What is the microbiome diet?

The microbiome diet explores how food and lifestyle shape the trillions of microbes living in your gut, and how those microbes in turn influence digestion, immunity, mood, and long-term health. This post explains what the microbiome diet is, how gut microbiome testing reveals your unique microbial fingerprint, and how test results can guide personalized dietary and lifestyle changes. You’ll learn practical strategies—what to eat, what to avoid, how to use probiotic and prebiotic foods—and how follow-up testing tracks progress. If you’re curious about improving gut health through individualized choices, this guide gives clear, science-backed next steps toward a healthier inner ecosystem.

What is the Microbiome Diet? A Guide to Gut Microbiome Testing and Its Role in Nourishing Your Inner Ecosystem

The “microbiome diet” isn’t a single prescriptive meal plan but a concept: eating in ways that support a healthy, diverse community of gut microbes. At its core the approach recognizes that gut bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi (collectively the gut microbiota) interact constantly with dietary components, producing metabolites that influence host physiology. A microbiome-focused diet emphasizes whole, fiber-rich plants, a variety of fermentable substrates (prebiotics), and fermented probiotic foods, while minimizing excess refined sugars, ultra-processed foods, and certain additives that can reduce microbial diversity or favor potentially harmful strains. The diet is best implemented when informed by gut microbiome testing because each person’s microbial ecosystem is unique—shaped by genetics, early life exposures, medications (especially antibiotics), diet history, geography, and environment—so a one-size-fits-all plan can be inefficient or counterproductive. Microbiome testing measures which species are present, their relative abundances, and indicators of diversity and stability. That data lets clinicians or trained coaches identify dysbiosis patterns—such as low diversity, overgrowth of pro-inflammatory organisms, or paucity of key short-chain fatty-acid (SCFA) producers like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii—and tailor dietary recommendations to encourage beneficial shifts. For example, a test showing low butyrate producers may prompt an emphasis on resistant starches and specific prebiotic fibers; a high relative abundance of bile-tolerant species might call for reducing high-saturated-fat foods and increasing plant diversity. These targeted adjustments often produce more consistent and measurable changes than generic advice. Practical personalization also considers symptoms and goals: weight management, reducing bloating, improving glycemic control, supporting immune function, or enhancing mental well-being. A tailored microbiome diet typically blends a Mediterranean-style, minimally processed baseline with individualized tweaks—specific fibers, fermented foods, or timing strategies—to feed beneficial microbes and limit selection pressure favoring opportunistic species. Commercial home test kits, such as those offered by InnerBuddies, provide accessible ways to obtain gut microbiome profiles; these reports can be used with healthcare providers or dietitians to craft personalized plans. While the science continues to evolve, the microbiome diet grounded in testing marries current mechanistic understanding with individualized, evidence-informed nutrition strategies to nurture your inner ecosystem.

Gut Health and Microbiome Testing: Unlocking the Secrets Within

Gut health is broader than the absence of symptoms; it reflects the balance and resilience of the gut ecosystem, the integrity of the intestinal barrier, and the effectiveness of digestive and immune interactions. A healthy gut supports nutrient absorption, synthesizes vitamins (like certain B vitamins and vitamin K), produces signaling metabolites (short-chain fatty acids such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate), and modulates systemic inflammation and immune tolerance. Microbiome testing provides a window into this ecosystem. The most common home tests analyze stool using two main laboratory approaches: 16S rRNA gene sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. 16S sequencing identifies bacterial genera and operational taxonomic units based on a conserved ribosomal gene region—it’s cost-effective and useful for profiling community composition and diversity. Shotgun metagenomics sequences all DNA in the sample, detecting bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi with finer species-level resolution and allowing inference of functional gene potential (for example, genes for carbohydrate metabolism, bile acid modification, or antibiotic resistance). Testing begins with a noninvasive stool sample collected at home and shipped to a lab with cold-chain or stabilization buffers to preserve nucleic acids. After sequencing, bioinformatics pipelines classify reads, calculate diversity metrics (alpha diversity for within-sample richness and beta diversity for between-sample differences), and estimate relative abundances. Reports often flag depleted beneficial taxa (e.g., Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium), overrepresented potential pathogens, or low functional capacity for SCFA production. Interpreting results requires nuance: microbiome composition is variable day-to-day and influenced by recent diet, medications, and transient exposures. Therefore, clinicians look for consistent patterns or clinically correlating signals—such as low diversity paired with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms or inflammatory markers. Microbiome testing helps detect dysbiosis (an imbalanced microbial state associated with conditions like IBS, some metabolic disorders, or recurrent C. difficile infection) and can guide targeted interventions. It also identifies microbial signatures linked to nutrient metabolism (e.g., microbes that process fiber into butyrate) and drug metabolism (affecting responses to medications). While testing is informative, results should be integrated with clinical history, labs, and, where appropriate, stool pathogen testing. Services like InnerBuddies provide consumer-oriented microbiome testing kits that give actionable reporting suitable for collaborating with healthcare professionals. In short, microbiome testing is a practical tool to translate emerging microbiome science into individualized dietary and lifestyle strategies to support gut health.

