18: Gut Health Testing: What’s Under & Overrated?

Today, we’re diving into a hot topic that many of you have asked about: gut health testing. There are so many testing options out there claiming to provide answers for your digestive issues — from food sensitivity panels to comprehensive stool tests. But how many of these are actually validated, and which ones are just burning a hole in your wallet?Whether you’re wondering about IgG food sensitivity testing, the GI-MAP stool test, or hydrogen/methane breath testing, we cover it all — plus, we share our professional take on what’s truly worth your time and money when navigating IBS and gut symptoms.⏱️ Chapters: (0:00) — Episode Teaser(0:43) — Welcome to the GutFit Nutrition Podcast(1:36) — Today's Episode & Our Guest(1:52) — Andrea's Background & Career Journey(6:15) — Setting the Stage: Gut Health Testing Overview(6:49) — IgG Food Sensitivity Testing & Why It’s Misleading(14:02) — Food Anxiety, Elimination Diets & Gut–Brain Connection(21:08) — GI Map Testing: Popular but Problematic(31:12) — H. pylori & Fecal Elastase: When Testing Makes Sense(37:03) — Pancreatic Insufficiency, IBS Overlap & Enzyme Therapy(42:38) — Celiac Screening (TTG IgA) & Why It’s Essential(45:49) — Hydrogen & Methane Breath Tests: SIBO & IMO(53:01) — Elemental Diets as an Alternative Approach(56:44) — Overrated vs Underrated Gut Health Tests(59:16) — Outro & Listener Invitation👤 Today’s Guest: Andrea Hardy RDAndrea Hardy is a registered dietitian from Calgary, Canada where she runs a multi-disciplinary digestive health practice called Ignite Nutrition. She specializes in gut health & gastrointestinal diseases and is recognized in the media as Canada’s Gut Health Expert. She is passionate about translating science into ‘easy to digest’ information to support a healthy gut.  She has spoken on the TEDx stage, as well as internationally about digestive health. 📌 Andrea’s Instagram📌 ‘Let’s Gut Real’ Podcast 📌 Book Link📌 Constipation quiz—👩🏻‍💻 RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED: ⤵️📌 Why I Don’t Recommend Commercial Stool Tests (Aka Microbiome Testing) Just Yet📌 What the Science Says: This Dietitian's Honest Thoughts on Food Sensitivity Blood Tests—✉️ CONNECT WITH ME: ⤵️📱⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Instagram⁠⁠⁠🎁 ⁠⁠⁠Grab a Freebie!⁠⁠⁠ 🖥️ ⁠⁠ Shop the Resource Suite⁠⁠⁠👩🏻‍⚕️ ⁠⁠⁠Apply For Coaching⁠⁠⁠If the GutFit Nutrition Podcast is giving you value - helped your digestion and fitness, made you rethink how you approach your gut health, please consider leaving a review! 🎧 If you have questions for my listener Q & A episodes, you can submit them here, or send me an email at ⁠[email protected]⁠. See you soon!