Dr. Paul Deglmann
Meghan Feir Walker
In recent years, the microbiome has become a hot topic in health communities, and for good reasons. People are becoming much more aware of how the state of your gut affects overall health, and many companies started offering at-home testing a few years ago. Perhaps you've considered taking a gut microbiome test yourself.
An unhealthy gut can lead to inflammation and other major health problems, so read on to learn vital information on the microbiome and microbiome testing.
What is your microbiome?
The microbiome is a vast collection of trillions of microbes comprised of bacteria, yeast, fungi, and even viruses and parasites that primarily exist in the colon.
While microbes naturally exist within the GI tract, you need them balanced to feel healthy and full of vitality.
No two individuals have the same microbiome. The microbiome is first developed in babies during birth (through vaginal delivery) or when a baby starts being breastfed, so the mom’s health plays a large part in forming the initial composition of a child’s microbiome.
Eventually, for better or worse, your diet, environment, and lifestyle choices will shape your microbiome as well.
Why is a healthy gut microbiome important?
What happens in one part of the body isn’t isolated. For example, if your neurotransmitters are off, other bodily organs, hormones, and functions can become imbalanced or stop working optimally. When your microbiome isn’t balanced, much more than your digestion is impacted.
Your microbiome plays a major role throughout your body, from nutrient absorption to disease prevention. Approximately 70-80% of the immune system resides in the gut, and when your gut health is off, your immune system becomes weakened and can’t function properly.
A healthy microbiome impacts our body in many ways. The microbiome:
- Manufactures certain vitamins within the gut
- Aids in digestion by producing enzymes that help digest carbohydrates
- Helps the conversion process of inactive thyroid hormones to active thyroid hormones
- Plays a role in metabolism
- Helps protect the body from foreign invaders like opportunistic bacteria, yeast, and parasites
- Assists in controlling the inflammatory process
- Helps make most of the neurotransmitters in the body to help regulate mood and brain function
- Supports the communication between the gut and the brain, or what we call the gut-brain axis
- Assists in making short-chain fatty acids, which are fuel for the colon
- Helps regulate inflammation
- Can negatively or positively affect the brain
- And much more
Dysbiosis describes an unbalanced microbiome and can cause a slew of problems throughout the body.
Problems dysbiosis can cause:
- Chronic inflammation
- GI symptoms such as gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, acid reflux, heartburn, nausea, and more
- Skin issues such as acne, eczema, psoriasis
- Autoimmune disorders,
- Brain fog
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Weight loss or difficulty gaining weight
- And more
In other words, having a balanced microbiome is crucial for your overall health and well-being.
What is a microbiome test?
A microbiome test analyzes gut bacteria and other microbes and can highlight imbalances and abnormalities within the gut.
Who should get their gut microbiome tested?
If you're struggling with chronic digestive issues and aren’t getting the help and answers you need, then a comprehensive stool test may help you discover the root cause of your symptoms.
Some of these common, chronic digestive symptoms can be signs of an unhealthy microbiome.
Symptoms of gut health issues
- Gas
- Bloating
- Upset stomach
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal discomfort
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Sugar cravings
- Lack of appetite
- Acid reflux or GERD
- Heartburn
- Excessive belching
- Food sensitivities
- Food intolerances
- Fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
- Skin conditions, like psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, acne, etc.
- Etc.
If you have chronic gut health problems and traditional medical testing always comes back “normal,” a high-quality stool or microbiome test may be beneficial and provide some answers.
Remember, there are several factors to consider when it comes to gut health, but the microbiome can be a big piece of the puzzle. These symptoms can indicate microbial imbalances within the gut and should be ruled out through testing before jumping to other possibilities.
Choosing the right microbiome test
While various microbiome tests are available through traditional clinics and the online market, not every test is created equal. Here’s a quick runthrough of these tests, along with information on the test we prefer at Restorative Health Solutions.
At-home tests
At-home tests are less accurate than professional lab tests, so although you can glean some information from these convenient saliva or stool kits, they don’t typically provide the solutions you need to feel better.
Many of these tests make dietary suggestions and suggest a specific probiotic based on your microbiome test results. However, these tests are not always accurate, and receiving test results can take much longer than expected.
Traditional medicine
Most of our patients have been to numerous other clinics and doctors before coming to Restorative Health Solutions on their quest for answers and relief. They often tell us they have already had stool tests done with their previous medical doctors and clinics and that no helpful insights were gained.
In other cases, they thought they had the answers and tried the recommended antibiotic treatment plan, but their condition either didn’t improve or returned quickly after ending their protocol and treatments. These back-and-forth conditions can be incredibly frustrating.
Other patients are just told they have an incurable condition and are placed on medications to manage symptoms.
If your previous stool tests were done for traditional medicine or insurance, it’s likely these tests were extremely basic. Most testing primarily rules out significant infections like C. diff, Salmonella, E. coli, Giardia, etc.
The q-PCR stool test we use at RHS
The stool test we run at Restorative Health Solutions looks in detail at the overall health of the microbiome, which can be much more helpful when it comes to getting to the root cause of your gut health issues.
We prefer a comprehensive q-PCR stool test that evaluates the DNA of the microbes in the gut. It can look deeper into the microbiome and gut health than the basic tests taken in a regular doctor’s office and most at-home tests and provides a more accurate picture of what’s occurring.
The q-PCR stool test can find the following microbes:
- Pathogens (C. Diff, E. Coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Giardia, etc)
- H. Pylori
- Beneficial, commensal, and keystone bacteria (probiotics)
- Opportunistic bacteria
- Yeast/candida
- Parasites
- Intestinal health markers: steatocrit (indicates fat in the stool), elastase-1 (a digestive enzyme marker), SIgA (indicates your immune response), Anti-gliadin IgA (measures the immune reaction to gluten in the gut), calprotectin/EPX (shows inflammation levels in the gut)
Testing these markers is important for gaining insight into the health of your microbiome. By taking a closer look at digestive markers, we can see potential signs of low stomach acid, how well the pancreas is producing digestive enzymes, and how well the body is digesting and absorbing fats. We also want to check for signs of inflammation in the gut.
Most microbiome tests don’t provide information on these additional factors, even though they can be crucial for evaluating gut health. This is why a more comprehensive test is vital to understanding your gut health.
In addition to these tests, we test for food allergies and food sensitivities through blood tests that measure the immune reaction to various things you eat.
Taking care of your gut microbiome
Even without testing, there are some helpful things you can do to take care of your microbiome.
General tips for a healthy microbiome:
- Stay hydrated
- Eat organic fruits and veggies for a good prebiotic fuel source
- Eat grass-fed, pasture-raised meats and wild-caught fish
- Use healthy oils like avocado oil, olive oil, and coconut oil
- Eat healthy nuts and seeds
- Consume fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha, as long as you tolerate these foods well
- Practice mindful eating
- Take your time and chew your food well; don't eat on the run
Choose a tailored approach to healing
Schedule your free 15-minute consultation
If you have felt disheartened after seeing multiple doctors, specialists, and clinics, you’re not alone. However, there are answers and there are ways to uncover those answers so you can start feeling better.
Each individual needs a tailored approach because of their body’s unique needs and situations. This is why we stress the importance of using accurate testing methods and customizing the protocols for every patient.
At Restorative Health Solutions we offer individualized care based on your symptoms and specific infections and make sure we use the right gut microbiome test for your symptoms and situation.
Take control of your gut health with guidance based on years of experience from Dr. Paul at Restorative Health Solutions. Schedule your consultation today to explore how microbiome testing and other assessments can unlock personalized insights for a healthier gut and balanced life.
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