Posted by Jamie McGuire
on January 12, 2026
Why I Test My Gut (Even When I “Feel Fine”)
Here’s the thing most people don’t realize:
You can feel mostly okay and still have underlying gut imbalances that quietly affect your skin, inflammation, hormones, energy, and how you age.
I don’t just run testing because something is “wrong.”
I run testing because I want data and because prevention and optimization matter.
The gut influences:
- Inflammation
- Nutrient absorption
- Hormone metabolism
- Immune function
- Skin barrier health
- How we age over time
If your gut isn’t functioning well, no skincare routine (no matter how expensive) will fully compensate.
A Quick Overview: What the GI-MAP Test Looks At
The GI-MAP is a DNA-based stool test that gives a very detailed look at what’s happening inside your gut.
It evaluates:
+ Beneficial bacteria
+ Opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria
+ Viruses, parasites, and fungi
+ Inflammation markers
+ Digestive function
+ Immune activity
+ Antibiotic resistance genes
My Recent GI-MAP Results
Overall, my results were not bad, and that didn’t happen by accident.
My beneficial bacteria were in a healthy range, inflammation markers were low, and there were no pathogenic overgrowths and no parasites! That tells me my gut environment is relatively balanced and resilient.
That doesn’t mean it’s “perfect,” and it doesn’t mean I stop supporting it. It means the work I’ve been doing is paying off.
And this is important:
Good results don’t come from one supplement or one protocol. They come from consistent habits over time.
To give you an idea of my gut testing over the years, here are some of the results:
My first GI Map in 2023: The beginning of my gut issues
This was when my gut health was at its worst. I was dealing with constant bloating, persistent breakouts, and extreme fatigue. I felt miserable in my body every single day.
I started where most people do, with standard blood work and was told that all of my markers were within “normal” ranges and that I was perfectly healthy. But I knew that wasn’t true. I didn’t feel healthy, and I wasn’t functioning the way I should have been.
That’s what led me to run a GI-MAP test instead, to look deeper and understand the root cause of what was actually happening.
The results were eye-opening. I had a significant overgrowth of a harmful bacteria, along with undetectable levels of a key beneficial bacteria my gut needed to keep things balanced and protected.
Fixing this wasn’t quick or easy. It took a full year of targeted support and yes, I mean a year. Healing a gut that’s been neglected for most of your life doesn’t happen overnight. It required real diet changes combined with a comprehensive supplement protocol.
Results after one year - 2024
Everything improved, but........
At some point, I picked up a parasite. My first (and hopefully last). These things are more common than people realize, and in my case, it was identified early.
I followed a targeted one-month protocol to address it, and it resolved quickly. After that, everything stabilized and it was smooth sailing again.
Here are my recent results from my most recent GI Map: 2025/2026
Overall, these results were still solid, but this is where I can clearly see that I backed off supporting Akkermansia. I had been very intentional about it for a while: using targeted supplements, eating pomegranate, and adding pomegranate powder to increase polyphenols. At some point, I stopped doing that, and my beneficial bacteria markers declined.
This is a great example of how gut health responds to consistency. When you support it, it responds, and when you pull that support away, you see it reflected in the data.
This most recent test shows overall improvement, but it also highlights exactly where I need to refocus now: rebuilding and strengthening beneficial bacteria again.
What I’ve Done to Support My Gut (and Keep It in a Good Place)
This is where I want to be very real. My results are a reflection of years of intentional choices.
Some of the biggest contributors:
+ Prioritizing real protein and nutrient-dense foods (animal based, low carb, keto)
+ Keeping blood sugar stable
+ Limiting ultra-processed foods
+ Supporting digestion and bile flow
+ Using targeted gut-supportive supplements when needed
+ Not overusing antimicrobials “just because”
+ Managing stress (this matters more than people want to admit)
Gut health is not about killing everything off.
It’s about creating an environment where good bacteria can thrive.
Why This Matters for Skin & Aging
Your gut directly affects:
- Chronic inflammation (a major driver of aging)
- Nutrient absorption (zinc, B vitamins, amino acids)
- Estrogen detoxification
- Immune responses in the skin
- Breakouts, rosacea, eczema, and barrier dysfunction
When the gut is inflamed or imbalanced, it often shows up first in the skin and sometimes years before digestive symptoms appear.
This is why we don’t treat skin issues in isolation.
Why We Offer GI-MAP Testing
We offer functional testing because guessing doesn’t work.
The GI-MAP allows us to:
- Identify imbalances you can’t see
- Create personalized protocols (not generic gut cleanses)
- Avoid unnecessary supplements
- Support long-term skin health and aging from the inside out
This isn’t about chasing symptoms.
It’s about understanding your body and supporting it intelligently.
Our Functional Testing Packages
We currently offer two internal testing packages, both designed to get to the root cause.
Package 1: GI-MAP Test
Best if you want to focus on:
+ Gut health
+ Skin issues
+ Inflammation
+ Digestive symptoms
+ Immune balance
Includes:
- At-home GI-MAP test
- Initial health consultation
- In-depth results review with our functional medicine practitioner
- Personalized recommendations
- Two follow-up visits
Package 2: GI-MAP + DUTCH Complete
Best if you want a full internal picture, especially if you’re dealing with:
+ Hormonal changes
+ Perimenopause/menopause symptoms
+ Chronic skin issues
+ Fatigue or weight resistance
+ Sleep or stress dysregulation
Includes:
- At-home GI-MAP test & DUTCH Complete test
- Initial health consultation
- In-depth results review with our functional medicine practitioner
- Personalized recommendations
- Two follow-up visits
This combines gut testing with a comprehensive hormone and adrenal panel.
Last note:
I don’t share my test results to prove anything, I share them to normalize the idea that even people in this space use testing to stay on track.
Gut health isn’t something you “fix once.”
It’s something you support and monitor over time.
If your goal is healthy skin, graceful aging, and feeling good in your body, internal testing is one of the most valuable tools you can use.
And it’s exactly why we offer it.
Not Sure Where to Start?
If you’re reading this and thinking “I know something is off, but I’m not sure what I actually need yet”, that’s completely okay.
You don’t have to jump straight into testing or make a big investment before you feel ready.
If you’d prefer a more guided approach, you can start with a 1:1 consultation. This gives us the opportunity to:
- Review your health history, skin concerns, and symptoms
- Talk through what you’re currently doing (and what may be missing)
- Determine whether functional testing makes sense for you right now
- Help you prioritize next steps without overwhelm
Sometimes the most valuable first step is simply having a conversation and getting clarity, and that’s exactly what the consultation is for.
There is no pressure to test. No pressure to buy. Just education, direction, and support so you can make informed decisions about your health and skin moving forward.
xo,
Jamie