Unlocking Optimal Wellness Through Functional Health Testing

In today’s busy world, people are increasingly focusing on their health and wellness. However, even with our best intentions, hidden health issues often remain undiscovered. Enter functional health testing, a valuable method that reveals a comprehensive view of individual health. By detecting underlying problems that conventional medical tests might miss, functional health testing can play a crucial role in enhancing overall wellness. This blog will highlight the significance of functional health testing, the various types available, and how these tests can pave the way to better health.

What is Functional Health Testing?

Functional health testing offers a holistic perspective on a person's health status. It differs from traditional medical tests that typically aim to diagnose specific diseases. Instead, these tests evaluate how various body systems—like hormonal, digestive, immune, and metabolic functions—are working together.

For instance, a functional health test might reveal if someone has a vitamin D deficiency that is affecting their immune response, something a regular blood test might not specifically highlight. By identifying these issues early, individuals can take proactive measures to improve their health.

The Importance of Functional Health Testing

Uncovering Hidden Health Issues

A major benefit of functional health testing is its capacity to reveal unnoticed health issues. Many individuals may feel fine on the surface yet experience unexplained symptoms, such as chronic fatigue or digestive discomfort. A study showed that 70% of people who underwent functional health testing discovered at least one untreated deficiency or imbalance.

By identifying these hidden problems, individuals can address them before they escalate into serious health concerns, ultimately leading to better long-term outcomes.

Personalized Health Insights

Functional health testing delivers unique insights that cater specifically to each individual. Consider this: two people can have the same symptoms but may react differently to diets or treatments based on their unique biological makeup. Traditional medical tests often follow a generic approach, while functional health testing considers a person's specific health history and lifestyle.

For instance, a person with a genetic predisposition to low iron may need different dietary recommendations than someone without such a risk. Such personalized insights empower individuals to make informed health choices tailored to their needs.

Empowering Individuals

Functional health testing enables individuals to take charge of their health. Knowledge of one’s health profile fosters an active approach to wellness. For example, someone who learns about a prediabetic condition through metabolic testing may become more motivated to adjust their diet or increase their physical activity.

This proactive behavior can significantly enhance an individual’s overall lifestyle, making them more likely to adopt healthier habits.

Types of Functional Health Tests

Hormonal Testing

Hormonal testing assesses levels of key hormones like cortisol and estrogen. Imbalances can lead to several issues, such as weight gain or mood disorders. For example,Addressing hormone imbalances can lead to better mood regulation, with studies showing that balanced cortisol levels can improve stress resilience by up to 50%.

Digestive Health Testing

The gut is critical in overall health, and digestive health testing provides important information about gut function. These tests may evaluate gut bacteria levels or food sensitivities. For instance, identifying gluten sensitivity through digestive testing can help someone with chronic digestive issues improve their quality of life dramatically.

Nutritional Testing

Nutritional testing evaluates essential nutrient levels, such as vitamins and minerals. A deficiency in vitamin B12, for example, can cause fatigue or cognitive issues. By pinpointing these deficiencies, individuals can modify their diets or consider supplements to help improve their energy levels and overall health.

Immune Function Testing

Understanding how the immune system is performing is essential. This testing assesses factors like antibody levels. An analysis discovered that individuals with optimized immune markers are 30% less likely to have recurrent infections, emphasizing the importance of supporting immune health through diet and lifestyle changes.

Metabolic Testing

Metabolic testing examines how well the body processes nutrients and generates energy. This testing can reveal if someone has insulin resistance, a condition that affects nearly 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. Recognizing such metabolic issues early allows for better management strategies, helping individuals maintain a healthier weight and overall well-being.

Common Functional Tests Used at Balance Functional Medicine

Here are some of the common functional tests used by our practice:

• Organic Acids Test (OAT): Measures metabolic by-products in urine to diagnose conditions, detects neurotransmitter imbalances, yeast/bacterial overgrowth, nutrient status, and can be used to monitor treatment effectiveness

• Comprehensive stool analysis: Used to assess gut health, detect harmful bacteria/parasites, inflammation, and functional digestive capacity

• SIBO testing: A breath test series taken at home to detect small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

• At-home gut investigation kit: Includes tests for transit time, stomach acid levels, and dietary carbohydrate digestion to assess digestive health at home

• Precision 88 dietary antigen and KBMO food inflammation tests to identify inflammatory responses to common foods

• DUTCH hormone test: A comprehensive urine test measuring oestrogen metabolites, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, DHT, cortisol, and melatonin to identify hormonal imbalances

• Cardiometabolic health profile: Evaluates cardiovascular health by measuring lipoprotein particle size, oxidised LDL, inflammatory markers, and fasting blood glucose

• Comprehensive thyroid panel: Measures a range of thyroid markers, including TSH, T4, T3, rT3, and thyroid antibodies to identify potential thyroid problems.

