Conventional Medicine vs. Functional Medicine
Conventional medicine:
- uses a traditional model of patient treatment that centers on an illness
- mainly addresses the symptoms you are experiencing to diagnose an illness
- treatment plan often entails finding the appropriate pharmaceuticals that will decrease the symptoms
Functional Medicine and Functional Nutrition:
- center on establishing the root cause of the symptoms
- uses evidence-based functional labs that provide different info than traditional labs
- uses food and targeted nutritional supplements for treatment
- addresses the whole body to make sure systems are in balance (sleep, stress, physical activity)
- develops a tailored lifestyle and nutrition plan that addresses your unique needs
- a Functional Nutrition practitioner typically works with a patient for at least 3-6 months and spends much more time with the patient
Functional Labs
We are able to order both conventional and functional lab tests. Functional lab testing helps us get to the root cause of symptoms and gives us a clearer picture of your overall health. Some of the most common types of functional lab tests are described here:
Comprehensive Stool Tests
Gut health is essential for overall health and is central to Functional Nutrition. Comprehensive stool tests provide many biomarkers:
Looking into the gut can give us insight into overall health.
Organic Acid Test (OAT)
Urine test that is a foundational test for Functional Nutrition. The Organic Acids Test (OAT) provides a comprehensive metabolic analysis of a patient's overall health, including intestinal yeast and bacteria, vitamin and mineral levels, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter levels, and oxalates.
SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)
Breath test
SIBO occurs when bacteria enter the small intestine and begin to colonize. This can cause a variety of common gastrointestinal complaints. By measuring the release of hydrogen and methane in the breath, we can see if SIBO is occurring.
Functional Cholesterol Testing
There is a growing consensus that the traditional testing of Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol is inadequate. Functional cholesterol testing includes:
Nutrition Status Tests
There are various micronutrient panels available to assess for vitamin and mineral deficiencies. They can also test intracellular levels, not just blood levels. Even if blood levels are normal, your cellular intake levels of those nutrients may not be sufficient and may still provide risks for deficiencies and the disorders associated with them.
Amino Acid testing shows the level of amino acids available in the body for building structural, transport, and storage proteins, building immunoglobulins, and making enzymes. Amino acids play a role in many other body functions as well, including neurotransmitter functioning, cholesterol and carbohydrate metabolism, and detoxification processes.
Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac
We use Vibrant Health's Wheat Zoomer test. It aids in the specific recognition of antibodies to wheat peptides – including gluten and non-gluten components, along with antibodies that indicate the presence of intestinal permeability. It is also a highly sensitive peptide-based array designed to detect autoimmune reactions to gluten. 1 in 7 individuals in the United States has a wheat-related disorder.
Genetic Testing
Genetic testing for health and wellness can lead you to a whole array of actionable insights into optimizing your eating, exercise, lifestyle choices, and more in order to achieve better health. We use 3 X 4 Genetics; check out the following youtu.be/b9VJ_0_n6-EYouTube video for more information.
We are able to order both conventional and functional lab tests. Functional lab testing helps us get to the root cause of symptoms and gives us a clearer picture of your overall health. Some of the most common types of functional lab tests are described here:
Comprehensive Stool Tests
Gut health is essential for overall health and is central to Functional Nutrition. Comprehensive stool tests provide many biomarkers:
- digestion & absorption levels
- inflammation levels
- presence of parasites and worms
- gut microbiome health (amount of good vs. bad bacteria)
- pathogenic bacteria including H. Pylori, Clostridia Difficile, and Campylobacter
Looking into the gut can give us insight into overall health.
Organic Acid Test (OAT)
Urine test that is a foundational test for Functional Nutrition. The Organic Acids Test (OAT) provides a comprehensive metabolic analysis of a patient's overall health, including intestinal yeast and bacteria, vitamin and mineral levels, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter levels, and oxalates.
SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)
Breath test
SIBO occurs when bacteria enter the small intestine and begin to colonize. This can cause a variety of common gastrointestinal complaints. By measuring the release of hydrogen and methane in the breath, we can see if SIBO is occurring.
Functional Cholesterol Testing
There is a growing consensus that the traditional testing of Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol is inadequate. Functional cholesterol testing includes:
- ApoB-the number of ApoB-containing lipoproteins is the most reliable blood marker of lipid burden and cardiovascular disease risk. Many lipidologists and cardiologists now suggest using ApoB measurements instead of LDL when assessing lipid levels, especially when evaluating treatment response.
- Lp(a)-this is a subtype of LDL. There is increasing recognition that the number of Lp(a) particles is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease
- Cholesterol Balance Test-provides valuable insight into the underlying pathophysiology behind an individual's elevated cholesterol. Assesses cellular cholesterol production and gastrointestinal absorption. Lathosterol and Desmosterol are intracellular cholesterol markers produced in high enough amounts to be detected in blood. Elevations in these markers were significantly associated with cardiovascular disease in the Framingham Offspring Study. This test helps identify which pathway is the root cause for elevated serum cholesterol and will allow us to tailor your lifestyle recommendations, including appropriate supplements.
Nutrition Status Tests
There are various micronutrient panels available to assess for vitamin and mineral deficiencies. They can also test intracellular levels, not just blood levels. Even if blood levels are normal, your cellular intake levels of those nutrients may not be sufficient and may still provide risks for deficiencies and the disorders associated with them.
Amino Acid testing shows the level of amino acids available in the body for building structural, transport, and storage proteins, building immunoglobulins, and making enzymes. Amino acids play a role in many other body functions as well, including neurotransmitter functioning, cholesterol and carbohydrate metabolism, and detoxification processes.
Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac
We use Vibrant Health's Wheat Zoomer test. It aids in the specific recognition of antibodies to wheat peptides – including gluten and non-gluten components, along with antibodies that indicate the presence of intestinal permeability. It is also a highly sensitive peptide-based array designed to detect autoimmune reactions to gluten. 1 in 7 individuals in the United States has a wheat-related disorder.
Genetic Testing
Genetic testing for health and wellness can lead you to a whole array of actionable insights into optimizing your eating, exercise, lifestyle choices, and more in order to achieve better health. We use 3 X 4 Genetics; check out the following youtu.be/b9VJ_0_n6-EYouTube video for more information.