The gut has a lot more to do with overall health than most people think. Not only does it help metabolize food for energy and excrete toxins, but it also influences hormone regulation and endocrine function.
Symptoms like chronic fatigue, unexplained weight gain, or heavy periods could signal an issue within the gut. The GI-MAP test is an excellent diagnostic tool that can help determine what’s happening in your gut to resolve bothersome symptoms.
At her office on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York, Dr. Inga Zilberstein focuses on personalized medicine. She offers GI-MAP testing to help women figure out what’s happening in their body so they can heal their gut and balance their hormones.
The test itself stands apart from others because it uses quantitative PCR to detect and analyze more than 80 gut biomarkers. It uses your DNA to identify fungi, parasites, bacteria, and viruses that could be causing symptoms in your body.
You take this stool-based test from the convenience of your home. GI-MAP testing is very simple and easy to do. Dr. Zilberstein orders the test, which comes directly to your home; you provide a stool sample and send it to a specialized lab.
The lab runs tests that use your DNA to detect specific gut biomarkers and sends the results to Dr. Zilberstein in about two weeks with detailed findings she can explain to you. She sits down with you to discuss the results and develop a plan to restore gut health and balance hormones, which alleviates your symptoms.
Many people with gut dysbiosis, meaning an imbalance, struggle with various, seemingly unrelated symptoms. Some people feel constantly fatigued, have GI symptoms like bloating or diarrhea, or experience mood swings.
These symptoms have several culprits, from hormonal issues like menopause to autoimmune diseases. The only way to get an accurate diagnosis is to assess your gut health and the microorganisms that may be causing issues.
The test helps determine what could be causing certain symptoms that stem from an unhealthy microbiome. Issues such as H. pylori, antibiotic-resistant genes, and intestinal health markers that measure inflammation are key to assessing overall gut health.
And GI-MAP testing doesn’t just measure bad microbes. It also detects and quantifies beneficial organisms.
The GI-MAP test doesn't specifically measure hormones, but here’s the connection: The gut interacts with the endocrine system. That system is responsible for hormone regulation, which can be out of whack without a healthy gut.
For instance, the presence of the bacterium H. pylori in the gut produces an enzyme that reactivates estrogen. It interrupts typical estrogen metabolism and can lead to PMS, menopausal symptoms, or endometriosis.
Low levels of certain beneficial bacteria, such as Akkermansia muciniphila, can lead to metabolic symptoms like weight gain, inflammation, and poor blood sugar control.
Other issues, such as pathogens and parasites, can impair nutrient absorption, leading to problems with neurotransmitter production. Depression, mood swings, and stress-hormone dysfunction can result.
That is the power of GI-MAP testing. All of the findings help Dr. Zilberstein determines a plan of action to heal your gut, regulate your hormones, and make you feel better.
Don’t simply put up with bothersome symptoms. To schedule a personalized medicine consultation with Inga Zilberstein, MD, call or text 830-254-5941 or send a message through this website.
