The Beet Test: Transit Time Test For Motility and Constipation
I get every new client of mine to do a transit time test. We need to know the speed of which food is moving through their intestinal tract. If it’s too fast or too slow, there will be side effects and symptoms.
Most people with acid reflux are told by doctors they have high stomach acid and then they’re put on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). This makes me so sad because it’s often inaccurate and it happens ALL the time in our western medical world. An under active stomach is actually a lot more common than an overactive stomach!
Symptoms of Low Stomach Acid
BLOATING
HEART BURN
CONSTIPATION
LOW IRON
GAS
LOOSE BOWELS
NAUSEA
SKIN IMBALANCES
CANDIDA
LOW ENERGY
LOW B12
POSITIVE H. PYLORI TEST
If your motility is slow then food is going to be sitting inside your colon for too long. The food will start to ferment, you’ll get bloated and an overgrowth of opportunistic bacteria will start to flourish. I see this all the time on the GI-MAP stool test I offer in my private practice.
How to do it:
eat beets, sesame seeds or partially chewed corn
remember the time you eat them for dinner
when you see them in your bowel movement, record the time
how much time elapsed between consumption at dinner and seeing the food in your bowel movement?
The goal is between 12-24 hours. If you’re 6 hours for example, that means things are moving too quickly and you may not be absorbing certain nutrients - known as an overactive stomach. This happens often with diarrhea or my IBS-D clients.
If it’s 24 plus hours, things are moving too slowly and you’re like constipated and may even have higher estrogen levels due to beta-glucuronidase due to re-absorption of estrogen the body is trying to excrete. I see this often with my clients that have intense PMS symptoms. Learn more about the DUTCH test here
If you’d like 1:1 support with your health and nutrition, head to services to learn more. I work with clients all over the world thanks to virtual consults and testing shipped to your door.
As a gut health nutritionist, I give you practical tips, plant-based foods high in iron and a recipe. I also explore reasons why your ferritin may be low.