Testing
Tribeca Functional Nutrition offers a wide variety of functional laboratory testing options that may help us to further evaluate the status of your bodily systems and functions. Additional testing is often utilized because it allows us to better personalize and customize your nutrition plan including both food and supplement recommendations. Some of the functional testing that is offered through TFN include:
HORMONAL AND THYROID TESTING
MICRONUTRIENT
TESTING
ADDITIONAL
TESTING
Microbiome Testing
If you experience fatigue, anxiety, GI discomfort, trouble with weight loss, or autoimmune issues, then microbiome testing may be right for you. With microbiome testing, one is able to obtain a snapshot of the population of “good” and “bad” bacteria that live in our GI tract. From those results, I am able to tailor your personal nutrition plan to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and support specific strains of beneficial bacteria leading to improved overall health.
The role of the Microbiome:
-
Gut health plays a huge role in all of our bodily systems and can greatly affect our overall health and wellness.
-
70% of the immune system is located in the microbiome- Our microbiome is very important for fighting off illnesses and keeping us healthy. The microbes can protect us from viruses and pathogens.
-
The microbes help to break down food and absorb nutrients.
-
Regulate appetite and produce serotonin and GABA (anxiety reduction) – this is why a healthy microbiome can prevent anxiety and depression.
-
The microbiome can create vital vitamins like B (for energy) and K (for blood clotting). After a gut test analysis, you will be recommended a probiotic strain that is individual to you based on your results. Probiotics are recommended to be taken daily to support your gut and overall health.
Our microbiome changes every day, and many of the lifestyle choices we make can determine whether we create a healthy and diverse gut bacteria population versus an imbalanced population of harmful bugs. In this program, you will learn measures to prevent the growth of “bad” bacteria while learning about the many ways to enhance our beneficial microbes. There are many symptoms of gut dysbiosis including constipation, diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, inflammation, and also non-related to GI dysfunction that includes poor mood (anxiety and depression), joint pain, altered mood function, brain fog, bloating, headaches, fatigue, brain fog, weight changes, sleep disturbance, skin issues, food intolerances, and autoimmune conditions.
Discover how diet and lifestyle modifications can lead to an increase in metabolism, improve digestion, decrease inflammation, alleviate anxiety, and many other health benefits as a result of improved microbiome composition.
Genetic Testing
One of the most rapidly growing areas of nutrition, nutrigenomics, is based on scientific evidence that our nutrition and genes interact. The idea of a “one size fits all” diet is outdated and science is now providing us with the tools to be able to prescribe personalized nutrition plans based on our genotype. Genetic testing is able to determine how one absorbs nutrients and can detect any genetic weaknesses involved in absorbing and metabolizing certain types of foods. Using DNA testing, we are able to identify variants in our genes that provide personalized data to allow us to tailor an individualized nutrition plan based on our specific genome. Learn if you are a “protein seeker”, “fat seeker”, or “carbohydrate seeker” and other useful information through a comprehensive genetic test.
How are genes and nutrition-related?
Your genetic code can impact how you absorb, distribute, metabolize, and excrete key vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
Gene variations or SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) alter the way the gene product is built. In this test, more than 50 gene variants that impact nutritional needs are tested.
An SNP in the VDR gene will determine how much vitamin D one needs.
An SNP in the MTHFR gene affects our body’s ability to use folate and how much we need.
An SNP in the HFE gene which alters the way the body regulates iron absorption. Carriers absorb far too much iron which becomes poisonous to their body. All iron is removed from their formula.
Food Sensitivity Testing
We offer food sensitivity testing to help detect any intolerances to specific foods. This is different than a food allergy, food sensitivities are not an immune response but involve the disruption of digestion due to the lacking of enzymes needed to break down foods Simply stated, we want to help identify foods that don’t agree with you!.
Sensitivity to foods can lead to bloating especially after eating, abdominal cramping or pain, loose stools or diarrhea, GI discomfort, migraines, indigestion, fatigue. Taking a food sensitivity test will help you learn the different reactivity to 100 different types of foods!
Hormonal and Thyroid Testing
Hormonal and thyroid balances are more common than you think. Hormone levels can change as we age, and can also change throughout the day. Hormone testing can be a useful tool to detect imbalances that can be causing various symptoms such as weight changes, fatigue, GI issues, dry skin, brittle hair and nails, muscle aches and pain, infertility, changes in appetite, and more. Many hormonal panels are available, they will require a blood test, urine, or saliva sample.
-
Thyroid hormones
-
Testosterone
-
Perimenopause hormones
-
Menopause hormones
-
Fertility hormones
*Please note I am not a medical doctor I will NOT be able to prescribe hormones. ​
Micronutrient Testing
-Micronutrient testing is a scientifically proven way to determine which nutrients you are sufficient in and show deficiencies. This test will help determine where you need to supplement your diet and where to make dietary changes. These measures change over time so it is great to be able to check your nutrients every 6-12 months. Included is a metabolite analysis that takes a deeper look at molecules that are generated from the absorption, metabolism, excretion of nutrients. This gives one important information about how nutrients are utilized and where they may need to adapt with supplementation or dietary changes. Metabolite analysis also measures many aspects of metabolism, such as how one metabolizes carbohydrates, protein, and fats. One can learn if they are incorporating sufficient protein in their diet if your body is using protein too rapidly, and how well your body can detoxify heavy metals, how healthy your mitochondria are, if you are prone to kidney stones, and more!
Taking supplements daily can help one be sure that one is getting optimal nutrition daily if it is not possible with food. As nutrition is never “one size fits all” everybody has different nutritional needs. Through comprehensive blood and genetic testing, as well as age, weight, and other diet and lifestyle factors, can determine what your individual needs are and develop a personalized supplement combination.
Additional Testing
Get tests done at your convenience at your local testing center and will be prescribed nutritional plans and supplements based on your needs. It's recommended that bloodwork be done every 6 -12 months.
Other blood testing includes:
-
Micronutrient Deficiencies
-
Adrenal Fatigue and Cortisol
-
Blood markers such as A1C (for diabetes risk) and lipids
-
Hormonal and Metabolic function
-
Kidney and liver function
-
Lipids and Cholesterol
-
Heavy Metals
-
Sleep and Stress
-
Vitamin D
-
Inflammation