Digestive Wellness: How Microbiome Data Enhances Your Digestive Function

Efficient digestion depends on enzymatic breakdown, coordinated motility, and a cooperative microbial community that extends digestive capacity by fermenting fibers and producing metabolites that support the mucosal lining. Gut microbes produce enzymes humans lack—polysaccharide-degrading enzymes, for instance—allowing us to extract energy and nutrients from complex carbohydrates and resistant starches. Microbiome testing can reveal shortcomings that contribute to bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea. For example, overrepresentation of fermentative, gas-producing bacteria combined with low hydrogen-consuming bacteria may explain excessive gas and discomfort after high-FODMAP meals. Conversely, low abundance of fiber-fermenting butyrate producers can relate to slower colonic transit and less robust intestinal barrier function, potentially increasing susceptibility to inflammation. Microbiome reports that identify these imbalances enable targeted dietary adjustments: reducing specific fermentable carbohydrates in the short term (an individualized, not blanket, low-FODMAP approach) while concurrently introducing tolerable prebiotic fibers and gradually diversifying plant intake to retrain the microbiota. Testing may also indicate reduced functional potential for bile acid metabolism, which can manifest as fat malabsorption or chronic loose stools; dietary modifications and microbial support can improve bile acid recycling. Additionally, microbiome-informed strategies can help optimize digestive enzyme production indirectly—by promoting microbial communities that support enteroendocrine signaling and gut motility—or suggest direct enzyme supplementation when needed. For nutrient absorption, certain gut microbes synthesize vitamins or liberate micronutrients bound in food matrices; a depleted microbiome can impair these contributions. Microbiome testing helps clinicians prioritize interventions: for example, if tests reveal depletion of Bifidobacterium species, increasing fermented foods and specific prebiotics that preferentially feed bifidobacteria can improve carbohydrate processing and reduce intolerance symptoms. Test-guided probiotic choices—selecting strains with clinical evidence for IBS-type symptoms or constipation—often yield better outcomes than generic over-the-counter use. Importantly, the testing process is not a one-off; follow-up tests at appropriate intervals (e.g., 8–12 weeks after dietary changes) measure shifts in microbial composition and functional potential and allow iterative optimization. For individuals seeking to improve digestion, integrating microbiome data into clinical evaluation refines diagnosis and treatment, turning trial-and-error into targeted, measurable steps toward digestive wellness.

