How Gut Testing Can Help You Discover What’s Actually Healthy for You
How Gut Testing Can Help You Discover What’s Actually Healthy for You
Why I use GI-MAP and BiomeFX in my wellness practice
We’re often told what’s “healthy”: kale smoothies, bone broth, fiber-rich grains, probiotics… but what if those same “healthy” foods are the very things triggering your bloating, fatigue, brain fog, or skin flare-ups?
The truth is: what’s healthy isn’t universal — it’s personal. That’s where gut testing becomes such a game-changer.
Why Test the Gut?
Your gut is home to trillions of microbes that regulate your digestion, hormones, detox pathways, mood, immune system, and more. When your gut is imbalanced — due to hidden infections, inflammation, poor enzyme function, or lack of microbial diversity — it can create widespread issues in the body.
By testing instead of guessing, we can uncover:
Which pathogens (bacteria, parasites, yeast) are triggering inflammation
Whether your digestion and detoxification systems are working optimally
What foods might be stressing your gut or weakening your immune response
How your gut microbiome is influencing your metabolism, hormones, and cravings
In my practice, I use two powerful tools to get a full picture: GI-MAP and BiomeFX.
🧪 GI-MAP: Your Functional Gut Snapshot
The GI-MAP (Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus) is a DNA-based stool test that measures:
Pathogens like H. pylori, C. diff, parasites, viruses, and yeast
Opportunistic overgrowths of bacteria that could be disrupting digestion
Digestive markers like elastase-1 (pancreatic enzyme output), secretory IgA (immune strength), and beta-glucuronidase (detox burden)
Inflammatory markers like calprotectin or anti-gliadin IgA (gluten sensitivity)
This test is my go-to when clients are dealing with:
Chronic bloating or IBS-like symptoms
Food sensitivities or mystery reactions
Fatigue, skin issues, or autoimmunity
A history of antibiotics, antacids, or birth control use
It helps us clear out the clutter — identifying what needs to be killed, healed, or supported before adding in “healthy” habits that might backfire in an inflamed gut.
🌱 BiomeFX: Your Microbial Ecosystem Map
BiomeFX is a cutting-edge test that looks at your gut microbiome through an ecological lens. Instead of just identifying microbes, it reveals how your gut ecosystem is functioning — how diverse it is, whether it supports a healthy metabolism, and how well it communicates with your immune and nervous systems.
What makes BiomeFX unique:
It maps out keystone species — the microbes that stabilize your gut health long-term
It identifies metabolic pathways (like butyrate production or bile acid metabolism) that affect energy, hormones, and detox
It shows imbalances in microbial diversity, which can be affected by diet, stress, and over-sanitization
This is the test I turn to when clients are:
Struggling to maintain results after doing a gut cleanse or parasite protocol
Wanting to fine-tune their diet, prebiotics, or probiotic strategy
Interested in optimizing energy, mood, metabolism, or brain health from the gut outward
Why I Use Both
Each test gives us a different lens:
GI-MAP is about identifying stressors, pathogens, and digestive dysfunction.
BiomeFX is about rebuilding resilience, harmony, and long-term wellness.
Together, they help me create a personalized roadmap — not just for what to avoid, but for what to add in, based on your body’s real-time feedback.
So What Does This Mean for You?
If you’ve ever been confused about what to eat…
If your body doesn’t feel great even on “healthy” foods…
If you’ve tried clean eating, elimination diets, or gut protocols without long-term relief…
It might be time to test, not guess.
Your gut is constantly talking — these tests help us listen deeply, interpret the signals, and respond with clarity and confidence.