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Focus on digestion and microbiome

When your gut is telling you something is off.

Data-driven coaching for bloating, IBS, food intolerances and exhaustion linked to the gut.

Digestive problems are not a life sentence. If your GP keeps telling you „your lab results are fine" while your gut keeps telling you otherwise, it's worth looking more closely together. We place your biomarkers in context, take a clear view of the microbiome and gut barrier, and build a plan that actually fits your daily life.

Important context: I'm a PhD scientist and coach (not a medical doctor). I don't diagnose conditions and I don't treat disease. My coaching complements medical care.

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Dr. B.J. Huber, gut health coach from Switzerland
Does this sound familiar?

Three typical situations where coaching makes sense.

Digestive issues despite „unremarkable" findings

You've been living with bloating, fullness after meals, frequent burping or irregular bowel habits for months or years. You've been to a gastroenterologist, maybe several. The colonoscopy was clean, the standard blood work came back „fine". The label often arrives as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). What's worth doing then: a shared look at the biomarkers that are typically overlooked — microbiome analysis, barrier markers, low-grade inflammation markers.

Food intolerances that keep multiplying

At some point you started eliminating foods: gluten, lactose, histamine, FODMAPs. It helped at first, but now you react to more and more. That's a familiar pattern that research links to a compromised gut barrier and a microbiome out of balance. Terms like leaky gut or SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) describe parts of this picture. Pure elimination rarely solves it, sometimes it makes things worse.

Exhaustion, brain fog, skin issues — and nobody finds the cause

At first glance the gut doesn't seem to be the problem. But you're exhausted, sleep poorly, struggle to concentrate, maybe have skin flare-ups, hormonal swings or signs of adrenal fatigue. The gut-brain axis and the gut-immune system explain many of these seemingly unrelated complaints, once you know where to look.

In all three cases, what's missing isn't a diagnosis. It's the depth of the analysis.
More than digestion

Why your gut influences almost every system in the body.

The gut is often viewed strictly as a digestive organ. That's true, but it's much more. It's a hub that communicates through biological axes with almost every other system in the body. When that communication breaks down, symptoms show up that don't appear gut-related at first. That's exactly why coaching with a gut focus can help with topics you wouldn't immediately connect to your gut flora.

The gut-brain axis

Through the vagus nerve, the microbiome and inflammatory messengers, the gut is in constant exchange with the brain. About 90 percent of the body's serotonin is produced in the gut. What this often explains: brain fog, mood swings, concentration issues, sleep problems, fatigue without obvious cause, also adult ADHD-type symptoms.

The gut-immune axis

About 70 percent of the immune system sits in the gut lining. A compromised barrier and an unbalanced microbiome directly influence inflammatory and autoimmune processes throughout the body. What this often explains: recurring infections, allergies, intolerances, chronic inflammation markers, autoimmune themes like Hashimoto's.

The gut-hormone axis

Specific gut bacteria — the so-called estrobolome — co-regulate how much estrogen stays active in the body or is cleared. Thyroid hormones are also activated in the gut, and the stress-hormone system with its HPA axis is closely linked to gut flora. What this often explains: hormonal symptoms in perimenopause, PMS, thyroid levels in the grey zone, energy crashes, signs of adrenal fatigue.

The gut-skin axis

Microbiome and gut barrier communicate through messengers and the immune system directly with the skin. Skin issues are often the visible expression of inner imbalances. What this often explains: eczema, atopic dermatitis, acne (also in adulthood), rosacea, unexplained rashes, premature skin aging.

The gut-liver axis

Through the portal vein, everything absorbed in the gut reaches the liver directly. A weakened gut barrier means a higher load on the liver, which shows up in metabolic markers and detoxification capacity. What this often explains: elevated liver enzymes without a clear cause, NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver), difficulty losing weight, sensitivity to medication or alcohol.

Important: The gut axes are not an alternative diagnostic and do not replace medical assessment. They are a scientifically well-supported framework for understanding connections that standard care sometimes leaves untouched. In coaching, we place your lab results and your story inside that framework, and you decide together with your physician what you take from it for your lifestyle.

My story

Why I do this specific work.

As a child, I was the girl who didn't function the way she was supposed to. Gut issues, exhaustion, long recovery times, and each year new symptoms were added. Over time it grew worse. At one point I could only tolerate three foods, and even those caused severe stomach pain. I became weaker and more desperate.

