What to Expect from Functional Testing

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Functional medicine is a personalized approach to healthcare that aims to find the root cause of a patient's symptoms and provide individualized treatment plans. Testing is a crucial component of functional medicine, as it helps to identify imbalances and underlying causes of chronic illnesses. Functional medicine focuses on treating the whole person, rather than just the symptoms of a disease. This means taking into account a patient's genetics, lifestyle, environment, and emotional well-being. It also means using a wide range of tests to understand the underlying causes of a patient's health issues. These tests can help identify imbalances in the body, such as nutritional deficiencies, hormone imbalances, or inflammation.

One of the key benefits of functional medicine testing is that it can help identify the root cause of a patient's symptoms. For example, a patient might present with a range of symptoms, including fatigue, digestive issues, and joint pain. Rather than simply treating each symptom separately, a functional medicine practitioner might use a range of tests to identify the underlying cause of these symptoms. This might involve testing for food intolerances, gut health, adrenal function, nutritional deficiencies and hormonal imbalances.

Once the underlying cause of a patient's symptoms has been identified, a functional medicine practitioner can develop an individualized treatment plan. This might involve dietary changes, supplements, stress reduction techniques, and lifestyle modifications. The goal of treatment is to address the root cause of the patient's symptoms and restore balance to the body, avoiding the commonly prescribed medications that may have many side effects and only “mask” the patient's symptoms.

Functional medicine testing is also useful for preventing chronic illnesses. By identifying imbalances in the body early on, we can take steps to correct these imbalances before they lead to more serious health issues. For example, a patient might have a genetic predisposition to heart disease, autoimmune conditions, or dementia. Through functional medicine testing, we can identify markers of inflammation and oxidative stress that predict these illnesses and contribute to them along with environmental factors. By addressing these markers early on, a patient can take steps to prevent the development of the disease to begin with, or, if diagnosed early enough, treat the condition before downstream complications occur.

Lastly, for the healthy cohort, functional testing allows us to optimize nutritional deficiencies, improve gut health, and optimize health through a myriad of simple lifestyle, dietary, and supplemental interventions.

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Types of Functional Testing

There are many types of functional testing available. Some of the more common tests include food sensitivity, infinite food allergy testing, KMBO, FIT Test, micronutrient testing such as NutrEval, GI Effect, hormonal testing, Dutch test, blood analysis, and genetic testing. Each test looks at different aspects of your health to accurately pinpoint the cause of your symptoms.

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Food Sensitivity Testing:

Food sensitivity testing can be an important tool for identifying foods that may be contributing to inflammation and other health issues. Infinite Food Allergy Testing, KMBO Food Sensitivity Testing, and FIT Test are some of the most common tests used for food sensitivity testing, with consistent, high quality and predictable results. These tests measure the immune response to different foods and can help identify which foods are causing inflammation in the body. Eliminating these foods can lead to a reduction in symptoms, such as bloating, gas, fatigue, brain fog, autoimmune conditions and skin rashes.

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Micronutrient Testing:

Micronutrients are essential nutrients required by the body in small amounts for optimal health and function. These nutrients include vitamins and minerals, as well as other compounds such as phytochemicals and antioxidants. Micronutrients play a critical role in many bodily processes, including energy production, immune function, bone health, and cognitive function. Micronutrient deficiencies can have serious health consequences. For example, vitamin D deficiency can contribute to bone loss and increased risk of fractures, while iron deficiency can lead to anemia and fatigue. Similarly, inadequate intake of certain B vitamins can lead to impaired cognitive function and neurological issues.

Studies have suggested that micronutrient deficiencies are a significant public health concern in the United States and globally. For example, studies have reported that up to 40% of Americans may be deficient in vitamin D, while others have suggested that up to 50% of the US population may have insufficient intake of magnesium. Magnesium is a mineral that is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, including those involved in energy production, protein synthesis, and muscle and nerve function. Despite its importance, many Americans do not get enough magnesium in their diets. Potassium is another essential mineral that is involved in numerous bodily functions, including regulating blood pressure, heart function, and muscle and nerve function. It is estimated that less than 2% of Americans meet the daily recommended intake of potassium!

Other vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B12, folate, and iron, are also commonly deficient in the United States. These deficiencies can contribute to a range of health.

Micronutrient testing can help identify nutritional deficiencies. NutrEval testing by Genova Diagnostics is one of the most comprehensive tests available, measuring a wide range of micronutrients, antioxidants, and metabolic markers. This test can help identify imbalances in the body and guide personalized treatment plans, including targeted supplementation and dietary changes.

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GI Affect Test:

The GI Affect test by Genova Diagnostics is another test commonly used in functional medicine. This test measures the health of the digestive system, including the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria in the gut. It can help identify imbalances that may be contributing to digestive issues, such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. This test can guide personalized treatment plans, including probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary changes.

 

Hormonal Testing:

Hormonal testing can be an important tool for identifying imbalances in hormone levels that may be contributing to health issues. The Dutch test is a comprehensive test that measures hormone levels throughout the day, including cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. This test can help identify imbalances that can cause symptoms such as fatigue, mood swings, and irregular periods. It can guide personalized treatment plans, including hormone replacement therapy and lifestyle changes.

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How to Get Started with Functional Testing

Getting started with functional testing is easy at vBoutique.. All you need to do is set up a consultation with our office. At the consultation, we will discuss your symptoms and determine which tests are best for you. With the help of functional testing, you can start to uncover the root cause of your chronic health issues and take steps to restore your health!