Gut Health

We Looked at Thousands of Gut Tests. Three Patterns Kept Showing Up.

Reviewed By: Alice Crabb - Naturopath

Written By: My Way Up® Editorial Team

Published at: 11/10/2026

Updated at: 11/10/2026

What did thousands of gut tests tell us about fibre? Three patterns kept showing up: low microbial diversity, low Bifidobacteria and a low ratio of short-chain fatty acid production, including butyrate. Each one links back to what your gut bacteria eat, and that's fibre.

We've been looking at the patterns in our gut tests over the past few years and lining them up with what the research says about fibre [1]. Here's what the patterns mean, the three fibre types in the My Way Up® range, and how to ease more fibre into your day.

In Short

Three patterns kept showing up in our gut tests: low diversity, low Bifidobacteria, and a low short-chain fatty acid and butyrate ratio.
Different fibres feed different bacteria, which is why the type of fibre matters [1].
Our range covers three fibre types, soluble gums, GOS and resistant starch, as a top-up to a fibre-rich diet.

What we see in our gut tests, and where fibre fits in.

Why the type of fibre matters

"Fibre" covers many different things. Some dissolve in water, some thicken into a gel, and some are fermented quickly while others are fermented slowly. Gel-forming fibres can slow stomach emptying and the absorption of sugars, while fermentable fibres feed the bacteria in your colon [1]. Different bacteria prefer different fibres [1], so two people eating the same fibre can get quite different results, partly because a person's starting mix of gut bacteria can shape how they respond [9].

People who eat more fibre tend to have lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer [2], and a diverse gut microbiome plus higher fibre intake has been linked with less weight gain over time [3].

The three patterns that kept showing up

Your body can't digest most fibre, so it travels to your large intestine, where trillions of bacteria use it as food. As they ferment it, they make short-chain fatty acids, mainly acetate, propionate and butyrate [1]. Each of our three patterns is a different link in that chain.

1. Low diversity: a rainforest that has turned into a paddock

Low microbial diversity is one of the patterns we see most often, with many tests coming back lower than our reference range. A healthy gut is like a rainforest, with many species doing different jobs. Larger studies have found that a less rich microbiome tends to go with less favourable metabolic markers [13], and a variety of fibres helps keep a variety of microbes fed [1].

Daily Gut contains two soluble gums, Sunfiber® (partially hydrolysed guar gum) and Fibergum™ (acacia gum). Both dissolve easily and are fermented by gut bacteria, acacia gum ferments slowly, which tends to be gentler. Together they give your gut bacteria two different fibres to feed on. One customer says Daily Gut "is now a part of my daily routine" (Yeliz S.).

2. Low Bifidobacteria: a key species missing

Low Bifidobacteria is another pattern we see often, with many tests showing levels below our reference range [define "low"]. These bacteria are among the first to move into our guts as babies, and they are specialist fibre fermenters, breaking fibre down into short-chain fatty acids such as acetate, which other gut bacteria use to make butyrate. They love prebiotics, which are foods for helpful bacteria, such as galactooligosaccharides (GOS)

Collagen Restore™ contains Bimuno® GOS, which has more than 120 scientific publications behind it. One customer says it's "so easy to add to my morning coffee, which makes it super simple to stay consistent with every day" (Vesna B.).

3. Low short-chain fatty acid and butyrate ratio: less of the gut's key fuel

A low short-chain fatty acid ratio is the third pattern we see often, with many tests coming back below our reference range. Butyrate is the main fuel for the cells lining your colon [1], and short-chain fatty acids also prompt gut cells to release hormones that help you feel full and manage blood sugar [4, 5]. A low ratio suggests the microbes that make them aren't producing as much as they could.

Resistant starch is a fibre that escapes digestion in the small intestine and is fermented in the colon. Supergut Protein contains Solnul®, a resistant potato starch. One customer says it "has everything in one – protein, digestive enzymes, pre and pro biotics" and "tastes amazing! Not like a protein powder" (Lea N.).

Getting the most from your fibre

The good news is that changes in fibre are often noticed first in regularity and how comfortable your digestion feels. Fermentation naturally makes a little gas, so it helps to ease in. Slowly fermented fibres like acacia gum tend to be gentle, and building up gradually with plenty of water lets your gut settle into its new rhythm. Everyone's gut is a little different, so go at your own pace.

Your gut bacteria also play a part in how your body manages energy [1], and researchers are learning more all the time about which fibres suit which people [1]. A person's starting mix of gut bacteria can shape how they respond to dietary change [9], which is why we love looking at gut test patterns like the ones above. Fibre works best as part of the whole picture, alongside good food, movement and sleep.

Closing the fibre gap

Australia's recommended intake is 25 g of fibre a day for women and 30 g for men [12], and many of us have a little room to add more. Researchers call this the "fibre gap" [11], and it may be one reason the patterns in our gut tests are so common. Food comes first, and it's delicious: vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds.

My Way Up® products add a labelled top-up on top of your food, and each brings a different type of fibre. Each scoop of Daily Gut (9 g, mixed into cold water) provides 4 g of fibre from two soluble gums that gut bacteria ferment, which is a variety of food for a variety of microbes. Each level scoop of Collagen Restore™ (9 g, stirred into coffee, one to two times a day) provides 1.7 g of Bimuno® GOS, a prebiotic that Bifidobacteria especially like. Each 20 g serve of Supergut Protein, blended into a smoothie or shake, provides 1.6 g of dietary fibre, including Solnul® resistant starch, which is fermented in the colon, where butyrate is made. In other words, each one is food for a different part of the picture our gut tests show.

They slot easily into your day alongside a fibre-rich diet.

Where to from here

Every gut is different, and the three patterns above are a good place to start thinking about yours: how varied your gut bacteria are, how many Bifidobacteria you have, and how much butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids they make from fibre.

If you'd like to see where your own gut stands, start with our at-home gut health test. From there, explore Daily Gut, Collagen Restore™ and Supergut Protein on the My Way Up® website.

Gut Health Test™

Take the guesswork out of gut health

Simple at-home sample kit
Looks at your gut bacteria diversity
Includes your short-chain fatty acid ratio
Personalised results and gut plan

Get your Gut Health Test™

FAQs

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.

Always read the label and follow directions for use. Reviews are from My Way Up customers and public review sites. These are individual experiences, not typical results, and individual results vary.

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