Laboratory Tests
At the Life Practice we offer a range of laboratory tests that can ascertain what may be going on within your body from food intolerance testing to measuring your stress levels. The tests that we use are provided by a range of industry recognised laboratories and may test your blood, saliva, stool and urine depending on the type of test chosen.
We can test for the following:
-
Food Intolerance Testing – click the link for more info
So What Exactly is Food Intolerance?
The complex way food affects our everyday lives is an emerging area and diagnosing the cause of symptoms which seem to be ‘unexplained’ is often difficult. People who experience some of the symptoms of food intolerance are often led by the medical profession and the media to believe that their condition is ‘all in the mind’ and are treated for the physical manifestation of the condition rather than the cause. However there are now answers to your questions and ways to identify the cause of your symptoms leading to long term relief.
Although not life threatening like food allergy, food intolerance should never be underestimated as its impact on sufferers can be significant, severely impacting on their ability to live normal healthy lives. Food intolerance is extremely widespread and it is estimated that 45% of the population could be affected. Many people with food intolerance experience more than one symptom. Symptoms can often be vague and the root cause of the problem, food, is not always correctly diagnosed. Sufferers often complain of seeming to be in a ‘fog’, feeling bloated and being tired all the time.
Essentially food intolerance is your body’s abnormal reaction to certain foods which can manifest itself in a number of ways. Some people will have one symptom such as a severe headache whilst others will be unfortunate to experience irritable bowel syndrome, migraine and skin or respiratory conditions. Realising that the food you eat is a catalyst for particular symptoms is not easy when, unlike the immediate reactive symptoms of food allergy, food intolerance symptoms often appear hours or even days later. In fact, following the elimination of problem foods, many sufferers have realised that they had been experiencing minor symptoms as a result of intolerance for their entire lives.
Food allergy is not the same as food intolerance.
But the two are frequently confused.
A classical food allergy (such as peanut or shellfish allergy) is usually characterised by an immediate and often severe reaction of the immune system to exposure to a specific food.
The symptoms of food allergy include sneezing, rashes, skin irritation, swelling, runny nose, fatigue, diarrhoea and vomiting. Normally symptoms occur within a few minutes of eating or coming in to contact with the offending food, although they can be delayed by up to two hours.
Food allergy is quite rare with only about 2.5% of the population being diagnosed with the condition. The most common instances of food allergy are to peanuts, tree nuts (almonds and brazils), eggs, milk, fish and shellfish.
When exposed to the source of food allergy the body makes specific antibodies (IgE) to ‘fight off’ the allergens found in these foods. When the food is next eaten it triggers an immune system response which results in the release of histamine and other naturally occurring chemicals in the body. Allergic reactions to food can vary considerably in their severity and some can be fatal.
Food intolerance and food allergy in brief
Food Intolerance
- Reactions are usually delayed and symptoms may take several days to appear
- You can be intolerant to several different food groups at the same time
- Sufferers can experience multiple symptoms, from migraine to bloating, diarrhoea, lethargy and a generally feeling un well
Food Allergy
- Reactions usually occur quickly, with a maximum of 2 hours after exposure to the ‘reactive’ food
- The body’s IgE immune system is activated by the immediate ingestion of the reactive food
- Symptoms include: difficulty breathing, rashes, swelling, runny nose and anaphylactic shock. These can potentially be life threatening.
-
Gut Health – The GI Effects Comprehensive Profile – stool test – click the link for more info
Thousands of bugs live in your gut. Some are associated with good health, and some are known to be linked to certain diseases. GI Effects is an innovative stool test measuring premier biomarkers of gastrointestinal function, providing valuable clinical insight into digestive performance, gut inflammation, and the gut microbiome — areas affecting not only GI health, but overall health as well.
Who can this test benefit?
- People who are healthy but want to know more about the status of their gut microbiome
- People suffering from common conditions such as IBS, that are considering changing their diets
- People suffering from rare conditions like colitis who want to support and enhance current treatments
- People with a history of long term antibiotic use who want to reverse the effects on their microbiome
- People who have difficulties controlling their weight
-
Stress (cortisol hormone levels) – click the link for more info
This saliva test can detect imbalances in the daily circadian secretions of the stress hormones cortisol and DHEA. Imbalances in these hormones can indicate an inappropriate response that can negatively impact energy levels, emotions, and many other health complaints. These include anxiety, chronic inflammatory conditions, allergies, chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia, depression, migraines, headaches, recurrent infections, menstrual difficulties and infertility.
-
Female Hormone levels
The Rhythm™ hormone test is a comprehensive assessment of estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone spanning a full 28 days. Hormone imbalances revealed in this hormone test profile can help illuminate root causes of disorders such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), infertility, and menstrual irregularities. This hormonal test analyzes 11 saliva samples of a 28–day period.
Hormonal balance is the key. Research has long shown that fluctuating levels of estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone play a major role in a woman’s overall health affecting:
- Menstrual cycle
- Mood swings
- Sleep patterns
- Appetite level
- Sex drive
Chronic hormonal imbalances are implicated in disorders such as:
- PMS
- Anovulation
- Infertility
- Amenorrhea
- Endometriosis
- Polycystic Ovary Disease
- Osteoporosis
Saliva hormone testing provides a thorough analysis of estradiol and progesterone over a full 28 day cycle. Testosterone is measured once from the 28th day specimen. By utilizing 11 saliva samples for analysis, the relationship and balance of these essential hormones are analyzed more precisely through time. The levels of estradiol and progesterone, as well as the ratio between the two, are clearly graphed for easy reference and patient education.
This test is a more cost effective way of combining the Total Thyroid Screen with Reverse T3 to give the full picture of thyroid health status. Thyroid imbalances have far reaching effects and elicit fatigue, depression, coldness, constipation, poor skin, headaches, PMS, dysmenorrhea, fluid retention, weight gain, anxiety/panic attacks, decreased memory and concentration, muscle and joint pain, and a low sex drive.
Test Type: Serum Test
-
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Vitamin D
Vitamin B12 & Folate
Fatty Acids (omega 3 & 6)
Fat-Soluble Vitamins Profile (A, E, D, K, CoQ10 & Beta-Carotene)
Ferritin (iron levels)
Grab your FREE e-book
Eating Mindfully for Health E-Book
What you EAT can make a HUGE difference to the way you FEEL.. Whatever your symptoms may be these simple lifestyle tips will help you to regain your energy, reduce your cravings and help you achieve more in your day.