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Gut Health

My journey to understanding Gut Health.

As the founder of Victory Serums, my journey began with persistent dandruff. After decades of using various anti-dandruff products, it became clear that addressing my scalp issues needed to go beyond surface-level treatments. It wasn’t until I learned about the gut-skin-brain axis, and how dysbiosis of the gut can interrupt skin health, that I started to explore other treatment pathways.

This turning point inspired me to create Victory Serums – products and pathway, designed to reset (Step 1) and rebalance (Step 2) the scalp microbiome to a lower more acidic pH of 4.5 to 5.0, once scalp dysbiosis has occurred. The rebalance period, (Step 2), became critical as it provided the physical time and mental space to improve my gut health while finding the minimal dandruff-control product required while incorporating the Victory Serums Microbiome-Friendly Conditioning Shampoo with low pH. The goal was to maintain a healthy scalp while using as few preservatives and dandruff-control product on my scalp as possible.


The difference between Victory Serums Dandruff-Control Pathway and simply reducing the use of your typical anti-dandruff shampoo is sixfold. It:

  • resets the scalp microbiome allowing a rebalance incorporating a microbiome-friendly shampoo
  • has a lower, more acidic pH balance that supports a healthy scalp microbiome
  • is batch-produced with no unnecessary preservatives to increase product shelf-life
  • requires minimal product use. i.e. 2 to 4ml of the serum and 1 to 2ml of shampoo
  • provides other options to consider if dandruff gets out of control again

The Founder’s Journey provided a unique opportunity to explore the link between my gut and scalp health and I hope that improving gut health is something you may consider for yourself.

Your Victory is Our Victory 

Matt Heron

Founder, Victory Serums

Gut Health (Step 3)

Gut health influences everything from digestion to immunity and skin health. The gut is home to trillions of microbes that help regulate various bodily functions, making balance in the gut a key step toward optimal health. 

Having obtained my own gut health tests during the Founder’s Journey, I discovered there was more to it than I had thought. Below I share the areas covered in the test to help bring more awareness:

  • Macroscopic Description - Looks at stool colour, form, presence of mucous, and occult blood to detect abnormalities in digestion, infection, inflammation or gastrointestinal issues
  • Microscopic Description - Assesses the presence of red blood cells, white blood cells, food remnants, fat globules, starch, meat fibres, and vegetable fibres to check for maldigestion, inflammation or infection
  • pH - Measures the acidity or alkalinity of the stool, which can indicate imbalances in gut health and affect short-chain fatty acid production
  • Beneficial Bacteria - Quantifies beneficial gut bacteria (e.g., lactobacillus and bifidobacterium species), essential for maintaining a healthy gut microbiome and inhibiting pathogens
  • Pathogenic Bacteria - Tests for the presence of harmful bacteria (e.g., salmonella, shigella, campylobacter) that can cause gastrointestinal diseases
  • Opportunistic and Dysbiotic Bacteria - Detects bacteria that may normally be harmless but can become pathogenic under certain conditions or with imbalances in beneficial bacteria.
  • Yeast - Checks for the presence of yeast species like Candida, which can indicate overgrowth and potential gut flora imbalances
  • Parasites - Identifies common gastrointestinal parasites, such as Dientamoeba fragilis, which can cause symptoms like diarrhea, bloating and abdominal pain
  • Antibiotic Sensitivities - Tests bacteria for sensitivity or resistance to various antibiotics to guide appropriate treatment options
  • Natural Inhibitors (Antifungals) - Evaluates the effectiveness of natural substances (e.g., garlic, berberine, oregano) in inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi.

General Probiotics - Be aware 

Probiotic supplements are easily obtained at a pharmacy, health food store or supermarket. The marketing of probiotic blends enables consumers to select them based on specific needs and there is a heavy emphasis on the colony forming units (CFU) count as a measure of difference between brands. The larger the concentration of CFU implies that it is more beneficial.

I looked for a blend that helped improve skin health and I was directed to a 30-day probiotic course marketed specifically for skin health. Seemingly a perfect fit with two beneficial bacteria listed on the product being: 

  • Bifidobacterium animalis (20 Billion CFU)
  • Lactobacillus rhamnosus (6 Billion CFU)

When compared to my gut health test results, as shown below, this probiotic blend would have boosted an already acceptable level of beneficial bacteria and possibly pushed another one into the high range. In my case, neither boosted the beneficial bacteria I actually needed which are all shown as 1+ *L indicating presence but lower than what is considered a beneficial range.

Time Cost

Using the wrong probiotics is costly both in expense and time wasted. Time spent improving gut health matters so being efficient with your time means taking a bespoke approach to your probiotic needs.

Benefits of a Personalised Approach

By taking a personalised approach, any dietary or probiotic intervention is tailored to your specific needs, leading to better and more sustainable results. Whether managing digestive issues, skin conditions or hormone imbalances, professional guidance is key to long-term success.

Professional Guidance

Gut health tests are not a simple read and in Australia, you require a health care professional linked to a laboratory to order the tests. They can also decipher the results and prescribe the required supplements or treatments.

It is an effective process that works well for those who have a genuine need or interest in managing their gut health.

Trust the Process

Improving gut health is not an overnight process. Based on professional advice, consistency in dietary adjustments and bespoke supplements are essential for long-term improvements. It can take weeks or even months to restore balance to the gut, and the changes are gradual but impactful. Functional health professionals will often advise following a consistent plan over three to six months to see results.

Functional Health Survey 

Most health professionals use a functional health survey with weighted responses. This weighting provides a data record, mapping your current health as a measure of how you feel about your various health markers. The responses are scaled either 0 to 5, or 0 to 10. One purpose of the survey is to help identify if supplements, treatments or dietary and lifestyle changes are improving how you feel and if the changes are having a positive impact after three to six months. 

If you answer truthfully and the supplements, treatments or dietary and lifestyle changes have improved your condition then a gut-health re-test may not be required.

The X-Factor: A Gut Health Revelation

When I began my gut health journey my goal was primarily to find a solution to persistent dandruff. Little did I know, this journey would fundamentally change the way I view not only my health but also how I approach food selection. What started as a personal experiment transformed into an unexpected shift in lifestyle, especially when it came to food shopping and daily habits.

My focus is now on supporting the gut microbiome by using a trip to the grocery store as an opportunity to buy ingredients and foods that nourish and support the gut. 

The idea of gut health went from being something abstract to a core focus of my daily food decisions. This was not something I set out to discover, but it has been an unexpected and valuable outcome of my journey.

Victory Serums Gut Health Test & Consultation Service

Victory Serums provides access to a Gut Health Testing & Consultation service from Australian-based health professionals.

If you are considering gut health testing and not sure where to start watch the Gut Health Testing Consultation Video HERE to see if this is a possible next step for you and your severe dandruff or other skin related health issues.

Disclaimer:

The information provided on this website, including the Founder’s Journey, The Experiment, Gut Health & Vitamin Deficiencies, and all associated tables, descriptions, recommendations, and treatments, is based on the personal experiences and research of the founder. These insights are specific to the founder’s own health journey and are shared for informational purposes only.

This content should not be interpreted as medical or health advice or used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition, including dandruff or other related conditions. Individual health needs and responses to treatment vary, and any decisions regarding your health and wellness should be made in consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Always seek professional medical and health advice before starting any new treatment or making significant changes to your health regimen.

Victory Serums disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on the information provided.