What does my fermentation score mean?

A fermentation score is an objective reading of the gases detected in your breath at a given time.

A single fermentation score on its own may not tell you much. Your FoodMarble device is meant to be used regularly overtime to help you discover trends in your fermentation based on your hydrogen and methane readings.

The more breath tests recorded, the more insights you will get from your logged data.

Your levels of fermentation are unique to you and can be affected by: 

• The type of food you eat

• Any medications you may be taking 

• Any recent use of alcohol or smoking

• Stress

• Poor sleep

• Intensive exercise

High fermentation isn't necessarily a bad thing. The fermentation process is how your gut microbes break down certain carbohydrates and the gases produced are byproducts of this and what may contribute to symptoms. For this reason, symptom logging is highly important. By using the FoodMarble app to record your fermentation scores and your symptoms, you can learn to distinguish the good fermentation from the bad fermentation (i.e. the fermentation that causes symptoms). Your device helps you find out which food components are most compatible with your digestive system and which ones trigger symptoms. Though, symptoms may also be exasperated by stress and even physical exercise.

Your FoodMarble device is designed to help those struggling with digestive problems such as bloating, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhoea. Sometimes these symptoms are triggered by the body's response to particular foods. By logging the food that you eat, and the level of fermentation occurring afterwards (which is what the breath test scores indicate) you can eventually discover a food / food type which leads to higher levels of fermentation. Combining this with logs of your symptoms will show you what foods are leading to uncomfortable or painful symptoms. 

If you are unsure about the underlying cause of your digestive problems, you should contact your doctor in the first instance.

Experiment with the foods you eat. For example, see how your fermentation levels change on different days with different foods. Compare your fermentation and symptoms after eating a different breakfast, or after a meal with different amounts of garlic, swap out cheeses or prepare your food with or without onions. 

If you want to get answers quickly, make sure to consider completing all four food intolerance tests for lactose, fructose, sorbitol and inulin.

Updated on: 30/07/2025