*the following is a snippet of some common issues, is not comprehensive, and should not be used to diagnose or treat

6 reasons to test:

1. Abdominal Pain, Constipation and/or Loose Stools

This is the most obvious category, but I still hear from some people that they thought this was normal, or just “how they have always been”. Sometimes an easy answer is uncovered in a person’s history, and the recommendation is as simple as eating more fiber, for example. But for many, they haven’t been able to pinpoint the reason for these symptoms or what triggers them. A bacterial infection or a parasite may be at the root, and clearly something we would want to address that wouldn’t have been fixed with diet alone.  

2. Reflux or Bloating 

If you have reflux, heartburn, have been on a proton pump inhibitor drug or feel bloated after you eat, there are a few likely possibilities for what may be going on. One is an H. Pylori infection, which is tested. One is low stomach acid (counterintuitive, I know), and another is SIBO, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Gut tests like the GI Map or GI Effects do not test for SIBO. For this you will need a breath test, but these tests do give us good clues for SIBO, stomach acidity and digestive enzyme production that we can use to take action steps. 

3. Food Sensitivities

If you are finding that certain categories of foods just don’t agree with you anymore, you may be developing some intolerance, where your body starts to make antibodies against a particular food. So this is an immune system issue, but rooted in the gut. Intestinal permeability, or a “leaky gut” is often involved here, where the protective barrier between your gut contents and your bloodstream gets breached. A leaky gut leads to inflammation and many people have issues with both. Markers for inflammation, as seen elevated in IBS or IBD like Chron’s or Ulcerative Colitis are included on this test. After you get clear on some of these foundational gut issues, you may want to consider food sensitivity testing to learn exactly which foods you are reacting to. Making wise choices on the best sequencing of testing and treatment is where a skilled functional medicine provider can come in. 

4. Autoimmune issues

So if you are having food sensitivities but you keep eating those offending foods, your gut lining will likely continue to break down. This is amplified by things like bacterial imbalances, stress, sugar, ibuprofen, processed foods, antibiotics, steroids, aspirin, GMOs, food additives and alcohol. All of these things can damage the GI tract. Your immune system gets triggered to attack these food particles, toxins and bacteria that leak out because they are in a place where they shouldn’t be. When it is triggered long term, it starts to attack your own tissues that look similar to the molecules in the food and toxin particles, a process called molecular mimicry. And here the autoimmunity is triggered. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is one common example of this, where the thyroid gland is the target. So turning toward healing the gut is a foundational step in managing autoimmunity.

5. Brain Fog, Depression or Anxiety

For decades, researchers thought that anxiety and depression contributed to digestive problems. But studies now show that it may also be the other way around. The Enteric Nervous System is sometimes thought of as a “little brain” that resides in our gut lining. It helps regulate digestion as well as constantly communicates with our “big brain” in the Central Nervous System. This is just one way the two systems are interconnected. We also make neurotransmitters in our gut, and inflammation here can be tied to inflammation in the brain. 

6. Skin Issues

If you have reactive skin, acne, or psoriasis, you definitely want to explore your gut health, as the health of these two systems are closely linked through complex immune mechanisms. Fungal overgrowth like candida can be a big player here, and is tested for, along with the state of your microbiome. 

How does testing work?

If we determine a GI testing is right for you at our initial consult, you’ll take home a GI Map or GI Effects collection kit and send the sample off to the lab. When we work together, I combine your results with your symptoms and my clinical knowledge to create a treatment plan that addresses root causes. Many people have found relief through the recommended targeted remedies, diet and lifestyle tweaks that follow a test like this, so if you’d like to know the state of your gut, click the link below to schedule a functional medicine initial consult.