So, you’ve been doing everything “right” — eating well, taking care of yourself, maybe even cutting back on sugar or gluten — yet you still feel off. Your symptoms are frustrating, maybe even debilitating… but every time you speak to a doctor, you’re told your tests are “normal.” Sound familiar? When your body is clearly screaming for help, being told you’re “fine” is incredibly disheartening. And the truth is, if you want real answers — not just guesses — it might be time to look a little deeper. That’s where private lab testing comes in.
Here are four solid reasons why it’s absolutely worth considering:
1. If you think you’ve got a yeast infection, testing is the only reliable way to know
You might have Googled your symptoms, stared at your tongue in the mirror, or even tried the old “spit in a glass of water” trick. These can be interesting experiments — but they’re not diagnostic.
Even online questionnaires, while sometimes helpful for organising your thoughts, can’t confirm what’s really going on in your gut.
If you suspect yeast overgrowth or Candida, proper lab testing (like a stool test or organic acids test) is the only way to know for sure — and to get the right plan in place to treat it.
[👉 Read more about Candida here.]
If you’re worried about your gut health, I’d highly recommend downloading my online course The Ultimate Gut Health Programme to help support your digestive system, whilst avoiding triggering symptoms.
It’d be impossible to include all you need to know in one blog, but the programme will have all you need to know to ensure you’re soothing your digestive system, whilst eating delicious and filling foods.
2. Travelled recently? A parasite could be the hidden cause of your IBS-type symptoms
I know, it sounds grim — but parasites are surprisingly common and can cause all sorts of ongoing digestive issues.
The test I use is a modern PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, which checks for the actual DNA of parasites. This makes it much more sensitive than older tests that only picked up parasites if they happened to be in the stool sample.
Even if you haven’t been abroad recently, parasites can still be picked up locally. If you’ve been struggling with unexplained gut symptoms, this is a smart place to look.
3. Symptoms outside the gut? They could still start in your gut
So many people are shocked to discover their skin issues, fatigue, joint pain, or even mood swings are linked to gut health — often due to something called leaky gut.
Conditions potentially linked to poor gut health include:
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Autoimmune conditions
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IBS and IBD
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Eczema, psoriasis and acne
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Food sensitivities
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Joint pain and arthritis
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Asthma
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Fatigue or brain fog
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Mood or appetite changes
There are specific tests that look at the gut lining, inflammation, immune response and more — all of which help to piece together what’s really driving your symptoms, so private lab testing may be the answer.
4. Suspect SIBO? Don’t guess — test!
If you get intense bloating after meals, painful wind, or unpredictable bowels, SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) could be the culprit.
SIBO occurs when bacteria that should stay in the large intestine move into the small intestine, where they don’t belong. This causes fermentation, gas, and a whole lot of discomfort.
The only way to diagnose it properly is with private lab testing, specifically a breath test. And here’s the thing: taking the wrong supplements — like probiotics — without testing could actually make SIBO worse.
So, is private testing worth it?
If you’re struggling with symptoms and not getting answers, testing helps you:
✅ Stop guessing
✅ Pinpoint root causes faster
✅ Get a treatment plan that actually works
✅ Stay motivated — seeing your results in black and white is incredibly empowering
I hope this post gives you a clearer idea of why gut testing is such a valuable step — especially when you feel like you’ve hit a wall.
If you’d like to explore whether private testing might help you, I’d love to chat. You can book a free call with me here — I’ll ask a few questions, find out what you’re dealing with, and point you in the right direction.
You deserve to feel better — let’s find out what’s really going on.
If you would like to speak to me about any aspect of your gut health, then please use this link to book into my diary for a FREE 30 minute chat so I can find out more about what is going on for you. Alternatively please use the ‘Learn More’ link below.
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