Gastrointestinal testing is more important than you may realize. Why? Because a healthy, fully functioning gastrointestinal system is the foundation of your health and wellness.
Scientific literature has associated gut microbiome or gut flora with many diseases and conditions, including:
- Celiac and Other Malabsorption Disorders
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD
- Acid Reflux and Heartburn
- Blood Sugar Issues and Diabetes
- Excessive Weight Gain and Obesity
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Depression and Mood Disorders
Importance of Healthy Gut Microbiome
Your gut is the frontline of defense of your immune system, which is constantly being exposed to toxins, chemicals, pesticide residues, bacteria, and more.
The processes that take place in your gut can affect your central nervous system, brain, and even your moods.
Almost 1,000 species of microbial organisms live in the human gastrointestinal tract. These organisms, called the gut microbiome (or microbiota), are greater than the number of cells in our bodies.
The microbiome is directly involved in most of our daily metabolic functions. Everything you consume can influence its composition, as can stress, age, gender, health status, geography, and many other factors.
Your microbiome can also affect your metabolic rate. Metabolism is a biochemical process that governs how quickly you turn calories into energy. The rate at which you burn fat when you are resting is called your basal metabolic rate. And many things can affect your metabolic rate, including:
- what you eat and drink
- the accumulation of toxins in your body
- an under-active thyroid
- adrenal fatigue
- stress
- not getting enough sleep
And these are all tied to your overall gut health. To learn more about how gut health affects the endocrine system, click here.
The microbiome’s role in our body’s operation is so important that it acts as an organ. It impacts mood, cognitive function, aging, digestion, and our immune system.
The Enteric Nervous System
Your Enteric Nervous System (ENS) hides in the walls of your digestive system and is the link between your digestion, mood, and health. The primary job of the ENS is controlling digestion. It releases enzymes that break down food and control blood flow to help with nutrient absorption and elimination.
ENS triggers can create big emotional shifts in patients suffering from IBS, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, pain, and an upset stomach. And researchers are learning that irritation in the gastrointestinal system may send signals to the central nervous system and create mood swings and changes.
Currently, a higher percentage of people with IBS and GI tract diseases develop anxiety and depression. And it is estimated that approximately 30 to 40 percent of the population suffers from functional bowel problems at some point in their lives.
GI testing and normalizing GI function help to pinpoint imbalances in your gut to better treat your overall health.
Gastrointestinal Testing with the GI Effects Test
The GI Effects Comprehensive Stool Profile is an important clinical tool to manage symptoms and illnesses associated with a compromised GI tract. It measures:
- digestive system performance
- inflammation
- general gut microbiome function
- how your GI health is affecting not only your gut health but also your overall health
- specific pathogens that may be causing illness
- the balance of commensal and beneficial bacteria that may be contributing to symptoms
- risk factors relating to the microbiome
When Should you Consider the GI Effects Comprehensive Stool Profile?
GI Effects assesses three critical areas of gut health: digestive function, gut inflammation, and the gut microbiome. These areas affect not only GI health but overall health as well.
For patients with symptoms that may have gastrointestinal dysfunction as their root cause, comprehensive stool diagnostics provide an effective tool for gaining clinical insight into the next steps.
When a patient is experiencing digestive issues or abnormalities or other autoimmune conditions, GI Effects Testing may help to open the door to recovery.
Assessing and normalizing GI function can have profound effects on overall health, leading to improvement in these and other conditions.
We offer GI testing to both existing and new patients. If you are a current patient of ours, just let your provider know, and we will arrange the testing for you. If you are a new patient, please give our New Patient Coordinator a call, and she can go over pricing and protocols.
Free Phone Consultation with Our New Patient Coordinator
The health and safety of our staff and patients is a top priority for all of us at the office of Forum Health Las Colinas. We are offering both virtual appointments and in-clinic appointments, whichever you prefer.
If you are coming in to see us in person, keep in mind that we main the highest standards for the safety of our patients. We sanitize rooms (in between patients) and shared surfaces, such as door handles, etc., throughout the day.
Should you choose to have a telemedicine appointment, you will still be able to see your provider, just as if she were standing in front of you in the office. You’ll still get the same “connection” as if your appointment was in the clinic.
Additionally, we have mobile phlebotomy services available if you do not want to go to a public lab.
Our providers at Forum Health Las Colinas, are devoted to understanding our patients’ health concerns and symptoms. We use scientific-based protocols to find the root cause of hormonal imbalances, thyroid dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, and more.
We believe that spending quality, personalized time with each patient provides the foundation to help you achieve optimal health and wellness. Our system incorporates provider consultation, comprehensive health assessment, and laboratory testing in a warm and caring environment.
Contact our New Patient Coordinator for a Free Phone Consultation. She can explain our protocols and fees in more detail, answer any questions or concerns you have, and explain how our approach can help with hormonal balance, anti-aging, and disease prevention so that you can enjoy a vibrant and healthy life!
You can contact our New Patient Coordinator at:
972-960-4800
Or complete the form below, and she will contact you. There is no obligation with this consultation. If you feel we are a good fit for you, our New Patient Coordinator can also get you booked for your first appointment.
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