Microbial Balance: Achieving Harmony in Your Gut Ecosystem

Microbial balance is a dynamic equilibrium: no single perfect composition exists for everyone, but certain ecological principles—diversity, functional redundancy, and resilience—are markers of a healthy system. High diversity generally confers resilience against perturbations, such as infections or dietary shifts; a diverse community is more likely to contain organisms that can fill ecological niches when conditions change. Microbiome testing quantifies diversity metrics and reveals overgrowth patterns. For example, a disproportionate relative abundance of pathobionts (organisms that can cause disease under certain conditions) such as Enterobacteriaceae, or the presence of opportunists associated with inflammation, may indicate ecological imbalance. Restoring harmony involves reducing selection pressures that favor undesirable species and providing substrates and conditions that support beneficial taxa. Dietary strategies include increasing the variety and quantity of plant fibers—soluble and insoluble fibers, resistant starch, oligosaccharides—because different microbes prefer different substrates. Rotating plant sources and including diverse polyphenol-rich foods (berries, tea, herbs) enhances substrate diversity and supports microbes capable of producing anti-inflammatory metabolites. Prebiotics (inulin, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides) selectively stimulate growth of beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium and certain butyrate producers; however, personalization is crucial because some individuals with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or severe IBS may experience symptom flare-ups when starting prebiotics and require a gradual introduction. Probiotic interventions can help but work best when tailored to test-identified deficits—for instance, using strains with evidence for boosting stool regularity or reducing bloating. Lifestyle modifications also matter: sleep quality, regular physical activity, stress management, and avoiding unnecessary antibiotics support microbial diversity and barrier integrity. Microbiome testing is valuable because it shows whether interventions move the ecosystem in the desired direction; a follow-up test showing increased alpha diversity or recovered beneficial taxa confirms progress. Additionally, some tests offer functional insights—genes for SCFA production, amino acid metabolism, or mucin degradation—guiding more nuanced interventions. Restoring microbial balance is typically incremental: short-term symptom relief may come from specific eliminations, but long-term resilience depends on sustained diversity-building choices and periodic reassessment through testing to monitor progress and adapt strategies as life circumstances change.

Probiotic Foods: Harnessing Nature’s Live Cultures to Support Your Microbiome

Probiotic foods are minimally processed, fermented foods containing live microorganisms that can transiently or, in some cases, persistently colonize the gut and interact beneficially with host physiology. Common evidence-backed examples include yogurt with live cultures, kefir, certain types of aged cheeses, sauerkraut (unpasteurized), kimchi, tempeh, miso, and kombucha. The benefits of probiotic foods vary by food type, microbial strains present, and the individual’s existing microbiome. Fermented dairy products like yogurt and kefir often contain Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species that can help lactose digestion, reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea risk, and modulate immune responses. Fermented vegetables contribute lactic acid bacteria and diverse microbial communities and also provide prebiotic fibers and polyphenols. The effect of probiotic foods can be synergistic when combined with prebiotic-rich diets: the prebiotics feed both resident beneficial microbes and incoming probiotic strains, improving engraftment and function. Microbiome testing helps tailor probiotic food recommendations. If testing reveals low Bifidobacterium, incorporating bifidogenic foods (certain yogurts, kefir, and prebiotic supplements) may be prioritized. When tests show low diversity but no overt pathogen overgrowth, a strategy that mixes multiple fermented foods—dairy and plant-based—to introduce a wide range of beneficial microbes can be useful. For individuals with immunocompromise or severe intestinal permeability, live-culture foods should be considered cautiously and discussed with a healthcare provider due to rare infection risks. It’s also important to select properly prepared fermented foods: unpasteurized and properly cultured products contain live microbes, while pasteurized versions do not. Commercial probiotic supplements sometimes provide specific strains with clinical evidence for particular conditions (e.g., Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG for pediatric diarrhea, Saccharomyces boulardii for antibiotic-associated diarrhea), but foods supply broader microbial and nutritional matrices that support gut ecology. Incorporating probiotic foods into daily life can be simple: adding a spoonful of plain kefir to smoothies, choosing yogurt at breakfast, including a small side of sauerkraut or kimchi with meals, or using miso in soups. Microbiome testing can indicate which foods and strains are most likely to support your individual ecology and monitor whether these additions shift microbial markers in expected, beneficial directions.

