In this article, we will talk about how to assess your health with the microbiome, continuing from our last article. We will see how the gut or intestinal microbiome testing is done and what are the criteria.
What does a Microbiome test detect, and how is it evaluated?
The gut microbiome testing can be used as a health indicator. It gives insights into the balance between the core, bad, and good microorganisms (i.e., probiotics) allowing you to assess your health using the following criteria:
- Balance: If the result shows your gut microbiome is balanced, you should maintain your eating behaviors and lifestyle.
- Slightly out of balance: If the result shows your gut microbiome is slightly out of balance, you should start changing your eating behaviors and lifestyle as it increases the risk of having health problems but doesn’t mean you have one yet.
- Moderately imbalanced: If the result shows your gut microbiome is moderately imbalanced, it means you may already have health problems and that you need to change your eating behaviors and lifestyle.
- Highly imbalanced: If the result shows your gut microbiome is highly imbalanced, it is highly likely that your body already experiencing health problems. You must change your eating behaviors and lifestyle immediately.
The different levels of gut microbiome balance could tell you the risk of getting having health problems as follows:
Low risk indicates that the abundant and diverse gut microbiomes in your body are within the same range as the average healthy population. The risk of getting sick is relatively low and you should maintain your eating behaviors and lifestyle.
Moderate risk indicates the abundant and diverse gut microbiomes in your body when compared to the average population have lower good microorganisms and higher bad microorganisms. The risk of getting sick is higher than the average. You should start changing your eating behaviors and lifestyle while doing gut microbiome testing regularly.
High risk indicates that the abundant and diverse gut microbiomes in your body have high bad microorganisms, meaning a higher risk of getting sick compared to the average population.
Once we find out the balance of our gut microorganisms or microbiome, we can adjust our lifestyle accordingly. This includes adjusting eating and resting behaviors to a healthier pattern for a healthier you.
At present, the microbiome is tested using the qPCR test, which gives correct and accurate results. Taking the test is as simple as collecting stools, the specimen, for the test. We recommend anyone who is interested to find a place for testing ^^
