Testing
Why Test?
Testing helps to pin point the root cause of your symptoms, enabling me to personalise dietary, lifestyle and supplement advice to get you effective results, fast.
The tests are state of the art and are simple to carry out in the comfort of your own home.
If you require a blood draw, I will arrange for a nurse to visit your home to take this for you, or you can attend a phlebotomy service near you.
Which Test?
I need to speak to you first before I can advise you which tests would be the most suitable for you.
You weren’t born “off the shelf” and so the support package I offer you will need to be tailored to your specific needs.
Let’s have a chat so we can find out what you need.
To give you an idea, here are the types of tests I offer and why they might be useful for you…..
Hormone Testing
Your hormones can play havoc with your mood. When you work and play in the fast lane, this can take its toll on how well your hormones function. Balanced hormones are key to successful communication in the body. Mixed-up chemical messaging = mental (and physical) chaos and confusion.
Cortisol – Your stress hormone is designed to give you your get up and go in the mornings and keep you resilient against stressful situations. Under constant pressure, cortisol levels can become too high or too low which can make you feel tired, wired or both. This hormone is closely linked to burnout, anxiety, exhaustion and low mood. It could also be the hormone that’s preventing you from losing weight or falling asleep and contributing to your IBS and frequent infections (cortisol inhibits digestion and immunity).
Oestrogen & Progesterone – Not only do these hormones regulate our monthly cycles, they also influence the mood-regulating chemicals in our brain. In balance, there are times of the month when we can feel “in the zone” and achieve total focus. Out of balance, and they can lead us to feel out of control, fearful, restless or just downright flat. (Never mind the PMS and irregular, painful or heavy periods!)
Testosterone – Yes us girls need some of this too but again it’s all about balance. Too little can leave use feeling lack lustre, too much and we can feel irritable and quick to anger (come near us at your peril)! It’s also linked to acne, excess body hair and PCOS.
Dopamine – Our anticipation and reward hormone, closely linked to how much pleasure we feel. Too much and you’re in overdrive, agitated and prone to addictive behaviours; too little and you might have difficulty concentrating and low motivation levels. Like cortisol, dopamine also inhibits gastric motility and could be a contributing factor in constipation and IBS.
Melatonin – Our sleep hormone and downstream in the neurohormone production line from serotonin – our happy hormone. There is a reciprocal relationship between sleep and mood: Have you ever felt so wired or emotionally overwhelmed that you just couldn’t fall asleep, only to then feel grumpy and tearful the next morning because you haven’t slept? You just manage to get going again by mid-afternoon only to find yourself in the same spiral later on? It’s an exhausting cycle that can take its toll on our mental health. Insufficient melatonin (and cortisol) might be contributing to insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns. Melatonin also acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect our brains from inflammation. Healthy brains support happy moods.
The hormone test I offer provides a comprehensive picture of adrenal and sex hormone function, alongside insights into neurotransmitter health. The test also looks at key nutrients involved in the production of mood regulating brain chemicals and the detoxification of excess hormones.
Test Markers
Adrenal Hormones
Free cortisol and metabolites
Free cortisone (inactive cortisol)
DHEA-S
Sex Hormones
Oestrogens (oestrone, oestradiol, oestriol) and their metabolites
Progesterone metabolites
Androgens (androsterone, etiocholanone, testosterone) and their metabolites
Neurotransmitter metabolites
Dopamine (homovanillate-HVA)
Adrenaline / Noradrenaline (vanilmandelate – VMA)
Melatonin
Oxidative stress / DNA damage (8-OHdG)
Nutritional Organic Acids
B6 (xanthurenate and kynurenate)
B12 (methylmalonate)
Glutathione (pyroglutamate)
This test might be useful if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms: emotional overwhelm, nervous tension, stress, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, low mood or depression, mood swings, difficulty concentrating or brain fog, low motivation or drive, lack of energy, weight gain or an inability to lose weight, PMS, heavy, painful or irregular periods, PCOS, low libido, frequent colds or infections or IBS.
Gut Testing
Your gut is often dubbed your second brain: Home to the largest collection of nerve cells in the human body and a vast microbial ecosystem, known as the gut microbiome. Together they create a physical and chemical connection with the brain known as the Gut-Brain-Axis.
A healthy gut, with the help of our bacterial friends, will produce the brain chemicals that regulate mood, memory and attention. Similarly, a healthy brain will support digestive health. Conversely, a poorly functioning gut can negatively influence our mental and cognitive health; and, under stress, the brain can send unhelpful signals that disrupt digestion and microbial balance. This goes someway to explain why when we are feeling anxious, depressed or emotionally overwhelmed, we may also experience unexplained digestive symptoms such as constipation, diarrhoea, bloating and IBS.
Digestive function - Poor digestion creates an environment where unhelpful microbes can thrive and used up hormones (such as cortisol and oestrogen) can recirculate; all of which can drive symptoms of anxiety, brain fog and low mood.
Barrier function - The gut is also the first line of defence in the human immune system and protects the brain (and the rest of the body) from toxins that should remain in the gut. If the integrity of the gut wall becomes compromised, this can lead to symptoms of IBS and inflammation.
Inflammation – Although the causes of mood disorders are not yet fully understood, researchers believe that persistent low levels of inflammation can disrupt the production of mood-regulating chemicals in the brain. Chronic inflammation has also been linked to stress, IBS, fatigue, brain-fog, weight-gain, hormone imbalance and skin complaints.
Microbial Diversity - Some bacterial strains are protective against anxiety and depression, whereas others can activate the stress response. Understanding your microbiome allows us to support beneficial bacteria to thrive and achieve microbial balance.
Pathogens – Whereas some bacteria, yeast and parasites can live alongside us without causing any symptoms, some can disrupt our mental and physical health and have been linked to symptoms such as IBS, migraine, anxiety and fatigue.
