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Why Testing Your Gut Health Matters and Why a Little Dirt Does You Good

08th September 2025

We’ve all heard the phrase “trust your gut,” but science now tells us that our gut is doing far more than helping us digest food. Deep inside us lives a vast community of microbes – bacteria, fungi, and even viruses – known as the gut microbiome. This hidden ecosystem influences everything from immunity and energy to mood and mental clarity.

At Goodwood, we’re fascinated by the way gut health connects to the bigger picture of wellbeing. That’s why at our annual Goodwood Health Summit, we’ve partnered with Randox Health, who are pioneers in diagnostics who are helping people unlock the secrets of their own microbiome.

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The power of knowing what’s inside your gut

One of the most exciting advances in wellbeing is the ability to measure and understand your gut health from home. Randox Health’s Gut Microbiome Test Kit makes it simple: order your kit online, collect a sample in the privacy of your home, and post it back to the laboratory. Within weeks, you’ll receive a detailed picture of your microbial diversity, along with insights tailored to your lifestyle.

Why does this matter? Because diversity is everything. A thriving, varied microbiome acts like a protective shield, making it harder for harmful bacteria to take hold and helping your body manage weight, inflammation, energy, and even mood. Randox’s testing also looks at the balance between key families of bacteria and highlights where simple dietary or lifestyle tweaks could make a real difference.

 

The surprising truth: don’t be too clean

One of the more memorable takeaways from the last year’s Goodwood Health Summit was the advice: “Don’t be a clean freak.”

Of course, good hygiene matters, but our modern obsession with sterility can work against us. The microbiome thrives on exposure. Gardening, walking barefoot on grass, or simply spending more time outdoors introduces us to beneficial microbes that enrich diversity in the gut.

It’s a simple reminder that health isn’t always about avoiding the messy parts of life; sometimes, it’s about embracing them.

 

From soil to gut: the bigger picture

This idea of “a little dirt being good for you” runs deeper than we might think. The health of the soil our food grows in directly affects the health of our microbiome. Nutrient-rich, microbially alive soils produce more nourishing food – which in turn supports a more resilient gut.

At Goodwood, our organic farming principles and commitment to soil health have always been central to how we care for the land. Now, the science is showing us just how closely the soil beneath our feet is connected to the microbes within us.

That’s why this October, the Goodwood Gut Health Summit will explore the fascinating links between soil health and human health, bringing together leading voices in nutrition, science, and farming.

 

Your next step in gut health

Discover your own gut health with the Randox Health Gut Microbiome Test Kit and start making informed changes that support your wellbeing.

Join us at the Goodwood Gut Health Summit, presented by Randox Health on Thursday 2 October to learn more about the powerful connection between soil, food, and your gut.

The Summit brings together leading voices from government, healthcare, holistic practices, campaigners, policy, business leadership, agriculture, and food & beverage to drive meaningful change. By holding these conversations publicly and online, this is your chance to be part of the dialogue.

Join the online audience for £10.

  • health summit 2025

  • soil health

  • Goodwood Health & Wellbeing

  • gut health

  • randox

  • Health Summit

  • latest news

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