💚 Health Tracking

Monitor digestive symptoms, track bowel movements using the Bristol Stool Scale, and identify trigger foods to optimize your gut health.

Digestive Symptom Tracking

Common Symptoms to Track

GutFlow helps you monitor a wide range of digestive symptoms:

Bloating: Feeling of fullness or distension in the abdomen
Gas: Flatulence frequency and intensity
Cramping: Abdominal pain or discomfort
Heartburn/Reflux: Burning sensation in chest or throat
Nausea: Feeling of sickness or urge to vomit
Indigestion: Difficulty digesting food or stomach discomfort
Food Cravings: Unusual urges for specific foods
Energy Levels: Post-meal fatigue or energy spikes

How to Log Symptoms

Navigate to the Input tab
Tap "Log Symptom"
Select symptom type and severity (1-5 scale)
Note the timing (before/after meals)
Add optional notes about potential triggers
Save to your health log

📝 Tracking Tips

Log symptoms as they occur rather than trying to remember later. Even mild symptoms are worth tracking as they can reveal patterns over time. Use the quick notes feature to capture context like stress levels or sleep quality.

Bristol Stool Scale

Understanding the Scale

The Bristol Stool Scale is a medical classification system that helps track digestive health through stool consistency and form:

Bristol Stool Scale Reference

Severe Constipation: Separate hard lumps, difficult to pass

Mild Constipation: Lumpy and sausage shaped

Normal (lower end): Sausage shaped with cracks

Ideal: Smooth, soft sausage or snake-like

Normal (upper end): Soft blobs with clear edges

Mild Diarrhea: Mushy consistency with ragged edges

Severe Diarrhea: Liquid consistency, no solid pieces

Using the Bristol Scale in GutFlow

Tap "Bowel Movement" in the Input section
Select the Bristol Scale number that matches
Note any unusual color, smell, or other characteristics
Record timing and ease of passage
Add notes about recent meals or lifestyle factors

🎯 Healthy Range

Types 3-5 are generally considered healthy. Consistent types 1-2 may indicate constipation, while frequent 6-7 could suggest digestive issues. Track patterns over time rather than focusing on individual instances.

Identifying Trigger Foods

How GutFlow Finds Triggers

Our AI analyzes your food and symptom logs to identify potential trigger foods:

Pattern Recognition: Correlates symptoms with foods consumed 1-24 hours prior
Frequency Analysis: Identifies foods that consistently precede symptoms
Severity Mapping: Notes which foods cause more severe reactions
Timing Correlation: Tracks how long after eating symptoms typically appear

Common Trigger Categories

FODMAPs: Fermentable carbohydrates (garlic, onions, wheat, dairy)
Dairy Products: Lactose intolerance indicators
Gluten-containing Foods: Potential celiac or sensitivity markers
Spicy Foods: Capsaicin and irritant compounds
Artificial Additives: Preservatives, colorings, sweeteners
High-fat Foods: Foods that slow digestion
Caffeine: Coffee, tea, energy drinks
Alcohol: Various alcoholic beverages

Elimination Testing

When GutFlow identifies potential triggers, you can:

Review Trigger Report: See foods ranked by likelihood of causing symptoms
Plan Elimination: Remove suspected trigger for 2-4 weeks
Monitor Changes: Track if symptoms improve during elimination
Reintroduce Systematically: Add food back and monitor for symptom return
Confirm or Rule Out: Establish definitive trigger status

⚕️ Medical Consultation

While GutFlow can identify patterns, significant digestive issues should be discussed with a healthcare provider. Consider consulting a doctor or registered dietitian before making major dietary changes, especially if you have ongoing symptoms.

Energy & Mood Tracking

Post-Meal Energy Monitoring

Track how different foods affect your energy levels:

Energy Dips: Foods that cause fatigue or "food coma"
Energy Boosts: Meals that provide sustained energy
Blood Sugar Patterns: Foods that cause energy spikes and crashes
Mental Clarity: How nutrition affects cognitive function

Mood and Food Connections

Monitor the gut-brain connection:

Mood Changes: Foods that affect emotional well-being
Anxiety Triggers: Foods that increase anxiety or restlessness
Comfort Foods: Understanding emotional eating patterns
Sleep Quality: How meals affect sleep patterns

Apple Health Integration

Synced Health Metrics

When connected to Apple Health, GutFlow can correlate digestive health with:

Sleep Quality: How sleep affects digestive symptoms
Exercise Activity: Impact of physical activity on digestion
Heart Rate Variability: Stress levels and gut health connection
Weight Trends: Correlate weight changes with dietary patterns
Hydration: Water intake effects on digestive health

Setting Up Health Sync

Go to More → Settings → Apple Health
Tap "Connect to Apple Health"
Select which data types to share
Allow GutFlow to read relevant health data
Enable automatic syncing for continuous monitoring

Setting Health Goals

Customizable Health Targets

Set and track progress toward digestive health goals:

Symptom Reduction: Decrease bloating or gas frequency
Regularity Goals: Achieve consistent bowel movements
Trigger Avoidance: Successfully eliminate problematic foods
Energy Stability: Maintain consistent energy levels
Overall Gut Health Score: Improve your weekly gut health rating

Progress Tracking

Monitor your journey with:

Weekly gut health scores
Symptom frequency trends
Trigger food identification progress
Energy level consistency
Milestone celebrations and achievements