How Antibiotics, Probiotics and Prebiotics Affect Your Gut and FoodMarble Results

How Antibiotics, Probiotics, and Prebiotics Affect Your Gut and FoodMarble Results

Your gut microbiome is made up of trillions of microorganisms that play a vital role in digestion and overall wellbeing. Factors such as antibiotics, probiotics, and prebiotics can all influence the balance of these microbes — and in turn, affect your FoodMarble results.

Antibiotics and the Gut Microbiome

Antibiotics are powerful medicines used to treat bacterial infections. While they can be essential for recovery, they also affect the balance of bacteria in your gut. Because antibiotics don’t just target “bad” bacteria, they can also reduce the levels of beneficial microbes, and it may take several weeks for your microbiome to rebuild after treatment.

Antibiotics and FoodMarble Breath Test Results

If you’ve recently taken antibiotics, your gut bacteria — the very microbes responsible for fermentation — may have been disrupted. This means your day-to-day breath test results may look different for a while.

• Some people notice that their results appear more erratic or difficult to interpret.
• These changes can last for a few weeks after finishing antibiotics.

This is normal and simply reflects the temporary state of your microbiome.

Antibiotics and FoodMarble Challenges

While your microbiome usually recovers over time, the speed and extent of recovery vary from person to person.

• You can continue daily breath tests after antibiotics if you’d like to track how your fermentation levels are changing.
• However, we recommend waiting at least 4 weeks after completing antibiotics before beginning the FoodMarble food intolerance tests. This ensures that your results reflect your baseline digestion rather than short-term fluctuations.

Probiotics and FoodMarble

Probiotics are live microorganisms (often called “good bacteria”) that can support gut health. They are sometimes recommended during or after antibiotics to help restore microbial balance.

• When you first start taking probiotics, it’s normal to see your FoodMarble results appear elevated for a short period.
• Over time, as beneficial bacteria establish themselves, your results will more accurately reflect your digestion.

Tip: To get the most reliable FoodMarble Challenge results, avoid taking probiotics during the fasting period and during the 3-hour testing window.

Prebiotics and FoodMarble

Prebiotics are different from probiotics. Instead of being live microbes, they are fibres that act as food for beneficial bacteria, encouraging their growth.

Common Prebiotic-Rich Foods

• Chicory root – rich in inulin
• Garlic and onions – contain fructans (prebiotic fibres)
• Asparagus – a natural source of inulin
• Jerusalem artichokes – high in inulin

If you’re including more prebiotic-rich foods in your diet, you’re essentially feeding your good gut bacteria. As a result, you may notice higher breath test results, which is a sign that your microbes are active and fermenting.

Key Takeaway

Your gut is resilient, and changes in your FoodMarble results after antibiotics, probiotics, or prebiotics are a natural reflection of what’s happening inside your body. By understanding these influences, you’ll gain clearer insights into your digestion and feel more empowered to make food and lifestyle choices that support your long-term wellbeing.

Updated on: 09/09/2025