Your gut microbiome score is a summary of how “healthy and helpful” your gut bacteria look, based on the science we have for the bacteria analysed. It is not a diagnosis, and it is not fixed for life. Think of it as a snapshot of how well your gut ecosystem is supporting your health right now, compared with what we see in people with more “favourable” patterns.
Microbiome score bands
Very poor: 0 ≤ score < 250 - not supportive of long-term health, plenty of room for improvement.
Poor: 250 ≤ score < 500 - somewhat supportive of long‑term health, but has room for improvement.
Okay: 500 ≤ score < 750 - supportive of long-term health, but has room for improvement.
Good: 750 ≤ score ≤ 1000 - strongly supportive of long-term health.
What is your score based on?
Diversity – how many different types of microbes you have. More diversity is generally linked to better metabolic and gut health.
Presence of “good” vs “bad” microbes – some species are associated with positive outcomes (better blood fat and sugar responses, lower inflammation), others with less favourable ones.
How to read a higher (>750) score
If your microbiome score is on the higher end, it generally means:
You have more of the microbes associated with good health outcomes in our data.
Your microbes are, on average, better at producing helpful substances, like short‑chain fatty acids (e.g. butyrate) that support gut lining health and help regulate metabolism.
It does not mean everything is “perfect” or that you never need to think about your diet again. It just means the foundations look strong, and the focus is on maintaining and gently improving what is already working.
How to read a lower (<250) score
If your score is lower, it usually means:
You have fewer of the helpful microbial species we see in people with favourable responses.
You may have more of the microbes we associate with less favourable outcomes, or simply not enough variety overall.
How it links to long‑term health
People with more favourable microbiomes often have better blood sugar and blood fat responses and lower long‑term risk markers.
A less favourable score may explain why some people are more sensitive to certain foods, or why changing their diet has a big impact on energy, cravings, or digestion.
However, you can have a high microbiome score and still experience undesirable gut symptoms if other factors (stress, gut sensitivity, hormones, etc.) are in play.
So, what now?
Microbiomes stay dynamic, meaning the gut microbiome is not fixed. It continues to respond to:
Diet quality, plant diversity, and fibre
Sleep, stress, movement, and medications
Big life events and health changes
So, whatever your starting point, the aim is the same: nudge your gut ecosystem in a better direction over time.
To help you do this:
Eat more plant variety over the week – different colours, textures, and plant families to feed a broader range of microbes.
More fibre‑rich foods (wholegrains, beans and lentils, nuts, seeds, fruit, veg).
More fermented foods (like yoghurt with live cultures, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut) if you tolerate them.
Fewer ultra‑processed foods and very sugary, refined products, which tend to be linked with less favourable microbial patterns.
Consistency over time – microbes respond to patterns, not one meal.
Even small, repeated changes (for example, adding an extra plant or fermented food most days) can shift the microbiome in a measurable way over weeks to months.