I saw many doctors. The results were always „unremarkable". But something wasn't right.

Back then I worked in scientific research, and I began to approach my own problem as systematically as I knew from the lab. I read through the research literature and, in coordination with doctors, ordered targeted tests that weren't part of the standard panel: microbiome analyses, comprehensive blood panels, stool markers. I adjusted what I ate, supplemented micronutrients, always data-driven, never based on guesswork.

Step by step it got better. When family members later fell seriously ill, I went deeper: autoimmune conditions, the gut-brain axis, functional medicine. Over time, I began to guide people around me on similar journeys, always alongside medical care.

Today, this is exactly what my coaching is: for people whose gut stories aren't captured in standard assessments.

„Three foods were all I could still tolerate in the end. What helped me wasn't the next round of elimination, but actually understanding what was happening underneath."

Dr. B.J. Huber

My approach

Inspired by functional medicine: get to the bottom of the connections.

Many gut issues are treated symptomatically: fibre, probiotics, in the worst case a FODMAP elimination diet that is never reintroduced. That sometimes helps in the short term, but rarely solves what lies underneath. My approach is different. Understand the data first, then build the plan. Inspired by functional medicine, embedded in real life in Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

Step 1

Preparation and history-taking

Before we meet for the first time, I look through your existing lab results and any previous stool tests beforehand. That way I can ask targeted questions in our session instead of losing time on the basics. In the conversation itself, I take the time for your full story: digestion, nutrition, sleep, stress, earlier themes, family situation.

Step 2

Deeper context and test suggestions

After the history session, I sit with your results and your story again in quiet. Where important markers are missing, we work out together which tests could bring clarity — from a microbiome analysis to a SIBO breath test. The tests themselves are ordered through your GP or a specialised lab in your country. I help you ask the right questions.

Step 3

The full picture and a prioritised plan

Once the additional results are in, I place them carefully within the full picture — together with your symptoms and your daily life. From that, we develop a prioritised lifestyle plan: nutrition patterns, movement, sleep, stress regulation, micronutrient pointers, ideas for how to rebuild your gut flora. Specific medication or therapy stays with your physician — I give you the understanding to talk with them as an equal.

Step 4

Step-by-step support

Nobody has to change everything at once. We work through the plan at your pace, reflecting, adjusting, going deeper. After three to four months, a second round of labs is often worth it so you can objectively see what has shifted — in your results and in your daily life.

Markers in coaching

Which markers we read together.

Not every marker makes sense for every person. Which you actually request from your physician or a specialised lab is something we work out together. Here is an overview of the labs that often bring extra clarity when a stool test is on the table or your blood panel has been extended with intention.

From stool

  • Microbiome diversity: how varied your gut is populated, an important stability marker.
  • Key bacteria like Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, both associated with mucosa protection and insulin sensitivity.
  • Calprotectin: marker for active gut inflammation.
  • Secretory IgA (sIgA): the local immune system in the gut.
  • Zonulin: permeability marker for the gut barrier, relevant in the context of leaky gut.
  • Digestive markers: how well your pancreas works, and how much bile is released.

From blood and breath test

  • hsCRP: low-grade inflammation, often elevated in chronic gut issues.
  • Histamine and DAO activity: important for histamine intolerance.
  • SIBO breath test: hydrogen and methane after glucose or lactulose, when SIBO is suspected.
  • Vitamin B12, folate, ferritin, transferrin saturation: absorption in the small intestine, often affected in chronic gut issues.
  • Vitamin D: central to mucosal immunity.
  • Hormones and thyroid: the gut is hormonally well connected, and a daily cortisol profile can be a helpful addition.

Which markers matter most in your specific case depends on your story and your symptoms. We discuss that in the free consultation, and in coaching we prioritise together.

Who this is for

Who benefits most.

You, if you …

  • … have lived with bloating, fullness, burping or IBS for months or years without a clear cause.
  • … have the sense that your standard labs are „always normal", but you know: something isn't right.
  • … are curious about microbiome, the gut-brain axis and functional medicine.
  • … prefer a data-driven approach with biomarkers, research and clear recommendations.
  • … are willing to adjust your lifestyle gradually and sustainably.

