Confused by terms like microbiome, dysbiosis, leaky gut, or short-chain fatty acids? This simple guide explains common gut health terms in plain English, helping you understand your symptoms, test results, and how your digestive system works.

The problem is that many of these terms are rarely explained in plain English. As a result, it can be difficult to understand what they mean, why they matter, and whether they’re relevant to your own health.

This glossary is designed to help. It contains simple explanations of some of the most common gut health, microbiome and functional medicine terms that I use in clinic and discuss throughout this website

Whether you’re trying to understand your symptoms, make sense of test results, or simply learn more about how the digestive system works, this page is a great place to start.

Many of these terms are explored in greater detail throughout my articles and educational resources.

You can also explore my articles on gut health, the microbiome, histamine intolerance, food sensitivities and DNA testing to better understand how these concepts may relate to your own symptoms and health goals.