Our functional medicine Toronto clinic is adept at treating health issues linked to the microbiome. Recognizing this is crucial, as the gut can influence your overall health!

A microbiome with ideal amounts of ‘good’ bacteria can shrink your risks for forming chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease. The gut is also valuable for helping to regulate mood, metabolism, immune function, hormones, blood sugar, cellular functioning, and more! But optimal support is needed to sustain a happy microbiome.

Unfortunately, poor lifestyle factors can worsen or improve your gut. For instance, a diet that lacks vegetables can alter the microbiome’s functionality. The excessive use of antibiotics can reduce beneficial bacteria from thriving. And sedentary living can destruct the microbiome’s composition.

A health journey must begin to improve the gut, especially if your current lifestyle lacks healthy components. But the question begs, where do you even begin to make changes? A functional medicine provider, such as one from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC), may first recommend core tests. Test findings are then applied to tailoring a treatment plan, which can target your unique gut-related needs. 

In this article, the TFMC lists the indicators of an unhealthy gut, details about functional lab testing, and how our clinic operates in Toronto. 

Symptoms of poor gut health

So, when should you get your gut checked? First, know some of the symptoms of poor gut health:   

• • Digestive issues (i.e. bloating, gas, diarrhea, stomach aches, nausea, etc.)
  • Lack of sleep
  • Chronic stress
  • Unexplained weight loss or gain
  • Candida overgrowth (yeast infections)

A functional medicine doctor may use lab testing if the symptoms above are obstructing your daily living. Unhealthy gut statuses have also been linked to various disease conditions, such as autoimmune conditions, food intolerances, digestive disorders (i.e. colitis), diabetes, depression, cardiovascular disorders, and skin disorders. If you have these conditions, regular gut testing can help manage your personal condition. 

Microbiome support, such as flavonoids, can be added to your treatment plan, and our clinic’s selection of lab tests may be applied to scrutinize your gut. At the TFMC, testing is part of our personalized approach to wellness, which consists of modifying treatments to suit biological needs. 

Testing your gut health 

Depending on your needs, our TFMC healthcare providers may recommend one or some of the following gut tests: 

• • Food Sensitivity IgG FST testing (Rocky Mountain Analytical): If you’ve noticed that food tends to cause reactions (i.e. rashes, upset stomach), this test can reveal the exact types of foods that you’re sensitive to. These results can help us tailor a nutrition plan; a blood sample is required and will be analyzed to qualify IgG antibodies. 

• • GI 360: Comprehensive Stool Analysis and Parasite Detection (Doctor’s Data): This test aims to assess the overall microbiome composition and diversity, as well as detecting pathogens. This test uses a stool sample to evaluate the presence of pathogens, parasites, and imbalances in your microbiome. Due to its sensitivity, the GI 360 can detect specific parasites like Giardia lamblia and Dientamoeba fragilis, providing a thorough assessment of your gut health. 
  • GI-MAP: A Comprehensive Gut Health Diagnostic Test (Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory): This is similar to the GI 360, however, it focuses on the DNA analysis of gut microbes and biomarkers linked to immune function and inflammation. This test uses advanced quantitative PCR technology for collecting precise details about bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites from a stool sample. The GI-Map scrutinizes for certain microbes that may disrupt the microbiome balance, while disclosing key biomarkers that affect digestion, inflammation, immune function, and absorption. The choice between taking either this test or the GI 360 depends on your chief health concerns and diagnostic needs. 

(Note: Additional gut tests are available at our functional medicine clinic. If you’d like to learn more about our tests, visit our lab services page.)

Functional gut tests can deliver details that cannot be identified by some conventional tests. Our gut assessments unveil specific details, such as how diverse your microbiome is, the efficiency of your gut’s breakdown of nutrients, the type of species present in your gut, and more. Overall, these tests help us understand the state of your gut and which direction your wellness may be heading. By knowing what functional medicine testing can reveal about your health, we can recommend specific supplements, nutrients, etc. that may match your needs and health goals. 

What would a functional lab test reveal about your gut health? Let’s find out together – start your health journey today with our TFMC health team. 

Visit our functional medicine clinic in Toronto

Our TFMC health services are individualized just for you. We take copious amounts of time to understand your physical and mental needs. This involves hearty discussions about your health goals, diet, medical history, lifestyle/environmental factors, and genetics. Depending on your needs, we may use functional lab tests to quantify nutritional deficiencies, inflammation, hormone balance, etc. 

Our functional practice emphasizes integrative medicine, which encourages patients to mix-and-match our treatment options. By embracing various modalities, such as Western medicine, acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, psychotherapy, herbal medicines, and more, you can take actions to mitigate individual symptoms and prevent additional chronic symptoms. 

Intravenous therapy can also be added to your TFMC treatment plan. Our Toronto IV Lounge is located in-house for patients to receive IV drips for supportive measures. Note: an initial visit for screening is mandatory prior to receiving your first IV drip. This helps us rule out allergies to IV fluids and underlying health concerns. When IV therapy is combined with functional medicine therapies and healthy lifestyle factors, they can contribute to health improvements. 

If your current gut health is causing you trouble, we can help! Our lab services may offer insight into your health concerns (i.e. brain fog and digestive disorders). Contact our friendly health team now to book your visit at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

Cronin, P., & Joyce, S. A. (2021). Dietary Fibre Modulates the Gut Microbiota. Nutrients, 13(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13051655

Monda, V., Villano, I., Messina, A., Valenzano, A., Esposito, T., Moscatelli, F., Viggiano, A., Cibelli, G., Chieffi, S., Monda, M., & Messina, G. (2017). Exercise Modifies the Gut Microbiota with Positive Health Effects. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2017(1), 3831972. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3831972

Queipo-Ortuño MI, Boto-Ordóñez M, Murri M, Gomez-Zumaquero JM, Clemente-Postigo M, Estruch R, Cardona Diaz F, Andrés-Lacueva C, Tinahones FJ. Influence of red wine polyphenols and ethanol on the gut microbiota ecology and biochemical biomarkers. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Jun;95(6):1323-34. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.027847. Epub 2012 May 2. PMID: 22552027.

Xu L, Li W, Ling L, Zhang Z, Cui Z, Ge J, Wang Y, Meng Q, Wang Y, Liu K, Zhou J, Zeng F, Wang J, Wu J. A Sedentary Lifestyle Changes the Composition and Predicted Functions of the Gut Bacterial and Fungal Microbiota of Subjects from the Same Company. Curr Microbiol. 2023 Oct 13;80(12):368. doi: 10.1007/s00284-023-03480-0. PMID: 37831112; PMCID: PMC10575810.