You’ve tried so many diets and supplements for gas and bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and food sensitivities … and still you struggle.
Now may be the time to do a deep dive into the health of your gut with a stool test.
The US BioTek GI Comprehensive Stool Test evaluates up to 99 markers, offering the most comprehensive map of your GI Microbiome.
The stool test examines the presence and ranges of:
Parasites and worms
Opportunistic bacteria
Fungi and yeast overgrowth
Bacterial and viral pathogens
Normal bacteria and flora
Short chain fatty acids
Pancreatic enzymes
Mucosal-protective markers
These are all important markers of health in your gut and, together, they can provide insight into what is going on — both in identifying areas that need support and in ruling out certain issues — and help point to a path of digestive wellness.
What Will the Stool Test Tell Me?
This comprehensive analysis can help pinpoint a number of infections – or rule them out. That can be just as important to the detective work of balancing GI dysfunction.
The makeup of your gut microbiome – the normal bacteria and flora – provides a picture of diversity of the bacteria in your gut. Generally, the more diverse it is, the healthier it is.
Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are small molecules that are produced when certain types of fiber in our diet are broken down by bacteria in the gut. These fatty acids are like little energy sources for the cells that line our intestines and keep them healthy.
Pancreatic enzymes are necessary to properly digest carbohydrates. Properly digested food plays a key role in preventing intestinal permeability (a.k.a. leaky gut).
Mucosal-protective markers, like calprotectin, secretory IGA and zonulin, can help determine if there’s inflammation in the GI tract, and how healthy the mucosal barrier is. These are also key factors in assessing the potential of intestinal permeability.
And if bacterial, fungal, parasitic, viral or yeast infections are detected, the results also indicate which antibiotics and/or natural inhibitors (herbals) the infections are most likely to respond to. This can further help with a personalized protocol to get you on track for healing your gut.
What’s the Next Step After a Stool Test?
Information from the stool test can help me put together a personalized Four “R” Protocol for you. The Four "R" Protocol is a framework used in functional medicine and naturopathy to address gut health and digestive issues. It stands for Remove, Replace, Reinoculate, and Repair, and it aims to restore balance and health to the gastrointestinal tract.
Digestion is complex and involves nine organs from your mouth to your anus, including your esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, pancreas, liver and gall bladder. The Four “R” Protocol aims to restore proper function and balance to the whole digestive system. Here’s what each "R" involves:
Remove: This step involves removing or eliminating factors that may be causing damage to the gut. Common factors include inflammatory foods (like processed foods and allergens), toxins, and pathogens (such as harmful bacteria or parasites). Food Sensitivity Testing may also be particularly helpful here.
Replace: After removing harmful factors, the next step is to replace or replenish what’s missing. This often includes digestive enzymes, stomach acid (if deficient), and other substances necessary for proper digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Reinoculate: This step focuses on restoring a healthy balance of beneficial gut bacteria (probiotics). This is typically done through the use of probiotic supplements or foods that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, or kimchi.
Repair: The final step is to support and repair the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. This can involve consuming nutrients that support gut lining integrity, such as amino acids (like glutamine), zinc, and certain vitamins (like vitamin A, C, and D). It also includes consuming foods that are soothing to the gut, such as bone broth.
If you’re still struggling with GI symptoms, the US BioTek GI stool test can be a great place to get answers.
To get started, book a free 30-minute nutritional consultation with me and we’ll put together a game plan to resolve those uncomfortable symptoms and restore your gut to good health.