Gut Microbiota and Its Impact on Overall Health

Research over the last decade has linked gut microbiota composition and activity to a wide range of health domains beyond digestion, including metabolism, immune regulation, and mental health. Microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) influence host energy homeostasis—propionate and butyrate affect appetite regulation and insulin sensitivity—while microbial modulation of bile acids can alter lipid absorption and metabolic signaling. Dysbiosis patterns have been associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, although causality varies by condition and remains an active research frontier. The gut microbiota also educates and modulates the immune system; specific microbes promote regulatory T cell populations that blunt inappropriate inflammation, which is relevant to autoimmune conditions and allergic diseases. In oncology, the gut microbiome can affect responses to immunotherapy through modulation of systemic immune tone. Mental health connections are mediated via the gut-brain axis: microbial metabolites, immune signaling, and vagal nerve communication can influence mood, anxiety, and cognitive function. Trials testing probiotic and prebiotic interventions show modest benefits for depressive symptoms in some populations, suggesting microbiome-modulating approaches may complement conventional therapies. Microbiome testing can reveal susceptibilities and inform preventative strategies: a profile indicating low SCFA producers might prompt interventions to support metabolic and immune health through fiber- and polyphenol-rich diets. While microbiome-based therapies such as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) are established for recurrent C. difficile infection, personalized diet plans and strain-specific probiotic supplementation represent more accessible microbiome interventions for broader populations. The field is quickly evolving, with multi-omic approaches—integrating genomics, metabolomics, and microbiome data—improving understanding of host-microbe interactions and helping identify actionable biomarkers. For consumers, testing products like those from InnerBuddies offer practical microbiome snapshots that, when interpreted with evidence-informed guidance, can translate into preventive and therapeutic dietary choices. As the science matures, microbiome testing could increasingly guide precision nutrition, medication choice, and behavioral strategies to optimize health across life stages.

Designing a Personalized Microbiome Diet Using Test Results

Designing a personalized microbiome diet starts with interpreting microbiome test results in the context of clinical history, current symptoms, and health goals. The first step is identifying key actionable signals from the report: low diversity, deficiency in specific beneficial taxa (e.g., Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium), enrichment of inflammatory-associated bacteria, or low predicted potential for SCFA production. From there, practitioners prioritize interventions that are evidence-based and feasible. A general framework includes: 1) Establishing a nutritious baseline—adopting a Mediterranean-style pattern rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and olive oil provides a foundation of diverse fibers and polyphenols that feed beneficial microbes. 2) Targeted fiber prescriptions—based on test data, emphasize resistant starch (cooked and cooled potatoes, green bananas, certain whole grains) or specific soluble fibers to support butyrate producers. 3) Gradual prebiotic introduction—start with small doses of inulin, FOS, or GOS to minimize gas and bloating, increasing slowly while monitoring symptoms and possibly re-testing. 4) Probiotic and fermented food strategy—select fermented foods or supplement strains aligned with deficits or symptoms (e.g., S. boulardii for recurrent antibiotic-associated diarrhea, multi-strain probiotics for IBS subtypes), and prefer food-first approaches when safe. 5) Reduce microbiome stressors—minimize ultra-processed foods, limit unnecessary antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications when possible, and reduce excessive alcohol intake. 6) Lifestyle alignment—promote sleep hygiene, physical activity, stress reduction (mindfulness, breathing techniques), and regular meal timing to support circadian rhythms that influence microbial behavior. 7) Monitor and iterate—repeat testing after a prescribed intervention window (often 8–12 weeks) to measure changes in diversity and target taxa, adjusting the plan accordingly. For practical implementation, many people start with a 4–12 week personalized protocol that includes meal plans, specific fiber supplements if needed, and recommended fermented foods. Tests like those available from InnerBuddies can provide baseline and follow-up microbiome assessments to objectively track progress and guide modifications. Importantly, personalization includes food preferences, tolerances, cultural factors, and budget—sustainable changes are those that fit into daily life. Work with qualified practitioners (registered dietitians, gastroenterologists, or clinicians experienced in microbiome-guided care) to interpret reports and create safe, effective, long-term plans that integrate test findings with clinical judgment.

