Breath testing: When & how often?

How to Get the Most from Your Breath Testing

Breath testing doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few simple habits, you can build a clearer picture of your digestion while keeping the process stress-free. Remember: every test you take is a step toward understanding your gut better.

Start with a Baseline

It’s helpful to take a breath test first thing in the morning before eating. A pre-food reading gives you a clear “baseline” to compare with later in the day.

💡 If you notice a high reading before breakfast, it may suggest fermentation from the previous day’s meals is still taking place — and that’s useful information to have.

Test After Meals

To see how your digestion changes over time, try testing at regular intervals after meals — for example, 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours post-meal.

This helps highlight when rises are most likely to appear and can bring more clarity to your symptom patterns.

Keep It Balanced

We recommend a maximum of 10 breath tests in any 24-hour period. Spacing tests out thoughtfully helps your device last longer while still giving you meaningful insights.

👉 Don’t worry if you miss the “perfect” timing for a breath test — just take your next test as soon as you remember. Every reading adds value to your dataset.

Making It Easier with Reminders

To help you stay consistent, the FoodMarble app includes automatic breath test reminders. When you log a meal, you’ll get a Recent Meal reminder about an hour later. You can also set hourly reminders if you’d like more structure — so testing becomes simple and stress-free.

Key Takeaways

• Take a baseline breath test first thing in the morning to compare against later readings.
• Test hourly after meals to spot early rises in fermentation levels that may link to specific foods.
• Keep to a maximum of 10 tests in 24 hours (except on Challenge days).
• Don’t stress about timing—each reading contributes to your dataset and can reveal useful patterns over time.
• Use app reminders to make testing consistent and effortless.

Updated on: 01/09/2025