Lab testing may be recommended to provide a more complete understanding of how your body is functioning.
It enables us to gain a more thorough understanding of key health markers, gaining insight into the possible factors contributing to your current health issues. Whilst functional Medicine focuses on interventions, it’s primary focus on prevention which is where testing can really come into its own.
Most of the tests you can do yourself at home and dispatch directly to the lab to save time. All test kids will come with instructions, and some tests will need a doctor or nurse to take a small sample of blood for you.
I work closely with leading UK, European and U.S based labs to bring cutting edge diagnostic testing services to my clients. I have found these functional and nutritional tests to be of paramount importance, particularly when working with chronic health conditions.
Available tests:
Stool; SIBO; Food Intolerance; Coeliac/Gluten Sensitivity; Hormone (DUTCH); Omega Fatty Acids; Hair, Mineral and Toxic Metals; Mycotoxin (GPL-MycoTOX); Vitamin D.
SIBO – Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth
Technically, SIBO is an overgrowth of bacteria or organisms in the small intestine – where digestion and absorption take place. When you hear “microbiome” or “gut flora”, it’s generally in relation to the millions of bacteria in your large intestine – we should only have about 10,000 bacteria in our small intestine – the small intestine should have relatively low counts.
A Lactulose Breath Test (LBT) is an easy, in-home test. It’s easy, painless, relatively inexpensive considering what an endoscopy or colonoscopy costs (which doesn’t specifically identify bacterial overgrowth)!
The breath test will provide greater insight what is going on in the 22 feet of your small intestine. Getting to the root cause is vital and SIBO can contribute to a myriad of digestive and systemic issues.
Test takes 3 hours to complete at home and is a simple breath test.
Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis – An in depth test of the digestive tract and large intestine, including bacteria, candida/yeasts, friendly gut flora, parasites, digestive and absorption function, inflammation, immunity (SIgA) – which is a marker of gut mucosal barrier integrity, The test also has some inflammatory markers like lysozyme and lactoferrin. It measures stool pH and very importantly short-chain fatty acids like butyrate; beneficial bacteria;
Applying the latest genomics science to enable a preventative, proactive and personalised approach to health, Lifecode Gx® offers a range of specialist practitioner only nutrigenomics DNA test panels which inform how inherited health risks can be mitigated through personalised nutrition and lifestyle change.
Genotype results are presented in the context of nutrition and other environmental factors, such as sleep, stress, physical activity and chemicals, that can influence them. Their unique colour-coded pathway diagrams provide easy to digest visual summaries, alongside in-depth insights into the risks or protective potential of each genotype. This enables a deeper and holistic understanding of results and identification of the lifestyle changes that will be most effective.
Urinary Organic Acids – Urine contains a great number of waste products from the body and by analysing these one can learn an awful lot about what is going on in the internal workings of the body.
The Organic Acid Test is an important clinical tool for examining imbalances underlying metabolic, nutritional, and neurological disorders. This test assesses four main areas of metabolism: gastrointestinal function and dysbiosis markers, cellular energy production, neurotransmitter metabolites and an assessment of nutrient sufficiency. The output of this test can help inform more comprehensive, customised Nutritional therapy suggestions to optimise cellular and metabolic processes.
A simple urine home test.
Vitamin D Testing – There is increasing evidence to show vitamin D deficiency is widespread in Ireland and the UK. It is especially important to monitor for vitamin D deficiency both 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and D3 are measured in this test.
A simple home finger prick test.
Essential Fatty acids (omega 3:6) – Having optimal Omega-3 levels is really important for optimal function of heart and brain.
A simple home finger prick test.
By far one of the most comprehensive urinary hormone tests is the DUTCH – Dried Urine Testing for Comprehensive Hormones. The most advanced test for sex and adrenal hormones on the market because of the richness of the data it provides. So many women are seeking to uncover the hidden causes behind their hormonal health concerns and can point to root cause factors helping me your practitioner develop a personalised protocol to help support the systems in the body out of balance.
A Simple home urine test – so couldn’t be easier
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