Stool testing
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You may consider comprehensive stool testing if you feel there is an underlying gut-related issue contributing to you health concerns. It may be informative for concerns such as constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, suspected SIBO or IBS, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or digestive symptoms that persist.
Our digestive health influences the whole body. Even when the symptoms are not as straightforward or “gut obvious”, digestive system health can influence mood, allergens & immune system, skin quality, metabolism, hormones, detoxification, and so on.
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The GI-MAP with fecal zonulin provides a comprehensive look at the gastrointestinal tract, including digestive function, microbial balance, parasites, and markers associated with inflammation and intestinal barrier function. Results can help identify areas that may warrant further investigation and help guide an individualized treatment plan.
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Functional medicine often begins by looking closely at the gut because it impacts so many areas of our body/digestion, the gut microbiome, intestinal inflammation, immune function, and the gut barrier can all influence overall health.
How do we heal the gut?
The 5 R framework—Remove, Replace, Reinoculate, Repair, and Rebalance—provides a structured approach to identifying and addressing factors that may be contributing to digestive dysfunction. A comprehensive functional stool test such as the GI-MAP can provide useful information to help individualize this approach by identifying pathogens and potential microbial imbalances to Remove, digestive markers such as pancreatic elastase to help assess what may need to be Replaced, levels of beneficial or keystone bacteria that may inform Reinoculation, and markers such as zonulin, calprotectin, and secretory IgA that provide additional information about gut barrier integrity, inflammation, and mucosal immune function as part of the Repair process. The final step, Rebalance, focuses on nutrition, lifestyle, stress, sleep, and other factors that help support long-term gut health.
Completing the GI map helps take away the guessing. We use testing to guide a 5R protocol specific to the individual’s needs.