GI Stool Test Is One of My Most Popular Functional Health Labs
By Dee Davidson, FDN-P
If you’ve worked with me before, you’ve probably heard me say:
“Your gut is talking.”
And most of the time, it’s talking long before disease shows up on a traditional test.
One of the most valuable tools I use in practice to understand what’s really happening beneath symptoms is the GI stool test. In fact, it’s one of the most popular labs I run because it gives us a deeper look at the connection between your:
Immune system
Detox and liver function
Inflammation
Nutrient absorption
…and ultimately, how all of those impact the way you feel every single day.
Why Gut Health Matters So Much
Over 70% of your immune system lives in your gut.
Think about that for a second.
Your gut is not just where you digest food. It’s one of the main command centers for:
Immune regulation
Neurotransmitter production
Detoxification
Inflammation control
So when your gut is struggling, symptoms can show up almost anywhere.
This can look like:
Bloating
Constipation or diarrhea
Food sensitivities
Skin issues
Brain fog
Anxiety
Fatigue
Weight struggles
Hormone imbalance
Autoimmune symptoms
Low energy
Frequent illness
Many times, people are trying supplement after supplement without ever understanding why their gut is stressed in the first place.
That’s where testing changes everything. Hear directly from my clients on the podcast here.
What Does a GI Stool Test Actually Look At?
This test is far more advanced than the traditional stool testing most people receive through standard care.
Instead of simply looking for major disease or infection, functional stool testing evaluates:
Digestion
Absorption
Inflammation
Immune function
Microbiome balance
Pathogens
Detox markers
Let’s break down some of the key markers.
1. Beneficial Bacteria
“Do you have enough good bacteria?”
Your gut should contain a healthy balance of protective bacteria that help:
Produce vitamins
Support immunity
Regulate inflammation
Help metabolize hormones
Protect against pathogens
When these bacteria are low, I often see:
Bloating
Poor digestion
Constipation
Increased food sensitivities
Frequent infections
2. Opportunistic Bacteria
“What’s overgrown that shouldn’t be?”
These are bacteria that naturally exist in small amounts but can become problematic when they overgrow.
Common overgrowths may contribute to:
Skin issues
Histamine reactions
Brain fog
Gas and bloating
Immune stress
Inflammation
Many women I work with are shocked to realize their symptoms have been tied to gut overgrowths for years.
3. Parasites
“What’s stealing from your body?”
Parasites are more common than most people realize.
Travel, pets, food exposure, water, and even everyday environments can expose us.
Possible symptoms:
Bloating
Fatigue
Food cravings
Sleep disturbances
Skin issues
Anxiety
Digestive changes
And here’s the important part:
Parasites often don’t show up on conventional testing.
This is why functional testing can be so valuable.
4. Yeast & Fungal Overgrowth
“Is candida or yeast contributing to symptoms?”
Yeast overgrowth can impact:
Sugar cravings
Brain fog
Skin rashes
Bloating
Fatigue
Mood swings
It’s incredibly common after:
Antibiotics
Chronic stress
Birth control
High sugar intake
5. Digestive Markers
“Are you actually breaking food down?”
Markers like elastase help us understand whether your body is producing enough digestive enzymes.
Low digestive function can contribute to:
Nutrient deficiencies
Bloating
Undigested food in stool
Fatigue after meals
You can eat the healthiest diet in the world, but if you aren’t digesting properly, you may still be depleted.
6. Inflammation Markers
“Is your gut inflamed?”
Markers like calprotectin and secretory IgA help us understand:
Gut inflammation
Immune activation
Stress on the digestive lining
This is where we start connecting the dots between gut health and:
Autoimmunity
Chronic stress
Food reactions
Leaky gut patterns
7. Liver & Detox Clues
“How well are you clearing toxins?”
Many people don’t realize the GI stool test also gives us insight into:
Detoxification pathways
Bile flow
Liver stress
Your liver and gut work together constantly.
If toxins, hormones, or waste are not being cleared properly, symptoms can build over time.
This is one reason I often say:
“Detox is not about trendy cleanses. It’s about supporting the systems God already gave your body.”
Why I Recommend This Test Every Couple Years
Your gut changes constantly based on:
Travel
Medications
Diet
Mold exposure
Antibiotics
Hormone shifts
Life seasons
Just because your gut was balanced five years ago does not mean it still is today. A test more than a year old is considered obsolete.
I truly believe this test should be viewed as a wellness check-in every two years, especially for people experiencing:
Ongoing symptoms
Midlife hormone shifts
Autoimmune concerns
Digestive issues
Burnout
Chronic inflammation
The Goal Is Not Fear. It’s Clarity.
One of the biggest shifts I see in clients is relief.
Not because the results are perfect…
But because they finally understand what their body has been trying to say.
Testing gives us direction.
And when you stop guessing and start understanding your body, healing feels much less overwhelming.
Your symptoms are not random.
Your gut impacts nearly every system in your body, and ignoring it often means continuing to chase symptoms without getting answers.
The GI stool test helps us move from:
confusion → clarity
guessing → strategy
symptom management → root-cause support
The goal isn’t just surviving, it’s thriving. A GI stool test is a great place to start kickstarting your wellbeing.
About Dee Davidson, FDN-P
Dee Davidson is a Board-Certified Functional Health Practitioner, hormone and thyroid specialist, and the creator of the Confidently Balance Your Hormones podcast. She helps women in midlife and beyond uncover the root causes of fatigue, weight gain, anxiety, gut issues, and hormonal imbalances using functional labs, science-backed strategies, and nervous system regulation.
Dee’s work centers around empowering women to finally feel safe, seen, supported, and confident in their bodies — without restriction, overwhelm, or confusion.