Uncover the stressors creating your body’s metabolic chaos.

 
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Foundational Labs

I’m not a doctor so I won’t run tests, diagnose, or treat any conditions. Instead, I enable you to access functional lab tests so you can screen yourself, then I’ll educate you on your results and the options available to you for self treating any imbalances you uncover. These tests serve as powerful tools to help you uncover hidden internal stressors and point you directly toward healing opportunities that will allow your body to return to healthy metabolic function.

The following functional lab tests are the foundational labs I utilize in my practice to help guide your healing protocol.

  • This test is included in the Metabolism Kickstart, Metabolism Solution and Metabolism Overhaul programs.

    Testing method:
    Hair sample

    What we learn:
    The state of stress the body is in, mineral balance, metabolic rate, thyroid function, adrenal function, possible liver congestion or digestive issues, heavy metal toxicity.

    Minerals are the spark plugs in your body that initiate all the functions happening under the hood. Without proper nutrient balance, cellular function suffers and the system begins to break down. Metabolism plummets or becomes overactive. Hormonal balance is impossible. Digestion and detoxification capacity diminishes. Heavy metal toxicity can occur along with gut infections. Weight gain and weight loss resistance become prevalent. Fatigue and chronic illness ensue. The list of symptoms that are experienced due to mineral imbalances are varied and extensive!

    Through HTMA, we’ll see the average mineral balance in the tissues of your body over the past 3-4 months and get a window into your metabolism, thyroid, and adrenal function, and get clues about hormonal imbalances and liver congestion. We can see if you may have deficiencies in stomach acid that are preventing nutrient absorption… the list goes on. With this information, we know how to support your individual system with precisely what it needs (and what needs to be avoided) to shift you back into a balanced state. Because your mineral status is so foundational for the healthy functioning of your body and it’s such a simple test to run, this is always where all my clients start.

  • This test is included in the Metabolism Solution and Metabolism Overhaul Programs.

    Testing method:
    Stool sample

    What you learn:
    Health status of the ecosystem in the gut

    There are trillions of microbes living in your gut that aid in healthy digestion, detoxification, immunity and inflammatory responses. When this ecosystem becomes weakened by an imbalance in healthy versus unhealthy microbes, secondary infections take over. Viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections can thrive and prevent healing from happening in your body. You’ll be able to see what your microbial balance looks like and if you have any infections that need to be addressed in order to achieve a healthy metabolic state.

    Hippocrates said that all disease begins in the gut, and the possible immune, digestion, detoxification, hormonal, and metabolic dysfunction that can happen because of an unhealthy gut environment are proof of that. Eliminating infections and bringing balance back to your internal ecosystem are vital for returning your body to a state of optimal wellness.

  • This test is an option in the Metabolism Overhaul program.

    Testing method:
    Urine

    What you learn:
    Detailed insight into the body’s cellular metabolic processes.

    Organic acids are metabolic intermediates that are produced in pathways of central energy production, detoxification, neurotransmitter breakdown, or intestinal microbial activity. Marked accumulation of specific organic acids detected in urine often signals a metabolic inhibition or block. The metabolic block may be due to a nutrient deficiency, an inherited enzyme deficit, toxic build-up or drug effect. Several of the biomarkers are markers of intestinal bacterial or yeast overgrowth.

  • This test is an option to include in the Metabolism Overhaul.

    Testing method:
    Dried Urine Samples

    What you learn:
    Stress and sex hormone production and metabolism activity

    Provides a comprehensive assessment of sex and adrenal hormones, along with their metabolites, offering insights into hormonal imbalances and their potential impact on various bodily functions.

    It reveals how your body produces, utilizes, and eliminates hormones, including cortisol, melatonin,estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. The test can help identify the root causes of symptoms like fatigue, sleep disturbances, and menstrual irregularities by analyzing daily hormone fluctuations and metabolites.

Other tools

The two foundational hormones that impact metabolic function and the rhythm of all other hormones in the system are cortisol and insulin. These two must be balanced first, in order to be able to achieve and maintain balance with the thyroid and sex hormones. I have my clients utilize two devices to help them nail down their stress (cortisol) and blood sugar (insulin) regulation.

FirstBeat Wearable HRV Monitor

Along with functional labs, clients in the Metabolism Overhaul program utilize the FirstBeat device. This is worn like a heart rate monitor but rather than simply measuring heart rate, it accurately provides heart rate variability measurements to map your nervous system function throughout the day.

The nervous system controls the functions in the body that are responsible for long term health. When the nervous system is chronically stuck in a stress state, healing can’t happen. To opiminze metabolic function and health, it’s vital that your states of stress (energy leakage) are adequately balanced with your states of recovery (energy replenishment). The FirstBeat device makes it easy to see what habits are triggering you and helps you learn how to tweak your day promote optimal recovery and healing time.

Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)

Managing blood sugar spikes and dips is imperative for controlling stress and inflammation in the system. I can’t provide a CGM for my clients, but point them to affordable options they can purchase and provide support on how to utilize it for directing their food and lifestyle choices for healthier blood sugar control.