Gut Health at Retreat Care Group

Restore Digestion. Rebalance the Microbiome. Support Whole-Body Health.

At Retreat Care Group, we believe gut health is the foundation of overall health. When the digestive system is compromised, it can affect far more than digestion—impacting energy, immunity, hormones, metabolism, mood, and inflammation throughout the body.

Our comprehensive, data-driven gut health program is designed to identify root causes of digestive dysfunction and create a personalized plan to restore balance, repair the gut, and help you feel better from the inside out.

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  • Why Gut Health Is So Important

    Your gut is home to trillions of microorganisms that play a critical role in nearly every system of the body. A healthy gut supports:

    • Proper digestion and nutrient absorption
    • Immune system regulation
    • Hormone balance and metabolism
    • Inflammation control
    • Stress resilience and nervous system health
    • Mood, cognition, and mental clarity

  • Gut health is not determined by diet alone. The digestive system is deeply interconnected with the endocrine (hormonal), immune, and nervous systems, meaning chronic stress, hormone imbalances, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction can all disrupt the gut—and vice versa.

    When this balance is disrupted, symptoms may include:

    • Bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea
    • Food sensitivities or intolerances
    • Fatigue or low energy
    • Brain fog or mood changes
    • Skin issues
    • Weakened immunity
    • Difficulty losing weight

    Our goal is to uncover why these symptoms are occurring—not just suppress them.

Our Functional Medicine Approach to Gut Health

  • Advanced Gut Testing with GI-MAP®

    Gut health care at Retreat begins with GI-MAP® stool testing, an advanced DNA-based diagnostic tool that provides a comprehensive view of your gut microbiome.

    GI-MAP testing evaluates:

    • Beneficial and pathogenic bacteria
    • Parasites, viruses, and bacterial infections
    • Yeast or fungal overgrowth
    • Digestive enzyme production
    • Intestinal inflammation markers
    • Gut immune function
    • Intestinal barrier (leaky gut) markers

    This test allows us to move beyond guesswork and precisely identify microbial imbalances and dysfunctions that may be driving your symptoms.

  • Looking Beyond the Gut

    Because the gut is interconnected with other systems, we often integrate advanced hormone and metabolic testing to assess how underlying imbalances may be contributing to digestive issues.

    Additional testing may evaluate:

    • Adrenal and stress hormone function
    • Thyroid health
    • Sex hormone balance
    • Metabolic and inflammatory markers

    By understanding how hormones, stress response, and metabolism interact with your digestive system, we can create a more effective and sustainable treatment plan.

  • Personalized, Multi-Phase Gut Restoration

    After a comprehensive review of your test results, our clinical team develops a personalized, multi-phase gut restoration protocol tailored to your unique physiology and health goals.

    Your plan may include:

    • Digestive optimization and enzyme support
    • Microbiome rebalancing
    • Targeted antimicrobial or antifungal support (when needed)
    • Intestinal barrier repair and inflammation reduction
    • Hormonal and stress regulation strategies
    • Personalized nutrition guidance
    • Lifestyle and nervous system support

    Each phase is designed to build on the last—supporting healing, reducing symptoms, and restoring long-term balance.

  • Ongoing Support & Sustainable Results

    Gut healing is a process, not a quick fix. We provide ongoing care, follow-up testing, and plan adjustments to ensure progress continues and results are sustained.

    Through consistent support, education, and accountability, we help patients:

    • Improve digestion and comfort
    • Increase energy and clarity
    • Reduce inflammation
    • Strengthen immune resilience

    Support hormone and metabolic balance

Advanced Intestinal Barrier Assessment Testing

This testing is focused on understanding whether your gut lining is healthy or "leaky". "Leaky gut" is often described as a state where the tight connections between the cells lining your Intestine become too loose — like a fence with big gaps — letting things through into your bloodstream that normally shouldn't cross. This can sometimes trigger your immune system and inflammation. 

This blood test requires phlebotomy

Key Markers:

  • Zonulin — tells you how "tight" or "loose" the gut lining is
  • Diamine Oxidase & histamine — helps assess how well you break down histamine, which can connect to gut inflammation and symptoms like bloating and headaches
  • Lipolysaccharides (LPS) Antibodies — these reflect whether bacterial components are leaking through and activating the immune system

These markers can help us better understand:

  • ongoing digestive complaints (bloating, diarrhea, cramps)
  • suspected food sensitivities or allergies
  • chronic inflammation or autoimmune issues
  • symptoms that seem related to the gut but haven't been explained by standard medical testing 

Feel Better From the Inside Out

If you’re struggling with digestive symptoms or unexplained health concerns, your gut may be the missing link.

Schedule a Gut Health consultation with Retreat Care Group and take the first step toward restoring balance, resilience, and whole-body wellness.

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