Gut infections like parasites, bacteria overgrowth, candida, yeast infections, and fungus are far more common than we even realize.
We’ve been made to believe that we can only get these types of infections when we are abroad or maybe from eating spoiled or improperly-handled food.
This is false.
Gut infections can occur just due to the gut already being compromised due to stress, medications, and other toxins – parasites, bacteria, yeast and fungus are opportunistic and take up residence in our guts and then can multiply.
We’ve also been made to believe that we know when we have a gut infection because it’s always paired with abdominal pain, digestive issues, belching, gas, indigestion, diarrhea, or constipation.
This is also false.
Also, while those symptoms are possible, there are also times someone has a gut infection and has absolutely NO digestive-related symptoms. They can invoke other symptoms, but the person may not realize that they are tied to the gut.
Because of this, a person can have a parasite, bacteria overgrowth, yeast, or fungus (or several of these) for MANY years without realizing it.
Other Symptoms Related to Gut Infections:
In addition to the digestive-related symptoms above, there are many other symptoms that could be related to a gut infection, including:
- Headaches and migraines
- Food sensitivities
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Anemia
- Fatigue or exhaustion
- Depression
- Apathy
- Trouble falling asleep
- Waking up multiple times during the night
- Acne and other skin problems
- Anxiety
- Weight gain that won’t come off
- Unexplained weight loss
- Food/chemical sensitivities
- Brain fog or inability to concentrate
- Hormonal imbalances
- Bloating
- Digestive problems, gas, belching, diarrhea, constipation, and other symptoms of IBS
A good indicator of when to get tested is if you have any of the symptoms listed above. Remember that people can go years, even decades, having a gut pathogen and have no idea. They have symptoms, but haven’t connected the dots between how they are feeling and the gut infection.
Additionally, if you have had extensive travel abroad, food poisoning in the past, or heavy antibiotic use, then it’s highly recommended to get tested.
How Do We Test for Gut Infections?
A high-quality stool test is the best way to test for gut pathogens. My favorite is the GI-Map because it looks at so many different pathogens and is also good at detecting pathogens. Some pathogens are sneaky and can actually remain hidden from testing mechanisms.
To do the test, all you do is order a kit from a practitioner like myself. They will have the kit sent to your home.
Once you get the kit, you simply collect some stool into the provided vials, and send back to the lab via the included shipping label. All of it is handled within the comfort of your home.
Within a couple of weeks, your practitioner will have the results and can put together a customized plan for healing and eliminating the pathogens that show up on the results.
If you suspect that you might have a gut infection and want to do some testing…
click here to book a call with me
This is a lab that I run on my clients and it can definitely help us get to the root of why you might be dealing with the symptoms you are.
It’s also the fastest path to start healing; much faster than guessing and hoping.
Yours in Health,
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