Functional medicine testing, looks to determine the root cause of a dis-ease or dis-eases by identifying the core metabolic and biochemical imbalances.
Have you been told your blood test results are within normal range and yet have symptoms? You may be feeling exhausted, unable to get through the day, or experiencing the most painful digestive symptoms, brain fog, anxiety, or a child may be diagnosed with ADHD or Tourette’s but the blood tests are all ‘fine’. Or you can't get the support you need? Then you may benefit from a functional testing.
We have people who one year have a clean bill of health and a year later are diagnosed with diabetes. The body does not work in this manner. Dis-eases take time, they do not just ‘turn up’ at your door step one day un-announced.
Have a look at the current recommended dietary allowances for vitamins and minerals, these are based largely on the prevention of diseases of deficiency and deficiencies that are based on ‘blood levels’. But most people still have vitamins and minerals 'within’ normal ranges', when they are ill and/or experiencing symptoms. The main stream medical model is life saving when it comes to life-death situations but it is not set up for chronic health conditions or for the prevention of disease.
Imagine if you will, a bucket that has holes, as long as you can keep filling that bucket up fast, it will not run out of water but that bucket never has enough water. This is survival, running on half empty.
As an integrative practitioner in nutrition and functional medicine, I use functional tests.
These tests do not come back ‘normal’ or within range when one has been told their blood tests results are ‘fine’. These tests look at those ‘holes in the bucket’, not just the amount of water in the bucket.
What has created those holes?
How can these holes be addressed?
Which holes are more important to address first?
The imbalances that nutritional medicine believes are important include various systems in the body:
Digestive - aka digestion, absorption, assimilation, microbiome
Detoxification aka toxins
Nervous system - aka neurotransmitters
Nutrients - aka vitamins and minerals
DNA SNPs - genetic pre-dispositions such as MTHFR, GSST1 etc.
Hormones - hormones and their metabolism
Personalised medicine or Precision Medicine ...call it what you will but this IS medicine, where the individual is at the CORE, not the diagnosis. FOOD IS MEDICINE. Food is never ignored. If you want to book a session, be prepared to look at the food on your plate, as without implementing dietary changes, you will be wasting your time and money.
Personalised medicine or Precision Medcine is the future of health. We know one person may respond to a medication with side effects such as migraines another may feel absolutely fine on that medication. One person loses weight and feels wonderful on the keto diet, another may feel lethargic and constipated. This is known as biochemical individuality. No two people have the same make up, our biochemistry is impacted by our environment, by the food we put inside out bodies, by the chatter in our head etc.
In order to serve my clients well, I offer a variety of tests (and the team between them offer these tests too). As we say in our world, ‘test not guess’.
The tests that I have chosen are the most valuable ones in my clinical experience. I offer other tests too, but they are not listed below, however you can contact us and we can let you know. All tests are to be booked with a nutrition session.
Which test? This very much depends on what you are want support for, your current health status, your current symptoms, medications etc. But have a read of the tests below, to help decide. If not you can email me at HERE
DNA Tests
The DNA tests are done only once in your life time. I use a company that tests for the key important biological systems and the most important potential variants. This DNA test includes methylation, detoxification, inflammation, insulin sensitivity to name a few. These are actionable genes, what we call single nucleotide polymorphisms SNPs. There are many companies providing these tests but the key is :
Are these SNPs tests relevant? There is a hierarchy of SNPs.
Analysis
Interpretation
There is no point is having such tests done if the information gained cannot be put into daily practice. And DNA testing is not about replacing the SNP with a supplement, it is about the WHOLE person.
Who can benefit? Everyone, moreso if you have a family history such as of cancer, dementia, heart disease, diabetes.
The DNA tests can highlight specific metabolic pathways that may requite extra support, such as ongoing liver detox support supplementation/functional foods due t a SNP in one of the phase two detox enzymes. The DNA tests can also provide an indication of the degree of susceptibility to the harmful effects of toxins such as carcinogens ingested in the diet.
Further DNA tests can be added on, including the testing for DNA SNPs that would be involved in metabolising certain medications. So say you were going to be prescribed Statins, you could do a DNA test to find out if this medication ‘fairs well’ for your DNA. In other words this medicine check DNA test provides detailed guidelines on gene-drug interactions; highlighting potential side effects, increased toxicity, and lack of efficacy. This should ideally be available to anyone who is prescribed a medication. How do we know that medication is suitable?