Practical Meal Planning and Lifestyle Strategies for Microbiome Health

Translating microbiome-informed recommendations into day-to-day habits involves concrete meal planning, shopping strategies, and lifestyle adjustments. A practical weekly plan centers on diversity, preparation techniques that increase resistant starch, and regular inclusion of fermented foods while limiting processed items. Key strategies include: aim for 30+ different plant foods per week by rotating fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains; prioritize whole, minimally processed carbohydrates (oats, barley, quinoa, buckwheat) and include legumes (lentils, chickpeas) for both fiber and protein; make room for resistant starch by incorporating cooled cooked potatoes, rice, or lentils, and by using slightly underripe bananas or cooked-and-cooled legumes; add fermented foods daily—small servings of yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, or miso—to introduce live cultures; include polyphenol-rich foods (berries, dark leafy greens, green tea, cocoa in moderation) that feed beneficial microbes and support gut barrier function. Meal examples: overnight oats with kefir and berries for breakfast, salads with mixed greens, chickpeas, farro, and a spoonful of sauerkraut for lunch, and dinners like grilled salmon with a side of cooled potato salad (with herbs) and steamed broccoli for dinner. Snacks can be fruit, nuts, or a small serving of plain yogurt with seeds. Lifestyle tactics amplify diet effects: aim for 7–9 hours of sleep to maintain circadian regulation of microbial functions; exercise regularly, which increases microbial diversity and promotes SCFA production; manage stress through techniques like mindfulness, progressive muscle relaxation, or moderate-intensity exercise, because chronic stress shifts microbial balance unfavorably; avoid unnecessary antibiotics and discuss alternatives with clinicians when appropriate. Grocery shopping tips: choose whole-food ingredients, read labels to avoid high-fructose corn syrup and emulsifiers that can negatively affect microbes in some studies, and buy fresh or properly fermented products. For those with specific intolerances or conditions (IBS, SIBO), short-term tailored restrictions guided by testing and clinician support may be needed, followed by guided reintroduction to expand dietary variety. Practicality matters—meal prep, simple recipes, and flexible swaps (e.g., yogurt for kefir, or barley for rice) help sustain habits. Again, pairing these practical habits with microbiome testing—such as follow-up results available through InnerBuddies—lets you see objective improvements and refine your plan for lasting microbiome health.

Tracking Progress: How to Use Follow-up Testing and Metrics

Tracking progress is a crucial step in personalized microbiome care. After implementing dietary and lifestyle interventions, follow-up testing helps determine whether desired microbial shifts have occurred and whether symptom improvement aligns with microbiome changes. Typical timelines for re-testing range from 8 to 12 weeks after lifestyle changes; some functional shifts in metabolites can occur sooner, while structural community changes may take longer. When interpreting follow-up results, look for increases in alpha diversity, recovery of previously depleted beneficial taxa, or enhanced predicted functional capacity for SCFA production and carbohydrate metabolism. Clinical metrics should include both subjective symptom scales (bloating frequency, stool consistency using the Bristol Stool Chart, energy levels, mood) and objective measures when available (inflammatory markers, weight, glycemic control). Correlating symptom improvement with microbial changes strengthens confidence in the intervention and guides continued strategy. If follow-up tests show little change, troubleshoot systematically: assess adherence, evaluate for persistent stressors (recent antibiotic use, poor sleep), and consider refining the intervention—adding targeted prebiotics, rotating fermented foods, or incorporating specific probiotic strains with clinical evidence. For more complex dysbiosis or persistent symptoms, integrate microbiome data with other diagnostics (comprehensive stool analysis for pathogens, breath tests for SIBO, blood panels) to uncover contributors. Longitudinal testing—every 3–6 months during active optimization, then annually for maintenance—can help maintain hard-won gains, especially after travel, antibiotic courses, or major life changes. Tracking is not solely about numbers; it’s about translating data into meaningful, sustainable changes that improve quality of life. Services like InnerBuddies facilitate baseline and follow-up testing so individuals and clinicians can measure trends over time and iterate on personalized plans. Ultimately, monitoring progress ensures interventions are effective, safe, and aligned with evolving health goals.

