Comprehensive Adrenal Profile
Comprehensive Adrenal Stress Profile comprises of the standard Adrenal Stress Profile (which assesses cortisol and DHEA levels) and Secretory IgA (SIgA). Imbalances of cortisol, DHEA and SIgA can lead to the most common health complaints of the 21st century. Both excesses and deficiencies of DHEA and cortisol have been implicated in the etiology of various illnesses and immune suppression.
Assessment of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis using carefully timed salivary samples of the hormones cortisol and DHEA. Salivary testing is an easy, non-invasive option to measure unbound, biologically active parent hormone levels. The report offers an easy-to-interpret graphic which plots the results of cortisol's natural diurnal rhythm.
Best for:
Chronic fatigue, chronic pain, blood sugar dysregulation, work stressors, and poor relationship quality can alter the HPA axis. Imbalances in adrenal hormones can have a wide range of negative consequences that can adversely impact a patient's overall quality of life.
DUTCH
The DUTCH test stands for Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones The DUTCH TEST measures hormone metabolites from the dried urine samples.
While hormone blood tests are a useful tool, they are not the same as the DUTCH test. Blood and saliva tests don’t measure cortisol rhythms and estrogen metabolism.
What makes the DUTCH test better than blood or saliva tests is the comprehensive information that is collected with a single test. The DUTCH test is well-recognized for its ease-of-collection, coupled with comprehensive reporting that is not currently available from other tests.
Best for:
Adrenal fatigue, sleep or stress issues. Testing the adrenal hormones provides specific information about how to support stress and sleep issues, by specifically looking at the the HPA axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal) adrenal-brain communication.
Hormone replacement therapy. This test works well for oral progesterone, vaginal hormones, patches, pellets and injections. Note that this is only for hormone replacement therapy, not hormonal birth control pills.
Estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance occurs when we have too much estrogen in the body and is relative to the other sex hormones, such as having too little progesterone to balance it out. Estrogen dominance can be a factor in endometriosis, PMS, painful periods, fibrous breasts, fibroids, tender breasts, moodiness, and more. It can also make perimenopausal symptoms significantly worse.
Metabolization of estrogen through the liver. This is important for understanding how we are clearing estrogen's from the body. If you don’t metabolize estrogen well, you risk estrogen dominance, as well as risks of estrogen-related cancers such as breast, cervical and uterine cancers.
Neurotransmitters Analysis
Are you one of the 86% of Americans who have suboptimal neurotransmitter levels?
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers used by the nervous system to relay information from one nerve to another. Optimal neurotransmitter balance is required to maintain proper health. Imbalances can cause the brain and the body to be over- or under-stimulated, producing neurological or psychological symptoms.
Genetics, environment, chemicals and nutritional deficiencies are a few factors that can impact neurotransmitter production. Once out of balance, the nervous system begins to compensate – which, in time, can lead to neurological or psychological symptoms.
For example: In conditions of little to no stress, early morning norepinephrine and epinephrine levels are low, increase towards mid-morning, peak in the afternoon, and decrease by bedtime with low levels during the night.
Vs. Conditions of acute stress, the sympathetic nervous system signals to release epinephrine and norepinephrine, contributing to higher blood pressure, increased breathing rate, mobilization of glucose from storage, increased heart rate and increased muscle strength.
Best for:
Chronic Fatigue- An imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters can lead to persistent fatigue.
Impulsivity- GABA, Dopamine and Serotonin are three chemical messengers commonly linked to disorders like ADD, ADHD & OCD.
Insomnia- Imbalances in Glutamate, Histamine, Dopamine, GABA and Serotonin are often linked to sleep disturbances and insomnia.
PMS or PMDD- Imbalances in Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine and GABA are often involved in cases of PMDD (pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder) and severe PMS.
Natural Biome Stool Analysis
This profile can identify the presence of beneficial flora, imbalanced flora, and dysbiotic flora, as well as to detect infectious pathogens.
Over the past 90-plus years there has been extensive scientific research demonstrating that a good balance of Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria and beneficial E. coli bacteria are important to the functional health of the gut, and as a consequence, to the whole organism.
