Which stool test is best to use first on a patient, the Microbial Ecology Profile (#2105/MEP) or the Gastrointestinal Function Profile (#2100/GI Effects)? Clinicians ask me this question from time to time. My answer is always the same: for a first assessment, run the larger panel which we call the ... [More]

Let’s face it, there are lots of us out there with leaky, grumpy guts! And it may not be something you want to fess up to. This common problem precipitates some vexatious symptoms such as gas, bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue. Not fun! You brush it off as s... [More]

Whenever I get a GI Effects test I look at the predominate bacteria and then I look at the Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA) to see how well the predominate bacteria are functioning. SCFA have certainly become a more popular topic with the emergence of prebiotics and probiotics. SCFA are made by intes... [More]

All too often, the connection between ingested foods and subsequent symptom-picture is overlooked. The most common of these symptoms include: Fatigue Headache Bloating Indigestion Constipation Nasal congestion Eczema Behavior problems Poor memory And to dispel the common misconception... [More]

As a newer member of the Metametrix team and a Naturopathic Physician by training, naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to talk about Gut Health! Having been asked on a number of occasions to name the most important organ in the body, I find it to be a very difficult task. Indeed, they are all com... [More]

Food allergies, and the fact that people think they have them, are all over the news because of a big JAMA study that recently came out. I wanted to add my two cents and identify what the study actually assessed. JAMA reviewed 72 studies that used the skin prick test, food-specific IgE blood tests, ... [More]

B-vitamins are critical cofactors in a myriad of chemical reactions in the body including energy metabolism, neurotransmitter and hormone production, activation of DNA, and red blood cell formation. They are important in immune and nervous system function, adrenal function, and maintenance of skin a... [More]