How to test your microbiome

If you’ve been wondering how to test your microbiome, you’ve come to the right place! Your gut microbiome – the bustling community of microorganisms living in your digestive system – plays a vital role in your overall health and wellbeing. However, understanding exactly what’s happening inside your gut can be challenging. With the growing interest in gut health, many people are turning to microbiome testing for valuable insights into the state of their digestive system.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to test your microbiome and the importance of testing. By the end, you’ll understand how this test can help optimise your health and give you the information you need to take control of your gut health.

What is your gut microbiome?

Your gut microbiome refers to the trillions of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms that live in your digestive tract.¹ These microbes work together to help you digest food, absorb nutrients, support your immune system, and influence your mood, behaviour and mental health. A well-balanced microbiome is essential for good health, while an imbalance can lead to health issues. The different levels and types of microorganisms in your gut can have a profound impact on your health – both positive and negative.

Good vs bag bugs: The balance is key

Not all bacteria are created equally. Your gut microbiome contains both “good” and “bad” bacteria, and maintaining the right balance between the two is crucial for good health. Good bugs help break down food, produce essential substances (e.g. vitamins), and protect your gut lining. While an overgrowth of bad bugs can lead to digestive problems, inflammation, and even chronic conditions.²

An imbalance – known as dysbiosis – can manifest as bloating, digestive discomfort, or more serious health concerns.³ The key is keeping your microbiome in check so your gut can function at its best.

How do I know if I have a microbiome imbalance (dysbiosis)?

Your gut is the portal between the exterior world and your inner health. As such, it can influence every system in your body. If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, it could be a sign that your gut microbiome is out of balance:⁴

Digestive issues	Bloating, gas, reflux, constipation, diarrhoea, or irregular bowel movements
Frequent illness	A weakened immune system, resulting in frequent colds or infections
Mood disorders	Anxiety, stress, depression, brain fog, or even conditions like ADHD or autism
Food sensitivities	Difficulty digesting certain foods or developing food intolerances
Skin conditions	Eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, or acne can be linked to gut inflammation
Musculoskeletal pain or inflammation	Arthritis, fibromyalgia, or restless leg syndrome
Other	Asthma, feeling fatigued or experiencing low energy can be associated with poor gut health

Even if you don’t have any overt symptoms, proactively doing a gut health check is a preventative measure. In fact, I’ve worked with clients who presented no obvious symptoms (what we call asymptomatic), but their microbiome tests revealed dysbiosis and pathogen overload – issues that could have caused health problems further down the line.

What is gut microbiome testing?

Gut microbiome testing involves analysing a sample – typically stool – to identify the types of bacteria and other microbes living in your gut. The results provide a snapshot of your microbiome composition, helping you see whether there are imbalances or harmful microbes to address. With a gut microbiome test, you gain a better understanding of your gut’s health and how it could be affecting your overall wellbeing.

Image of Chuckling Goat (The Gut Health Experts) Microbiome Test Kit.

What is the best way to test your microbiome?

There are several ways to test your microbiome:

Stool sample test

The most common and accessible method to test your microbiome. You send a stool sample to a lab, where the bacterial DNA is analysed to identify which microbes are present. The lab can analyse bacterial diversity, the balance between beneficial and harmful microbes, and other gut metabolites.⁵

Breath test

Breath tests measure gases produced by the gut bacteria, such as hydrogen and methane. These gases are key indicators of microbial activity and are particularly useful for diagnosing Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), a condition where too many bacteria grow in the small intestine. However, this test won’t assess microbiome diversity or identify specific microbial levels.⁶

Blood test

Blood tests don’t directly assess the microbiome but measure biomarkers that may be linked to gut health. This can include markers for inflammation, nutrient deficiencies and immune function. These tests are generally more indirect but can offer insights into how your microbiome may be influencing your systemic health.⁷

Saliva test

Some tests use saliva to analyse the oral microbiome, which is closely linked to the gut. Your mouth is the starting point of your digestive system, and the bacteria in your mouth may affect digestion, inflammation and even heart or brain health.⁸

Why is it so important to test your gut microbiome?

