The GI-MAP Test
The GI-MAP (Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus) is a DNA-based stool test that provides detailed insights into the microbial landscape of your gut.
It’s a powerful tool that helps uncover root contributors to issues like digestive discomfort, inflammation, and immune imbalances—factors that are often difficult to detect through standard lab work.
As a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) with advanced training through Restorative Wellness Solutions, I use the GI-MAP not to diagnose or treat medical conditions, but as a functional tool to guide personalized nutrition and lifestyle strategies. It provides valuable, evidence-informed data that can help explain persistent symptoms and offer a new direction for healing.
Why Clients Choose GI-MAP Testing
Many clients turn to GI-MAP testing after feeling stuck. They’ve often tried various approaches—diet changes, supplements, even medications—without lasting improvement. The GI-MAP offers a new layer of insight, helping to reveal what might be going on beneath the surface, and what steps could move things forward.
Common reasons clients pursue GI-MAP testing include:
Ongoing digestive symptoms like bloating, constipation, or loose stools
Suspected gut infections or microbial imbalances
Low energy, brain fog, or skin issues that may have a gut connection
Recovery from antibiotics, chronic stress, or travel illness
A desire for a more data-informed, personalized wellness strategy
Unlike many conventional stool tests, the GI-MAP evaluates both pathogenic and beneficial microbes, inflammatory markers, digestive function, and immune responses—all from a single sample.
What the GI-MAP Can Reveal
The GI-MAP helps identify imbalances such as:
Microbial overgrowth or insufficiency — including bacteria, parasites, or fungi
Low digestive enzyme output — which may affect nutrient absorption
Signs of inflammation — such as elevated calprotectin
Immune stress — via markers like secretory IgA
Potential gluten sensitivity — with anti-gliadin IgA indicators
These results do not provide a medical diagnosis but can point toward functional imbalances that may be contributing to your symptoms.
How GI-MAP Testing Fits into Nutritional Therapy
Once your results are in, we’ll review them together in a collaborative session. We’ll discuss how the findings relate to your symptoms, health history, and personal goals.
Your protocol may include:
Digestive support (enzymes, bitters, or motility aids)
Targeted supplements (like probiotics or antimicrobial botanicals)
Nutrition strategies to reduce microbial overgrowth and support gut repair
Stress and nervous system support to improve gut resilience
Lifestyle adjustments to help rebalance the body naturally
This approach is always personalized and manageable, based on your body’s unique needs and responses. The GI-MAP serves as a roadmap, helping us prioritize where support is most needed.
Real-World Impact
While every client’s journey is different, many report meaningful improvements within a few months of starting a targeted protocol based on GI-MAP results. Common outcomes include:
More regular, comfortable digestion
Better tolerance to foods
Reduced bloating, brain fog, and skin issues
Improved sleep and energy
A more balanced mood
Increased confidence in their body’s ability to heal
These results tend to be strongest when clients are actively engaged and supported along the way.
Working Within a Professional Scope
As a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, I work within a clearly defined scope: I do not diagnose or treat medical conditions. Instead, I use tools like the GI-MAP to identify nutritional and lifestyle factors that may be contributing to symptoms—especially when those symptoms haven’t been fully explained by conventional lab work.
The GI-MAP is not a replacement for medical diagnostics, and in some cases, results may suggest the need for further evaluation by a licensed provider. When appropriate, I refer clients to medical professionals for follow-up—such as imaging, endoscopy, or pharmaceutical care.
This collaborative approach ensures that clients receive the right support, at the right time, from the right provider.
Integrating Other Functional Assessments
For a more comprehensive view of your health, I often integrate GI-MAP results with other functional tools, such as:
Mediator Release Test (MRT), to identify food sensitivities
Lingual-Neuro Testing (LNT), to understand nutrient needs in real time
Nutritional Blood Chemistry panels – viewed through a functional lens to identify patterns like inflammation or nutrient needs
By layering your subjective experience with objective data, we can build a clearer picture of your body’s current state—and how best to support it.
Is GI-MAP Right for You?
If you're experiencing unresolved digestive issues or feel that “something’s being missed,” GI-MAP testing may offer the insight needed to move forward. It’s especially helpful for those who want to go beyond generic health advice and explore a more personalized, strategic approach to gut and immune health.
Disclaimer
GI-MAP testing is used within the scope of nutritional therapy to identify potential imbalances and guide personalized strategies. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. All results should be interpreted within the context of your full health picture and in collaboration with licensed healthcare providers when appropriate.
