Food allergy testing is a simple, effective blood test that will determine which foods and chemicals YOU need to avoid. The test has been proven successful in helping overcome

• Stomach Disorders
• Fatigue
• Migraines
• Asthma
• Skin Disorders
• Aching Joints
• Hyperactivity/ADD
• Obesity
• And much more

Food sensitivity testing measures harmful immune reactions induced by commonly encountered foods. Using just a small amount of blood, the test can accurately detect a cellular reaction to over 250 different items.

Now more than ever, diet plays a critical role in preventing a wide range of autoimmune and degenerative diseases and premature aging.

The immune system is a double edged sword. It should react appropriately and protect against infection when confronted with potentially harmful invaders or "infectious agents" like viruses or bacteria. Unfortunately for some, exposure to common foods can trigger chronic activation of the immune system. White blood cells release harmful chemicals and generate damaging free radicals when they encounter incompatible foods just as they do when fighting viruses or bacteria.

A food allergy test may help you

• Identify harmful foods even normally "healthy" foods that are not good for you as an individual
• Improve metabolic function
• Decrease chronic inflammation, a major cause of premature aging
• Reach your goal weight
• Achieve wellness through customized nutrition

METABOLIC TESTING

The Metabolic Profile utilizes an organic acid technology. It is like an emission test performed on your car. The exhaust is examined to see how efficiently the engine is burning fuel. Similarly, certain compounds called "organic acids" in your urine reveal the efficiency of your body's machinery.

Many organic acids result from the metabolic pathways, or chemical reactions, your body uses to transform food into energy, growth, maintenance, and repair of body tissue. Like spark plugs that ignite fuel in a car engine, vitamins and other essential nutrients are necessary for their chemical reactions that power your metabolic machinery. Thousands for these reactions occur in your body every second and are the basis of your level of health and vitality.

High levels of certain organic acids on your report indicate specific nutrient insufficiencies that may be affecting your health. Other organic acids come from toxins you have been exposed to, and still other show how your body is responding to those toxins. When these are high on your profile, you may benefit from therapies that support your body's detoxification process.

The Organic Acid Profile is a first morning urine test that looks at 5 predominant categories:

1. B Vitamin Insufficiency.

Insufficiency of B-vitamins tends to be common since they are not stored as efficiently as other vitamins in the body. B-vitamins are involved in many critical processes including energy production, digestion, and muscle and nerve function. For example, production of stomach acid requires large amounts of energy. Even modest B-vitamin insufficiencies can compromise adequate energy production, leading to poor acid secretion and digestive disturbances commonly experienced as indigestion.

2. Cellular Energy

Although B vitamins impact energy production, this category measures compounds that relate most directly to how efficiently your cellular engines (called mitochondria) produce energy. All body processes depend on this key activity. Inadequate energy production at the cellular level can affect any aspect of your body's function and can have dramatic impact on a wide range of health conditions. One of the biggest things is the inability to lose weight and this portion of the tests looks at markers for carnitine which is needed to move fatty acids into the mitochondria where they are converted to energy and burned.

3. Neural Function

This category relates to neurotransmitters, the chemicals your nervous system uses to function and communicate with your body. The first three compounds in this category are significant if they are either low or high. Abnormalities in this area can relate to symptoms of mental, emotional and behavior problems.

4. Detoxification

Not only does the body use essential nutrients to actively build and maintain itself, it also must eliminate environmental toxins and certain chemicals created in the body itself. This process of detoxification is critical to health. Like a backed-up sewer, an impaired detoxification system can lead to many problems. Brain fog, headaches, insomnia, nausea, chemical sensitivities and a variety of chronic health problems are related to toxicity issues.

5. Intestinal Microbial Balance Markers

The compounds in this category normally appear in urine only at low levels and are not normally produced in the cells of your body. However, unfriendly intestinal microorganisms can manufacture them in relatively high quantities. The compounds are then absorbed into the blood from the intestines and eventually appear in the urine. Microbial overgrowth can lead to a wide variety of symptoms from reactions to the toxins produced by bacteria, parasites, or fungi. Various patters of the compounds appear elevated in conditions of general intestinal microbial overgrowth.

6. Oxidative damage and antioxidant sufficiency.

During the process of producing chemical energy to power your cells and fight infection, your body makes harmful chemicals called free radicals. Sustained inflammatory responses cause increased production of these free radicals. When local antioxidant protection fails to keep free radicals in check, there is threat of damage to cell membranes, enzymes, proteins and DNA. 8-OHdG is a product of oxidative damage by free radicals to DNA, and the 8-OHdG test tells you if you have enough antioxidants in your system. High levels of 8-OHdG are sometimes associated with toxic exposure, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, aging, liver disease, Parkinson's disease, and smoking.

HORMONE TESTING

Hormones need to be balanced or various health concerns can arise. There are times during a person's life when hormone levels normally shift and change including menopause and pregnancy for women. Many hormone levels also decline as we age.

Genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors can all play a role in hormone production, and balance as well as determine how well our bodies adapt to naturally changing levels.

Estrogens help maintain healthy reproductive tissues, breasts, and skin certain cancers. Low estrogen levels can lead to hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and bone loss. Androgens like DHEA help with the regeneration of skin, bones, muscles, and other tissues.

Low DHEA levels can lead to fatigue, depressed mood, and reduced mental function.

Progesterone is involved in reproduction, nervous system health, and mood. Low progesterone levels have been linked to many of the symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and irritability.

HAIR ANALYSIS TESTING

Your hair contains all the minerals present in your body, including nutritional minerals as well as toxic heavy metals. Hair mineral analysis is a laboratory test that measures this mineral content in the hair. The test results reflect how much of these elements are in your tissues and provide a vivid picture of your internal environment. This testing is far more extensive than a routine blood test which only shows what is moving through your body at the time where hair shows what is being stored in your body.

This test also indicates your metabolic type - whether you are a Slow or a Fast Metabolizer. You will then be provided with a list of dietary suggestions and supplements based on your metabolic type, mineral levels, mineral ratios, as well as the nutrient content of each food including protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals. Based upon these determinations, it may be suggested that foods be avoided or increased temporarily to aid in the improvement of your chemistry. Food allergies may also be detected through hair analysis and listed as foods to be avoided.

Hair analysis can give you an indication of mineral status and toxic metal accumulation following long term exposure. What can cause a mineral imbalance? Diet, Stress, Medications, Pollution, Smoking, and Inherited Patterns.

NEUROTRANSMITTER TESTING

The human nervous system is arguably one of the most complex systems in nature. It is responsible for coordinating thousands of processes, from muscle contraction to crying. The center of the nervous system is the brain, which contains over 100 billion specialized cells called neurons. The nervous system also contains very important chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The brain uses neurotransmitters to tell your heart to beat, your lungs to breathe, and your stomach to digest. Neurotransmitters are also necessary for thought processes, emotions, and other essential body functions including sleep, energy, and fear.

Clearly, a system with this much responsibility needs to function properly in order for a persona to remain healthy. Unfortunately, the nervous system can be easily disrupted through a number of factors: Stress, poor diet, toxic chemicals, infections and genetics. These factors can cause the levels of neurotransmitters to become either too high or too low. Imbalanced neurotransmitter levels can lead to: Feelings of sadness, feelings of anxiousness, disrupted sleep, fatigue, behavioral problems, foggy thinking and headaches.

The good news is that neurotransmitter levels can be measured, and options for improving nervous system function can be discussed without harmful medications. If you are struggling with a health concern, a simple urinary lab test can be done to measure your neurotransmitter levels.