During an initial consultation, clients often tell me all the things they have tried in their attempt at abating symptoms and improving health but unfortunately despite their dedication to following health suggestions and various diets they’ve discovered online or recommendations from friends etc, they have met with very little success.
While many of the health tips they have tried are fundamentally healthy, their attempts have been centered on guessing. Typically very little testing has been done.
Here are some examples of the frustrations I hear frequently:
“I’ve tried a lot of different diets; Paleo, AIP, GF, GF/DF, Carnivore, Keto, Vegan…but I still don’t feel good.”
“One of my friends said a certain probiotic got rid of their gut issues, but I tried it and it didn’t help at all.”
“I saw this supplement on social media that was supposed to help with constipation and bloating, but it seemed to only make my symptoms worse.”
“I think I have hypothyroidism because of my symptoms, so I looked up a thyroid protocol online. I tried that for a few months and it helped a little, but once I went back off of the protocol, my symptoms came roaring back.”
“I heard that B12 is good for energy, so I tried that, but it didn’t help my energy levels.”
Have you experienced any of these frustrations, and do you have your own to add to the list?
Honour your uniqueness!!! Everyone is different, so if you have persistent health concerns - test don’t guess
You can have 100 people with the same symptoms go in for testing.
When the test results come back, you will see differences across the board. No two people have the exact lineup of problems, even if they seem like two peas in a pod. You might have two people suffering from hormonal imbalances, but upon further testing, you’ll see their micro nutrient, liver function and microflora is all very different. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Everyone has different food sensitivities, nutritional deficiencies, genetics, microbiomes, stress perceptions, hormone levels, etc.
This is why you need a one-size-fits-one approach and not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Because of this, I develop an individualized, personalized plan for you, and only you.
Tests that I use regularly in clinic in relation to common concerns:
You are struggling with ongoing LOW ENERGY or a RANGE OF SYMPTOMS THAT DON'T APPEAR TO CORRELATE
OAT: The Organic Acids Test - provides vital patient information from a single urine specimen. This organic acids test is valuable for determining:
Functional vitamin and mineral status
Amino acid insufficiencies like carnitine and NAC
Oxidative damage and antioxidant need
Phase I & Phase II detoxification capacity
Functional B-complex vitamin need
Neurotransmitter metabolites
Mitochondrial energy production
Methylation sufficiency
Lipoic acid and CoQ10 status
Markers for bacterial and yeast overgrowth
Oxalate markers
Nutritional markers
Sample report: https://nutripath.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/4016-4041-Organic-Acid-Profile.pdf
You are concerned with HORMONAL IMBALANCES or FERTILITY ISSUES
Dutch Test: Is a comprehensive assessment of sex and adrenal hormones and their metabolites. It also includes the daily, free cortisol pattern, organic acids, melatonin (6-OHMS), and 8-OHdG.
The difference with assessing hormones in the urine is we can measure levels of their metabolites which show important pathways of detoxification and how these hormones are being removed from the body. If detoxification of hormones is impaired this can create hormonal imbalances. Over time this may create inflammation and can lead to symptoms like PMS, acne, bloating, weight gain, heavy periods and much more
Female Sample report: https://dutchtest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1.5.1-Sample-Report_DUTCH-Complete_Female.pdf
Male Sample Report: https://dutchtest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1.5.1-Sample-Report_DUTCH-Complete_Male.pdf
After a number of self imposed health changes with out significant results it was the DUTCH test that pinpointed where this client needs specific support. Here's what she said "After more than 12 years of tiredness and fatigue, existing day to day in a haze, trying to drag myself out of bed, being irritable and depressed looking forward only to sleep (which didn’t relieve my tiredness), after trying all types of pharmaceutical prescriptions and remedies, the haze in finally clearing!! My energy is increasing daily, I can think much more clearly, I can handle stress a lot better and feel I finally have a life to really look forward to." - Karla Thomson
Blood tests that complement the DUTCH test.
If you are experiencing hormonal symptoms it's essential to get a full thyroid panel so that when combined with the DUTCH test you are able to see if the cause of the hormonal imbalance may be due to subclinical or overt thyroid imbalances.
A full thyroid panel may include but not be limited too: TSH, T4, T3. If these come back abnormal it's important to check for thyroid antibodies (TPOab) to rule out autoimmune thyroiditis.
DIGESTIVE TRACT issues are prevalent or ongoing MOOD DISORDERS are a concern
The Complete Microbiome Mapping Test: Designed to assess a patient’s microbiome from a single stool sample, with particular attention to microbes that cause disease or that disrupt normal microbial balance and contribute to perturbations in the GI flora and contribute to illness.
The panel is a comprehensive collection of microbial targets as well as immune and digestive markers. It screens for pathogenic bacteria, commensal bacteria, opportunistic pathogens, fungi, viruses, and parasites.
Sample report: https://www.nutripath.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2206-Complete-Microbiome-Mapping.pdf
You want to cut through the 'health and wellness marketing' and get a FOUNDATIONAL PROTOCOL that will serve you for life
myDNA Comprehensive Health report: Let's be honest there is a massive amount of information available to us in the world on health and well-being now and its easy to get swayed by the latest celebrity or sport star or just good marketing on why you should be buying that new supplement or going on that specific 'diet'. This approach of 'test not guess' cuts through a lot of the noise and helps you understand your genetic strengths and weaknesses and how to optimally support well-being long-term.
The test is completed at your home by you via an inside mouth cheek swab and covers extensive 92 genes, and 113 SNP’s. I've previously written in detail on this one Here
STANDARD PATHOLOGY TESTING
These are standard tests (usually blood tests). Typically, for these kinds of tests i.e Ferritin, B12, Thyroid panel, HBA1c etc a referral letter is sent to your doctor requesting the specific tests or a script can be given directly to the client to make to Medlab (or the equivalent).
PLEASE NOTE: First, we run through your history, symptoms, what you have already tried, what’s worked, what hasn’t worked, what your health goals are, health concerns, and many other nutrition, emotional, mental and lifestyle factors that can all contribute to your health concerns.
Much of the guessing can be eliminated with good, high-quality testing but it also should be financially viable. This is why all tests are available at cost. Creating a game plan that delivers the quickest positive results has always been a Live Wild Service goal and will remain that way.
Any questions please contact me via laura@livewild.co.nz
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