Is your doctor using some of the latest testing?
Technology is amazing. In the last 20-30 years we have developed computers that are smaller and faster. We have satellites, plasma televisions, razor thin phones, iPod, wifi. We have developed new technologies in so many areas, yet why do we depend on so many lab tests that were discovered 40-60 years ago? Haven’t we made any advances in medicine that allows us to measure how well the body is functioning?
How many times have you heard someone say, “the doctors did all these test and everything is fine!” But we still feel fatigued, can’t lose weight, or get rid of these headaches, indigestion, etc.
Could the simple blood test that was discovered over 50 years ago be a bit outdated when it comes to measuring how well the body is functioning? Blood tests are great for measuring certain things, but often times they don’t give a clear enough picture of how your body is functioning.
In the past 10-20 years there have been a number of new tests that provide so much more information than a typical blood test. Unfortunately, mainstream medicine takes quite a long time to implement new technologies, which is why so many people are frustrated when their doctor can’t figure out what is wrong with them.
Measuring function
Saliva tests are great for measuring hormones. They are less expensive and provide much more information. Typical blood tests for hormones look at what are called “totals.” Unfortunately, ‘totals’ give us the amount of both the inactive and active component of the hormone. This is where a lot of mainstream medicine misses the problem, because the values we need to pay attention to are the active components, which is called the “free-fractioned” form.
If you only look at ‘totals’ that give you the combined values of active and inactive hormone. It could be 80-20 one way or 20-80 the other way. Your ‘totals’ may look fine, but it is the active or free fractioned component of that hormone that gives us the more accurate picture.
24-Hour Adrenal Stress Profile
Stress is a major factor in so many health problems, yet mainstream medicine doesn’t routinely measure how well the adrenal glands are functioning. The adrenal glands are primarily known for producing our stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, but they also produce many other hormones including DHEA, also known as our anti-aging hormone, progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, and aldosterone, which balances our sodium and potassium.
When the adrenal glands get overworked due to constant stress it effects our energy levels, ability to lose weight, our mood, libido and the list goes on, but explains why so many people who have adrenal fatigue suffer from weight gain, fatigue, allergies, depression, cravings, hot flashes, PMS, indigestion, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, etc.
A 24 Hour Saliva test for the adrenal glands lets us know if stress is at the root of our health problem. The test measures how well the adrenal glands are functioning. Is our body constantly in the “fight or flight” mode? The body is designed to handle short term stress – not prolonged, constant stress. This could explain why so many people struggle with so many health issues.
When a patient complains of fatigue, weight gain, headaches, joint pain, etc…many doctors will often times measure the thyroid and prescribe a medication. They don’t measure the adrenal glands. Could this be because there is not a medication to prescribe if the adrenals are a little low-or-high, like our thyroid, ovaries or testes have been found to be?
The thyroid, adrenals and reproductive hormones are ALL a part of our autonomic nervous system. Mainstream medicine recognizes that our thyroid, ovaries and testes can be a little under-or-over active and they have a prescription for those problems. However, they don’t recognize that the adrenals glands can be a little sluggish, or hyper, which is what adrenal fatigue and exhaustion is all about.
If you are struggling with a health condition you are not getting results from…check to see if stress and your adrenal glands are at the root of the problem by doing a 24 Hour Saliva test . The saliva samples are collected at home and sent to the lab where they measures cortisol, DHEA, insulin and immune status.
Blood Spot Fatty Acid Profile
Another great test to determine heart health and inflammation is a ‘Blood Spot Fatty Acid Profile.’ It measures the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3. This is a critical test because omega-6 (arachidonic acid) fatty acids trigger inflammation, whereas, the omega-3 fatty acids trigger our natural anti-inflammatory molecules.
The over-consumption of saturated and trans-fats, along with omega-6 fatty acids triggers inflammation, which is a root cause for heart disease, arthritis and weight gain. Therefore, this simple bloodspot test will help you determine if your diet is putting you at risk for heart disease, hormonal imbalances and contributing to your arthritic pain.
This test is also very helpful because the wide use of statin (cholesterol-lowering) drugs increases the amount of omega-6 to omega-3’s thus causing increased inflammation.
Like the Adrenal Stress Profile, the Bloodspot Fatty acid test reveals how well the body is functioning. Based on that information we can adjust our diet and supplement protocol appropriately and address the real cause of our health problems.
Research has shown that the Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio to be a much better predictor of heart health than cholesterol levels. Unfortunately, there isn’t a drug to remedy this problem. The solution is to eat less saturated fat and eat more fish, olive oil, nuts and seeds, or supplement with a high potency fish oil to lower your odds of dying from a heart attack or stroke.
Organic Acid Test
This is a urine test which looks at the various pathways and by-products of our hormones, neurotransmitters (brain messengers), metabolism, detoxification, and digestion. Basically it looks at what are body is excreting. If we are excreting too much or too little of certain metabolites, it correlates to various health problems. The solution is to adjust our diet or supplement protocol in order to balance the deficiencies or excesses. It’s a great test that can key into deficiencies and imbalances.
Oxidative Stress Test
This is a urine test, which measure free radical damage at the tissue level. Free radical damage has been implicated in heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer, glaucoma, macular degeneration, anti-aging and more. Free radical damage is nothing more than our cells dying off, or degenerating at a faster rate than they can regenerate. The faster the cells and tissues die, or degenerate, the faster our body withers and ages. So, the more we slow this process, the longer and healthier our body can function.
Antioxidants such as Vitamin C, E, zinc, selenium, gingko, bilberry, etc…slow down the free radical progression. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with antioxidants. However, if your diet doesn’t include them and is loaded with refined, processed, fast foods -- your body will not be getting enough antioxidants. Therefore, your body will be aging and withering at a faster rate.
FYI…If you slow the aging down from the inside first, it will have a much more dramatic effect than all the anti-aging creams and lotions. Remember we nourish and deteriorate from the inside-out!
In Summary
Blood tests are great for measuring certain things, but there are newer and better tests that give us much more information as to how well the body is functioning. When you can restore normal function to your metabolism, liver, thyroid, hormones, intestines, etc….you restore health! These tests don’t correlate with any specific medication, which may be why mainstream medicine doesn’t use them that often. However, these tests let us know we need to adjust our stress, diet, nutritional protocol if we want to overcome our health issues.
Dr. Len Lopez
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