The 5 Foundational Lab Tests

*All tests are at home test kits*

*All Photos are Fictional Sample Patients*

*The reference ranges are the lab standards, based on the average American, which we know is not the picture of health, so all FDN optimal ranges are a higher standard than the labs*

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1. Steroid Hormone Profile

This Steroid Hormone Profile is a saliva test that measures your steroidal hormones testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and estradiol. As well as cortisol, the bodies stress hormone, and two immune markers in secretory IgA and melatonin.

These are all made in your adrenal glands so this will give us an overall view of how well they are functioning. When the sex hormones are outside of the preferred range this may lead to hormone imbalances and can cascade into a host of other problems if not addressed.

One of the key markers of the whole program is the cortisol levels, as the bodies stress hormone we look for a particular pattern that indicates proper stress response over the course of the day. We test cortisol levels 4 times, morning, noon, afternoon, and night, the results are the second chart in the sample below. This also gives us a good snapshot of your circadian rhythm and what your sleep patterns are like. We also check for DHEA, which is the bodies counter to cortisol and when the body is in optimal health they will be in a given ratio.

Finally, two immune markers, secretory IgA and melatonin, SigA as it's known, is a measure of the bodies first line immune response. Hearing melatonin most people think of the sleep hormone, but we take a look at the role it plays in the gut and how that assists immune function.

All these various markers provide clues and potential healing opportunities that left unaddressed are going to continue to contribute to your state of disease and will help us develop your custom 90-day protocol.

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2. Metabolic Wellness Profile

This test is a done through a dried urine sample and highlights 3 markers, Indican give us an idea of how your digestive system is handling proteins, fats, and sugar metabolism. Urinary Bile Acids that are used to assess liver function, which plays a huge role in not only metabolism but detoxification, and gallbladder function and bile circulation.

The third marker is called 8-OhDG, which is a biproduct of DNA damage that results from oxidative damage by free radicals which tells us how you're dealing with stress in all its forms, chemical, biological, and emotional. This also gives us an insight into your health at a cellular level, this is crucial as there are some doctors who believe that all modern illness is a result of cell damage, particularly to the mitochondria.

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3. Mucosal Barrier Assessment

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The mucosal barrier is a barrier that is found on any body part that is exposed to the outside environment, from the mouth, throat, eyes, and the GI tract because of intake of food from the outside. It is there to let in good things like nutrients, vitamins, and other biochemical responses from the body, and keep out unwanted debris like toxins and food particles.

This test is submitted by doing a finger prick and collecting some drops of blood onto a card and sending it in. This test is checking for the zonulin group of peptides and their presence in the blood giving us an idea whether or not your mucosal barrier is allowing any unwanted pathogens or debris outside the digestive tract. This is commonly known as leaky gut, and it is now believed that this could be an indicator that the blood brain barrier is in a similar condition.

The other two markers measured are Histamine and DOA, Histamine gives us an idea of the body's inflammatory response. DOA is the bodies response to excess histamine, and the ratio of these two markers helps us form an accurate impression of the extent of the mucosal barrier damage.

Hippocrates said, "All disease begins in the gut". While I don't like to speak in such definitive terms, there is a lot of truth in that statement as so many health conditions can result from gut permeability. Everything from skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne, to mental health conditions, hormone imbalances, and many more.

This is because the gut is where all of our nutrient absorption and conversion of our fuel sources, into fuel takes place. So, if there is a problem anywhere in that process it can not only manifest as symptoms, but cascade into bigger problems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. GI Map

This test requires a stool sample, the results are assessing the composition of your gut microbiome, this includes bacteria, viruses, and fungal infections, but also the good bacteria that serve so many different bodily functions from digestion and absorption to our immune response, as well as mental health, and more are being discovered every day it seems. The samples below will give you a list of the bacteria, viruses, and fungus strains we are testing for, as well as the additional biomarkers. The added markers that give us a better idea of digestive and cardiovascular function, along with mucosal barrier damage. In our modern world processed foods and especially chemicals like pesticides and herbicides are having serious impacts on our microbiome. Another staple of modern medicine that is destroying our microbiome is the overuse of antibiotics not just in our bodies but in farm animals that we eat. While these destroy harmful bacteria, they also kill off our good bacteria that opens us up to all kinds of health issues.

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5. Metabolic Typing and Food Sensitivities Tests 

This test has two parts, the metabolic typing test is a series of questions that asks you about how your reactions to various foods, this includes physiological reactions like gas, bloating, impact on energy levels, to emotional reactions. This is used to determine your metabolic type which includes your oxidation rate, and which part of your nervous system is dominant, sympathetic or parasympathetic. This tells us what macronutrient combinations your body prefers as a fuel source, macronutrients are your fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. This is why many conventional diets don't work for everyone, because we are all different and need a bio individualized diet.

The food sensitivities test requires a blood draw that can be done at your local hospital, and many third-party labs. This is going to measure your body's immune response to over 70 different food types, food additives, supplement ingredients, and common synthetic ingredients. Not to be confused with allergies, a sensitivity merely means that your body is generating an immune response when these foods or substances are detected. This usually isn't something with any noticeable symptoms but eventually can manifest in a variety of conditions.

Your body only has so much available immune response to address various pathogens and threats it identifies. If a significant portion of that is being used to fight foods that are not actually an immunological threat but something we voluntarily intake and should actually be healthy. Then it is being drawn away from actual threats like viruses and bacteria.

One good example of the bodies innate intelligence is the way skin conditions manifest; they are usually the result of a condition in the gut. The body is so smart it knows that the gut needs to be prioritized by the immune system because that is more critical to survival than a superficial rash or outbreak. So, the skin gets bumped back until the gut can be repaired.

The Oxford company sends you a comprehensive review of your sensitivities and includes a card with your most reactive foods listed.

This final test plays a huge role in how we shape your custom diet plan. I encourage all my clients to start the program with a fast, however long they are comfortable with is fine, but I recommend 2-3 days if they are able. Then we will slowly introduce different food groups to create more diverse and delicious meals, and eventually they can try the reactive foods again and see how they feel and even run the test again, as many clients will have a reduced number of reactive foods when they begin to heal. I have even heard of cases where after the gut has been healed and the microbiome restored, anaphylactic allergies have been reversed.

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These tests help guide us in your treatment plan and show exactly what needs to be addressed to restore health. We will create a protocol specific to your body using the DRESS, Diet, Rest, Exercise, Stress Reduction, and Supplementation, along with some behavioral and lifestyle adjustments that will bring your body back into balance and begin the healing process.