Not ideal, if you …

  • … have acute symptoms (bloody stool, severe weight loss, fever), this belongs in primary medical assessment.
  • … are looking for a quick pill that fixes everything in seven days.
  • … aren't willing to do tests or reflect on your dietary habits.
  • … have an existing, severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's). Here, coaching complements but doesn't lead. You also need specialised medical care.
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about gut health coaching

How is gut health coaching different from medical treatment?

A medical doctor diagnoses and treats acute conditions — that is their role and indispensable. Coaching complements that. We look together at how your lab results, stool tests and, if useful, a microbiome analysis fit into the wider picture, then translate the findings into a plan that fits your daily life, and walk the implementation together. My coaching does not replace medical care. For acute symptoms such as bloody stool, severe pain or ongoing weight loss, you belong in the hands of a physician.

Which symptoms is gut health coaching suited for?

Typical are chronic digestive issues without a clear diagnosis: persistent bloating, a feeling of fullness after every meal, frequent burping, irregular bowel habits, food intolerances or an already diagnosed Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). But also themes that don't seem related to the gut at first glance: ongoing exhaustion, skin problems like adult acne or rosacea, mood swings, concentration issues or autoimmune conditions. Through the gut-brain axis and the immune system, the gut influences almost every area of the body.

What is SIBO and when should it be investigated?

SIBO stands for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. Bacteria that normally belong in the large intestine settle in the small intestine and produce gases there. Typical signs are heavy bloating shortly after meals, a feeling of fullness even after small portions, and paradoxical reactions to fibre or probiotics. The gold standard is a breath test (glucose or lactulose, hydrogen and methane). Whether such a test makes sense in your case is something we work out together.

What does Leaky Gut mean, and is it scientifically recognised?

Leaky Gut — increased permeability of the intestinal barrier — is well documented in research and studied under the term intestinal permeability. What is more debated is how it is reliably measured and clinically interpreted. Markers like zonulin in stool, the lactulose-mannitol test, or LPS antibodies in blood provide signals but are not stand-alone proof. In coaching, we always read such markers in the context of your story and the rest of your labs and derive lifestyle steps that the research associates with barrier protection.

Which tests are useful for gut issues?

It depends on your situation. Often central are an extended stool test with microbiome analysis (diversity, key bacteria, digestive markers, inflammation markers like calprotectin and secretory IgA, barrier markers like zonulin), blood markers for low-grade inflammation (hsCRP), micronutrient status (vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron status, magnesium RBC) and hormones. If SIBO is suspected, a breath test is added. Which tests actually bring clarity in your case is something we clarify together. Nobody needs every test at once.

What is a microbiome analysis, and do I need one?

A microbiome analysis examines from a stool sample which bacteria populate your gut. It shows how high the diversity is, which groups dominate, and whether key bacteria like Akkermansia muciniphila or Faecalibacterium prausnitzii are sufficiently represented. It isn't always necessary from the start — sometimes a thorough history and a few targeted blood markers already give enough clues. When the test is worth it and which lab in Switzerland, Germany or Austria is reachable for you, we discuss in the free consultation.

How does the coaching work if I live in Switzerland, Germany or Austria?

The coaching takes place entirely online via video call. All you need is a stable internet connection. I work with clients across Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Tests can be ordered in each country through specialised labs or via your GP. A recommendation of which lab is reachable from your location is part of the coaching.

Does health insurance cover the cost?

Some Swiss supplementary health insurances such as SWICA or CSS contribute to health coaching. It's worth asking your insurer specifically. The coaching packages themselves are billed directly with me. The cost of laboratory tests is partly on you, depending on the test and your insurance — we discuss this transparently before you order anything.

How long does it take to see change?

That is very individual and not guaranteed. Some clients report a shift in well-being within the first four to six weeks of dietary changes. Sustainably rebuilding gut flora and changing lifestyle habits typically takes three to six months of consistent work. We start with the levers that current research suggests work fastest, then go deeper.

Do I need to have done tests beforehand?

No. If you already have results, they feed into the analysis. If not, we consider together which tests would make sense in your specific case. You don't need to prepare anything. The thorough history-taking and lab analysis are part of the coaching.

Ready for the first step?

In the free 30-minute consultation we get to know each other, you tell me your story, and we look together whether my coaching is a good fit for you.

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