Ask us about our GI Map Stool Test! This could be an important piece of the puzzle for why you don’t feel good or can’t lose the weight.

Why?

Our gut is our body’s security guard and first line of defense, allowing in beneficial nutrients and keeping out harmful invaders. When this protective lining is weakened from things like antibiotics, stress and processed foods, this can allow the gut to become a breeding ground for parasites, fungus, yeast, infections and other issues–super gross, we know.

Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus (GI-MAP) tests the microbiome and identifies microbes which could be causing abnormal microbial balance, contributing to a variety of different symptoms. The microbiome is an intricate system that has trillions of bacteria which can affect everything from immunity, mood, and metabolism. Each person’s microbiome is very unique, and this test identifies specific pathogenic bacteria, commensal bacteria, opportunistic pathogens, fungi, viruses, and parasites within the individual’s gut. GI Map is a comprehensive test that uses DNA technology to measure levels of both the “good” and “bad” bacteria in your gut, a crucial and delicate balance for overall health. The role of this bacteria affects us on many different levels, making it very important to pay close attention to our gut health.

So how exactly does the GI Map test work? This specific testing method separates the DNA into single strands and measures even the tiniest amounts of DNA found in the stool sample. This differs from most of the tests on the market that rely on cultures, which can grow or decay after collection and doesn’t accurately represent the sample at the time it was collected. By using DNA to analyze rather than cultures, it is much more accurate and representative of the microbial populations in the individual’s gastrointestinal tract.

Once we’re armed with the information gathered from the test, we can develop a protocol to help you safely eliminate these unhealthy imbalances and work to repair, replace and reinoculate your gut with the right mix of nutrients. The test also looks at certain types of fungus, yeast and infections (triple eww), as well as allows us to identify leaky gut–a condition that triggers many of the symptoms listed above.  By identifying the bad guys in the gut, it will essentially keep your immune system in tip top shape and YOU as healthy as possible.