Practice Test Geeks(IIN) Institute for Integrative Nutrition Certification Practice Test
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Gut Health & Microbiome Flashcards

7 cards from real IIN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Gut Health & Microbiome flashcards as text

  1. Which food is the richest dietary source of resistant starch, a key prebiotic that feeds beneficial gut bacteria?

    Answer: Cooked and cooled potatoes

    Cooking and then cooling potatoes (and other starchy foods) increases resistant starch content, which escapes digestion and feeds beneficial bacteria in the colon.

  2. Which phase of the migrating motor complex (MMC) is responsible for sweeping bacteria and debris through the small intestine?

    Answer: Phase III (housekeeper wave)

    Phase III of the MMC, sometimes called the 'housekeeper wave,' produces strong peristaltic contractions that sweep bacteria and undigested material from the small intestine to the colon.

  3. A client following a strict low-FODMAP elimination diet for IBS should be advised that this diet is intended to be:

    Answer: A short-term elimination followed by systematic reintroduction

    The low-FODMAP diet is designed as a 2–6 week elimination phase followed by systematic reintroduction of FODMAP groups to identify individual triggers, not a permanent diet.

  4. The enteric nervous system is sometimes called 'the second brain' because it:

    Answer: Can function independently of the central nervous system

    The enteric nervous system contains over 500 million neurons and can regulate GI function independently of the brain and spinal cord, earning it the 'second brain' designation.

  5. Which microbiome-disrupting factor has been shown to reduce microbial diversity in as few as a single course of treatment?

    Answer: Broad-spectrum antibiotics

    A single course of broad-spectrum antibiotics can significantly reduce gut microbial diversity, and full recovery may take months to years in some individuals.

  6. What is the primary function of secretory IgA (sIgA) in the gut?

    Answer: Forming a first-line immune defense on mucosal surfaces

    Secretory IgA is the most abundant antibody in the gut and acts as a first-line immune defense by binding pathogens and preventing them from attaching to intestinal epithelial cells.

  7. Which of the following lifestyle factors has been shown to POSITIVELY impact gut microbiome diversity?

    Answer: Regular aerobic exercise

    Regular aerobic exercise is associated with increased gut microbiome diversity and higher levels of butyrate-producing bacteria, independent of diet.