All About Functional Lab Testing

We're all familiar with the more conventional labs you get when you go to the doctor and get your annual blood work drawn. They're usually looking at a few markers and making sure you don't have an active disease. I do recommend my clients stay up to date on their yearly physicals and blood work especially since it's covered by insurance. If we're lucky, we can get some good insights into your blood sugar (fasting glucose, hgbA1c), heart disease risk (cholesterol, triglycerides), nutrient status (vitamin D, B12), thyroid health (TSH, T3, T4) and more. However, beyond that, it can be hard to get more comprehensive lab testing from your conventional doctor because they 1.) don't offer it and 2.) often give you push back or tell you it's not needed unless you are really sick.

That's where functional lab testing comes in! Functional labs are what I like to call "specialty" tests which give you a lot more information and earlier detection of potential consequences. Functional labs are usually offered by licensed healthcare practitioners working in private practice in the functional medicine space. The downside is, functional lab tests are rarely covered by insurance. However from my own experience, the investment can be life changing!

I'm excited to be able to bring functional lab testing to you all in order to help you get to the root of your health concerns. I currently offer the following two tests:

1.) The GI-MAP - A stool test that looks at your gut microbiome, pathogens, and digestive markers.

2.) Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) - A hair test that shows us your mineral levels.

I decided to start with these tests because I find that they can get us the closest to the root cause of many imbalances. Hippocrates said, "All disease begins in the gut," and I don't disagree! Many downstream issues do start in the gut. On top of that, mineral imbalances can also be the root of many health concerns particularly hormone issues and poor energy levels. As I continue to grow my practice, I plan to expand my lab offerings. Now let's dive into each test!

GI-MAP (Microbial Assay Plus)

The GI-MAP is a stool test that measures for a variety of gastrointestinal microbiota DNA using qPCR technology. It also tests for indicators of digestion, absorption, inflammation, and immune function. The test is completed in the comfort of your own home, and yes, you have to ship your sh*t! It's not as wild as it sounds, trust me.

I highly recommend this test for clients that come to me for gut health concerns like constipation, diarrhea, bloating, IBS, IBD and more. It is also useful for individuals with autoimmune diseases, skin problems, brain fog, mood disorders, and more. Since many of the gut-related symptoms overlap, it can be difficult to pin-point your exact root-cause through symptoms alone so this test is really helpful.

Get markers from the GI-MAP:

• H. Pylori

• Yeast (candida) overgrowth

• Balance of "good" and "bad" bacteria

• Parasites

• Intestinal permeability or leaky gut

• Pancreatic enzymes

• Fat digestion

• Gut inflammation markers

• Gluten sensitivity markers

• + more

Based on your results, we'll come up with a custom protocol including dietary changes and supplementation (if necessary). Clients in my 3 month Health Edit program have access to this test as well as discounted professional-grade supplements.

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)

The HTMA test uses a sample of your hair (from your head) to assess for mineral imbalances, deficiencies, and excesses as well as heavy metals.

Minerals are extremely underrated in the wellness industry! They are the spark plugs of our body which ignite reactions responsible for hormone production, energy production, detoxification, digestion, muscle contractions, bone health, and more! Many of us are deficient in minerals due to chronic stress, medications, over-supplementation, depleted soil, water filters, and chronic dieting.

The reason hair is used is because it's an easy way to measure nutrient status of our tissues instead of blood. You've probably heard the term "homeostasis" in middle school biology. Basically, our body must keep blood levels of our nutrients in a very tight range otherwise we could die! When the blood is low in a particular nutrient, our body will pull that nutrient from our tissues to keep levels in range. For this reason, blood samples are usually not the true picture of nutrient status. The information from blood samples are also looking at nutrients outside of the cell and are just from one moment in time.

Hair acts as a record of metabolic activity within the body. When our hair grows, it is exposed to the internal metabolic environment, but when the hair reaches the surface of the scalp skin, the outer layers harden and lock in the metabolic products. This is why we look at the first 1-1.5 inch of hair closest to the scalp because it is a good indication of the nutritional and toxic metal exposure from the previous 90 days. For this reason, we are able to see nutrients that reside inside the cells.

Key Markers from a HTMA:

• Your oxidation rate or metabolic type: this is how well you convert the nutrients in food into energy

• Your state of stress: are you actively stressed or are you in the burnout stage?

• Levels of individual minerals: calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper, zinc, phosphorus, iron +

• Levels of toxic elements such as mercury, lead, aluminum, arsenic, cadmium +

• Significant ratios of your minerals which gives us insight into how different systems of the body are functioning like your nervous system, energy production, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and blood sugar balance.

This test is great for anyone dealing with hormone imbalances, digestive symptoms, fatigue and low energy, high stress levels, blood sugar imbalances, and anyone looking to enhance their overall health! It is a great "starter" test because it's one of the most affordable functional tests, and it can give us insight into what to test or focus on next (if necessary) instead of ordering a bunch of labs up front. This test is also really helpful for individuals who have "tried it all" and still don't feel well. Often times, minerals can be that missing piece.

I offer this test in combination with my counseling programs or as a stand alone service! All clients receive a customized mineral protocol based on their results.

Which Test Should I Start With?

I truly believe that there is not one person that wouldn't benefit from both of these tests, however if your main concerns and symptoms involve the gut, I would start with the GI-MAP. If you are not experiencing major GI symptoms, and you are looking to improve your overall health and energy levels, I would start with the HTMA! Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about my services or want more information on lab testing.

Read to get started? I offer a few ways you can access these tests and get support here.