When your doctor says “Your labs are normal”, you might think “Ahh, that’s just part of getting older.” It’s something I hear all the time from friends, family and clients, and it makes me sad!
The reality is that most of us begin to accept all kinds of unwanted symptoms as we age. But there’s SO much we can do to reverse them, naturally. And, I don’t mean popping medications to “mask” your symptoms. I mean figuring out what the heck is causing them in the first place! That way, you can help your body return to its natural state of health.
So let’s talk about how you can finally get to the bottom of your “mystery” symptoms, even if you’ve been told, “everything looks normal”.
Are you ready to finally feel better? Let’s jump in!
“Your Labs Are Normal”
The problem with hearing those words is that you either get turned away with no relief, or you get a prescription to mask your symptoms. Those prescriptions are oftentimes covering up a deeper problem that never gets worked on. In my practice, we view symptoms as important messengers. There’s a reason why your body is acting this way. Might as well work on the problem directly!
So, how do we find out?
We Dig Deeper
I’m a big fan of Functional Medicine principles because we get to the root cause and focus on prevention. We don’t simply manage disease.
One of the best ways to dig deeper is by using “functional lab testing”. “How are functional labs different from the labs from my annual physical??”
I’m so glad you asked!
Conventional Labs:
Conventional labs focus on diagnosing disease. Your doctor is looking for signs of pathology – something way high or way low that might indicate you need a drug or a procedure.
The important thing is that your doctor is comparing you to the average (unhealthy) American. When he says, “your labs are normal“, that only means you’re within range for the average American.
Sadly, that’s a pretty low bar. That’s not where you want to be. 😬
Functional Labs:
Functional labs focus on preventing future disease. And also, figuring out what supplements might be best for you.
These lab tests:
- Use more narrow ranges based on optimal health
- Show patterns and trends toward diseases
- Help identify the “why” behind your symptoms
These are the tests I use in my practice because frankly, my goal is not for you to be like the average American. It’s to help you look and feel your absolute best!
My Favorite Functional Labs:
I want to give you a sense of what’s available, so I’ve included my favorites right here…
Bloodwork
- Sugar handling: Hb A1c, Uric acid, and Fasting Insulin
- Cholesterol: NMR detailed analysis with insulin resistance risk factors, Homocysteine
- Minerals: Iron, Ferritin, Zinc, Copper, and Magnesium RBC, B6, B12, MMA and Folate
- Thyroid: Free T3, Free T4, TSH, Reverse T3 and TSH
- Autoimmunity: TPO and Tg Antibodies, Antinuclear Antibodies, Rheumatoid Factor, CCP Antibodies
- Inflammation: C-Reactive Protein, D-Dimer, Troponin, Sedimentation Rate, Fibrinogen, and Creatine Kinase
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids
- Vitamin D
Hormones → DUTCH Test
Hormone imbalances lead to all kinds of health symptoms – for both men and women!
The Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH) provides insight into hormone levels and downstream metabolites. We get to understand how your body detoxifies and recycles excess hormones – and what would happen if you supplemented with more. Understanding these values helps us support energy, improve mood, optimize sleep, and so much more.
This test can be completed at home by collecting several urine samples over a 24-hour period and mailed in for testing. Totally non-invasive!
Minerals → Hair Analysis
Did you know – your hair is chock full of valuable health information?
The Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) gives us information on your essential mineral and electrolyte levels, including magnesium, calcium, potassium & sodium. These values can give insight into your carbohydrate sensitivity as well as adrenal and thyroid health.
The test checks for toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, aluminum & mercury, which can cause all kinds of health symptoms.
The HTMA test requires only a few snips of hair, which can be collected at home and mailed in for testing.
It’s a great choice for kids (and adults scared of needles)!
Gut Health → GI-Map Test
Trust me when I say, gut health is critical to overall health.
Almost everyone can benefit from a GI-MAP gut health assessment, which helps us get to the root cause of chronic illness. It tests for parasites, yeast, and bacteria in your large intestine, as well as biomarkers for digestion and inflammation.
The GI-MAP is a stool test that can be completed in the comfort of your own home, and mailed in for testing.
Heart Sound Recorder
Have you been feeling your heart flutter, or racing after having alcohol? Your nutrition could be having an impact to your heart!
More specifically, the nutrients you eat are essential to the performance of the valves of your heart. And we can objectively map these out to see where the dysfunction might be happening!
Did you know, 80 percent of cardiovascular “events” are due to dysfunction of the valves. And you can feed your valves for better performance! All you need is this quick, non-invasive test. The Heart Sound Recorder is one of our favorite methods to assess what your heart needs, and the body as a whole!
There are SO many more incredible tests available. Hopefully, this gives you a sense of how we can get to the bottom of your symptoms, and completely transform your health.
How to Get Started With Functional Labs
If you’re ready to look beyond conventional healthcare, we’d love to help you!
We do virtual appointments with clients all over the country. And we can order labs throughout the US except for New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
Give us a call to book your appointment today!
Resources:
Yes, we can order everything for you, and answer all your questions. Our prices are very affordable, too!
1. Dutch Test
3. GI-Map