You Can Get Your Gut Health Analyzed At Fishtown’s New Holistic Medical Practice

A gathering ground for the pre/probiotic obsessed.


Photo courtesy of Dr. Tara Nayak

Need proof that gut health is hot right now? Walk into pretty much any grocery store, and we’d be willing to bet you’ll find not just kombucha, but multiple flavors of the fermented beverage.

The other proof? Philly has a new holistic health joint, which focuses on, among many other things, gut health. Dr. Tara Nayak opened this Fishtown naturopathic outpost where she will be able to — wait for it — analyze your microbiome (a.k.a. the bacteria that live in your gut).

So what does an appointment at a naturopathic clinic look like? Your first visit with Dr. Nayak will be an hourlong discussion about your current health, including any relevant information about your health history. From there, she will work with you to find a solution to whatever ails you. She’s alllll about the long-term solution, not simply treating symptoms. “Treatment plans” with Dr. Nayak usually involve a diet outline, along with suggested nutrients, herbs, supplements, or homeopathics.

When it comes to getting your gut analyzed, here’s how it goes down: First, you’ll take a not-so-invasive stool sample via a Q-Tip swipe from the toilet paper, and you’ll send that sample in to be analyzed. From there, you’ll meet with Dr. Nayak to go over how certain strains of bacteria found in your body can be impacting aspects of your health including digestion, hormonal imbalances, and even your mood. Dr. Nayak will then work with you to develop a personalized diet change and/or supplementation plan to help improve your microbiome health. You’ll retest a month or two later to see if the changes have made any improvements.

And bonus: right now Dr. Nayak is offering a gut analysis special, “Smart Gut,” and she’s accepting insurance for this service only (she generally does not generally accept insurance, FYI). This special is running through the spring, but most gut analysis appointments after that window will be very similar to this process — minus the insurance coverage.

Dr. Nayak’s naturopathic practice is located at 440 East Girard Avenue, in the Threshold Wellness building. Overall, Dr. Nayak’s focus is on chronic diseases, digestive issues, and hormonal imbalances. You can learn more about Dr. Nayak’s services — which is a very extensive list (lookin’ at you reflexology) — and scheduling here and you’ll be on your way to a very intimate relationship with you microbiome.

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