How to get your gut microbiome sequenced
You've probably read about or seen gut health programs on TV, where patients provide a stool sample and get a report showing the levels of both good and bad bacteria and other microorganisms in their digestive tract.
Well, an Australian company is offering this service worldwide at very affordable prices. Using a small stool sample, it provides you with a breakdown of your gut microbiome, how it compares to other people with a healthy gut, and how to improve your own microbiome.
A healthy digestive tract is the foundation of good health. Hundreds of scientific studies link imbalances in the microbiome with a wide range of problems:
acne, anxiety, allergies, asthma, autism, bloating, candida, cancer, chronic fatigue, Crohn's disease, depression, eczema, fatigue, irritable bowel, obesity, psoriasis, SIBO and much more.
This test provides an analysis of the different types of bacteria in your gut and how you compare to other people who have a healthy microbiome and don't suffer from the kind of afflictions listed above.
The good news is that a dysfunctional microbiome can be corrected with the right diet and lifestyle. The test provides you with guidance based on your own results. It includes personalised recommendations to rebalance your gut microbiota including the type of fermented foods, prebiotics and probiotics that are best for you.
The company will extract bacterial DNA from your stool sample, and then by sequencing their DNA they identify and quantify the groups of bacteria present in your gut, such as Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, Tenericutes, Verrucomicrobia and others.
A more advanced test is also available, which provides a deeper analysis including some yeasts. It includes Akkermansia muciniphila, Anaerotruncus, Bacteroides fragalis, Barnesiella, Bifidobacterium, Clostridia, Collinsella aerofaciens, Lactobacilli, Odoribacter, Oxalobacer fomigenes, Prevotella, Roseburia, Ruminococcus, Veillonella etc.