Gut Health Guide South Africa: Microbiome, Symptoms & Testing | Epicentre
Epicentre Gut Health Guide

Your Gut Has Trillions of Residents.
Do You Know Who They Are?

Your gut microbiome contains over 100 trillion microorganisms: bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. When they're in balance, you feel well. When they're not, the effects reach far beyond your stomach.

70% of your immune system lives in your gut
SN
Medically reviewed by Dr. Samantha Naidoo, MB ChB, FCP (SA)
Medical Director, Epicentre Walk-In Labs. Last updated March 2026.
Interactive tool

Is Your Gut Trying to Tell You Something?

Answer 8 quick questions about your symptoms. This is not a diagnosis, but it can help you decide whether gut testing is worth considering.

Gut Health Symptom Checker
8 questions. Takes 60 seconds.
Myth vs fact

What Most People Get Wrong About Gut Health

Tap any card to flip it and see the truth.

Warning signs

Symptoms of an Unbalanced Gut

Gut problems don't always feel like stomach problems. These are the signs your microbiome may be out of balance.

🫧
Bloating and gas
Persistent fullness or distension after meals, even small ones
🔄
Irregular bowel habits
Alternating between diarrhoea and constipation without clear cause
😴
Fatigue and brain fog
Your gut makes over 90% of your serotonin. Dysbiosis affects energy and focus.
🔥
Skin flare-ups
Acne, eczema, and rosacea are often linked to gut inflammation
🍫
Sugar cravings
Harmful bacteria thrive on sugar and can drive your cravings to feed themselves
🤧
Frequent illness
70% of your immune system is gut-based. Dysbiosis weakens your defences.
⚖️
Unexplained weight changes
Imbalanced gut bacteria can disrupt how you absorb nutrients and store fat
😟
Anxiety or low mood
The gut-brain axis means bacterial imbalance can directly affect your mood
Many gut problems are silent. You can have significant dysbiosis with no obvious digestive symptoms. Subtle signs like fatigue, skin changes, or frequent colds can be your only clue. Regular testing catches problems before they escalate.
Meet your microbiome

The Organisms Living in Your Gut

Your gut hosts beneficial bacteria that keep you healthy, core species that can go either way, harmful pathogens, and parasites. Tap any organism to learn more.

The basics

Probiotics vs Prebiotics: What Is the Difference?

Probiotics = the good bacteria

Live beneficial organisms like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Found in yoghurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and supplements. They restore balance and support digestion, immunity, and mood.

Prebiotics = their food source

Non-digestible fibres that feed your good bacteria. Found in garlic, onions, bananas, oats, asparagus, and leeks. Think of them as fertiliser for your gut garden.

You need both. Probiotics introduce beneficial bacteria; prebiotics help them grow and thrive. A gut test can show you which probiotic species you're low on, so you can supplement with purpose rather than guessing.

Risk factors

Who Is Most at Risk for Gut Problems?

Processed food diet

Diets high in sugar, refined carbs, and seed oils starve beneficial bacteria and feed harmful ones.

Recent antibiotics

Antibiotics kill harmful and beneficial bacteria alike. Even a single course can take months to recover from.

Chronic stress

Cortisol alters gut motility, increases inflammation, and shifts the balance of your microbiome.

Over 50

Microbial diversity naturally declines with age, increasing vulnerability to infections and inflammation.

IBS, IBD, or diabetes

Pre-existing conditions both cause and worsen dysbiosis, creating a cycle that is difficult to break without testing.

Travel to endemic areas

Traveller's diarrhoea, parasites like Giardia, and pathogenic E. coli strains are common in sub-Saharan Africa.

Gut health testing

Find Out What Is Actually in Your Gut

Epicentre uses PCR stool testing to identify specific organisms in your gut. No doctor's referral needed. Walk in or order a home collection kit.

Gut Essentials

A probiotic baseline snapshot of your most clinically relevant beneficial gut bacteria.
17 probiotic targets
R2,500
or ~R625/mo with Payflex (4x interest-free)
Learn more
Most popular

Complete Gut Profile

The full microbiome picture: beneficial bacteria plus pathogens, parasites and H. pylori.
45 microbial targets
R4,000
or ~R1,000/mo with Payflex (4x interest-free)
Learn more

Gut Deep Dive

Everything in the Complete Profile, plus disease association analysis linking your results to conditions like IBS, IBD, and metabolic disorders.
45 targets + disease associations
R5,950
or ~R1,488/mo with Payflex (4x interest-free)
Learn more
Home collection kits available. All gut tests can be done at home. We deliver a stool collection kit in discreet packaging with prepaid return. Results in 5 to 7 working days.
Prevention

How to Keep Your Gut Healthy

🥦
Eat fibre-rich foods
Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes feed your beneficial bacteria.
🥛
Add fermented foods
Yoghurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha introduce live probiotics.
🚫
Cut processed sugar
Sugar feeds harmful bacteria like Candida and displaces beneficial species.
🧘
Manage stress
Chronic stress alters gut motility and bacterial balance. Regular exercise helps.
💧
Stay hydrated
Water supports the mucosal lining of the intestines and helps beneficial bacteria thrive.
💊
Use antibiotics wisely
Only when prescribed. Follow up with probiotics to restore what antibiotics remove.
Common questions

Gut Health Testing FAQs

Ready to Find Out What Is in Your Gut?

45-target PCR stool test. No doctor's referral needed. Walk in or test at home. Results in 5 to 7 days.

Book a gut health test Order a home kit WhatsApp us
Explore individual organisms
E
Epicentre Walk-In Labs | Practice #1117394 | Founded 2001
Durban (Hillcrest) · Cape Town (Observatory) · Johannesburg (Parktown North)
About Epicentre and our team
Book Gut Health Test Home Kit