"Gut Health" is a big buzz term these days and the reason it's catching on is because as wise Hippocrates once said "all disease begins in the gut".
The health of your gut affects all aspects of your health. It is literally where your body breaks down food to be turned into energy, cells, hormones, neurotransmitters, body tissues, etc! It's a complicated system that requires a cascade of specific processes as well as a robust and balanced microbiome in order to keep all of your body systems functioning properly.
However, it is very sensitive to today's fast-paced world where it is common practice to not live the most ideal & healthy lifestyle. Poor diet, stress, toxins and medications (esp. antibiotics) are just a few of the factors that have a huge impact on the health of your gut, and over-time can lead to health problems that you may not even realize are actually rooted in poor gut health.
This is why, in order to suss out any underlying root causes to my client's health concerns, I like to utilize functional gut testing via the GI MAP by Diagnostic Solutions. The GI MAP is a comprehensive test that gives us a detailed look into what’s going on inside your gut. This way we can target those underlying root problems much faster so that you can start feeling better sooner. Yay!
Your gut microbiome is comprised of trillions of microorganisms that live inside your digestive tract. These microorganisms include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other tiny creatures. I like to think of it as a community of "bugs" that live inside you and play an important role in your overall health. Just like any community, the types and amounts of bugs can vary based on different factors, such as your diet, age, and lifestyle.
These bugs help you digest food, produce vitamins, and protect you from harmful pathogens. They also influence your immune system, mood, and even brain function. A robust and balanced gut microbiome is a vital part of your overall health and well-being. However, it is very common to have an imbalance of gut bugs, as many factors can contribute to the their overgrowth:
Diet high in processed foods
Stress
Medications (especially antibiotics)
Stress
Poor digestion
Environmental toxins
Poor immune system function
When you have an imbalance in your gut microbiome it can lead to an array of symptoms including:
Acid reflux
Bloating
Constipation and/or loose stools/diarrhea
Skin problems like acne, eczema & rosacea
Allergies, chronic congestion
Food sensitivities
Joint pain
Brain fog
Chronic fatigue
Anxiety, depression
Autoimmune disorders
The GI MAP detects microbes that may be disturbing your gut balance, contributing to illness, and triggering your symptoms.
What does the GI MAP Test For?
+ Pathogens
+ H. Pylori
+ Fungi/Yeast
+ Normal Bacterial Flora
+ Opportunistic Bacterial Flora
+ Viruses
+ Parasites
+ Digestive Health Markers
+ Intestinal Health Markers
It is always my preference to test and not guess when it comes to your health and this test gives us an in depth look at your gut microbiome as well as key digestion and intestinal health markers, which is key to healing! Just about everyone can benefit from a GI MAP assessment and I especially recommend it for those who are experiencing active symptoms for any of the following:
Acid reflux
Nausea
Stomach pains
Bloating or gas
Diarrhea and/or constipation
Acne, rosacea, skin rashes or eczema
Autoimmune conditions
Brain food and/or fatigue
Depression or anxiety
Attention issues, ADD, ADHD
Weight issues
There are several tests that can assess the health of your gut microbiome, but I prefer using the GI MAP because it utilizes qPCR testing to provide quantitative results. This means it can identify not only which microbes are present, but also how much of these microbes are present. This information is crucial in determining if certain microbes are contributing to your health issues and exacerbating your symptoms.
What happens after testing?
I'll interpret your GI MAP results and apply them to the full picture of your health. Your results are not just numbers on a page, they are a piece of the puzzle that helps to explain why you feel the way you do. I'll utilize all of this information to create your personalized gut healing protocol so that you can move forward on your path to feeling fabulous from the inside out!
Depending on what is revealed from your results, we may need to introduce specific agents to eliminate any pathogenic overgrowth as well as support your digestive function, immune system and intestinal lining throughout your healing process:
Digestive supports to ensure that you are efficiently breaking down meals and absorbing nutrients
Antimicrobials to eliminate overgrowth of pathogenic yeast, parasites or bacteria
Healing agents to help soothe inflammation and heal and seal your intestinal lining
Probiotics to support a robust and diverse microbiome
Vitamins and nutrients to support proper detoxification & a healthy immune system
Adjuncts to promote smooth and regular bowel movements.
Addressing underlying root causes to your symptoms is CRITICAL to healing and resolving your symptoms. The GI MAP is an important asset to your gut healing journey and I feel so fortunate that we have this tool at our disposal in order to tailor a healing protocol to your specific needs.
If you're interested in working together so that you can take a functional approach to resolving your health concerns, click the button below to schedule a FREE 15 MINUTE INTRO CALL:
I look forward to hearing from you!
~ Jaime
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