The gut test I offer provides a comprehensive picture of gut function including insights into digestion, inflammation, immune function and gut barrier health. The test also assesses microbial diversity and the presence of unhelpful bacteria, yeasts and parasites.
Test Markers
Beta defensin 2
Calprotectin
Pancreatic elastase 1
Secretory IgA
Zonulin
Bile acids (primary + secondary)
Occult blood (FIT)
Commensal bacteria
Bacteroides sub-group
Clostridium sub-group
Opportunistic bacteria
Sulfidogenic bacteria
LPS forming bacteria
Mycology (including candida)
Parasitology
Helicobacter pylori + stool antigen
This test might be useful if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms: stress, anxiety, fatigue / exhaustion, low mood or depression, mood swings, difficulty concentrating or brain fog, insomnia / sleep disturbances, digestive issues, bloating, IBS, constipation or diarrhoea, food sensitivity/intolerance, weight gain or an inability to lose weight, inflammation, migraine, skin issues, frequent colds or infections.
Blood Testing
Advanced Well Woman Health Screen
As with any health concern, if you are feeling tired, wired or emotionally overwhelmed, checking the basics should always be the first port of call.
The Advanced Well Woman Health Screen I offer evaluates the key nutrients involved in the production of your mood-regulating brain chemicals and energy such as iron, vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D and magnesium.
The test also includes a comprehensive assessment of liver and kidney function, cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels and red and white blood cell count.
This test is included in all of my packages as standard.
Test Markers
Haemoglobin
Haematocrit
Red Cell Count
MCV
MCH
MCHC
RDW
White Cell Count
Neutrophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
Eosinophils
Basophils
Platelet Count
MPV
Urea
Creatinine
eGFR
Bilirubin
ALP
ALT
GGT
Total Protein
Albumin
Globulin
HbA1c
Total Cholesterol
LDL Cholesterol
Non HDL Cholesterol
HDL Cholesterol
Total Cholesterol : HDL
Triglycerides
CRP HS
Uric Acid
Creatine Kinase
Iron
TIBC
UIBC
Transferrin Saturation
Ferritin
Magnesium - Serum
Folate - Serum
Vitamin B12 - Active
Vitamin D
Thyroid Screen
Thyroid hormones play a key role in mental development, brain chemical regulation and metabolism. Even a small decrease in thyroid hormones can result in fatigue, mood swings, depression, brain fog and impaired cognitive function. Low thyroid hormones may also be a factor in weight gain, constipation and menstrual disturbances.
You may have been tested before and told that your thyroid hormone levels are ‘normal’. But normal doesn’t always mean optimal and sub-optimal thyroid hormone levels could be contributing to your symptoms.
The thyroid screen I offer is a comprehensive assessment of thyroid function. In particular the test looks at levels of free T3 - the most metabolically active thyroid hormone, low levels of which are associated with depression; and thyroid antibodies –chemicals that impair thyroid function.
Test Markers
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
Free T3*
Free Thyroxine (T4)
Thyroglobulin Antibodies*
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies*
*markers that are not routinely screened by the NHS.
This test might be useful if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms: fatigue, low mood or depression, mood swings, difficulty concentrating or brain fog, weight gain or an inability to lose weight, lack of energy, constipation, PMS, menstrual irregularities, or cold extremities.
Nutrigenomic (DNA) Testing
If you want the VIP experience and the ultimate in personalised advice, DNA testing is for you.
Whereas the functional tests I offer (above) assess the environmental factors driving your mental health, there may also be a genetic influence. In fact, your unique health presentation is most likely to be a combination of your genetic predisposition and the way you live your life.
Nutrigenomics is the scientific study of the effect of food and nutrients on gene expression. Certain nutrients have been shown to upregulate specific genetic pathways that regulate our mood, energy levels and hormones, whereas others downregulate them. Nutrigenomic testing focuses on identifying genetic variants (also known as SNPs), which may make us more or less vulnerable to certain health conditions.
Various DNA test panels are available including:
Nervous system panel – Your neurotransmitters regulate your mood and the way you respond to your environment. Dysregulated neurotransmitters have been linked to mood swings, depression, irritability and restlessness. This panel reports on gene variants that influence serotonin (contentment), dopamine (motivation), melatonin (sleep), noradrenaline and adrenaline (fight or flight) and GABA (relaxation and calm), enabling personalised diet and lifestyle advice designed to optimise mental health and alleviate symptoms.
Methylation panel – Methylation is a biochemical process crucial to multiple functions in the body including energy production, the production of mood-regulating chemicals and the detoxification of excess hormones and neurotransmitters. Too much or too little methylation can contribute to impaired mental health, fatigue and hormone imbalance. This panel assesses genetic variants and nutrient need across 5 methylation sub-cycles (folate, methionine, neurotransmitter, transsulphuration and urea).
Sex hormone balance – Your hormones can play havoc with your mood. Imbalanced hormones can cause us to feel out of control, fearful, restless, unable to focus and depressed. This test panel reports on genetic variants that can influence the production, activation and elimination of sex hormones, enabling personalised diet and lifestyle advice designed to influence and improve hormone balance. This test would be particularly insightful when sex hormone functional testing is not suitable .
Nutrient response – This test analyses how genetic variants affect your need for key mood and energy related vitamins (A, folate, B12, C and D), your ability to detoxify mood disrupting chemicals, your sleep / wake cycle, your metabolism (appetite control and blood sugar balance), your susceptibility to inflammation and infection and your ability to tolerate certain foods (gluten and dairy), enabling truly personalised advice.
DNA testing is available as an optional upgrade to any of my standard test packages. Simply enquire about this at your discovery call.