However, in many individuals we see an imbalance of beneficial bacteria and an overgrowth of non-beneficial or even pathogenic microorganisms. This can be due to a variety of factors including:
Daily exposure to chemicals in our drinking water that are toxic to friendly bacteria
The use of antibiotics
Chronic consumption of highly processed foods (low in fiber, high in sugar)
High stress levels
Imbalanced flora or dysbiosis can lead to irritable bowel syndrome, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, fatigue, chronic headaches and allergies to a variety of foods.
Best for:
Detection of microbial pathogens
Prevention and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea
Prevention of travelers' diarrhea
Reduction of lactose intolerance symptoms
Reduction in serum cholesterol levels
Enhancement of the immune system
Inhibition of the proliferation of yeast like Candida albicans
Advanced Biome, Digestion, Inflammation Panel
This panel helps pinpoint the causes of gastrointestinal symptoms and chronic systemic conditions, and measures key markers of digestion, absorption and inflammation.
It’s a non-invasive diagnostic assessment that objectively evaluates the status of beneficial and imbalanced commensal bacteria, pathogenic bacteria, yeast/fungus by culture, PCR, and other gold standard methods of measuring digestive capacity. Three major areas are examined:
Barrier: Impairment of the highly specific nutrient uptake processes, or compromised GI barrier function, as in "leaky gut syndrome," can be gleaned from the measurement of the fecal levels of elastase (pancreatic exocrine sufficiency), fat, muscle and vegetable fibers, and carbohydrates.
Inflammation: Inflammation can significantly increase intestinal permeability and compromise the assimilation of nutrients. The extent of inflammation, whether caused by pathogens or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can be assessed and monitored by examination of the levels of biomarkers such as calprotectin, , lactoferrin, and lysozyme via this stool test.
Immunity: Since the vast majority of secretory IgA (sIgA) is normally present in the GI tract, where it prevents binding of pathogens and antigens to the mucosal membrane, it is essential to know the status of sIgA in the gut. sIgA is the only bona fide marker of humoral immune status in the GI tract.
Best for:
Low gastric acid production
Chronic maldigestion
Food allergen impact on bowel absorptive surfaces
Bacterial overgrowth or imbalances (dysbiosis)
Pathogenic bacteria, yeast or parasites and related toxic irritants
The prolonged use of NSAIDs and antibiotics
GI MAP- PCR
The GI-MAP (Microbial Assay Plus) is unique in the field of comprehensive stool testing. It relies exclusively on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology to detect parasites, bacteria, fungi, and more, by targeting the specific DNA of the organisms tested.
This technology is used routinely in clinical and academic research because it provides highly-accurate quantification, as well as high levels of sensitivity and specificity. Standard PCR technology or culture doesn't offer the same level of sensitivity, or the ability to express precise numerical results.
Best for:
Autoimmune diseases
IBS/IBD
Digestive complaints, diarrhea or constipation
Brain fog
Skin problems, like acne and psoriasis
Mood disorders, depression, and anxiety
Diabetes and weight loss issues
Gut Zoomer 2.0
This test uses a proprietary microarray hybridization technology platform, using the whole-genome data to simultaneously detect over 300 microorganisms with 99% specificity and 98% sensitivity, unheard-of levels of accuracy in the detection of pathogenic microorganisms.
The gut microbiome resides in your large intestine and is host to more than 1000 species of bacteria that perform certain important functions from shaping the immune system to influencing the metabolism of nutrients to fortifying the intestinal mucosal barrier (gut barrier).
It is important to know the abundance of the bacteria that symbiotically live in the human gastrointestinal tract because imbalances in the gut microbiome may lead to gastrointestinal symptoms, skin conditions, autoimmune disorders, immune system imbalances, and multiple inflammatory disorders.
This test examines the complex and intricate relative abundance of each species or genus measured, in relation to the rest of the ecosystem, to provide a unique perspective on the gut microbiome and its connection to disease and inflammation.
