What is gut testing and how can it help with diagnosing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? The fact of the matter is, over 85 percent of all adult Americans suffer from some form of intestinal problem with symptoms akin to those of IBS, namely, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal bloating, cramping, pain, and gas. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal issues in the world. “In the United States alone, it is estimated that nearly 45 million patients suffer from IBS while nearly 30 million of those patients are undiagnosed,” reports the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD).
Determining if your symptoms are related to IBS can help you receive the appropriate treatment. Gut testing at our Balanced Well-Being Healthcare facility is the first step to discovering what is ailing you.
What is IBS?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is referred to by many names. Have you ever heard of someone having a “nervous stomach?” A “leaky gut?” It has also been called spastic/irritable colon. Essentially, all the names describe a complex condition in which the colon muscle contracts more easily than in people without the condition.
Common Triggers for IBS
While a variety of things can trigger IBS, some of the most common culprits are: particular types of food, certain supplements or medications–especially blood pressure medications like calcium channel blockers and beta blockers–and medications tasked with reducing or removing acid like proton pump inhibitors, and medications to prevent incontinence.
Other triggers for IBS are bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine (SIBO), gut infections like candida or dysbiosis, food sensitivities, and stress.
What Does Gut Testing Entail?
Part of the process of determining if you have IBS includes testing your gut for several different elements and biomarkers. Our gut testing is extremely comprehensive and involves the following four areas of examination:
Organic Acid Test
The organic acid test (OAT) helps to identify the root cause of many methylation-related problems. The OAT offers a comprehensive metabolic picture of a patient’s overall health with over 70 markers. It provides quantifiable data that shows the balance of chemicals produced by yeasts and bacteria, and other gut-derived toxins like oxalates in your gut. This data can help us prescribe appropriate treatment for gut healing.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) Breath Test
There is a definite link between IBS and SIBO. A recent scientific study found that 36% of patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome could trace their disease back to to a small intestinal bacterial outgrowth (SIBO), or Dysbiosis (aka. Dysbacteriosis).
One of the best IBS diagnostic tools at your disposal is the Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) breath test. This test can reveal what is triggering your abdominal symptoms with a non-invasive breath test. The test catches exhaled hydrogen and methane gases after you take a lactulose solution. The data taken from this test can reveal bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine.
Other methods for testing the health of the small bowel are more invasive, and expensive. Genova Diagnostics provides the SIBO breath test as an effective tool for detecting gastrointestinal problems without the expense or complex requirements of other methods.
Stool Test
The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile that we offer patients is an advanced stool test that offers instant clinical data about your current gastrointestinal health. By leveraging this cutting-edge science and interpreting the biomarkers, we receive what we need to know to determine your digestive function, state of intestinal inflammation, and your individual intestinal microbiome.
The stool test we utilize at Balanced Well-Being Healthcare embodies the best technical platform currently available to determine gut health. This test can get to the root cause of your gastrointestinal symptoms. It looks at the DNA of all microbes living inside you.
This test can also reveal markers of inflammation–calprotectin, lysozyme, pancreatic elastase, small chain fatty acids–like butyrate, propionate to differentiate between Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Food Sensitivities and Food Allergies Testing
IBS is associated with food sensitivities which is why we will also be testing you for any sensitivities (known and unknown) that you have and/or allergies. How you react to foods can cause further inflammation in the gut so you start there with determining a diet revision plan. Once you repair your microbiome, you can repair your gut and reduce or eliminate your food sensitivities.
Food impacts the diversity of the microbiome the most which is why when working towards repairing your microbiome you should start by slowly increasing fruits and veggies–especially those rich in polyphenols, bioflavonoids, and fiber–to increase the good bacteria that make short-chain fatty acids that heal the gut.
Food that feed the bacteria–like sugar, processed flour, alcohol and excessive animal products–should be eliminated from your diet. Removing sensitive foods like gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and eggs can also help with gut repair.
Call for a Gut Testing Consultation and Gut Health Evaluation
Learn how you can benefit from gut testing today by calling 970-631-8286 and discover how healthy you are on a biochemical, molecular level. Learn strategies and tips to balance your body physically, mentally and emotionally so you can have what you need for total body wellness.