Functional Medicine & Testing
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a systems-oriented and science-based approach that works to identify and understand the root causes of disease rather than just treating the symptoms.
By recognising the biochemical individuality of each patient, this holistic approach looks at the individual as a whole and considers their medical history, genetics, nutrition, lifestyle and environment to understand the underlying triggers of disease.
This comprehensive analysis allows for direct personalised treatment plans to restore health in the present, as well as prevent disease in the future.
Why Functional Medicine?
Chronic disease is highly complex and can have many different symptoms, as well as many different causes.
Everyone has a unique set of circumstances so the causes of a disease in one person may be very different to the causes of the same disease in someone else.
Functional medicine empowers you to work closely with your practitioner in order to understand what factors in your personal health and lifestyle may be contributing to your condition.
We listen carefully to your story and personal circumstances so we can fully identify the underlying root causes and start the process of restoring health.
Functional Testing
Functional testing refers to science-based lab tests that are used to identify your unique biochemical makeup and the potential for disease. Testing rather than guessing takes your therapy to the next level, pinpointing specific imbalances and providing a detailed picture of what is going on in your body’s ecosystem.
We recommend the appropriate test for you, then clinically analyse your results and explain these to you so you understand why you feel unwell and what the best course of action is. This knowledge can then be applied to your personalised plan for more effective treatment targeting your specific needs.
How Does Functional Testing Work?
Functional tests cover a range of conditions by looking for specific biomarkers that indicate chemical imbalances in the body such as hormones, inflammation, immunity, digestion, absorption and the presence of bacteria, worms and parasites.
Most samples can be taken by yourself in the comfort of your own home for tests that require breath, bloodspot, saliva, stool or urine. Certain tests may require a blood drawn sample which can be arranged with our phlebotomist.
Testing depends on the needs of each individual patient and costs vary according to the type of test and laboratory used.
Below are some of examples of the most frequently used functional tests, although many other tests are also available.
Which Functional Test Is Right For You?
Book a free discovery call to discuss your health situation and find out.
Adrenal Stress Profile
Your adrenal glands release different hormones into your body, including cortisol, which is your body’s main stress hormone.
Balanced hormones are an integral part of your overall health and having an imbalance in cortisol levels can lead to other hormone imbalances.
These hormones are released through a complex network of communications between your brain and adrenal glands known as the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. If miscommunication happens within the HPA-axis, adrenal fatigue occurs and can cause cortisol to be perpetually high, perpetually low, high when it should be low or vice versa.
If you are experiencing brain fog, fatigue, anxiety, depression, irritability, insomnia, blood sugar imbalances or weight gain, it is possible that you could have a cortisol imbalance as a result of adrenal gland dysfunction.
This test tracks your cortisol levels over a 24 hour period to measure the health of your adrenal system in response to stress.
Sample type: Saliva
Turnaround time: 10 days
Allergy & Food Intolerance Panel
The incidence of food sensitivities has increased dramatically over the years and it is estimated that up to 20% of the population have adverse reactions to foods, NSAID enteropathy, and post–infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
This test evaluates immune reactions to foods, food enzymes, lectins and artificial food additives.
It is recommended for patients with unexplained symptoms whether gastrointestinal, neurological, dermatological or behavioural in nature.
The test looks at levels of IgA and IgG antibodies that are created when you react to a food and measures reactivity to 90 food antigens in the cooked, raw, modified or processed form on the same panel.
Sample type: Blood (phlebotomy)
Turnaround time: 14 days
Coeliac & Gluten Sensitivity Profile
Coeliac Disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. It an immune response to gluten, a protein found in wheat, oats, barley, rye and other grains.
Symptoms may vary but include skin rash, muscle cramps, fatigue, flatulence, digestion problems or neurological issues. In some cases people may have no symptoms at all.
This is a blood test (phlebotomy or finger-prick depending on the laboratory) that measures important markers to aid in the diagnosis of Coeliac Disease including Total IgA, Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase IgA (tTG IgA), Anti-Deamidated Gliadin IgA (DGP IgA), and reflex Anti-Endomysial IgA (EMA IgA). Gluten sensitivity is assessed via Anti-Gliadin IgA and Anti-Gliadin IgG.
Sample type: Blood (phlebotomy)
Turnaround time: 10 days
Gastrointestinal (GI) Health & Microbiome Profile
This is a comprehensive analysis of the GI ecosystem and chronic disease-related microbial (bacteria, yeast, parasites) markers that offers valuable insight into digestive function, absorption, intestinal inflammation, and the intestinal microbiome.
Gut health is essential to the health of the whole body. If your gut biome is imbalanced, it can lead to a wide array of symptoms and chronic conditions such as leaky gut, IBD, SIBO, H. pylori and dysbiosis.
This test can be extremely helpful for those who have suspected IBS and other gastrointestinal issues.
Sample type: Stool
Turnaround time: 15-17 days
BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL
Discuss your health condition with us and find out which Functional test is right for you.
Hormone Panel
The DUTCH Plus is a combined panel that includes the DUTCH Complete and the DUTCH CAR (Cortisol Awakening Response).
It offers an extensive profile of sex and adrenal hormones plus melatonin, 8-Hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and six organic acids. The DUTCH CAR examines the overall diurnal pattern of free cortisol, and the total distribution of cortisol metabolites.
Hormones play a fundamental role in our health. When properly balanced they go unnoticed. However, if levels of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone become unbalanced, symptoms can be severe.
These may include acne, hair loss, weight gain, low sex drive, infertility, changes in the menstrual cycle, anxiety, depression and other mood disorders.
