Gastrointestinal (GI) health is the foundation for a healthy body. Since 80% of your immune system resides in the GI tract, having a healthy balance of beneficial flora with the appropriate release of digestive enzymes is imperative. The GI tract (referring to the 30 foot tube from your mouth all the way to the bottom) has been called by some "the second brain."
Antibiotic use, stress, poor diet, and the aging process are just some examples of what can initiate a process of inflammation that breaks down the lining of the intestinal tract leading to a wide range of symptoms. These symptoms include difficulty digesting foods, constipation or irregular bowel movements, bloating or gas, intolerance to certain foods, frequent infection, and mood imbalances.
The goal of My Gut - Health is to evaluate certain markers of the GI tract so we can identify the weakest parts and take action to shore them up. The healing process requires four basic steps: 1. Remove allergens, toxins, parasites, and non-beneficial bacteria; 2. Restore a healthy bacteria population; 3. Repair the gut lining and mucosal membranes using highly specified nutrients; 4. Replenish digestive enzymes, bile acids, and possibly supplementing with HCl to maintain long term balance.
To ensure high sensitivity and specificity of detection, the laboratory that Wellnicity uses employs state-of-the-art equipment capable of identifying over 4,000 specific microorganisms—100 times more than standard laboratories can identify. This equipment is found primarily in advanced reference laboratories and provides extremely rapid and accurate results. The test also requires two stool collections to achieve higher sensitivity in finding parasites and ova.
When a stool sample is received at the lab, they perform tests to rule out the presence of known enteric bacterial pathogens that may cause acute or chronic disease. They also plate the stool sample on several types of aerobic culture media to assess the bacterial flora present in the client’s intestinal tract.
PLEASE NOTE: Case reports and research that a bacterium causes disease beyond the digestive tract (i.e. sepsis, meningitis, lung infections, etc.) does not mean that the same bacterium will cause problems when present only in the gastrointestinal tract as found on stool culture. Also, strain differences in bacterial species can lead to significant differences in pathogenicity. Even with studies showing evidence that a specific bacterium may cause gastrointestinal disease, variations can exist among bacteria such that not all members of the same genus and species will cause the same gastrointestinal problems.
Ok, But What Does All of That Mean?
Basically, if you're experiencing gastrointestinal issues that have you concerned about your gut health, this may be the gut health test you've been looking for. What does a gut testing kit entail? We know it stinks, but there is some stool involved; it's necessary for getting down to the nitty gritty of what exactly is going on in your gut. Find out if there are any bad actors playing a supporting role in your gut health such as candida, opportunistic bacteria, h. pylori, parasites and much more.
Finding out is easy! It's a simple at home stool and saliva test, your results are delivered securely online (#DataPrivacy) and, if things aren't looking good, our Clinical Nutritionists will create a custom regimen of professional-grade supplements to help heal your gut. So gut better quicker and remember... our Clinical Nutritionists are here for you every step of the way!