Best for:
The Gut Zoomer provides you with actionable recommendations that include potential risks for:
Intestinal permeability (SCFA-producing bacteria and tight junction integrity)
Intestinal disorders (IBS and IBD-related bacteria)
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)- related bacteria
Cardiovascular health (inflammation influencing and TMAO-related bacteria)
Autoimmune health (celiac, Crohn’s, rheumatoid arthritis, etc)
IgA/IgG Food Sensitivity Panel
Food Sensitivity testing can be very useful to help prioritize an elimination or rotation diet. Usually removing foods that the body has produced antibodies to will alleviate symptoms, because the source of inflammation is removed.
This Food Sensitivity is an array of commonly consumed food protein antigens which offers very specific antibody-to-antigen recognition. This panel offers the options to measure an individual’s IgG, IgA, IgG subclass 4, or C3d reactivity to food antigens.
Being able to test IgA antibodies provides additional information to foods that may be causing mucosal damage.
What is the distinction between IgG and IgA antibodies? IgA antibodies are produced by saliva, tears, and mucous lining in the lungs and the intestines. IgG antibodies are the most abundant in serum and are produced by almost every cell in the body. IgG antibodies can cross the placenta.
IgA antibodies are produced by the intestinal mucosa as a defense mechanism. If IgA antibodies are elevated to a particular protein (antigen), this can indicate an immune response to mucosal irritation or damage. Elevated IgG antibodies means that there is exposure of these foods to the bloodstream and the body is producing antibodies.
Preparing for the test: As with all antibody testing, immunosuppressant, and corticosteroid drugs can reduce antibody production and cause false negative results. It is recommended to wait 30-60 days (immune response is individually variable) after completing the prescription for it to clear the system and allow the normal production of antibodies.
Best for:
This test is ideal for those who might be suffering from delayed reactions to certain foods. Using an antibody-based food sensitivity test can help prioritize the necessary foods to eliminate and create a customized diet plan around your specific needs.
Zoomer Panel + IgA/IgG Food Analysis
While other tests look at larger protein blocks to determine food intolerances. Zoomers headed straight toward the peptides that make up these proteins to more specifically identify what causes the problem. They test IgE, IgA, and IgG reactions, which are different immunoglobulin reactions associated with the movement of antibodies in the blood stream. They are overreactions of a body’s natural defense system to usually unproblematic proteins or peptides.
Zoomers seek out and identify immune responses to the peptides in different foods and other suspect sources. Instead of relying on anecdotal evidence of feeling ill after eating fish, for example, or less accurate testing that can leave people avoiding entire food groups, this type gets specific!
Choose from 1 to 6 zoomers to focus on:
Lectins
Grains like wheat and corn
Proteins like eggs, nuts, seafood, and soy
Dairy products
Best for:
Traditional allergy and intolerance testing requires long-term use of the potentially problematic food, waiting 4 to 6 weeks for results, and then finally taking action. With Zoomers, you save time, avoid feeling ill during the process, and get results that can inform your future nutritional plan more accurately.
Micronutrient
Micronutrients, as opposed to macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates and fat), are comprised of vitamins and minerals which are required in small quantities to ensure normal metabolism, growth and physical well‐being.
Knowing both your extracellular and intracellular micronutrient levels are key to a thorough understanding of your nutritional requirements at a foundational level, which may contribute to your risk for disease, while simultaneously and positively impacting your overall health and well-being.
Best for:
Measuring Extracellular micronutrients: Micronutrients that are free floating in your blood and exist outside the cells, determined in serum are called extracellular micronutrients.
These extracellular micronutrients are a static measure of what is in your blood at any given time. These are dependent on your short-term intake of supplements or diet and give a direct assessment of your baseline micronutrient levels. Extracellular nutrient tests reflect a person’s diet over a relatively narrow time frame.
Measuring Intracellular micronutrients: Intracellular micronutrients are the micronutrients absorbed by your circulating white blood cells and red blood cells. Cellular micronutrient absorption is an important step in maintaining and promoting optimal functioning of all our cells.
It is important to understand that, even though you may be consuming an adequate or healthy diet or supplements, your cellular intake levels of those nutrients may not be sufficient and may still provide risks for deficiencies and the disorders associated with them.
This test reveals your functional nutritional status over a much longer time (4-6 months) than extracellular testing.