The One Test That Made Me Take My Gut Health Seriously

TMI time: A little while ago, I was having some awkward bloating after meals—and frankly, it sucked. I tried to pay more attention to the way different foods made me feel but no obvious pattern emerged.

Of course, I knew the problem probably lay in my gut. Like everyone else, I’ve been reading tons about how the bacteria in your digestive tract—a.k.a. the gut "microbiome"—affect everything from weight, inflammation, and digestion to sleep issues, allergies, and stress. And the more we learn, the more our understanding of the gut has the power to transform how we manage our health and fight illness. But I had no idea how to apply this new knowledge to my life (and my newly miserable gut).

Then I found out about Viome, an at-home testing kit for your gut. Unlike most microbiome assessments, Viome doesn't just identify the bacteria you have in your gut but also how they're interacting with each other. This is all done via some impressive AI work led by the engineer who built IBM Watson.

So I sent my kit out, and when the results came back, I was honestly floored. Viome told me what the problems were and provided me with actionable recommendations for solving my gut's issues—solutions I would never have come up with on my own. For instance, I discovered I should probably eat less protein since it turns out I’ve been overfeeding protein-fermenting bacteria, which have been damaging my gut lining.

Now I'm as skeptical as can be. No test is perfect, after all, and it's still SUPER early in our understanding of the microbiome. Plus, Viome isn't cheap—although it's significantly cheaper than most tests like this at a clinic—so it can feel like a big commitment.

But I'm convinced that understanding the gut is an important new area of health full of potential. These results convinced me that getting to know your gut today can be the start of a healthier relationship with yourself. If you'd like to try Viome, you can get $150 off through Monday, June 18, when you use code GREATIST1 at checkout. (We also make an affiliate cut if you follow through.)

I can only speak for myself, but since I started following Viome's suggestions, that annoying bloating feeling has mostly disappeared. I'm just beginning my journey to get to know my gut and how it affects my health—but this feels like one heck of a start!

- Derek Flanzraich, founder and CEO of Greatist

Viome Essential

You don’t know sh*t about your own gut. Enter Viome Essential, a test that unlocks your microbiome to deliver super-personalized nutrition advice. A healthier gut = a healthier you.