Sample type: Saliva, Urine
Turnaround time: 10 days
Nutritional Deficiencies
The NutrEval test evaluates over 125 biomarkers and assesses the body’s functional need for 40 antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, amino acids, digestive support, and other select nutrients.
According to the World Health Organisation, every country in the world is affected by one or more forms of malnutrition. The term malnutrition addresses 3 broad groups of conditions:
- Undernutrition (wasting, stunting, underweight)
- Micronutrient-related malnutrition from inadequate or excess vitamins or minerals
- Overweight, obesity, and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers)
Proper nutrition is key to preventing a number of diseases. Nutrients are necessary to feed every cell and ensure all body systems are functioning properly. Testing can help clinicians and patients gain an understanding of how nutritional imbalances may be impacting their health. Certain conditions or dietary, genetic, and lifestyle factors may predispose a person to having nutrient imbalances.
This test is ideal if you suffer from any of the following: mood disorders, cardiovascular disease, weight issues, insulin resistance, Type 2 Diabetes, autism, fatigue, poor digestion, malabsorption.
Sample type: Both blood (phlebotomy) and urine
Turnaround time: 14 days
Thyroid Panel
This test is a hormone test that provides a thorough analysis of thyroid hormone metabolism and pinpoints imbalances that underlie a broad spectrum of chronic illness. It includes central thyroid gland regulation and activity, thyroid production and secretion, peripheral thyroid conversion, and thyroid autoimmunity.
This test analyses serum levels of TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, anti-TG antibodies, and anti-TPO antibodies to assess central and peripheral thyroid function, as well as thyroid auto-immunity.
Thyroid hormones are essential and primary regulators of the body’s metabolism. Hormone imbalances can affect virtually every metabolic process in the body, exerting significant effects on mood and energy level.
This test is ideal if you have any of the following symptoms: anxiety, coldness, depression, weight gain, weight loss, headaches, poor skin, hair loss, fatigue, PMS and others.
Sample type: Serum (phlebotomy)
Turnaround time: 10 days
Anne-Emilie Boucaud2023-11-30Last year I contacted Carmen after a blood test revealed that I was in prediabetes. She helped me understand what was happening and guided me through my diet. Although I am in France we had appointments in visio, very convenient and easy. Now I understand better my metabolism and my blood tests are better than ever! Bye bye diabetes, bloating and discomfort! I even lost 10 Kg in the process!
mackenzie woods2023-11-13Really pleased to have found Nutrition Diets clinic. After explaining my symptoms to Carmen on a call, she recommended a gut microbiome test so we could investigate the causes. She put me on a special food and supplements program to balance my markers which came back as low plus various deficences. Will continue the plan and take another test in 6 months time so we can check progress and compare to my original test but already am feeling much better in comparison to when I first started with most of my symptoms completely gone. Brilliant stuff.
Samantha Scaffidi2023-11-01Working with Carmen was such a fantastic experience. It was the first time in a long time that I felt genuinely heard about my health concerns. We had a comprehensive initial appointment where she listened and walked me through my options. After some consideration, I went forward with testing. I am grateful that I did because, with her guidance, we have a plan in place that has already been showing results. I highly recommend her!
Maria Streeter2023-09-23I highly recommend Carmen. Despite living in the US, Carmen has been able to guide and assist me with my IBS, which I have been suffering from for a long time. Carmen has been the first nutritionist to help me find a solution to my problem. Her professionalism, empathy, and sweetness have been evident throughout my treatment. I am grateful to have found her, and I cannot thank her enough for the help she has provided.
Alesia Parshutsina2023-09-22I ordered a gut health microbiome test through Nutrition Diets. They analysed my test and have helped treat my digestive symptoms with personalised nutrition and lifestyle medicine. I'm really happy with the results and feeling great again. Would definitely recommend for anyone looking to improve their gut health!
Nick Satchell2023-09-01Brilliant service from Nutrition Diets. Thanks you to Carmen who has helped me with nutrition and testing to resolve my food intolerances!!
Bradley Pearce2023-08-22Working with a functional medicine nutritionist has really helped me understand where I was going wrong with my diet and taught me how to make better food and lifestyle choices. Huge thanks to Carmen and Nutrition Diets for all their support and getting me back on track.
J B2023-07-11With Carmen's support, my eczema and digestion have improved significantly after approx 3 months. Using a combination of food allergy and gut tests, she figured out the cause of my symptoms was a gluten intolerance (which I didn't know about), and also gut inflammation. Since then she has had me follow an anti-inflammation diet and elimination diet, as well as a supplement plan to help promote my gut flora and immune system. Carmen is an expert on gut health and the online consultation process has been seamless - thank you Carmen for all your help.
Matt Cansfield2023-07-06I had a fantastic experience with Nutrition Diets. With Carmen's expertise and her functional health tests, I have finally been able to understand and treat my food allergies and symptoms. Highly recommend!
Lesley Stead2023-07-05I have been having telephone consultations with Carmen now for just over 1 year now. If I never found Carmen I don’t think I would be where I am now, which in my opinion is very good as you can never get appointments with your own doctor, especially being diagnosed with Mcas (mast cell activation syndrome). Carmen is very knowledgeable and a lovely functional medicine nutritionist who as helped me to overcome my illness, which is very complexed. She does Skype also so you are actually getting a face to face appointment. Carmen puts her patients first always and is very understanding, I would recommend Carmen 100% as she is very passionate in what she does, and she will do her best to help you in anyway. So I would like to say Carmen a BIG Thank you for helping me get to where I am today, if it wasn’t, for you I just don’t think I could of managed this illness on my own. You are one amazing women.❤️