• Testing for toxin exposure: Measures exposure to environmental toxins through blood, urine, or hair samples

• Genetic testing: Can be used to identify genetic predispositions for chronic diseases and guide personalised diet and lifestyle interventions

• Nutrient testing: Measures the levels of essential nutrients in your body, allowing you to identify deficiencies and make dietary changes or take supplements to address them

Let’s look at each of these in a bit more detail.

Organic Acids Test (OAT)

The organic acid test measures the levels of metabolic by-products excreted in a person’s urine. Organic acids are chemicals produced when the body breaks down food or other metabolised substances.

The organic acid test has more than 70 different markers and can be used to help diagnose a variety of conditions or detect imbalances in neurotransmitters, energy production, yeast or bacterial overgrowth, oxidative stress, detoxification and methylation ability, and nutrient status.

It can also be used to monitor the progress of a disease or to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.

In many cases, your functional medicine practitioner will recommend an OAT when they are interested in looking at how your body, or metabolism, is functioning at the cellular level.

Digestive health tests – comprehensive stool analysis

There are a number of gut health tests available that can help assess the health and function of your digestive system, commonly used for those with digestive complaints like bloating, IBS and constipation, as well as to determine whether poor digestive health is contributing to other conditions such as acne, eczema, autoimmune conditions, and thyroid conditions.

There are several tests our practitioners use, all of which are comprehensive stool analysis tests for the microbiome and gut integrity. These tests can check for the presence of harmful bacteria or parasites in the digestive system, and assess functional digestive capacity such as how well you digest fats, protein and carbohydrates, as well as identify whether there is inflammation in the digestive tract.

SIBO testing

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a common digestive health issue we see in clinic. Testing for SIBO involves a series of breath tests taken over a period of time which you can do at home.

At-home gut investigation kit 

Not all tests require fancy labs when it comes to assessing digestive health. Some of the tests in our gut investigation kit can be done at home, and include:

• Transit time test – to determine how long it takes from mouth to anus to digest food and eliminate waste using simple sesame seeds

• Bicarbonate of soda test – to determine stomach acid levels

• Dietary carbohydrates digestion test – our patients receive an at-home test containing lactose, glucose, fructose and inulin to see whether the inability to digest and absorb these carbohydrates might be contributing to their health picture, which is often involved in bloating, IBS, diarrhoea and other conditions

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Precision 88 dietary antigen test

Allergies and sensitivities are immune reactions to foods which can arise at any time, and are often surprisingly implicated in a range of health issues, from digestive issues to skin problems, mood disorders, fatigue, and more. There are two functional tests we often use to identify inflammatory responses from common foods; precision 88 dietary antigen test and KBMO food inflammation test.

The precision 88 (or P88) is a dietary antigen test that looks for both allergic reactions through IgE antibodies, and sensitivities through IgG antibodies, as well as the complement protein C3d, to identify whether inflammation is being produced in response to 88 common foods.

KBMO food inflammation test

The KBMO food inflammation test assesses if you have sensitivities to either 132 or 176 common foods. Through a few drops of blood, it detects and measures immunoglobulin G (IgG) and complement protein (C3d) to identify whether an inflammatory response may be being caused by an immune response to a food.

DUTCH hormone test

The DUTCH test is a comprehensive insight into your hormone status & their metabolism, including oestrogen metabolites, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, DHT, cortisol, and melatonin.

It involves taking a small sample of urine, which is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. The results of the test can help you and your practitioner understand what, if any, hormonal imbalances you may have. If you’re experiencing any symptoms of hormone imbalance, such as fatigue, weight gain, mood swings, and irregular periods, or changes to libido or erectile dysfunction, the DUTCH test can help.

There are five different DUTCH tests: DUTCH Complete, Female, Male, Plus and Adrenal. Your practitioner will determine the right one for you.

Cardiometabolic health profile

Cardiometabolic health testing looks at a number of different factors to give a comprehensive picture of your cardiovascular health. One of the key things that cardiometabolic health testing looks at is the size of your lipoprotein particles.

Small, dense LDL particles are more likely to damage the inner lining of your blood vessels leading to plaque formation than large, buoyant LDL particles.

The testing also looks at the level of oxidised LDL in your blood. Oxidised LDL is more likely to cause damage to the arteries than non-oxidised LDL.

