How is testing used in nutritional therapy?
During your nutritional therapy programme, functional testing may be recommended to help us delve deeper and better understand your health concerns. Functional testing may be recommended to assess nutritional imbalances and inform personalised diet and lifestyle recommendations, to support wellbeing. Did you know that gut dysbiosis (an imbalance between friendly and harmful bacteria in your gut) can impair how you regulate blood sugar? And that a cortisol imbalance can influence dysbiosis? Your organs do not operate in isolation, but instead are connected in a complex system. This is what I love! This is the science behind nutritional therapy.
Due to your individual requirements for testing, these costs are not included in the price of nutritional therapy programmes.
Self tests
​Some tests can be done safely at home and for example may provide an insight into stomach acid production, or food sensitivities.
Adrenal tests
Provides insight into the communication between the brain and adrenal glands. Are you tired but wired? Do you struggle to lose weight? Let's look into your cortisol levels.
GP tests
With your permission, we may decide it is appropriate to write to your GP to request blood tests, for example blood sugar, thyroid or a full blood count. Private labs also offer these tests.
DUTCH testing
This is a comprehensive hormone panel and can provide insight into hormonal imbalances, nutrient deficiencies and antioxidant status.
Stool tests
​These tests can help us delve deeply into your gut function. Gut microbes influence mood, skin, hormone, immunity and many more body systems.
Finger prick tests
A number of tests can now be completed at home this way and may be recommended to assess vitamin D status, thyroid function or dig deeper into symptoms of fatigue.