Why Everyone Needs a Stool Test

I recently listened to a webinar by Dr Dan Kalish, who stated that he ran a comprehensive stool test on EVERY patient that walked through his door. At first I though…wow, that’s a little excessive. But then as I started thinking about my own clients over the years, myself, and how the body works, I realized he was right. Everyone does truly need a comprehensive stool test.

In addition to housing the majority of your neurotransmitters, immune system, and containing tens of trillions of microbes, the gut is known as our ‘second brain.’ We have thousands of species of bacteria in our gut, and when those get out of balance, disease begins to form. While many of my clients do come to me with typical digestive issues (constipation, diarrhea, digestive discomfort), that’s not always the case.

What does the gut impact?

If you’re curious what types of signs and symptoms are impacted by the gut, I could probably say “all.” But, I’d like to give some common ones that perhaps you hadn’t thought of:

Skin issues

Things like psoriasis, eczema, and even weird skin rashes and acne can be a byproduct of yeast overgrowth or dysbiosis (an imbalance of bacteria). Both the gut and skin require beneficial bacteria to function properly, so when your skin isn’t looking or feeling like it should, that’s almost always an internal issue. So no, lathering yourself in coconut or jojoba oil won’t do the trick.

Autoimmune disease

The interesting part about this is that the GI Map (the stool test I use) has markers directly on the test labeled as ‘potential autoimmune triggers.’ Unfortunately, many times these markers can be quite high, yet someone may not experience any gastrointestinal issues. But, if you’re dealing with something like Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, or fibromyalgia, and you haven’t been able to put it in remission, then it’s time to check the gut.

Fatigue

While not a disease in itself (unless you’re dealing with chronic fatigue syndrome), a lack of energy can really take its toll on you. When I see someone who deals with fatigue on a daily basis, besides addressing the basics of food and lifestyle, I immediately turn to the gut to rule out things like Epstein Barr and certain parasitic infections.

Anxiety and depression

A common misconception is that anxiety and depression are an issue with the brain. That is rarely the case. 90% of the body’s serotonin and 50% of its dopamine is actually made in the gut (a shocker to many people). So guess what? When the gut is out of balance, expect those neurotransmitters to go haywire as well.

So, have I convinced you yet? 😉 While that’s not necessarily my goal, I want people to understand just how crucial gut function is. Because when it fails, so does everything else. While yes, other issues need to be addressed as well (adrenals, diet, etc), the gut is almost always something that has to be improved upon before healing can happen. If you’re curious if this is perhaps your own issue, or if you want to know more about the GI Map, snag a complimentary 20 minute consult with me (click HERE) and we can chat about it.