Gut microbiome

They break down the fibre your body cannot digest on its own and turn it into short-chain fatty acids, butyrate among them. They also produce vitamins and help the immune cells in the gut tell the harmless from the dangerous. Some of the bacteria carry genes linked to the production of neurotransmitters, which is why scientists are also studying the gut–brain link.

You cannot tell for sure by how you feel, because complaints such as bloating and fatigue have many causes. To see its make-up, you need an analysis of a stool sample. The gut test shows how diverse your microbiome is and which beneficial species are under-represented. If you have complaints, though, see a doctor first, because the test does not give a diagnosis.

Butyrate, or butyric acid, is one of the short-chain fatty acids that gut bacteria make from fibre. The cells of the gut lining feed on it. The gut test assesses your microbes’ potential to produce butyrate and eight other such acids.

The stool tests a doctor orders usually look for something specific, for example a particular pathogen or hidden blood. The BugSpeaks gut test reads the DNA of the microbes in the sample and shows what they are and what they can produce. It is not a microbiological culture and does not replace those tests.

You can, but the result will reflect the course. If you want to see your usual state, do not take the sample straight after it. Some people wait a few weeks. The report also includes an assessment of how well your microbiome can recover after antibiotics.

Fibre from a variety of plant foods, because many beneficial gut bacteria feed on it. Heavily processed food and a monotonous diet low in fibre upset their balance. The 12-week nutrition plan that comes after the gut test shows which foods suit your microbes.