Risks, Limitations, and Future Directions of Microbiome Diets and Testing

While microbiome diets informed by testing offer promising personalization, several limitations and risks warrant careful consideration. First, microbiome science is rapidly evolving and complex; associations found in observational studies don’t always translate to causal relationships, and translating taxonomic profiles into clear-cut prescriptions remains imperfect. Variability in testing methodologies (16S vs. shotgun sequencing), differences in reference databases, and bioinformatics approaches can lead to differing interpretations across providers. Home stool tests capture luminal communities in a single sample and may not reflect mucosal-associated microbes or dynamic temporal changes. Clinical context is essential: microbiome testing should augment—not replace—medical evaluation for serious conditions. Potential risks include inappropriate self-treatment based on misinterpreted results, overuse of unregulated supplements, or neglecting necessary medical therapies. For immunocompromised individuals, introducing live-culture foods or certain probiotics requires medical oversight. Cost and access are practical barriers; repeated testing and specialized consultations may be expensive. Despite these caveats, the future is promising. Advances in multi-omics (integrating metabolomics, proteomics, and host genomics), improved strain-level functional annotations, and larger, well-controlled intervention trials will enhance the predictive and therapeutic power of microbiome tests. Emerging areas include precision synbiotics (combinations of tailored prebiotics and probiotics), microbiome-informed drug prescribing, and microbial metabolite therapeutics. Standardization efforts and clinical guidelines will improve test utility and interpretation, making microbiome-guided dietary personalization more mainstream. For now, consumers can responsibly use reputable testing services—such as the home microbiome test offered by InnerBuddies—to obtain actionable insights, work with qualified clinicians to interpret findings, and implement evidence-based, cautious dietary and lifestyle adjustments that prioritize long-term microbial diversity and host health.

Conclusion

The microbiome diet reframes nutrition as an ecosystem management strategy: rather than focusing solely on calories and macronutrients, it emphasizes feeding the diverse microbial communities that support digestion, immunity, metabolism, and mental health. Gut microbiome testing provides individualized data—species composition, diversity, and functional potential—that helps translate broad principles into targeted, effective interventions. Practical approaches combine a Mediterranean-style baseline diet rich in diverse fibers and polyphenols, strategic use of prebiotics and fermented foods, lifestyle supports (sleep, exercise, stress management), and follow-up testing to monitor progress. While the science continues to mature, integrating microbiome testing into nutritional planning reduces guesswork and supports personalized, measurable changes. For actionable, consumer-friendly testing options, products like the InnerBuddies microbiome test offer a way to begin the process of understanding your gut ecology. Ultimately, maintaining microbial harmony is a long-term, adaptable practice that benefits from evidence-based testing, informed guidance, and sustainable lifestyle choices.

Q&A and Important Keywords

Q: What exactly does a microbiome test measure? A: A consumer gut microbiome test typically measures the relative abundance of microbial taxa in a stool sample, diversity metrics, and often inferred functional capacity (such as potential for SCFA production) using sequencing technologies. These tests provide snapshots that can guide dietary and lifestyle interventions when interpreted alongside clinical context. Q: How soon will I see results after changing my diet based on a microbiome test? A: Some symptomatic improvements (reduced bloating, more regular stools) can occur within days to weeks, while measurable shifts in community composition generally take several weeks to months. Many clinicians recommend re-testing 8–12 weeks after initiating changes to assess progress. Q: Are fermented foods always safe? A: For most healthy people, fermented foods are safe and beneficial. People who are severely immunocompromised or have specific gastrointestinal vulnerabilities should consult a healthcare provider before adding live-culture products. Select properly prepared, reputable fermented foods to minimize risk. Q: Can I use over-the-counter probiotics instead of testing? A: Probiotics can help in certain circumstances, but choosing strains and doses without testing and clinical guidance can be inefficient. Microbiome testing helps direct which strains or fermented foods are most likely to address individual deficits and allows for monitoring response. Q: How does InnerBuddies fit into microbiome-guided care? A: InnerBuddies offers home microbiome testing kits designed to provide accessible gut ecology profiles. These kits can be used to obtain baseline data, inform personalized diet plans, and track changes with follow-up testing, making them a useful tool for individuals working with health professionals to implement a microbiome diet. Important Keywords: microbiome diet, gut microbiome testing, InnerBuddies microbiome test, gut health, prebiotics, probiotics, fermented foods, microbial diversity, dysbiosis, personalized nutrition, short-chain fatty acids, resistant starch, precision nutrition

Purchase options and testing: for readers interested in obtaining a home microbiome test to start a personalized microbiome diet plan, consider reviewing the microbiome test product pages and purchasing a kit as a first step: microbiome testing kit. InnerBuddies provides consumer-friendly reports to help you and your healthcare provider design targeted dietary and lifestyle interventions based on your gut microbiome profile; learn more about their testing and follow-up options here: gut microbiome test. If you plan to measure progress, consider ordering a baseline kit and scheduling a follow-up test after 8–12 weeks to objectively track microbiome changes: purchase a microbiome test.