Functional medicine practitioners approach patient management differently than many other medical disciplines. Rather than waiting for a condition to be clinically diagnosable and then warranting a specific medication, in this model our goals is to address the underlying mechanism that is dysfunctional early enough to negate the disease process. Rather than giving a specific medication or herbal compound for a specific condition, our goal is to try to fix the system’s core physiological mechanisms and feedback loops for the purpose of resolving the area that is dysfunctional.

There are key areas to prioritize when building your functional nutrition plan. Using a blood test to screen for metabolic imbalances in these areas determines whether one of these areas would need to be addressed first when designs your plan. Nutritional therapies can then be selected intelligently to address any presenting dysfunctional pattern.

Gastro-Intestinal Health

Identifying the triggers for GI dysfunction is essential. Most traditional healthcare providers lack the training to identify functional issues and are unable to understand the intricately linked patterns of systemic disorders. The main lab test that indicates GI issues are the Eosinophils on a blood test. If a lab marker is 4 or higher, additional testing is suggested to identify the antigen.

• A Gastro-Intestinal Stool Profile from Metametrix is recommended to screen for microbial infections, beneficial intestinal bacteria balance, pancreatic enzyme output, and other immunological markers.
• An Intestinal Antigenic Permeability Screen from Cyrex Labs is recommended to evaluate the integrity of the immune barrier system in the gastro-intestinal system.

Healthy Hepatic Clearance

If a persona cannot transform waste from a fat-soluble compound to a water-soluble compound, natural detoxification processes cannot occur. The main lab values that can indicate a liver issue are SGOT/AST, SGPT/ALT and GGTP elevated above 27. A blood panel is the preferred lab test to assess liver health status

Blood Sugar Stability/Adrenal Health

Disorders in blood sugar maintenance disrupt all aspects of human physiology. Glucose is converted to ATP (energy). If glucose metabolism is not working efficiently, most areas of human physiology will break down. The main lab values that indicates reactive hypoglycemia or insulin resistance (poor blood sugar stability) are Glucose below 85 or Glucose above 100. A blood panel is the preferred lab test to assess blood sugar health status.

Because of the adrenals roles in helping the body stabilize blood sugar, it is critical to examine a person’s adrenal health status. Dysfunctional adrenals can cause a decrease in glucose because cortisol (an adrenal hormone) is involved in glycogenesis ( a process of breaking down stored glucose). This will cause reactive hypoglycemia. Too much cortisol, on the other hand, will also cause blood sugar issues because elevated cortisol will negatively effect insulin receptor site sensitivity leading to insulin resistance (pre-diabetes). An Adrenocortex Stress Profile Test is the preferred lab test for adrenal health status.

Adequate Oxygen Circulation

Hemoglobin (part of the Red Blood Cell ) carries oxygen to the cells where it is utilized by the mitochondria (energy metabolizer) in order to make ATP (energy). If inadequate amounts of oxygen are unavailable, it will be difficult to resolve any issue naturally, because the body will simply not have enough energy to promote bodily function. The most significant patterns that identify low iron issues are the Red Blood Cells, iron, reduced Ferritin and elevated Total Iron Binding Capacity. A blood panel is the preferred lab test to assess blood oxygen health status.

Essential Fatty Acid Metabolism (EFA)

When EFAs break down, their end-products (prostaglandins) are intercellular communicating agents. Alterations in EFA metabolism are a major contributing factor to disease. Disorders can results in hormonal imbalances and inflammatory conditions. The main lab values that suggests an issue are low cholesterol and one’s Omega3 Fatty Acid levels in comparison to one’s other Fatty Acids. A blood panel is the preferred lab test to assess essential fatty acid health status.

Immune System Balance & Healthy Inflammatory Response

A dysfunctional immune system can effect a persons ability to attain normal health. Lab values that indicate a possible infection (acute or chronic) are either elevated or decreased WBCs and their differentials (neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and basophils). A blood panel is the preferred lab test to assess immune system health status.
Autoimmune conditions and/or autoimmune activity is identified by positive self-tissue antibodies. In other words, the immune system has created a memory immune cell to attack itself. There are several ways to screen for self-antibodies. The most common method is to blood test antibodies against the body part that is suspected.

• Cyrex Labs: Array #5
• Because 70-80% of the immune system is involved with the gastro-intestinal system, it is critical to understand the possible negative effects food can have on the system. There are several “commonly known” inflammatory/allergenic foods that should be suspected in contributing to gut dysfunction and autoimmunity. A Glute-Associated Reactive and Autoimmunity and a Gluten Cross Reactive Food Sensitivities from Cyrex Labs is recommended to rule out possible food irritants.

For more information or to set up a consultation, please contact us: 650.692.1816