Does Functional Testing Fill a Gap in Our Medical System?
testimonial
Does Functional Testing Fill a Gap in Our Medical System?
We need doctors and specialists, they are invaluable to our health. However, when I refer clients to them, I do so knowing Western medicine focuses on diagnosis and medication. Very little funding goes into women’s health research and medicine looks to these studies for answers. When I book in with my endocrinologist for thyroid autoimmunity and the calls are under 5 minutes. Is that enough time to listen and educate a patient to improve their health? Definitely not. That’s where alternative medicine shines. It’s not one or the other though, it’s good to have many people on your team to support you.
What about functional testing? Do you need to test your gut health, mineral levels or hormone health?
The non controversial answer is, it depends. Paying for healthcare makes it unassessable to some, which is so unfortunate. I recommend skipping testing if you haven’t focused on the basics yet. Are you getting 8 hours of sleep, hitting your fibre and protein goals, not skipping breakfast and exercising? The women investing into functional testing feel they’ve tried that and more. They’re desperate for answers and want to feel better soon.
What can we learn from testing?
The GI-MAP uses qPCR DNA testing to analyze data in real time for infections, beneficial bacteria, opportunistic bacteria, fungi or parasites along with intestinal health markers. The health of your gut impacts: bloating, food ‘sensitivities’, acid reflux, digestion, inflammation, PMS, fertility complications and autoimmune disease.
A DUTCH hormone test will tell your provider the percentage that the estrogen metabolites take: the good, the bad or the ugly. People with high 16OH can have undiagnosed endometriosis or fibroids which takes years to diagnose with symptoms often being dismissed as normal. What’s fascinating is you can shift to the more beneficial 2OH pathway with herbs and lifestyle changes. Hormone testing also looks at androgens, cortisol, progesterone and melatonin.
Hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) is great for everyone from kids to postpartum moms. Minerals are often referred to as the ‘spark plugs’ of the body as we need them for many metabolic functions including digestion, hormone health and stress reduction. Minerals solely come from the food therefore it’s very helpful to focus on mineral rich food in times of high stress or pregnancy.
Who typically invests in functional testing? I’ll share a couple cases.
A busy working professional was struggling with constipation (a bowel movement every 4 days). She was bloated and so uncomfortable that she got a referral to a gastroenterologist from her general physician, a great first step. She was told by the specialist to avoid eating during the day and to only eat dinner. There was no attempt at finding out why the client was suffering and I can assure you, malnutrition is not the answer. If anything, this leads to disordered eating and more constipation. The gastric colic reflux works best in the morning when cortisol is highest. By eating or drinking fluids it helps signal to our brain to empty our stomach. If you fast or skip breakfast, your chance of a morning poop reduces.
Fast forward to our deep dive sessions, we focused on foods for regular bowel movements along with lifestyle habits and quickly saw changes. I used an osmotic laxative, a motility agent and sleep herbs for extra nervous system support. A GI-MAP stool test was ordered once her bowel movements became regular later revealing more about her root causes of constipation and bloat: high H. pylori bacteria, insufficiency dysbiosis (not enough beneficial bacteria), low elastase (a digestive enzyme) and high anti-gliadin IgA (immune reaction to gluten).
Within 2 weeks of implementing changes, she started having a bowel movement daily. Testing played a large role in her ability to reach her health goals.
A teenage client came to me looking for answers with exhaustion, acne and bloating. Antibiotics and antidepressants were recommended by her doctor, but she knew there was an underlying reason. Thanks to stool testing (a GI-MAP) she learned she had high levels candida and an H. pylori infection. With a detailed protocol, we addressed the infections with herbs, food and lifestyle tips and she fully transformed in 4 months. She now has daily bowel movements, no acne (see ya later H. pylori) and has energy for her athletic life. There are so many examples of transformation and women (and men!) feeling better. Shouldn’t that be the end goal?
Your body may be trying to tell you something and I hope you’re in a position to listen. It’s exciting that women are taking control of their health and advocating for themselves versus accepting ‘everything is fine’ as an answer to their health concerns.
To learn more about working together head to services. I have lots of testimonials posted at the bottom of the home page as well.
Jordan Bruce Nutrition