Blue Horizon Microbiome Test: I've had my results... - Thyroid UK

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Blue Horizon Microbiome Test

Rapunzel profile image
23 Replies

I've had my results back. My gut microbiome shares my age, so that's not so bad. I have a high indication for autoimmune diseases. ( no sh*t, Sherlock) No vitamin deficiencies. I should eat more soybean ( no thanks) and there is a reason I've never liked bananas - according to the test, I shouldn't eat them! There are 37 pages, but quite a few are empty or simply have the Blue Horizon butterfly on them.

Things I should eat more of include mutton (eeew) and strawberries (hurrah). There's higher than community average antibiotic damage, my sleep quality is excellent. My processed foods index claims that I avoid processed foods which isn't right at all; we often have chicken ping for dinner... sugar index is good, better than the community average. When they write of community averages, that's the community score average value of all the data from communities around the globe. Not sure that's of any use; might have preferred 1st World as my community...

In my gut there are many more Bifidobacterium than in the community and many fewer Akkermansia than normal; have to look those up. My gut diversity is poor and I'll have to look into what I can do to improve this and what might be causing it. Any gut dudes about?

The test evinces no issues with metabolising gluten, which was the reason I took the test, really, average metabolism of protein and a frankly unbelievably higher fat metabolism than average. and joy of joys, I can gorge on Brocolli.

Not sure this was worth £200, the promo price, never mind £300, the normal price. Maybe for the good news on Brocolli, which I had avoided as being goitrogenic.

Microbiometastic and I hope, useful to my fam

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Rapunzel profile image
Rapunzel
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23 Replies
Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator

When I did a stool analysis it was via a nutritionist which was really helpful to then now what to do about the results. I'm really not sure about the different tests available now. Some claim to tell you food intolerances but I don't understand the science behind this or if they are accurate.

Do you have any gut symptoms specifically?

Improving the gut microbiome can have many positive knock on effects body wide including more energy and a better sense of general wellbeing.

Here are a few things that I have tried and would recommend to improve your gut biome diversity.

➢Try adding a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (must contain the ‘Mother’, see label) to a glass of water before your main meal. This helps acidify the stomach.

➢Reduce sugar and processed (especially ultra processed) foods, they feed the bad bacteria.

➢Add probiotic foods such as natural yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles. Dairy free versions are available in supermarkets or online. Ask staff to help you find the dairy free section, some supermarkets have a better selection than others. You can also make your own versions of these at home including water kefir. Many people swear by a glass of kefir a day.

➢Eat the rainbow. This includes a variety of meats including game (if omnivore), vegetables and fruit.

A good link to read with an over view of improving gut health. joinzoe.com/learn/how-to-im...

Rapunzel profile image
Rapunzel in reply toJaydee1507

Thanks Jaydee1507

Not really any particular gut issues that I'm aware of. Thanks for the info and the link 😀

gabkad profile image
gabkad in reply toRapunzel

What I've read is eating pulses (lentils, beans, chickpeas, etc) help to promote the growth of Bifidobacter.

As to Akkermansia, it's good to have because it promotes mucous along the lining of the gut.

From pendulumlife.com:

Unfortunately, there are no foods that contain Akkermansia, so you can't eat Akkermansia. However, to encourage the growth of Akkermansia, you can eat foods rich in polyphenols, including apples, beans, berries, grapes, flaxseed, green tea, nuts, olives, asparagus, onions, oats, etc.

(who knows if any of this is actually true and verifiable. But the bifidobacter info is

accurate).

Does it give a result for a F. Prausdnitzi?

Rapunzel profile image
Rapunzel

Does it give a result for a F. Prausdnitzi? No. I take inulin of an evening to help me sleep, so I imagine I have some of those critters...

J972 profile image
J972 in reply toRapunzel

Hi there. I’m intrigued by the idea that inulin can promote sleep, what exactly do you use and how do you take it? 🙏

Rapunzel profile image
Rapunzel in reply toJ972

I take it in a tisane of montmorency cherry juice and one heaped teaspoonful of inulin, derived from chicory root. I don't have time to look for the BBC show now but Michael Mosley did a truth about sleep docu and it helped him. There is a particular provider of one serve sachets called Bimuno but don't buy that; get a 500mg sack from an online supplier. My last 1kg cost me around £16 and it lasts a long time.

I hope that it helps. The cherry juice also helps sleep.

J972 profile image
J972 in reply toRapunzel

Thanks very much. I searched up inulin in the early hours of this morning (how ironic) and came across the Moseley reference. 👍

Plus, I’ve learned a new word - tisane - which I’ll endeavour to casually shoehorn into a conversation/monologue at some point!

Rapunzel profile image
Rapunzel in reply toJ972

Sorry, not grandstanding...I have a grammarly app and I love the bit that lets me know that, eg 'Last week, you used more unique words than 78% of Grammarly users.'

I'm going for 100% wanna sponsor me? 😆

J972 profile image
J972 in reply toRapunzel

Ha!

