Testing

Test! Don’t guess!

Why?

Having a clear picture of what’s happening inside your body can fast-track your recovery but most importantly pinpoint a root cause of your problem. Functional testing uses advanced testing methodologies to identify your unique biochemical makeup. Hence, it helps develop a roadmap to create a more effective protocol customized to your individual biochemistry and condition.

Such tests may involve blood, saliva, urine, breath and stool sample testing, which are often not available through a GP. I use only well-established worldwide laboratories based in the UK, USA and Copenhagen.

Conventional vs functional testing differences

Let’s say you feel unwell but you can’t quite pinpoint why. You know something is just not right. Perhaps its hormones, possible mineral or vitamin deficiency. Your doctor runs a standard lab test, but your lab results come back “normal”.

How is this possible? I don’t always focus on standard lab ranges. Instead, I tend to use “optimal” lab values, which can show dysfunctions in the body at the cellular level and contribute to your symptoms. This approach helps pick up a dysfunction years before a patient is diagnosed with a disease.

Conventional testing and evaluation do not take into account diet, stress, lifestyle, or even medications, which could potentially lead to your problem. These factors are rarely discussed when interpreting your results. Every person has unique biochemistry due to genetics, diet, environmental exposure to chemicals and metals, lifestyle, psychological and physical stress. Functional testing helps identify your unique biochemical makeup and the potential imbalances to prevent diseases from developing in the first place. 

Functional tests look at genetic predispositions, gut microbiome and digestion, expanded hormone profiles, nutritional biochemistry, environmental toxin burden, inflammation, and infections. Functional tests can detect issues that standard tests do not reveal. 

Work with me to determine which functional lab tests are right for your individual situation, and how I can help you transform your health and develop holistic prevention strategies. Some of the most useful tests I use are below.

Price – starting from £150

If you don’t have healthy gut, you can’t be healthy at all!

Comprehensive stool analysis profile helps pinpoint the causes of gastrointestinal symptoms and gives unique insight into overall health. It measures key markers of digestion, absorption, and inflammation. It contains comprehensive bacteriology and yeast cultures to identify the presence of beneficial bacteria in the gut as well as imbalanced bacteria. It also detects pathogenic bacteria (H. Pylori, Campylobacter, Clostridium), parasites and worms. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing to medical and natural agents is also performed for cultured bacterial and fungal species and the results of this testing direct the unique therapy plan created for each individual.

Indications

  • Food allergies/sensitivities
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms including gas, bloating, indigestion, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, incomplete evacuation
  • IBS
  • Nutritional Deficiencies
  • Anaemia
  • Hormonal imbalance
  • Poor immunity
  • Autoimmune disease

We use

If required, appropriate stool panel will be suggested and discussed during a consultation.

Price – starting from £130

SIBO breath test checks for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). This occurs when bacteria enter the small intestine, which is normally sterile, and begin to colonize. It can cause a variety of common gastrointestinal symptoms.

Indications

  • Abdominal bloating or pain
  • Gas
  • Belching
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhoea
  • Cramping
  • Acid reflux
  • Fatigue
  • Food sensitivities
  • Headaches
  • Brain fog
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Weight loss
  • Mood changes

We use

Price – staring from £200

The DUTCH is the most comprehensive hormone panel performed by Precision Analytical, a diagnostic company specialising in hormones. DUTCH offers the most extensive profile of sex and adrenal hormones along with their metabolites. Additionally, the daily pattern of free cortisol (our stress hormone) is included along with melatonin (hormone responsible for sleep-wake cycle). This unique combination of clinical information is not available by any other method.

Indications

  • Hormonal imbalance
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep problems
  • Low libido
  • Menopause
  • Mood swings
  • Premenstrual symptoms (PMS)
  • Weight gain

We use

Price – starting from £120

The onset of food sensitivity is usually delayed and you may not immediately recognize any signs of it. If you  find are sensitive to multiple foods then this is an alarm that your immune function and general health are out of balance. Repeated exposure to foods that aggravate your digestive system can irritate your gut lining and impact your digestive health. Food sensitivity testing allows to see which foods are creating an inflammatory response in your body and hence these foods should be avoided. Since food sensitivities can’t be cured with medication, you have to address the underlying cause.

Indications

  • Headaches/migraines
  • Autoimmunity
  • Sinusitis
  • Ear infections
  • Weight gain
  • Asthma
  • Eczema
  • Digestive problems

We use

Price – starting from £35

Inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) or a high-sensitivity CRP, homocysteine and ferritin are almost never checked, but they’re important warning signs of a health imbalance in the body. They are often included in panel recommendations.

Full thyroid, liver, lipid or kidney panel can be recommended if there is an indication for thorough investigation of these markers. Metabolic markers such as fasting insulin, glucose and HbA1c are part of most testing and they rarely checked altogether.

Nutrients status (iron, vitamin D, magnesium, B12, folate and many more) is not usually checked even though lifestyle factors such as diet, stress, medications can significantly deplete nutrients stores or your body’s ability to absorb them. If you’re low in certain vitamins and minerals your health can be inversely impacted on a DNA and a cellular level. This is why we often recommend a comprehensive nutrient testing.

We use

Advanced iron panel

Checks for markers:

  • Iron-iron is an important part of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen around your body.
  • Ferritin- a ferritin test measures the amount of iron stored in your body. It can help check for iron deficiency or iron overload. 
  • Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC)- A total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) test measures your blood’s capacity to bind and transport iron. It can help check for iron deficiency or iron overload.
  • Transferrin saturation- transferrin is a protein that transports iron around the body. A transferrin saturation test measures the amount of iron bound to transferrin.
  • An unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC)-this test measures the amount of transferrin (transfers iron around your body) that’s not bound to iron.

Indications:

  • Fatigue
  • Low mood
  • Depression
  • Hair loss
  • Sleep problems
  • Shortness of breath
  • Headache, dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Palpitations
  • H.Pylori infection
  • Being vegan or vegetarian
  • Preparing for pregnancy