Testing your microbiome is important for several reasons:

Personalised health insights: Every person’s microbiome is unique, and a test provides you specific information about your gut health, helping you make informed decisions.
Identify imbalances: Tests reveal which bacteria are thriving or lacking, and which ones are in excess. If harmful bacteria are outgrowing beneficial ones, you can take proactive steps to restore balance.
Prevent chronic conditions: Early detection microbial imbalances allows for intervention before they lead to more serious long-term health problems.
Optimise your health: Your microbiome influences immunity, digestion, metabolism, and even mental health. Testing helps you optimise gut health for better overall wellness.

Steps to take before testing

Choose a test: Consider your goals. Are you aiming to identify gut imbalances, track the effects of diet, or assess specific conditions like SIBO? Some tests are better suited for specific needs.
Consult with a healthcare provider: It’s always wise to speak with a healthcare professional before testing, especially if you have concerning symptoms, ongoing conditions or taking medications.
Prepare for the test: Some tests, like stool tests, may have specific guidelines. For example, avoid taking the test if you’re experiencing diarrhoea or loose stools.

What can you learn from a gut microbiome test?

So you’ve sent your stool sample for analysis, but what happens after you test your microbiome? Typically, you’ll get a detailed report outlining your microbiome composition. This may include:

Bacterial diversity: High diversity usually indicates a healthy microbiome, while lacking diversity can be a red flag.
Microbial scores: The test shows levels of different types of microbes in your gut and whether they’re in healthy amounts.
Potential imbalances: The test can reveal if harmful bacteria or pathogens are overabundant.
Associations: The report or therapist may link microbial imbalances or other biomarker levels (e.g. SCFAs), to digestive or other health issues.
Personalised suggestions: Some testing companies offer tailored advice to improve your gut health based on your results, including dietary or lifestyle changes and even recommendations for supplements like probiotics and prebiotics.

Please note: microbiome tests are not diagnostic tools and should not be used to diagnose medical conditions. For any health concerns or symptoms, please refer to your GP or doctor for professional advice and diagnosis.

What can you do with this information?

Once you have the results from your test, you can take actionable steps to improve your gut health:

Dietary interventions: A test can help guide your use of probiotics, prebiotics or other supplements to restore balance to your gut.
Modify your diet: Depending on your microbiome’s composition, you may be advised to add more fermented foods and fibre-rich foods to feed beneficial bacteria, avoid specific foods that fuel harmful bacteria or make dietary adjustments for intolerances.
Lifestyle changes: Recommendations may include stress management techniques, increased physical activity, and better sleep – all important factors that affect gut flora.

How is Chuckling Goat’s gut microbiome test different from the rest?

A picture of Chuckling Goat microbiome test kit box on table with nice textures, fruit, roses, and oats.

Chuckling Goat’s Gut Microbiome Test Kit offers a simple and accurate way to carry out a gut health check through a comprehensive, at-home stool test. The test provides detailed results and is easy to use. Your sample is analysed in depth using advanced molecular technology at Cambridge Genomics Laboratory, providing an in-depth picture of your gut microbiome. The 16S rRNA sequencing process used by the University of Cambridge detects bacteria that cannot be cultivated in Petri dishes – the conventional method routinely employed by laboratories for stool sample analysis.

Personalised consultation

What sets Chuckling Goat’s test apart is not only the detailed microbiome analysis but also the personalised, one-to-one consultation with one of our trained Nutritional Therapists. During this 30-minute consultation, we explain your results and create a Personal Action Plan tailored to your microbiome. This is not just generalised dietary advice but a set of specific, all-natural, evidence-based dietary interventions designed to create measurable results and boost gut health. We work closely with our Scientific Advisory Board and globally distinguished Nottingham and Cardiff University scientists, clinicians and professors in the field to provide the scientific basis for our award-winning Gut Health Protocol, which includes our Kefir, Complete Prebiotic and Pure Fish Collagen.