Digger0 profile image
Digger0

Interesting. I was chatting to some one at the weekend and she says she has (and counts) at least 35 different veg and fruit a week. Mind you I think she counts a couple of mint leaves as one!

gabkad profile image
gabkad in reply toDigger0

There are all sorts of hobbies these days.

Rapunzel profile image
Rapunzel in reply togabkad

Hahahaaa gabkad nice to hear from you. Hope all's well. All of my hobbies are left field...

gabkad profile image
gabkad in reply toRapunzel

All's well as can be. Spending most days out at the allotment. It's quite amazing how I can putz around for hours. Last year I let about a dozen Dill plants go to seed and now I have literally a carpet of Dill seedlings. Must be a million of them. Plus I let a few lettuce, escarole and Amara kale/mustard (African) plants go to seed and that's it.... there are so many little plants I think in future instead of growing them out at home under lights and transplanting out, I'll just let nature do the job for me.

How much Dill qualifies as a 'serving'? 😜

Mividauk2 profile image
Mividauk2

Hey, I was going to message you, I got my test back too. I missed the intitial promotional offer but I am glad I took it. I do wish there was more information.

But there is plenty. I am going to share my results with my peruvian functional doctor.

He suggested after i took my test to start taking akkermansia which I did. The test shows very low aklermansia so that was a great idea.

Food I shouldn't eat at all and I do eat regularly at least once a week are: tomatoes, lemon, tangerines, spinach, kale, beetroot, tuna, soy, tahini, mint, pasta, turkey, black olive, brocoli, blackberry, rose wine, purple cabbage, chestnut, nectarine, black elderberry, purple sweet potato, red pepper, carrot, dark chocolate, strawberry, parsley.

It says I don't tolerate well lactose and gluten which is true.

Also suggest I could have IBS and that maybe a reason for not digesting properly some food, intolerances and not absorbing vitamins and minerals . I have about 5 bacterias which are very important on the low side, they are connected to IBS, diabetes 2, the brain, autoinmune diseases and depression.

My gut age is good but my overall gut healt is bad.

I am starting to understand more this gut thing and the difference between SIBO and IBS. I spent last night watching two videos explained by nutritionist and doctors talking about IBS and SIBO.

They do mention digestive enzymes, probiotics, aminoacids but they highlight first to id the intolerances and with the help of a doctor start a plan. Hence why I will email my doctor all my results.

If you want we can swap notes on private message or here. Happy to share.

Alanna012 profile image
Alanna012 in reply toMividauk2

Can I ask where do you get the Akkermansia? I'm seeing prices of over £100 for capsules 😶

Mividauk2 profile image
Mividauk2 in reply toAlanna012

It is about £60 on supplement hub. Akkermansia by Pendulum brand.

Alanna012 profile image
Alanna012 in reply toMividauk2

Thank you!

JosephMaxwell profile image
JosephMaxwell

I've only just seen this thread ..I'm waiting for the blue horizon microbiome test to come through for my mum. I was a bit apprehensive as to how much info they could provide , but it was on offer..so I thought I'll give it a go. I think if it can confirm that I'm doing the right thing re mums diet ( no dairy, no gluten, no/ low histamine) then it'll be worth it. Ill give the inulin at bed a go ..as for 'tisane' my mates already think I'm odd for having a kettle that does a temperature for herbal teas, so I'll keep that little nugget of a word for special occasions.

Staffsgirl profile image
Staffsgirl in reply toJosephMaxwell

Was the Blue Horizon test useful, and would you recommend it?

JosephMaxwell profile image
JosephMaxwell in reply toStaffsgirl

Hi Staffs girl,

I think if you're having thyroid issues , all information is useful, the blue horizon microbiome test confirmed my suspicions that my mum had gluten sensitivity, so I was able to use the information to convince my mum to give up gluten....she scored ok with dairy/ lactose but I still cut both from her diet. Over the last 8 months there has been a definite improvement in her digestion ..and she can manage just taking gaviscon now instead of all the acid blockers that the GPs like to insist on. The test also gives you the foods that will work with your gut and the current types of bacteria and their levels. I can't say I actively chased trying to increase or decrease the bacteria ,but I did change her diet ..gluten free ..dairy free ..and sticking to foods the test said would be of benefit.

Overall I would say the test is worth getting , but I'd wait for an offer of a lower price . Ive already spent a ton of money trying all manner of things to get her back to a degree of normality.

I hope this helps in some way

J

Staffsgirl profile image
Staffsgirl in reply toJosephMaxwell

Many thanks! There is actually an offer on at the moment: I think until the end of February. It’s tempting, but I’m trying to look at all the options.

JosephMaxwell profile image
JosephMaxwell in reply toStaffsgirl

I think if you have thyroid issues ..many of the comments on here say that cutting gluten helped ...the biome test simply confirmed that . ..there are sooo many other things to consider spending your money on ..I guess it depends where you are on the journey .. if your GP is supportive and whether digestion is a big issue

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