How Your Gut & Oral Microbiome Reveal the Truth About Your Health

Meg ORourke, RD-LDN
Jun 18
3 min read

If you’ve ever felt dismissed by conventional medicine, told to “just eat less and move more,” or had your GI issues labeled as IBS with no real solution—you’re not alone. At Harmony with Food, we believe in testing, not guessing, and that real healing begins in the gut.

Your Microbiome Runs the Show

I always say: your gut talks first. Whether you’re dealing with fatigue, weight gain, bloating, mood swings, or autoimmune flares, chances are the root cause starts in your microbiome. And not just the gut—your oral microbiome plays a big role too.

At Harmony with Food, I offer both stool and oral microbiome testing to dig into what’s really going on. When we test, we can see exactly what foods, supplements, or toxins are helping—or hurting—you. Schedule a free call with me today to get testing started.

Schedule a Call With Meg

Are You a Supplement Nutcase?

No shame—I’ve worked with so many people who’ve collected cabinets full of supplements based on blogs, podcasts, and ads that “sounded like them.” But if you don’t know what’s actually working, it’s like throwing spaghetti at the wall.

Let’s be real: half of what’s sold online or at big box stores isn’t even what you think it is. The FDA just issued a massive recall for supplements distributed in 46 states due to undeclared allergens like fish proteins. That’s dangerous—and totally avoidable.

This is why I never push supplements without data. Instead, I use tests like:

Micronutrient panels
Food sensitivity testing
Nutrigenomic profiling

We build your health plan based on facts, not fads.

The Bitter Truth About Fake Sugars

Let me be blunt: fake sugars are a scam. I’ve said it for years, and now the science is backing it up. Artificial sweeteners like erythritol can spike insulin levels, increase your risk of stroke, and ironically... make you gain weight.

Why? Because they’re 20 to 80 times sweeter than sugar. Your pancreas overreacts, floods your body with insulin, and BOOM—fat storage. My advice? Use real maple syrup, honey, or actual sugar (in moderation). At least your body knows what to do with it.

A Fungus That Fights Liver Disease?

Yep. You read that right. Recent research shows a specific gut fungus—F. prausnitzii—could help reduce the enzyme activity behind fatty liver disease (also known as MASLD). This fungus essentially helps your body block the production of harmful fats in the liver.

This is huge, especially considering nearly 1 in 4 Americans have fatty liver issues and most conventional treatments fall short. These are the types of innovations that get me excited—and remind me why we must be our own health advocates.

Mood, Microbes & Mental Health

Your gut isn’t just in charge of digestion. It also talks directly to your brain. We’re now seeing that people with low microbiome diversity are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.

Enter psychobiotics—a new class of probiotics targeting mental wellness by supporting the production of serotonin, dopamine, and GABA. In plain English? The right bugs in your gut can help lift your mood. (And no, you don’t need a prescription.)

It’s Time to Test, Not Guess

Here’s what I want you to know: you don’t have to keep guessing. You don’t have to live with bloating, brain fog, or fatigue. You don’t have to pop random supplements and hope they help.

You just need the right data—and someone who knows how to interpret it. That’s where I come in.

If you’re ready to get serious about your health, I offer a free, no-pressure call. We’ll talk through your symptoms, health history, and whether testing is a fit. And if it’s not? I’ll point you in the right direction anyway. I want what’s best for you—period.