Pillars
Gut-Immune health.
The microbiome runs 70% of your immune system, shapes inflammation, mood, and metabolism. Read the ecosystem directly.
Why it matters
Your gut houses 70% of your immune system, synthesizes critical nutrients and neurotransmitter precursors, and directly regulates gene expression through the metabolites your bacteria produce. Gut dysfunction does not stay in the gut. It shows up as autoimmunity, brain fog, skin issues, mood instability, and fatigue. Reading the gut directly takes the guesswork out of every system it touches.
What it is
The gut is an ecosystem. Trillions of bacteria, an intestinal barrier one cell thick, the immune cells lining it, and the vagus nerve connecting it to the brain. The bacteria are not passengers. They produce short-chain fatty acids that fuel your colon cells, they ferment fibers your enzymes cannot reach, and they communicate with your immune system in real time.
What I read for
Microbial diversity first. Then the presence of keystone beneficial species (Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium, Bifidobacterium) and any opportunistic overgrowth. Calprotectin and secretory IgA for inflammation and immune tone. Pancreatic elastase for digestion. Short-chain fatty acid production. Each one points to a different lever.
Signs it isn't working
What this shows up as.
Most cases touch more than one of these. Recognize what you feel.
- Persistent digestive symptoms (bloating, irregular stools, reflux).
- Food reactions that have crept in or expanded.
- Skin issues (eczema, rosacea, acne) that resist topical treatment.
- Mood instability, anxiety, or brain fog without obvious trigger.
- Autoimmune flares or persistent low-grade inflammation.
Levers
Things you can do.
Practical, ordered roughly by impact. The plan that fits you depends on what your biology shows.
01
Eat 30 different plants per week
Diversity feeds diversity. This is the single strongest signal for a resilient microbiome.
02
Add fermented foods
Sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, yogurt. Small daily portions outperform occasional large ones.
03
Address the triggers
Alcohol, ultra-processed foods, and chronic NSAID use are the most common modifiable disruptors.
04
Manage stress
The gut and the brain talk constantly. Chronic stress shifts microbial composition within days.
05
Sleep
Microbial diversity tracks with sleep regularity. The same circadian system that runs your hormones runs your gut.
06
Support the barrier when needed
Zinc carnosine, L-glutamine, and targeted polyphenols help when the data shows barrier disruption.
Written by
Daniel Tagge, MD
Board-certified family physician. North Carolina’s only physician certified in Health Optimization Medicine. Third-generation physician. NPI 1225562218.
About Dr. TaggeHow I read this system
The panels that read it.
The gut is best read directly.
Where this shows up
Symptoms this system drives.
When this system is off, here is what patients usually feel. Open any symptom for the full read.
Work with me
This area inside the Partnership.
The panels that read this system run as part of a Precision Partnership membership. I interpret your data into a written Plan that traces every recommendation back to a finding.
Connected systems
Read alongside.
No system stands alone. These are the areas that interact most with this one.
From the library
On this system.
Long-form writing on the system above, from my own clinical lens.
Questions
About Gut-Immune health.
What stool test do you use?
Genova GI Effects is the panel I use most. It covers digestion, absorption, inflammation, microbial diversity, and pathogens in a single collection.
Do you treat SIBO?
Yes, when the data supports the diagnosis. SIBO is often a downstream symptom of a deeper motility, immune, or dietary issue, so I treat the cause as much as the colonization.
What about probiotics?
Targeted, sometimes. Generic high-count probiotics do less than people think. The right strain for your data, for a defined duration, with measurement before and after is the standard I work to.