This test results focus primarily on the fermentation levels in your gut.

When we think of fermentation, most of us think of fermented foods (kimchi etc), which are vital for a healthy gut. But the process of fermentation within the body is something different – and it’s complicated.

“Fermentation is the breakdown and use of food, particularly carbohydrates, by microbes,” explains Dr Nye. “Fermentation takes place throughout the gastrointestinal tract, but the level of fermentation depends on the numbers of microbes present, which are generally highest in the large intestine.

“This bacterial breakdown leads to the production of hydrogen gases which can leave the intestines and travel through to the lungs where the body releases it.”

While it’s crucial for gut health to have a diverse range of microbes in the gut, ideally, we don’t want any fermentation in the small intestine. In (very) simple terms, a low fermentation level signifies a healthy digestive tract.

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