The cardiometabolic profile also evaluates a number of inflammatory markers important in the evaluation of cardiovascular health, in addition to fasting blood glucose which is often an early indicator of insulin resistance and the potential for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Comprehensive thyroid panel

Thyroid function is typically measured by testing for levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). However, TSH levels may not always be an accurate indicator of thyroid function.

That’s why it’s important to test for a broader range of thyroid markers, including T4, T3, rT3, and to explore thyroid antibodies TPOAb, TGAb, and TRAb which indicate autoimmune thyroid disease.

Comprehensive thyroid testing can give you a more complete picture of thyroid function and help to identify potential problems early on.

Testing for toxin exposure

Exposure to common toxins can lead to serious health problems, especially when exposure is prolonged or repeated. Testing for toxin exposure can help identify the source of exposure and allow for proper treatment and prevention.

Common tests for toxin exposure include tests for heavy metals, mould/mycotoxins, and environmental chemicals. In our clinic, we use:

• Mosaic Diagnostics (formally Great Plains Laboratory) GPL-TOX Environmental Chemicals Testing

• Mosaic Diagnostics (formally Great Plains Laboratory) Glyphosate test

• Mosaic Diagnostics (formally Great Plains Laboratory) Mycotox profile to assess 11 mycotoxins from 40 species of mould

• Doctor’s Data hair toxic and essential elements – to assess heavy metals and essential minerals

• Nutripath whole blood metals testing

• Nutripath pre & post chelation urine metals testing

Genetic testing and nutrigenomics

Genetic testing can identify what genetic predispositions you might have towards chronic diseases, and can give much insight into understanding your capacity for metabolism, absorption and transport of various substances in the body, from nutrients to neurotransmitters and hormones, as well as assessing detoxification efficiency. This information can then be used to tailor a diet and lifestyle plan that may help optimise your overall health and prevent the onset of chronic disease. 

Testing for nutrient status

One of the best ways to ensure that your body is functioning optimally is to make sure that you are not deficient in any key nutrients. This can be done through testing for nutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies. By finding and correcting these deficiencies, you can help improve your overall health and well-being.

Some of the nutrients our practitioners can test for include B vitamins, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, selenium, iodine, chromium, and Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids.

As you can see, there are many functional health testing tools in a practitioner’s arsenal that can help to understand a person’s health picture more clearly. If you’re trying to get to the root cause of your health issues, functional tests can often bring to light what you need to focus on to heal.

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How to Get Started with Functional Health Testing

Consult a Healthcare Professional

Before embarking on the journey of functional health testing, it is crucial to consult with a qualified healthcare provider. This initial step is not merely a formality; it is an essential part of the process that can significantly influence the effectiveness of your health interventions. A qualified healthcare provider brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, allowing them to assess your individual health history, current symptoms, and specific health concerns comprehensively.

Through this assessment, they can help determine which functional health tests are most appropriate for your unique situation, ensuring that the tests chosen will provide relevant and actionable insights into your health status.

In addition to interpreting test results, a healthcare provider can assist in creating a personalized health plan tailored specifically to your needs. This plan may encompass various aspects of health improvement, including dietary recommendations, lifestyle changes, and potential therapeutic interventions. By collaborating with a healthcare professional, like Balance Functional Medicine, you can ensure that your health plan is not only evidence-based but also aligned with your personal preferences and lifestyle, making it more likely for you to adhere to the recommendations and achieve your health objectives.

Ultimately, the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider is invaluable in navigating the complexities of functional health testing and subsequent health management. Their expertise can help you make informed decisions that lead to better health outcomes, empowering you to take charge of your wellness journey with confidence and clarity.

The Role of Lifestyle in Functional Health

Nutrition

A nutritious diet is foundational to functional health. Emphasizing whole foods rich in nutrients can enhance body function. For example, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats can improve energy levels and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Exercise

Regular physical activity is vital for maintaining health. Exercise not only enhances cardiovascular wellness but also improves mood and metabolic function. Functional health testing can help determine the best types of exercise for you, promoting an effective fitness plan tailored to your body’s needs.

Stress Management

Chronic stress can have negative effects, contributing to issues like hormonal imbalances and weakened immunity. Techniques like mindfulness and yoga can aid in stress management. Furthermore, understanding personal stress-related health issues through testing can guide individuals in developing effective stress-reduction strategies.

Embracing a Healthier Future

Functional health testing is an essential tool for discovering hidden health problems and promoting optimal wellness. By providing personalized health insights, these tests enable individuals to take charge of their health journeys. Identifying imbalances early on can guide proactive steps towards long-term health.

As more people recognize the benefits of functional health testing, we can unlock greater potential for vibrant and healthier lives.