
Let’s face it: when your stomach hurts and you feel bloated, you don’t want to do anything.
But with work and personal life to balance, canceling commitments when your energy is low just isn’t feasible.
GI symptoms affect your entire body and can cause chronic fatigue, making it difficult to make it through the day without your up-teenth cup of coffee.
With better GI health, you may experience elevated energy levels, a mood boost, and clearer focus.
2. Decrease Pain & Discomfort
Even if you have the energy to accomplish all the tasks life throws at you, you may still experience painful bloating and stomach pains.
While hormone fluctuations and other factors can cause bloating here and there, chronic bloating isn’t normal in men or women.
Achieving a healthy GI tract can help eliminate bloating and other painful symptoms, helping you identify the root cause of your bloating and helping you feel your best.
3. Receive Valuable Insights
Discussing your GI health with your doctor and undergoing recommended testing is a great way to be proactive about your health, helping to catch any issues early on.
4. Prevent GI Diseases
While negative symptoms can be indicative of poor, but treatable GI issues, it can also be a sign of something more serious.
About 15-20% of the U.S. population lives with IBS, but restoring the balance of bacteria in your system has proven to treat this disorder.
While IBS can negatively impact an individual’s day-to-day life, there are other life-threatening diseases of a poor GI tract such as colon cancer.
Getting screened early on can be life-saving!
Where to Find the Best Gut Health Test
We recommend consulting a knowledgeable physician to receive an advanced gut health test and analysis that will provide valuable insight.
To go one step further, your physician may recommend a food sensitivity test which will complement the GI health stool test, so make sure to inquire.
Together, you and your doctor can work towards achieving a healthier gut with dietary and lifestyle changes, preventing or eliminating painful GI tract symptoms.
Get Tested in Tampa & Clearwater, FL
At Synergistiq Wellness, our double-board certified doctor, Dr. Deepa Verma, works closely with her patients to improve GI health and achieve optimal full-body wellness. From an extensive blood panel to a GI test, Dr. Verma will help you identify and treat the root cause of any symptoms you’re experiencing.
In the Clearwater or Tampa area? Call our office today to set up your consultation and get your health back on track!