Lab Testing
Confirming a diagnosis may require laboratory testing. These advanced diagnostic assessments go beyond the scope of conventional lab tests and can greatly assist in revealing the functional status of your health. Blood-spot and salivary hormone testing are non-invasive methods which will assess hormone imbalance that may be responsible for a variety of symptoms including menstrual issues, weight gain, decreased sex-drive, fatigue, insomnia, mood swings, and hot flashes. Analyzing various hormone levels can provide great insight into thyroid function, stress and adrenal function, male or female hormone imbalance, and infertility issues.

VITAMIN D
Vitamin D is considered the most important vitamin in the body because it directly regulates genes. Therefore, deficiencies can have a significant deleterious impact on health. Only 30% of Canadians have vitamin D levels that are considered optimal for health.

ADRENAL FUNCTION PANEL
This panel measures the body’s ability to cope with stress and reflects the extent to which the body has been affected by it. Symptoms of impaired adrenal function can include:
-
fatigue or feeling ‘tired but wired‘
-
depression
-
decreased sex-drive
-
sleep disturbance
-
anxiety
-
‘burned -out’ feeling
-
increased susceptibility to infection
-
worsening of allergies
-
decreased clarity of thought (‘brain-fog’)

THYROID PANEL
Standard thyroid tests may underestimate the incidence of thyroid disease. This test can be used to help determine if symptoms are thyroid related. A lack of thyroid hormone may result in a number of symptoms including:
-
depression
-
fatigue or sluggishness
-
cold body temperature
-
arthritis, muscle cramps, heavy limbs
-
headaches
-
weight gain or difficulty losing weight
-
constipation
-
itchy skin
-
dry or brittle hair and/or nails
-
high cholesterol
-
fertility issues and/or irregular periods and/or heavy periods

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT PROFILE
Can’t lose weight? It could be your hormones. Hormones are key players in regulating weight, metabolism, blood sugar, insulin, and when and where the body stores fat. As we age, shifting hormones trigger numerous symptoms of imbalance – including unexplained weight gain. Symptoms of hormone imbalance that may be hindering successful weight management include:
-
weight gain in hips, thighs
-
belly fat
-
water retention
-
increased appetite
-
sugar cravings
-
low thyroid symptoms – slow weight loss, regularly feeling cold
-
mood swings/PMS
-
heavy/painful or irregular cycles
-
hot flashes/night sweats
-
foggy thinking/fatigue
-
difficulty sleeping
-
unexplained stress
-
irritability
-
low libido
-
anxiety/depression

SLEEP PROFILE
Losing sleep? It could be a hormonal imbalance. Possible symptoms include:
-
Trouble falling or staying asleep
-
Frequent or early waking
-
Morning or evening fatigue
-
Feeling “tired but wired”
-
High stress
-
Irritability/impaired performance
-
Hunger/sugar cravings
-
Weight gain

FERTILITY PROFILE
A very comprehensive profile geared to women who have irregular cycles or fertility issues, who have been trying to get pregnant without success, or who would like to be proactive in their preconception planning by getting a baseline screening. Includes: diurnal cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEAS, sex hormone binding globulin, TSH, free T3, free T4, TPOab, LH, and FSH.

SIBO-Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
This condition occurs when there is an increased number of bacteria in the small intestine which leads to many different symptoms and associated conditions. The most common symptoms are bloating, abdominal discomfort and/or pain, and loose stools and/or constipation. Recent studies have shown that more than 84% of those with IBS actually have SIBO present. Other associated symptoms and conditions include: reflux/GERD, nausea, sense of fullness or slow digestion, gas, rosacea, eczema, acne, hypothyroidism, interstitial cystitis, IBD, celiac, and multiple food sensitivities/intolerances. SIBO can be confirmed via a lactulose breath test.

COMPREHENSIVE STOOL ANALYSIS
The Comprehensive Stool Analysis can help assess digestive and absorptive functions, as well as the presence of pathogenic microorganisms such as yeast, parasites, and bacteria.

CARDIOVASCULAR PROFILE
A comprehensive panel to help determine your risk of heart disease and/or diabetes. Includes: insulin, CRP, HbA1c, triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL.