It's completely understandable to feel confused if the gut microbiome score you received wasn't what you expected. Perhaps you eat plenty of vegetables but received a below-average score, or maybe you have gut issues but scored highly. It's easy to doubt the results, but that’s because the picture of your gut health is rarely straightforward.

Your microbiome score is backed by ZOE's own science, using data from the world's largest microbiome study and the most advanced technology available. That’s why we’re confident in its accuracy.

While many tests use 16S technology (examining only one gene), ZOE uses Shotgun Metagenomic Sequencing. This allows us to look at over 5 million marker genes and accurately identify thousands of bacterial species, including many new to science. If there were any issues with your sample during testing, our lab team would inform us, and we would ask you to send another sample.

Your microbiome score reflects the balance of good and bad bacteria we detect in your stool sample. It is based on 100 specific species (50 good, 50 bad) that show the strongest, most robust association with overall cardiometabolic health (factors like blood sugar, BMI, and heart disease risk). We determined these key associations through the largest microbiome study of its kind in the world, analysing over 34,000 stool samples. In science, a large dataset means the data is more robust.

Each of the 100 species plays a role in your score, but some have a bigger impact on your overall score than others. For example, a high abundance of a single strongly weighted bad species could outweigh a high total abundance of many weaker good species.

This score focuses only on the 100 species we believe are most associated with cardiometabolic health markers, but it is not a complete census of every species in your microbiome. You may have many other beneficial species doing good work that are simply not part of this specific ranking.

Although diet is the main modifiable factor that can influence your microbiome as an adult, your gut bacteria are influenced by many other things.

Your microbial community is built over your entire lifetime, with the first three years being the most critical. This means your microbiome composition (and score) is heavily influenced by historic factors that set your microbial baseline, such as how you were born, whether you were breast or bottle fed, early antibiotic use, and even whether you had pets and where you grew up.

Some microbiome compositions are naturally more stable and resistant to change than others. For these people, it may simply take longer for even the most consistently healthy diet changes to shift the microbial composition.

As an adult, factors like stress, sleep, exercise, antibiotic use, time spent outdoors and medication all play a role in shaping your microbial community.

Your microbiome score now is not your score for life. Your microbiome is a living thing - it can change as quickly as in days, but these changes will only stick if your lifestyle and diet changes are consistent. Focus on the incremental changes over the next few months.

You may notice changes in your digestion, energy, or mood before you see a change on your retest. This is all still progress! Keep focusing on the small consistent steps and your gut bacteria will thrive.

Read more about the main dietary factors that make the biggest difference in your gut health here.