Digestive & Gut Health Test

What is for
 
 What is gut in the human body? Gut is another term for the gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract is the tract from the mouth to the anus which includes all the organs of the digestive system in humans.

 Types & Condition
 
 This section will help you understand your gut health better
 

• Crohn’s disease

Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes inflammation of the digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition.
 

• Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ulcers (sores) in the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis affects the innermost lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum.
 

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

 Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic disorder that affects the large intestine. Signs and symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both.
 

• GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into the tube connecting your mouth and stomach (esophagus). This backwash (acid reflux) can irritate the lining of your esophagus.
 

• Celiac Disease

 Celiac disease, sometimes called celiac sprue is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Over time, this reaction damages your small intestine's lining and prevents it from absorbing some nutrients (malabsorption). The intestinal damage often causes diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating and anemia, and can lead to serious complications.
 
 

• Gut Bacteria and Your Heart

 According to a research in Cleveland Clinic, when gut microbes feed on a chemical called choline (found in eggs, red meat, and dairy products), they produce a compound called TMA. In the liver, TMA is converted to TMAO, which causes hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) in mice and is linked to a higher risk of heart disease in humans.

 

• Gut Bacteria and Your Kidneys

 According to several researches, the gut microbiome is altered in kidney disease which leads to an imbalance of gut bacteria (dysbiosis) and thus,contributes to the progression of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
 This is because there is a generation of excessive amounts of potentially toxic compounds while production of beneficial short chain fatty acids is reduced.
 Uraemic toxins come from the metabolism of partially digested protein by specific species within the microbiome, and these are known to promote CKD. These enteric toxins include protein bacterial metabolites such as urea, indoxyl sulfate and p-cresyl sulfate.
 Dysbiosis is also associated with increased intestinal permeability (or ‘leaky gut’), this allows small particles, like bacteria or small bits of food to escape into your bloodstream, where they are marked as intruders and trigger your immune system into action.
 
 

• Gut Bacteria and Your Brain

 Studies have found that some people with depression experience dysbiosis (imbalance of gut bacteria)
 Animal studies also show that gut microbiota helps regulate anxiety. It may also influence the development of neurological conditions caused by circuit dysfunctions, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
 Researchers think this is because gut bacteria release metabolites, tiny bits of food broken down by digestion that influence brain function.
 Metabolites may impact mood regulation by acting on the endocannabinoid system, which is a complex cell-signaling system consisting of fat based neurotransmitters and their receptors.
 
 

• Gut Bacteria and Obesity

 Gut bacteria play several important roles in our health, such as communicating with our immune system and producing certain vitamins.
 Certain types of gut bacteria are essential for maintaining a healthy gut barrier and preventing inflammation, which can contribute to weight gain.
 They may affect our weight by influencing how different foods are digested in our body. Dietary fiber is digested by certain species of gut bacteria, which may aid weight loss.
 They can also affect how fat is stored and whether we feel hungry or full.
 
 

Symptoms
 
 A few signs and symptoms of an unhealthy gut include -
 

• Upset stomach
• A high-sugar diet
• Unintentional weight changes
• Sleep disturbances or constant fatigue
• Skin irritation
• Autoimmune conditions
• Food intolerances
• an electrolyte imbalance
• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• a fever
• muscle aches
• gas and bloating
• Bleeding

 Diagnosis & Treatment
 
 Tests includes : 

• Premium Food Tolerance Blood Test Profile (IgG Based)

 Food intolerance testing detects antibodies like IgG to determine if a person is sensitive or intolerant to certain foods due to lack of digestive enzymes or other conditions like metabolic diseases, Irritable bowel syndrome, or celiac disease. Food intolerance cannot be easily differentiated from a food allergy and hence a food intolerance testing can help individuals with symptoms of sensitivity to eliminate specific foods from their diet.
 
 
 

• Metabolism Test - at home

 This as at home metabolic screening tests measures the following parameters-
 
 

• Resting metabolic rate (RMR) - Number of calories burn when the body is at rest
• Maximum volume of oxygen (V02 Max) or aerobic capacity body's ability to use oxygen effectively during exercise
• Lactate threshold test - the point at which lactic acid builds up in the blood more quickly than it can be removed during exercise, causing muscle fatigue.

 This metabolic test helps in measuring body composition, hormone levels weight and percent body fat according to which various metabolic diets may be referred to lose weight and boost the metabolic rate.
 
 

• Microbiome Testing and Analysis

 This test includes -
 

• Super Gut Report Analysis and Recommendations by Microbiome experts
• 1 Personal Consult & Report Analysis
• Prebiotics & Probiotics Recommendations
   
• Allergy Testing (Common food and Allergens) - Veg and Non Veg

 IgE (Immunoglobulin E) is an antibody protein that causes allergic reactions. A Food allergy blood test measures the IgE levels to detect an allergy to a particular food

 
Gut health foods
 
 Best easily available gut cleansing foods inclde -
 

• Yogurt
• Apples
• Garlic
• Lemon
• Green tea
• Herbs

How Can Probiotics Help?
 

• Probiotics contain live bacteria that help populate good bacteria in your gut microbiome.
• They help optimize our immune system, reduce inflammation, inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria, correct leaky gut and restore gut barrier integrity and re-establish intestinal motility

Prebiotics
 

• Prebiotics are compounds in food that induce the growth or activity of beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi
• Compounds that can be classified as prebiotics must also meet the following criteria:[
   
  • non-digestible and resistant to breakdown by stomach acid and enzymes in the human gastrointestinal tract
  • selectively fermented by intestinal microorganisms
  • selectively targeting and stimulating the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria

• Best prebiotic foods include -
   
  • Garlic
  • Onions
  • Asparagus
  • Banana
  • Barley
  • Oats
  • Apples
  • Flaxseeds