Have you ever heard of a gut transit test?
A gut transit test shows how quickly (or slowly) food travels through our digestive system before it is eliminated through bowel movements.
This test can be really eye-opening because it can show if food is moving too slowly through the digestive system (possibly indicating an imbalance of gut bacteria, a build up of toxins, etc) or if food is moving too quickly through the system (possibly indicating that the body is not absorbing nutrients like it should be).
Why is the state of the gut important, especially in regard to our children with ADHD?
Because of the gut-brain connection!
Our brains are deeply connected to our guts.
If our guts aren’t functioning well, our brains won’t be able to function well either.
ADHD symptoms can become worse when the gut isn’t functioning properly.
So what can you do to help reduce ADHD symptoms naturally?
IMPROVE the gut health!
This test is a great place to start!
I especially love it because it can be done at home anytime for pretty much no cost (just the cost of 1 cup of corn)!
Here’s how to do it…
How To Do An At-Home Gut Test:
Step 1: Eat 1 cup organic, non-gmo corn, away from other food by at least an hour.
Step 2: Write down what time you ate it.
Step 3: When you have a bowel movement, watch for corn kernels. When you see these kernels, write down the time of the bowel movement.
Step 4: Compare the time that you ate the corn to the time that you passed it. Note how many hours have passed.
Step 5 (optional): Repeat this test a few times over the course of a month to get an average time. This average will be more accurate than one stand-alone test, as there are a number of variables that can affect how quickly food moves through the body.
Now, you might be wondering, “What’s an ideal amount of time?”
Great question!
The amount of time from when you eat to when food exits the body is ideally between 12 and 24 hours.
Less than 12, and your body is likely not absorbing enough of the nutrients from your food.
More than 24 could mean you’re constipated or battling one of the other issues mentioned above.
What To Do After The Test:
You’ve done the test. Now what?
If You Have Slow Transit Time:
A few at-home things you can do to improve slow transit time include: drinking more water, eating foods that are rich in fiber, exercising more, and working to improve the diet (eating more whole, nutrient-dense foods and healthy fats and eating less processed foods). Magnesium citrate can also be beneficial.
Slow transit time is not normal, and it could be the result of an underlying hidden stressor like a parasite or bacterial overgrowth. You might want to consider a more in-depth gut test for your child. My team and I would be happy to chat with you about this. You can book a free call with us here: .
If You Have Fast Transit Time:
Transit time that is too fast is also problematic. As mentioned earlier, it can lead to nutritional deficiencies. It can also indicate a more serious condition.
My recommendation is to contact your doctor if you believe your transit time was too fast. You’ll want to rule out any acute digestive issues with them.
Other things that can help are improving the diet, eating more fiber, and taking a probiotic.
The DIY Gut Transit Test is a great place to start with your child with ADHD, because it gives you a great idea of how their bodies are digesting food, but I recognize it can also be confusing.
That’s why I wanted to offer a free call with my team to talk it through even more.
If you’d like to take me up on this free offer, schedule a free today!
