Functional Lab Testing
Functional lab testing offers a more comprehensive view of the body compared to conventional Western medicine, which often focuses on diagnosing specific diseases based on symptoms. Instead of solely identifying acute conditions, functional testing explores the root causes of imbalances, such as inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, and hormonal dysfunctions, that may not show up in standard tests. This approach is not about diagnosing diseases but about understanding how different systems in the body are functioning and identifying underlying issues that may contribute to chronic inflammation. By pinpointing these imbalances, we can take steps to reduce inflammation, support faster healing, and promote overall well-being through targeted lifestyle, dietary, and supplement interventions.
My Process
Order Labs and Complete Intake Forms
The first step will be for me to order your lab kits. Lab kits will come directly to your house, where you can complete them in the privacy of your own home. As you wait for those kits to arrive, several intake forms will be e-mailed to be filled out at your earliest convenience. Once completed, we can schedule our initial intake conversation.
ASSESS
Initial Intake
During your initial intake, we will review your intake forms, take a deeper dive into your symptoms and medical history and just get to know each other. We will discuss my coaching techniques, your health history and your goals. This helps me create a holistic personalized plan for your unique needs. Around this time, you should have most of your lab samples collected and returned. Expect up to 4 weeks for all lab results to arrive.
Result and Recommendations
Once the lab test results have arrived, we will schedule Result and Recommendation sessions. You will receive video explanation of results. The results will be e-mailed to you 24 hours ahead of this session. Together, we will walk through detailed analysis and clinical correlation of your lab results and your comprehensive 90-day diet and lifestyle protocol( depending on package). Supplement recommendations, when appropriate, will be offered to you via Fullscript at discounted rates.
HEAL
Follow-Up Sessions
6- 30 min follow-up sessions, will be booked for 3 months depending on your package. These sessions are intended to help track progress, troubleshoot, and provide you with any guidance that might be needed to help you through your journey. These sessions are held via video conference or by phone for your comfort.
Final Session
During our final session, we will reassess your symptoms, and evaluate room for further improvement. Emphasis will be placed on continuing your new healthy habits far beyond our time together. Remember, the road to health is a lifelong journey, and doesn’t end with our coaching relationship!
THRIVE
Lab Screening Kits
Lab kits shipped directly to your house
01
GI MAP
at home stool test that looks for markers of intestinal health and identifies the presence of pathogens. It is designed to detect microbes that may disturbing your normal microbiome and contribute to fatigue and illness as well as indicators of digestion, absorption, inflammation, and immune function.
03
DUTCH hormone test
at home urine test, to find hidden hormone imbalances, addresses dysfunction in sleep, energy, mood, libido and weight. Extensive profile of sex hormones, adrenal hormones, cortisol levels to identify symptoms of hormonal imbalance.
02
Blood Chemistry Panel
By placing your blood chemistry results within functional lab ranges, we can identify disruptions in patterns that may contribute to inflammation in your body. This process helps us uncover potential causes of symptoms like fatigue, poor sleep, and digestion issues, guiding us to address the root of why you're not feeling your best
04
MRT- food sensitivity test
(food sensitivity testing)-is a blood test (drawn at outside lab) that identifies hidden food intolerances. Food sensitivities are downstream from leaky gut so we always work on restoring gut function, but making dietary shifts can reduce inflammation and discomfort quickly. Food sensitivities drive fatigue, chronic pain, headaches, hormone imbalances, sleep disruptions and more. (you are responsible for the blood draw charge)
D.R.E.S.S Protocol
The acronym “D.R.E.S.S.” stands for the five most critical health habits “Diet, Rest, Exercise, Stress Reduction, and Supplements.” These critical behaviors and lifestyle factors (habits) provide the foundation for EVERYBODY to get well and stay well, naturally. DRESS, as practiced by FDNs, is a lab-guided program so powerful that even serious, previously diagnosed conditions have been completely reversed, when the five habits are followed properly and patiently.
D-DIET
Eating according to genetic requirements helps to increase metabolic efficiency. Eating the wrong foods is a major contributor to Metabolic ChaosTM. The three main guidelines regarding what we eat that profoundly affect our health are:
1) eating real, whole foods;
2) eating right for your individual metabolic requirements; and
3) eliminating the foods that cause stress to our bodies.
Foods we are sensitive to and junk foods are major contributors to Metabolic ChaosTM.
R-REST
E-EXERCISE
We all know that exercise is vital part of a healthy life. This might seem obvious, but many people today live very sedentary lives. We sit at work, sit in our cars, and sit in front of the television at home to unwind. But our bodies are not designed for so much sitting. We are meant to move! That movement causes our blood to bring oxygen to our organs (including our brains); it allows us to build muscle and to strengthen our lungs and hearts. Exercise also helps to carry toxins out of the body. With exercise, everything gets oiled and strengthened; our bodies move more freely and with more ease; everything just lights up!
S-STRESS
Is all stress bad? The clear answer is “no.” There is a difference between eustress and distress. Eustress is the good kind of stress that makes things happen, move forward, grow, and develop. Sunlight is a type of eustress on a flower that makes it suck nutrients out of the ground in order to grow and bloom. Eustress is the force of nature that makes a butterfly break out of its chrysalis, expand its new wings, and take off to find a mate. Distress, on the other hand, whether mental, physical, or chemical, can be extremely destructive. Distress is any influence that causes or leads to malfunction and, therefore, is involved in all disease. When not addressed properly, this type of stress can ruin one’s mental, emotional, and physical health and cause one to age more rapidly and feel lousy. While millions of us feel that stress is just something we have to live with and can’t be improved upon, FDNs know this is not the case and can help you discover hidden stressors and eliminate or reduce them.
S-SUPPLEMENTATION
Supplements are not always the first thing to turn to when you need help. The supplement market is a huge industry, therefore; claims, suggestions, and marketing ploys are put forth in order to increase sales. Knowing which supplements are useful is where the knowledge of an FDN practitioner comes in handy. As with all aspects of health, there is no “one size fits all” approach. This is very true with supplements. Much like with one’s food choices, supplementation should be tailored to each individual in order to address specific healing opportunities, provide support, and make up for poor food quality.