Are Gut Health Tests Worth It?

You’ve seen your primary care practitioner.  You’ve seen the gastroenterologist.  Maybe you’ve even seen the rheumatologist.  Still, your digestive symptoms persist. These practitioners have offered medication that you are reluctant to take because you want to know why your digestive system isn’t functioning properly.  You spend some time on the internet researching alternatives and you come across gut health testing and you wonder, are gut health tests worth it?  What information will they provide?  Will they point me toward the root cause of my symptoms?

Gut health tests, also known as comprehensive stool testing, are stool tests done at home.  The stool sample is then mailed to a lab where it is analyzed to detect parasites, bacteria, fungi, and markers related to digestive function.  For example, too much of certain bacteria or too little of others can result in constipation or diarrhea, low levels of pancreatic enzymes can contribute to poor digestion, and too much beta-glucuronidase (another enzyme) is indicative of high levels of bacteria or toxins.  Gut health tests are typically partially covered by health insurance.   

I’ve written extensively about how gut health significantly impacts our overall health.  Gut health affects our digestive systems, our moods, our immune system, our metabolism, and our ability to detoxify.  The results from gut health tests reveal the underlying physiological imbalances needing correction in order to resolve a myriad of health issues.   

Gut health tests are an essential tool in functional medicine.  Because functional medicine aims to identify the root cause of health issues, and because gut health influences all of our systems, a deep understanding of the state of our gut is a clear and important starting point.  

Symptoms that may resolve through treating imbalances found through gut health testing include, and are not limited to, any autoimmune disease, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, eczema, psoriasis, itching, gas, depression, anxiety, joint pain, muscle pain, and fatigue.

I have been using gut health tests in my clinical practice for over 15 years.  Results from stool testing provide some of the most valuable information I gather as I work to get to the root cause of specific health concerns.  When I’m uncertain of how to start helping someone feel better, I start with their gut.