Our scores and biomarkers

Our test evaluates seven key areas: bacterial diversity, probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, pathogens, mental wellness, and systemic wellness. We analyse a total of 86 biomarkers, offering you an in-depth look at how well your gut microbiome is functioning. Unlike conventional tests, the Chuckling Goat Microbiome Test not only determines the composition of bacteria but also calculates the proportion of different types of bacteria in the microbiome. We measure the levels of beneficial bacteria (like Lactobacillus) and harmful bacteria (like E. coli) that may be causing low-grade infections. These harmful or “opportunistic” bacteria may have developed days, weeks, months or even years ago from imbalances caused by factors such as acute infections, food poisoning, poor diet, medications, toxins, and more.⁹ These pathogens can form “biofilms” inside your gut, making them resistant to change and difficult to eliminate, this is why it is important to get on top of them as they may be slowing down your gut health results.¹⁰

Our test goes beyond identifying bacterial imbalances by measuring prebiotics and postbiotics. Prebiotics are the natural fibres that nourish your probiotics to help them thrive. Postbiotics are substances that your beneficial bacteria produce to keep your body healthy and functioning as it should. We focus on short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including butyrate, acetate and propionate, which have been shown to support gut and immune function, reduce inflammation, and impact metabolism and the nervous system.¹¹

Our test also takes into account the gut-brain axis – the connection between gut health and mental wellness. High levels of gut and systemic inflammation have been linked to several mental illnesses.¹² Did you also know that gastrointestinal issues are among the most common symptoms of these conditions? Our test includes validated surveys to track mood and assess mental health, which we believe is important for a holistic approach to gut health.

Lifetime membership

Plus, we don’t stop at the test. You’ll receive lifetime support and membership through our Chuckling Goat Microbiome Tracker, an interactive platform where you can access your results and Personal Action Plan, track your progress and daily health habits, and earn discounts. You can always reach one of our Nutritional Therapists if you have any questions post-consultation. We also offer re-tests so you can compare your scores before and after you complete the recommended protocol.

Here at Chuckling Goat, we aim to promote a healthy gut microbiota composition by improving the conditions that favour the abundance of health-promoting microbes and tackle microbes that are either known pathogens or behave like pathogens once they surpass a threshold. We tap into research that ranges from the gold standard (systematic review) to pioneering and novel emerging science.

You can source our microbiome test here and find a sample report here.

Image describing the steps involved in testing your microbiome using Chuckling Goat Microbiome Test Kit. 5 steps.

Can you get a microbiome test on the NHS?

While there is growing recognition of the importance of the microbiome in health, comprehensive microbiome test are typically not available through standard healthcare services, like the NHS. However, private services, including Chuckling Goat’s gut microbiome kit, provide an accessible and thorough alternative. Make sure to choose reputable testing services that use high-quality, scientifically validated methods, provide detailed and actionable insights and preferably offer support and guidance on improving your gut health.

So is the gut microbiome test worth it?

Definitely! A gut microbiome test offers valuable insights that can help you understand and optimise your health. Whether you’re experiencing health issues, looking to boost your immunity, prevent issues by maintaining a healthy microbiome, or simply curious about your gut health, testing can be a valuable tool to provide the information you need to take control of your wellbeing. With personalised recommendations, you can make informed decisions and take proactive steps toward maintaining a balanced gut and feeling your best.

The best evidence of the test’s effectiveness is what our customers have to say about it. You can read the thousands of 5-star Trustpilot reviews that mention our test here.

For more articles on our gut microbiome test click here.

Learn more about us and how the company started.

Any questions? Contact one of our Nutritional Therapists via live chat, weekdays from 8 am to 8 pm.