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Functional Testing
Providing a deeper insight into a client´s body functions and dysfunctions and in doing so, supporting accurate, personalised, and targeted nutrition & lifestyle plans.
FUNCTIONAL TESTS
Functional testing, used to assess the actual inner processes and workings of an individual´s systems, sits at the forefront of health diagnostics, enabling practitioners to gain a deeper insight into your specific and unique biological strengths and weaknesses and how they are currently impacting your body systems as a whole.
At Homeostasis, according to the client´s specific presentation and needs, I offer access to a wide variety of tests provided by reputable and trusted functional testing companies. Some of the most common functional tests that I would recommend are listed below.
NUTRIGENOMICS
Nutrigenomics looks at how nutrition and other lifestyle factors impact our genetic potential. We can’t change our genes, but we can change what we do to support them. Nutrigenomic testing gives us an understanding of how our life choices (nurture) interact with our genes (nature), so we can make positive changes that align with our genetics and optimise our health and wellbeing.
Our biological code doesn’t just impact gender, height, and eye colour. It tells the body how to do everything, including how well you absorb and use specific nutrients like vitamins, affecting your nutrient needs. It impacts production of sex hormones, reproduction and fertility, and neurotransmitters, influencing thinking and emotional wellbeing. It regulates how well your cells can grow and repair, even how efficiently they produce energy, or how readily you store excess energy as fat. In short, it’s the very code of life.
But we are not all the same. Common variations in our genetic code, called SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) create our individuality, and can also result in important differences in function, affecting, for example, how much of a chemical in the body is made, how well it works or how our cells respond to it. These SNPs don’t create ill-health in themselves, but in combination they can affect our energy, mental wellbeing, detoxification function and beyond, impacting health and contributing to the development of specific health conditions. Looking at your genetic differences unlocks a personal health ‘blueprint’, offering a detailed insight into your unique biological strengths and weaknesses and a deeper understanding of your health.
LifecodeGx Test (genomics testing - https://www.lifecodegx.com).
MICROBIOME TESTING
GUT HEALTH & MICROBIOME STOOL TEST (Genova Diagnostics, Invivo, Nordic Labs)
A comprehensive stool profile providing valuable insight into the gastrointestinal ecosystem and chronic disease related biomarkers, microbe diversity and imbalances, digestive function and intestinal inflammation.
VAGINAL MICROBIOME SWAB TEST (Invivo EcologiX, Nordic Labs)
An innovative clinical tool for assessment of the vaginal microbiome (bacteria and yeast) with two host markers. The vaginal microbiome is a key ecosystem for female health and reproductive optimisation.
ORAL MICROBIOME SALIVA TEST (Invivo Oral EcologiX, Nordic Labs)
A ground-breaking clinical tool for assessment of the oral microbiome – a key ecosystem in the gut-brain connection for cardiovascular and female reproductive health and more.
GASTROINTESTINAL HEALTH AND FOOD ALLERGIES
GASTROINTESTINAL HEALTH FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT (Mosaic DiagnosticsMosaicDX)
Measures key gut, immune, inflammatory and digestive health markers. Can reveal important information about the root cause of many common gastrointestinal symptoms and non-GI conditions such as gas, bloating, indigestion, reflux, abdominal pain or cramps, diarrhoea, constipation, IBS, IBD, eczema, allergies, autoimmune diseases, mood disorders and depression, joint aches, weight issues and diabetes.
SIBO BREATH TEST (Genova Diagnostics, Nordic VMS)
SIBO breath testing assesses hydrogen and methane gasses to evaluate for SIBO. Bloating, gas, diarrhoea, and constipation are common symptoms of SIBO.
HELICOBACTER PYLORI STOOL TEST (Genova Diagnostics, Nordic VMS)
Detects H. pylori bacteria colonisation explaining symptoms of gastritis and peptic ulceration.
IMMUNE FUNCTION
FOOD SENSITIVITY PLUS BLOOD SPOT TEST (Genova Diagnostics)
The IgG and IgE Antibody Panels measure antibodies to commonly consumed foods and environmental allergens helping to identify problematic foods. Adverse food reactions can lead to distressing symptoms and chronic health conditions and their removal often results in resolution of symptoms.
HORMONAL HEALTH
ADRENOCORTEX STRESS PROFILE (Genova Diagnostics)
Assessment of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis using carefully timed salivary samples of cortisol and DHEA. Imbalances in adrenal hormones can have a wide range of negative consequences such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal and immune dysregulation, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, depression, chronic fatigue, insomnia, weight gain, persistent pain, neurodegenerative disease and cognitive decline.
DUTCH PLUS COMPREHENSIVE HORMONE PANEL (Genova, Invivo, Nordic Labs)
Provides a unique assessment of sex and adrenal hormones by assessing dried urine helping to identify the root causes of sex hormone and adrenal imbalances in both women and men. It can provide insights into conditions such as premenstrual syndrome, PMDD, PCOS, menopause, infertility, weight gain, fatigue, low libido, sleep issues and mood disorders in women and can be used to gather baseline measurements for the administration and monitoring of hormone replacement therapy.
THYROID PANEL (Thyroid Plus Test @ Nordic Labs)
Thyroid hormones are essential and primary regulators of the body’s metabolism. Hormone imbalances can affect virtually every metabolic process in the body, exerting significant effects on mood and energy level. This test reveals imbalances that often go undetected with standard blood tests by thoroughly analysing levels of TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, anti-TG antibodies, and anti-TPO antibodies to assess central and peripheral thyroid function, as well as thyroid autoimmunity.
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES
Nutritional imbalances are often root cause contributors to illness. Correcting these imbalances can result in improved health and well-being, as well as disease prevention.
NutrEval (Genova Diagnostics)
This test provides a comprehensive nutritional assessment that can be used to address a wide range of concerns and health conditions. The NutrEval is both a blood and urine profile that evaluates more than 125 biomarkers and assesses your body’s need for 40 antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, amino acids, digestive support, and other select nutrients.
METABOLOMIX (Genova Diagnostics)
Provides a combination of nutritional tests that analyse key nutritional biomarkers. A first morning void (FMV) urine collection, with optional add-on bloodspot finger stick and buccal swab, this test is a non-invasive, patient-friendly way to assess the functional need for antioxidants, B-vitamins, minerals, digestive support, fatty acids, and amino acids. Test findings allow practitioners to target nutritional therapies to meet your specific health needs.
HAIR MINERAL & TOXIC ELEMENT ANALYSIS (Nordic Labs - Hair Elements)
Hair Elements analysis provides information regarding recent and ongoing exposure to potentially toxic metals, and time-averaged status of specific nutrient elements. Toxic elements may be 200 to 300 times more highly concentrated in hair than in blood or urine. Therefore, hair is the tissue of choice for detection of recent exposure to elements such as arsenic, aluminum, cadmium, lead, antimony and mercury.
