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Can you test for Mental Health?

Did you know that your gut health can have a huge impact on your mental health? As more awareness grows around mental health, we’re finding that common conditions associated with depression, anxiety, stress and similar conditions can be attributed to your gut health! Pathology testing of your digestive and immune health can provide great insights into potential causes of mental health conditions.

 

The Gastrointestinal Tract

A bidirectional communication between the gut, microbiome and the brain can exert an effect through the central nervous system, endocrine system, immune system and metabolic system. Alterations of the gut environment have been linked to conditions such as obesity, diabetes, inflammatory conditions as well as neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. 

Many neurotransmitters and chemicals required for brain and nervous system function are actually produced in the gut. In fact the gut produces more serotonin (responsible for regulation of mood, sleep and appetite) than the brain. Other neurotransmitters such as GABA and Glutamate which are involved in stress management, cognition and memory are also believed to be produced by gut bacteria. So, an imbalance of gut bacteria and gut function can, in fact, impact overall mental state. 
Serotonin is also important for adequate gut function, affecting gut secretions and digestion. Dysregulation of the brain-gut axis can cause digestive pain and discomfort, bloating and symptoms like diarrhoea and constipation. 

A Digestive stool analysis test can provide essential information into potential causes of symptoms associated with mental health. The stool test will evaluate your gut environment identifying any pathogenic organisms as well as any dysregulation of good bacteria, giving a thorough overview of the overall gut environment. Correcting disturbances of the gut environment such as eradicating unfavourable pathogenic organisms, or balancing levels of good bacteria, can be crucial in the management of mental health illness. 

 

Food Sensitivity

Food Sensitivity is closely related to gut health and immune function. Research shows that food intolerances can be linked to IgG antibodies raised by your immune system when certain foods are eaten. IgG antibodies bind to proteins in certain foods as it enters the blood stream and form circulating antibody-antigen immune complexes. These complexes may be deposited around the body causing inflammation and can result in a wide range of symptoms such as fatigue, IBS, bloating, migraines, arthritis, bronchitis and depression.

Testing for potential food sensitivities can provide a starting point for treatment of symptoms associated with mental health. Eliminating problem foods can be the first step in reducing the inflammatory responses associated with food sensitivity.

Where to start?

The gut has such diverse roles in maintaining and regulating our overall health and wellbeing. It is therefore the best place to start when trying to identify potential causes of health concerns including mental health. The digestive stool tests can indicate key information about your overall gut health which can provide essential insights into the potential causes of many symptoms and conditions, so that treatment actions can be considered to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.

Food Sensitivity testing can assist in pinpointing offending foods and will cut out the guess work and various elimination diets when trying to identify which particular foods may be causing symptoms.

Order a test online today and obtain an understanding of your overall gut health, or contact us and we can help you to identify the test that is best for you.

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    It is your responsibility to ensure you carefully follow all steps provided to ensure the health and safety of the couriers, postage workers, specimen reception and laboratory workers.

    There is no rebate offered through the Medicare Benefits Scheme for the kits available on the Intestinal Labs shopping cart. Some private health insurance companies may offer rebates, check with your health insurance provider for further details.

    If your kit arrives through the mail damaged, contact us immediately for a replacement – do not use or send back this kit.

    Intestinal Labs does issue refunds to unused tests for up to 6 months from purchase date, a cancellation fee of $30 applies to all kits. We do not issue refunds for kits purchased over 6 months prior to the refund request.

    All kits to be returned are to have the referral form included with the samples. Without this form, there will be no patient allocated to the results and the test will take longer to process.

    General Digestive Analysis

    Recommended for monitoring treatment, identifying the presence of unfavourable organisms, gut infection, microbial imbalance, malabsorption or assessing whether probiotic supplementation is having a positive impact.

    Analysis of your digestive function and gut microbial environment including an evaluation of microscopic and macroscopic markers, such as the presence of fibres, cells and food particles. In-depth analysis of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria including the presence of parasites or yeasts.

    Essential Digestive Analysis

    Our most popular test – Recommended if you have digestive function issues and require an in-depth analysis of your gut health.


    All components of the General Digestive Analysis are included along with additional testing on biochemical markers, such as pH, breakdown and absorption of fats, carbohydrates and protein, pancreatic function and levels of short chain fatty acids (required to maintain normal bowel function).

    Comprehensive Digestive Analysis

    Select this test for a complete gut assessment and comprehensive parasitology screening.
    Our most comprehensive digestive stool test includes all components within the General and Essential Digestive Analysis tests plus a 3-day parasitology test. This increases the probability of identifying parasites as they may not be present in every bowel motion as well as testing for antimicrobial sensitivities (if bacterial organisms are detected).