LOCATION OF THE HUMAN GUT MICROBIOME
Here’s exciting news and a great opportunity for those of you who understand that your overall health depends on the health of your gut microbiome!
SmartGut™, the world’s first sequencing-based clinical microbiome test, is now available in all 50 US states through uBiome’s SmartGut Pilot Program – at no cost to you.
You and future versions of yourself stand to gain much from taking advantage of this offer.
THE GUT MICROBIOME
“Your gut is home to trillions of microorganisms, which are collectively known as the microbiome.
‘These microbes play a critical role in your digestion, synthesis of vitamins, and immune function while many have been linked to a variety of conditions, including gastrointestinal disease, obesity, diabetes, and even kidney stones.” (uBiome, 2017B)
This collection of minuscule microbes living in our guts is estimated to weigh up to 2 kg (4.4 lb). It functions as a second brain, plays an important role in digestion, aids in the production of certain vitamins, and is critically important to immune function. The gut microbiome influences health in the whole body and our risk for developing diseases. (Whiteman, 2015)
SOME (OF MANY) REASONS TO GET YOUR GUT MICROBIOME SEQUENCED
The SmartGut™ screening test can help you monitor your overall gut health. It detects the microorganisms associated with common symptoms, including:
Abdominal pain or tenderness
Constipation
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis
Bloating
Diarrhea
Gas
General Screening
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
– (uBiome, 2017B)
THE SMARTGUT TEST
“SmartGut™ is a microbiome screening test that uses advanced DNA sequencing technology to identify key microorganisms in your gut …” (uBiome, 2017A) “SmartGut™ is the first sequencing-based clinical microbiome screening test. The test detects beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms associated with specific infections, lifestyle choices, and gut conditions including Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).” (uBiome, 2017B)
ABOUT uBIOME
uBiome is a highly regarded biotechnology company and the leading microbial genomics company, giving individuals and organizations access to technology to sequence their microbiomes, particularly the gut flora.
“We are pioneering a new era of microbiome-based precision medicine. We allow doctors, patients, and citizen scientists to learn about the human microbiome with unprecedented accuracy and speed.”
“Since 2012, we’ve partnered with leading researchers and organizations around the world that are involved in groundbreaking work in microbial genomics.” Recent collaborators are: US Centers for Disease Control, Harvard University, Stanford University, Oxford University, and University of California at Berkeley. (uBiome, 2017C)
TO ORDER YOUR SMARTGUT PILOT TEST KIT FROM uBIOME
Go to the “Request your SmartGut™ test today” part of the uBiome site.
Enter the state where you live.
Log in as a uBiome Explorer or create a new account.
Order your SmartGut™ kit.
uBiome will send your request to one of their network doctors.
Provide the sample. (It’s quick and easy.)
Put the sample into the provided mailer and send it to uBiome.
When uBiome has processed your sample, they’ll send you a link where you can download a PDF of your test report.
You can also have your results sent to your doctor.
NO COST TO YOU Throughout the duration of uBiome’s SmartGut pilot period uBiome will NOT balance bill patients. That means any costs not covered by your insurance company will be covered by uBiome.
I assume this offer will end when uBiome has enough samples for the pilot. So sign up for your SmartGut kit now.
YOUR SMARTGUT COMPREHENSIVE TEST REPORT
Your SmartGut™ test report lets you and your doctor better understand:
1) If there are specific pathogens present that might be causing illness
2) The balance of commensal* and beneficial bacteria that may be contributing to symptoms
3) Risk factors relating to the microbiome
– (uBiome, 2017B)
* Commensal: Living in a relationship in which one organism derives food or other benefits from another organism without hurting or helping it. For example, commensal bacteria are part of the normal flora in the mouth. (MedicineNet.com, undated)
FURTHER READING ON THE GUT MICROBIOME
A few suggestions if you want to read up on the gut microbiome and why it’s so important to your health:
Hardin, J.R. (7/17/2016). Clue to How Gut Bacteria Affect Mood – New Evidence that Gut Bacteria Feed on a Neurotransmitter. See: https://www.allergiesandyourgut.com/post/clue-to-how-gut-bacteria-affect-mood-new-evidence-that-gut-bacteria-feed-on-a-neurotransmitter
Hardin, J.R. (8/28/2015). Prediabetics Have Fewer Gut Bacteria. See: https://www.allergiesandyourgut.com/post/prediabetics-have-fewer-gut-bacteria
Hardin, J.R. (5/10/2015). INCREASED GUT PERMEABILITY – CAUSES & CONSEQUENCES. See: https://www.allergiesandyourgut.com/post/increased-gut-permeability-causes-consequences
Hardin, J.R. (4/10/2015). Short, Easy Read about Your Gut Microbiome. See: https://www.allergiesandyourgut.com/post/short-easy-read-about-your-gut-microbiome
Hardin, J.R. (8/6/2014). Live Dirty, Eat Clean … The Gut Microbiome Is the Future of Medicine. See: https://www.allergiesandyourgut.com/post/live-dirty-eat-clean-the-gut-microbiome-is-the-future-of-medicine
MedicineNet.com. Medical Definition of Commensal. See: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=34012
uBiome. (2017A). Request your SmartGut™ test today. See: https://ubiome.com/go/smartgut-pilotprogram
ubiome. (2017B). About the SmartGut™ test. See: https://ubiome.com/go/smartgut-patients
ubiome. (2017C). Advancing the Science of Microbial Genomics. See: https://ubiome.com/about-us
Whiteman, H. (2015). The gut microbiome: How does it affect our health? Medical News Today. See: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/290747.php © Copyright 2017. Joan Rothchild Hardin. All Rights Reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site or blog is intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Comments submitted prior to 8/25/2021
This is great information. After a host of health issues, I decided to do this and just signed up for the uBiome gut sequencing from the link in your blog. Thank you, Joan!
Sonnische
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