Viome Gut Test: What It Is and How It Works

Trusted by over 1,000,000+ microbiomes, the Viome gut test still stands taller compared to other competitors. Why? Because instead of focusing on static DNA, Viome analyzes the active state of a person's biology and leverages that data to offer highly personalized nutrition and supplements.

Stay tuned to see how the Viome gut test works, what it measures, what its key benefits are, and how you can take its valuable results to the next level.

What Is the Viome Gut Test?

The Viome gut intelligence test is an at-home stool test that analyzes the microbes in your digestive system. What makes this test unique is that it doesn’t just identify what microbes are present; it also tells you how they’re behaving, meaning which genes are active and which pathways are being used.

In other words, it measures …

• Active bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes in your gut
• Balance between helpful vs. potentially disruptive microbial activity
• How the microbes break down fiber, fats, or proteins (and other microbial functions)
• Inflammatory or metabolic activity linked to gut health

Ultimately, this test gives you science-backed insight into how your gut microbes influence your digestion, metabolism, and overall health.

How the Viome Gut Test Works

This test works through a straightforward process to translate your sample into actionable gut insights. What you need to do is to simply …

• Visit the Viome website to order your gut intelligence test online. There are three options: only the test, the essential starter bundle, and the test plus probiotics and prebiotics (monthly payment). Compare the plans and order the one best aligned with your goals.
• Register your kit so the Viome team can connect the samples to you when they arrive at their CLIA-certified lab.
• Collect your sample using the stool collection kit. Everything you’ll need is in the test kit, including a step-by-step guide. Then, mail the sample back in the pre-paid packaging.
• After mailing the sample, you need to complete the digital questionnaire to provide more information about your preferences, medications, or allergies.
• The results are ready within 3 to 4 weeks (you’ll get an email when the results are ready). You can review them via the Viome app or at my.viome.com.
• Based on the results, Viome will suggest personalized products such as biotic blends or supplements.

What Does the Viome Gut Test Measure?

The Viome gut intelligence test takes a closer look at what’s really happening inside your digestive system. It provides you with over 20 gut health scores, including:

• Microbiome composition: Identifying as well as quantifying which types of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes, telling you how balanced your microbiome is.
• Gut activity: How the microbes are behaving, including how they break down food and what they produce.
• Inflammation markers: Microbial activities (such as producing compounds like LPS or lipopolysaccharide) that contribute to irritation or immune reactions.
• Metabolic fitness: How microbial activity influences your blood sugar, insulin response, and weight control. 
• Digestive efficiency: Your gut’s ability to break down different macronutrients, moving food, and gut lining health.
• Protein fermentation: How efficient microbes process excess proteins and prevent uncomfortable byproducts like gas.
• Food responses/recommendations: Over 370 foods are evaluated for gut compatibility, categorized into avoid, minimize, enjoy, and superfood groups.

Why Knowing Your Gut Microbiome Matters

Understanding your gut microbiome is the key to improving both health and mood. A happy gut really does lead to a happy life due to the following benefits:

• A balanced microbiome breaks down food thoroughly, absorbs nutrients efficiently, and reduces the risk of digestive disorders.
• Approximately 70% of your immune system resides in your gut, where beneficial microbes help protect against harmful pathogens.
• The gut-brain axis links gut health to mental health. Any imbalance here can contribute to conditions like anxiety and depression.
• A healthy microbiome reduces inflammation and lowers the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.

Factors That Can Impact Gut Health

Your gut health isn’t fixed and changes as you age. Apart from that, many everyday factors shift the balance and activity of your gut microbes, too. Some of the most important factors that impact gut health are …

• Diet: Fiber-rich, plant-based foods are great for beneficial microbes; while highly processed foods, high-sugar, or low-fiber diets reduce microbial diversity,
• Antibiotics and medications: Although necessary at times, antibiotics disrupt your gut balance by killing both harmful and helpful bacteria.
• Stress: How you handle stress is crucial for your gut health, as chronic stress affects digestion and immunity by changing gut motility, microbial composition, and inflammation levels.
• Sleep and lifestyle: Poor sleep, irregular routines, and lack of physical activity kill your gut microbial balance and diversity.
• Environmental exposures: Toxins, pollutants, and even hygiene practices can shift microbial populations over time. Keep a close eye on them.

While the complications are serious, you can always improve your gut health naturally. That’s what UpDiet offers through personalized dietary plans, focusing on nutrient-rich foods and habits that support a healthy, balanced gut.

How to Use Viome Gut Test Results Effectively

You need to understand your test results to make practical changes that support your digestion, immunity, and overall gut health. After reviewing the insights, you’ll have practical guidance for …

• Adjusting your diet: Focus on foods categorized as “Enjoy” or “Superfood” and limit foods in “Avoid” or “Minimize” groups.
• Taking targeted supplements: Use vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes, or polyphenols recommended based on your specific gut scores.
• Incorporating prebiotics and probiotics: Follow personalized advice to boost beneficial microbes and their diversity.
• Optimizing lifestyle habits: Choose methods that you find most effective to manage stress, improve sleep, and stay active to support gut function.

You can also re-test periodically to track your progress and update anything if needed.

Key Benefits of Taking a Viome Gut Intelligence Test

The Viome gut intelligence test goes beyond food allergies and sensitivity testing, questionnaire-based testing, microbiome testing, and even DNA testing. The cutting-edge technology and unique measurements of this test offer key benefits for you such as:

• Offering personalized nutrition guidance on which foods to enjoy, minimize, or avoid, based on how your microbiome responds to them.
• Understanding how your microbes break down food and how you can promote smoother digestion.
• Learning about the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory (gut) activities to support your immune system through targeted nutrition.
• Discovering how efficiently your gut extracts vitamins and minerals, and how its microbes convert compounds like polyphenols into usable nutrients.
• Spotting areas where microbes are overactive or underactive and cause discomfort or health issues.
• Enjoying long-term health by detecting patterns that affect your metabolism, weight, and cardiovascular health.
• And more.

Final Thoughts: Taking Control of Your Gut Health

The truth is … better gut health doesn’t happen by accident; it comes from knowing what’s going on inside and acting on it.

Tools like the Viome gut intelligence test or similar tests give you a clear picture of what’s happening inside your body, and how to take proactive steps toward better digestion, immunity, and long-term health.