Questions, answered plainly
GutLedger is a food and symptom diary that does the bookkeeping for you. Here's everything about how it works, where its numbers come from and what it can't do.
The basics
Is this a food intolerance test?
No. It's a self-tracking tool. It shows patterns in your own log so you and your doctor or dietitian can decide what to test next. It doesn't diagnose anything.
How long until I see suspects?
You get a first suspect list after 7 days of logging. It gets more certain the longer you log, and most people see clearer patterns after 3–4 weeks.
Do I have to type every ingredient?
No. Type "chicken burrito with salsa and sour cream" and it expands that into likely ingredients you can confirm. Scan a packaged food's barcode and it pulls the real ingredient list.
Can I share it with my doctor?
Yes. Export a PDF with your log, symptom trends and suspect list in one click.
What if I have a serious reaction?
Hives, swelling or trouble breathing after eating can be an allergy, which is an emergency. Get medical care. GutLedger is for everyday digestive symptoms, not allergies.
Can I cancel?
Yes, any time from your account. You won't be charged if you cancel during the 7-day trial.
How the suspect list is counted
Every meal you log is split into ingredients, and each one is grouped under a common name: feta, milk powder and sour cream all count as dairy; tortillas, bread and pasta as wheat.
A bad spell is a gut rating of 6/10 or worse. For each ingredient, GutLedger looks at the windows 1–4, 4–8, 8–12, 12–24, 24–48 and 48–72 hours after you ate it, and counts how often a bad spell followed: "5 of 6 times, 4–8 h later". It compares that with the same window after your other meals, so a food you eat every day doesn't top the list just for being everywhere.
Confidence comes from a Wilson interval, a standard way to say how sure a rate is with only a few cases. An ingredient needs at least 3 logged exposures before it can show up. Foods you always eat together share their pattern, and the list says so.
The list is recomputed every night, and right after each gut rating you log.
The elimination and reintroduction
Pick one suspect and GutLedger sets up a 2- or 3-week break from it, then a planned reintroduction: one normal portion on a settled day, followed by 3 days of ratings. It compares your scores before, during and after, and emails you when it's time for the next step. Talk to your doctor or dietitian before cutting out foods for long, especially if you already eat a restricted diet.
Where the data comes from
Your own log
Every number on your suspect list and in your report is counted from what you logged. Nothing is borrowed from other people. Your log is never sold, and deleting your account deletes it.
Open Food Facts
Barcodes are looked up in Open Food Facts, the free, open food database, for the printed ingredient list and allergens. Its data is © Open Food Facts contributors under the Open Database License.
Claude, for splitting meals
When you type a meal in plain words, an AI model (Claude) suggests the likely ingredients, which you confirm or edit. It also helps word the explanations. It never makes up a number and never gives medical advice.
What allergists say
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology says of food sensitivity testing: "Unfortunately, no single test exists that can give you this answer." McGill's Office for Science and Society points to "a short-term elimination diet followed by a reintroduction of the likely suspect".
Who it's for
Adults with bloating, IBS-like symptoms or a suspected food intolerance, especially if a doctor or dietitian has asked you to keep a food and symptom diary. It works in any browser, on your phone or your computer, and you can add it to your home screen like an app.
It isn't for food allergies, children, or anyone told to follow a medical diet without supervision.
How it compares
| Tool | Price | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| GutLedger | $6/mo after 7 free days | Meals typed in plain words, split into ingredients; lag and confidence per ingredient; elimination plan; PDF. In the browser. |
| mySymptoms | $9.99/mo after a 7-day trial (source) | Deep food and symptom analysis on the phone; ingredients entered by hand; asks for 28 days of logging first. |
| Bearable | $6.99/mo (source) | Tracks many health factors together; not food-ingredient specific. |
| Paper or a spreadsheet | Free | No ingredient breakdown and no lag analysis. |
Not a medical device
GutLedger is a self-tracking wellness tool. It doesn't diagnose, treat or prevent any condition, and a pattern in your log is not proof of a cause. Use it to have a better conversation with your doctor or dietitian.