DNA testing is in my opinion is vital in this day and age.
Adrenal Stress Test
Welcome to the 21st century, who is not stressed? Daily hassles, chronic pain, blood sugar dys-regulation, work stressors, social media, and poor relationship quality can alter the HPA (Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal axis). Imbalances in adrenal hormones such as cortisol and DHEA, can have a wide range of negative consequences that can adversely impact a patient's overall quality of life.
Who can benefit? This test is useful if you feel stressed, you require medications that contain adrenal hormones such as steroids for your ‘condition’, have high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, gut and immune symptoms that include auto-immune conditions, blood sugar issues (do you know Mr Hangry?), chronic fatigue, persistent pain, cognitive decline.
Sex Hormone DUTCH Plus test
This test measures hormones and hormone metabolites. It is one of the most comprehensive ways to measure not only the hormones, but their metabolites.
Did you know hormones go through various steps to be detoxified, so they can be eliminated safely? This test looks at these detox pathways, as well as important markers for cancer risk.
Who can benefit? Any hormonal issues from fibroids, breast cancer, PMS, PCOS, acne, infertility issues, menopause, hot flushes. Wanting to make an informed decision on taking HRT and/or birth control pill, this test can provide this valuable information (a DNA oestrogen test would also be beneficial).
Gut Profile aka Complete Stool Analysis
This test is designed to detect microbes (parasites, pathogenic bacteria, viruses) that may be disturbing normal microbial balance or contributing to illness as well as indicators of digestion, absorption, inflammation, and immune function.
Who can benefit? Individuals with autoimmune conditions (the molecular mimicry type such as MS, Grave’s disease, psoriasis, ), IBS, colitis, Crohn’s Disease, Celiacs, diarrhoea, gastritis, indigestion, reflux, skin issues such as atopic dermatitis/eczema, ability to gain weight, oestrogen dominance.
Organic Acids Test
This test is a unique combination of nutritional tests that provides an analysis of key nutritional biomarkers. The vital biomarkers analysed include malabsorption and bacterial/ yeast dysbiosis markers, cellular energy and mitochondrial metabolites, neurotransmitter metabolites, vitamin markers, toxin & detoxification markers, oxalate markers, amino acids markers and B vitamin markers.
Who can benefit? Individuals with mood disorders such as autism, ADHD, ADD, depression, anxiety. Mitochondrial issues such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, mold issues, diabetes, metabolic disorders, dementia, neuro-cognitive decline, anorexia, cancer.
Fatty Acid Profile
This test looks at the fatty acid profile as it measures key omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and calculates key indicators to establish optimal balance. It also determines trans fatty acids and the fatty acid ratios.
Who can benefit? Preparing for conception or pregnant, chronic pain/inflammatory conditions, skin issues such as eczema, depression, cardiovascular risk, weight issues.
NutrEval
This test evaluates over 125 biomarkers and assesses the body's functional need for 40 antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, amino acids, digestive support, and other select nutrients. This test assesses the therapeutic support in areas of methylation, toxic exposure, mitochondrial dysfunction, fatty acid imbalances, and oxidative stress. This is what we call the MOT of all tests. It is like the Organic Acid Test with an extra package that includes fatty acid profile, nutrient elements 9like copper and zinc, selenium) and toxic elements such as lead, mercury, arsenic.
Who can benefit? Mood disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, insulin resistance, fatigue, weight issues, gut issues such as belching, indigestion etc. Malnutrition, athletic performance, critically ill
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis
This test looks at least 20 minerals, this includes also toxic elements like lead, mercury, lead. The ratios of various minerals relate to organ health such as adrenals and thyroid.
Who can benefit? Those with fatigue, excessive fish consumption, blood sugar imbalance, high blood pressure, vision problems, kidney issues, toxic element exposure, vision issues, Parkinson’s like symptoms.
Blood Test Analysis
This service is provided if you want an analysis and interpretation of any recent blood test results. Blood test marker patterns include, blood sugar, liver, gall bladder, iron, lipids etc.
Who can benefit? Symptoms present but ‘blood tests within normal range’.
Other tests
Other tests are recommended or provided if requested such as the lipogram, full thyroid profile , stand alone Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms etc. The key is that if you have a condition, then testing and not guessing is my approach.
To Health!