Diagnostic testing

One of the things that has always set me apart is that I see my clients and their issues through a unique, Nutritionist lens, plus… something more.

Before you get expensive testing, read this then visit my other article here. There is much to be seen when we look through a Functional Medicine lens. Lab reference ranges include 95% of all test results. Look around; are 95% of us healthy and vibrant? You don’t feel yourself, but your labs are “in range”? A Functional Medicine approach is, well, how do you feel? The range is much tighter.

Western medicine tends to name the ailment (diagnose) and, based on the name, next prescribe a treatment (drugs, surgery, sometimes vitamins…) Yes, I’m familiar with the many ailments my clients suffer from. Although I was taught, like most nutritionists, to give certain supplements and adjust diet based on the name of the ailment, I don’t believe these diagnoses always lead to “appropriate” treatments. 

Personally, I think that’s robotic.

To illustrate, Claire is a 34-year-old female client with moderate hypertension, high cholesterol and triglycerides, abnormal and painful menstrual cycles, and moderate depression. Her blood tests are all within normal range. Her doctor’s office called to say “everything is fine”, but she didn’t feel fine.

Sadly, it is considered poor medical practice if she wasn’t prescribed anti-hypertensive medications, anti-cholesterol medications, birth control pills, and an antidepressant. Claire arrived in my care on all of those medications—still feeling miserable and having gained 20 pounds.

A functional look at those same “normal” blood tests indicated Claire was burning up anti-oxidants and was likely low in B vitamins, possibly iron and copper. Those same “normal” tests open the door to a solution IF you understand how the body works. 

Then, using Nutrition Response Testing, we create a precise care plan. Is this a pattern caused by inflammation? poor nutrient absorption? poor diet? some combination? Do we need to assist gut dysbiosis with probiotics (or fermented foods)? Provide B vitamins that aren’t in the diet or stop the inflammatory processes that are using them up too quickly?

Practicing Functionally is NOT about matching a symptom to its remedy. It is much more.

Rote memorizing X supplement at Y dose for Z symptom causes healthcare professionals to hold way too much information in their head and miss the patterns that really tell what is going on.

There is a better way.

Read this article to understand my recommended labs and what they tell you (even if they are “in range”)

Harmony…Let food meet physiology

Symbiosis is the concept of mutually beneficial interactions between two organisms living in close proximity. For example, yellow tang fish clean sea turtles in the warm waters of Hawai’i that might hinder movement or even create infection. If we don’t have enough yellow tang fish, our sea turtles become sick.

Humans have symbiotic relationships with certain bacteria in the gut—the microbes that help us digest certain foods, produce nutrients like vitamin K that is vital to get calcium into bones, and butyric acid that feeds the liver and brain. If we don’t have the right bacteria, we can’t feed our body.

Harmony is the arrangement of notes and rhythm. Every hour, day, month and throughout the year our bodies cycle through various tasks. To the extent we understand and respect our cycles, we can maintain balanced health.

Our symbiotic relationships and cycles, both, need to be understood in order to resolve unwanted symptoms—this is the relationship between food, lifestyle, and physiology. Or, more specifically, reaction of your unique physiology.

We are all different!