Functional Testing
Test, don’t guess!
Why functional testing is the key to unlocking your health potential
I am so passionate about incorporating functional lab testing into your health journey. These tests were game changers for me to understand what was actually going on (aka root cause) with my symptoms, empowered me with knowledge and gave me a targeted focus while I implemented effective strategies for getting results!
These functional tests are most likely not administered by your allopathic medicine doctor and often dive deeper and give more information than their traditional test counterparts. Investing in these eye-opening tests saves you TIME and MONEY in the long run.
When the light bulb goes on and you finally see what is happening in your body, you are motivated to make targeted changes that will transform your life! There is nothing more empowering than taking control of your health and understanding the physiology of your body! I will take my time explaining in detail your tests and make sure you understand the results. This is no 20 min doc visit!
Functional testing is perfect if you:
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Have been doing “all the right things” and eating the “right” foods, but STILL have symptoms and do not feel at optimal wellness.
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Have had your doctor tell you all your labs are normal, but you do not feel good.
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Have already had some testing/blood work but are not satisfied and desire an alternative, more in-depth look coupled with a drug-less protocol for healing.
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Simply want a more natural, holistic AND science-based approach to address your symptoms and health concerns.
Want to learn more? Book a Complimentary Enrollment Call Now!
Why functional Testing?
Testing can highlight patterns of imbalance and give us insight on how to bring the body back to balance (homeostasis). We look at optimal ranges for health markers, not averages based on the general population. This allows us to notice small changes and nuances that can have a profound effect on our well-being and potentially change the course of a trend that if left unchecked, would have led to more serious symptoms. The purpose of functional testing then is not to diagnose any specific condition, but to give an overview on how the body is functioning. With this in-depth look, I can tailor a personalized health protocol for you.
Functional labs look at:
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Mineral deficiencies
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Heavy metal toxicity
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Metabolic insufficiency
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Thyroid dysfunction
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Oxidative stress
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Food sensitivities
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Inflammation
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HPA axis dysfunction (adrenals and stress health)
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Hormone imbalances
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Leaky gut
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Mold, parasites, candida, and h. pylori
Tests I work with: (not a complete list)
DUTCH Complete
The Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH) is the gold standard for a complete look at your hormones. The DUTCH shows us so much more than blood or saliva testing does! This test shows free hormone levels (what is unbound and available) as well as how much is being made in the body and metabolite levels (where its going).
The DUTCH test shows our HPA axis (stress, adrenal fatigue) markers for DHEA, DHEA-S, free cortisol, metabolized cortisol, as well as sex hormones including progesterone, estrogens, estrogen clearance pathways, and testosterone. This test will also show our melatonin levels and how our circadian rhythm may be affected. It also includes 6 organic acid markers: HVA (dopamine), VMA (epinephrine), kynurenate (B6), MMA (B12), pyroglutamate (glutathione) and 8-OHdG (oxidative damage).
The DUTCH is an easy to collect urine test done at home! This is a GREAT test for anyone who feels they have a hormone imbalance or is fatigued and stressed out.
Complete microbiome mapping: GI MAP
The last few decades have brought about great advances in the understanding of the gut microbiome and our health.
The Complete Microbiome Mapping test provides a comprehensive overview of the gut ecology with a simple single stool sample done at home (don’t worry, you get all the instructions you need, plus gloves!) The GI Map tests for parasites, bacterial imbalances (pathogenic as well as opportunistic), levels of beneficial flora, the presence of yeast overgrowth and several other important intestinal health markers including inflammation and zonulin (a marker for leaky gut).
If you’ve ever been diagnosed with IBS and/or your gut is irritable no matter what you do, this test is a must. It is also known that many people are living with some type of gut infection and may not even realize it. They think their symptoms are “normal” or do not equate them with a gut imbalance. Issues like skin breakouts, headaches, brain fog, depression, anxiety, fatigue and muscle soreness can all be from pathogenic gut infections. This test will shed light on what is really going on.
MRT Food Sensitivity Testing
This food sensitivity testing looks at mediator release response in the body… showing any inflammation happening due to ingesting a particular food. MRT is a functional measurement of diet-induced sensitivity pathways. MRT simplifies an overly complex reaction and translates that into the most useable clinical information you can get – quantifying the inflammatory response to foods and food-chemicals.
Not only does MRT give insight into inflammation provoking foods and food-chemicals, but more importantly MRT identifies your BEST foods. And unlike other food sensitivity tests, you do not have to have been exposed to a food in recent weeks for this test to be effective! The best food sensitivity test on the market!
Organic Acids Testing (OAT) : Great Plains Laboratory
This test offers a comprehensive metabolic snapshot of your health which shows vitamin/mineral levels, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter levels, oxalate levels, as well as in depth look at mold toxins and intestinal yeast, all of which can be attributed to chronic illness. In addition, OATS can show markers for certain types of autoimmunity, chronic fatigue, and cognitive issues
Hair Tissue mineral Analysis (HTMA) : Precision Analytical labs
Minerals are the "spark plugs" of life and involved in almost all enzymatic activity in the body.
The HTMA test looks at vital mineral levels, their ratios and shows any imbalances. It shows toxic mineral levels and presence of any heavy metals affecting your health. It can also show us adrenal, thyroid, inflammation, energy levels, metabolic function and more!
Food Sensitivity Testing at Peptide Level: Zoomer (Vibrant Wellness Labs)
This food sensitivity test is an in depth look at all the constituents of many highly inflammatory foods, testing the antibodies down to the peptide level. This is the most comprehensive look you can have at a food sensitivity (Choose 4 foods: wheat, dairy, lectins, nuts, seafood, egg, peanut).
BiomeFX Stool test
The BiomeFx™️ has a higher DNA capture than any other popular stool test on the market. This is because of a DNA sequencing method called whole-genome sequencing. This allows the test to see not only the presence of certain gut microbes, but also their precise abundance so that we can measure ratios of bacteria and determine ratios of dysbiosis for each individual.
Here are some key takeaways you will walk away with:
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Accurate, reliable results
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A deeper understanding of how your microbiome may be impacting your overall health
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Individualized lifestyle and dietary recommendations
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Actionable outcomes
Blood Work: DHA Labatory:
Often a crucial part of receiving foundational health baseline markers, having blood work as data point is highly recommended. I offer a wide array of blood panel options (past standard markers), depending on a client's issues. We look at functional ranges, not averages, in order to see trends for optimal health. Bloodwork is also an excellent measure of progress and is highly encouraged to be done repeatedly a few times a year (as with a few other tests)
Want to learn more? Book an enrollment Call Now!