The human gastrointestinal system consists of microscopic organisms known as gut microbiota or bacteria. A healthy balance between these microbes can help with digestion, nutrient absorption, and immunity. However, an imbalance may lead to various health problems and symptoms.
Many companies provide at-home testing options to analyse your gut microbiome. Some require a stool sample, while others use blood or saliva tests. Testing your gut health is the best way to determine its state. A comprehensive, in-depth test can offer numerous insights about your microbiome, such as an overall score, strain-level analysis, and actionable recommendations.
Some tests can be costly. Companies typically charge between $40 and $350 for a kit that includes a stool test, digital report, and some supplements, so If you want to know how to test your gut health at home, continue reading.
Can You Test Your Gut Health at Home?
Yes, you can test your gut health at home. You can get an at-home gut microbiome test by ordering a kit online and collecting a stool sample. The kit comes with the special collector, instructions, and a return envelope for sending back your sample to the company for analysis.
The ideal test kits provide a comprehensive view of your gut microbiome by measuring and identifying bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, and other digestive markers. Furthermore, they offer personalized advice to help you make changes to your diet and lifestyle.
A comprehensive gut health test can also reveal your overall diversity and whether you have dysbiosis, an imbalance of bacteria. Some tests will also check for food allergies, which are linked to an unhealthy gut microbiome.
What Are At-Home Gut Tests?
Our gut plays an integral role in our overall health, helping with digestion and protecting us against infection. But if the balance between beneficial and harmful microbes in our gut begins to shift, it could indicate serious problems.
These imbalances can lead to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, leaky gut syndrome, and immune system deficiencies. To better understand what’s going on, many are turning to at-home gut tests that analyze the composition of their fecal matter.
Testing companies providing full-scale gut microbiome analyses offer reports that show the types of bacteria, yeast, fungi, bacteriophages, parasites, and archaea present in your digestive tract. They also offer recommendations on how to improve this microbiome balance through dietary changes and supplements.
These tests can be an excellent way to learn about your health, but they should never replace medical advice. Results may change over time due to changes in diet or activity level as well as medication interactions.
Popular At-Home Gut Health Tests
Gut health tests identify the microbes present in your digestive system. These include bacteria, yeasts, and parasites. Here are some of the common at-home gut health tests.
Ombre
Ombre is a microbiome test that utilizes a stool sample to identify the beneficial bacteria in your gut. The results can provide valuable information about how healthy your digestive tract is and which foods might be causing symptoms. Furthermore, it reveals which probiotics are beneficial for you personally, as well as which ones to steer clear of.
Viome
Viome offers three at-home test kits: the Gut Intelligence Test, Health Intelligence Test, and Full Body Intelligence Test. With each, the company sequences RNA from customers’ microbial DNA as well as some genes in their mitochondria and blood. Viome’s results are also available within two to three weeks of testing and can be accessed through their website or app.
Thorne
Thorne is a well-known brand that provides gut health testing and other supplements. Established in 1984, they use clinical research to create formulas with scientific backing. The company’s products are founded on the idea that your health is closely connected to your environment, making it essential to promote a healthy microbiome.
Floré
Flore is an at-home gut health test that uses whole genome sequencing (WGS) to detect bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Additionally, the company provides personalized testing programs and probiotics to help you improve your microbiome. Flore kit also includes a fecal sample container, instructions, and return packaging.
Biohm
Biohm is a microbiome company that sells probiotic supplements to combat digestion plaque that builds in the gut. It has also developed an at-home DNA test that allows customers to sequence their own gut microbiome DNA. After analyzing the results, the company also offers tailored recommendations for improving gut health.
Verisana
Verisana offers a comprehensive stool test to diagnose leaky gut syndrome (increased intestinal permeability) and examine your flora for candida, helicobacter pylori, and secretory IgA. With this information, you may understand your risk for autoimmune diseases, food allergies, chronic fatigue, and joint and muscle pain, among other symptoms.
How to Test Your Gut Health at Home?
At-home stool tests are becoming increasingly popular as a way to gain insight into your gut microbiome composition. If you notice something unusual, you should first consult a medical professional for further testing. However, at-home tests can be a great indication when to consult a doctor or when to start taking better care of ourselves at home. Read more about fibre supplements for diarrhea in this article by Health Reporter.
Visual Inspection of Stool Colour
Stool colour is one of the most telling indicators of a patient’s overall well-being. It also depends on what you eat and how well your body is working together. Your bowel colour may indicate an issue with your gut. Brown and yellow colours indicate a healthy gut. However, if the colour is dark or black, it can be a sign of an unhealthy gut.
Physical Indicators of Stool
Your bowels can tell you a lot about your health. Any changes in their color, shape, and texture could indicate gut problems. Hard, lumpy stools may indicate constipation; frequent, loose stools indicate diarrhea. A stool with blood in it is typically indicative of bleeding within the digestive tract and could be due to an infection or hemorrhoids.
Frequency of Bowel Movement
Typically, bowel movement frequency ranges from three times a day to three times a week. However, if you find that you have many bowel movements within a short timeframe, this could be indicative of an underlying issue with your gut.
At-Home Gut Health Tests
At-home gut health tests can be an efficient and convenient way to monitor your gut microbiome. Here are some steps to test your gut at home using at-home gut health tests.
- Buy at-home gut health test
- Receive test kit at home
- Activate your test kit online
- Collect your same by following the instructions
- Send your sample
- Receive results in 2 to 3 weeks
Conclusion
Consumer interest in gut health has spurred the market for at-home microbiome testing kits. These kits usually include a swab or scoop to collect your sample, plus a vial with a solution for analysis. Once collected, your sample is shipped discreetly back to the company for analysis within 2-4 weeks. A gut health test can also offer valuable insight into the health of your microbiome or bacterial community living in your intestines. However, for a more comprehensive analysis, you need to visit a healthcare professional.
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