Data Collection: Lab Tests

In-office measurements are performed during the appointment if they are applicable to your health concerns. These tests include the following: Inbody Advanced Body Composition Analysis - a fast, easy and accurate method of measuring lean muscle mass, body fat, resting metabolic rate, visceral fat and hydration levels. Data from this test is used to create your macro-based meal guidelines and exercise recommendations. Read more about InBody analysis here. Koenisberg Test (a.k.a. Urinary Adrenal Stress Test) - a simple, fast and easy urine test to measure if your body is in a "burnout & exhausted" or "tired but wired" stage. Lab: In-office Specimen Type: Urine Cost: Included in visit fee

The Metabolic Discovery Panel is for patients who wish to take a closer look at how blood sugar regulation, inflammation, leptin resistance and thyroid function may be playing a role in their weight loss progress. This panel includes the following tests: CRP - high CRP values can indicate inflammation in the body. Glucose & Insulin - elevated glucose and/or insulin 3+ hrs after a meal give clues to how long it takes for your blood sugar levels to return to normal. HgA1c - a useful test to measure your risk of developing diabetes. Leptin - a hormone made in fat cells that tells your brain that your body is full and to stop eating. High levels of leptin may indicate that your brain's ability to recognize this hormone is impaired, therby signalling that you are starved and you should eat - a condition called leptin resistance. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) - elevated levels can point toward an underactive thyroid, making you feel fatigued and contributes to difficulty in losing weight. Lab: Lifelabs Specimen Type: Blood Cost: $160.00 *There is no HST on lab tests. Please note that fees for lab tests do not include the consultation fee to review your test results.

When investigating the cause of chronic fatigue, it is important to consider thyroid function and vitamin deficiencies. This panel includes the following tests: TSH, Free T3, Free T4 - complete thyroid hormones to assess whether the thyroid is under-performing, therby causing fatigue, cold hands/feet, dry skin, puffiness in the face, and weight gain. Vitamin D - mainly produced in the body through sun exposure, vitamin D plays a role in areas such as the immune system, muscle growth, energy levels, and bone health. Vitamin B12 - because it is found in mostly animal products, vegetarians and vegans should monitor vitamin B12 if they are experiencing fatigue. Ferritin - a test measuring how much iron we having in storage on reserve. Iron carries the oxygen we breathe to the rest of the body. Low levels of ferritin cause fatigue. Lab: Lifelabs Specimen Type: Blood Cost: $99.00 *There is no HST on lab tests. Please note that fees for lab tests do not include the consultation fee to review your test results.

Saliva testing is a non-invasive, simple and reliable method of testing hormone levels. Hormone levels in the saliva represent the amount of hormones actually delivered to tissues in the body, unlike blood which represents hormone levels that may or may not be delivered to tissue in the body. It is far more relevant to test the amount of hormones delivered to the tissues, as this is a reflection of active hormone levels in the body. Saliva measures the biologically active (a.k.a. "free" hormone or bioavailable) levels in the body, blood measures the biologically inactive (a.k.a. "bound" or non-bioavailable hormone) levels in the body. Hormones are powerful molecules essential for maintaining physical and mental health. Estrogen is commonly thought to be a female hormone and testosterone important for males, but males and females need both, plus many other hormones such as the stress hormone cortisol, that need to be in balance for optimal health. An imbalance of any combination of hormones can throw physical and mental health out of balance. One size does not fit all when it comes to hormones. Hormones are like fingerprints; in order to achieve optimal health, a patient’s individual imbalances must be identified. Saliva hormone testing can help identify these imbalances. Read more about saliva hormone testing and view a sample test report here. ​Saliva hormone & cortisol testing can be used to determine hormonal imbalances in women and men with symptoms that include: Hot flashes, night sweats Weight gain Anxiety, nervousness, depression, irritability PMS - breast tenderness, headaches Irregular menstrual cycles Heavy and/or painful periods Vaginal dryness Insomnia Increased facial and/or body hair, acne Feeling overwhelmed and burnout, forgetful Always tired Salt/Sugar cravings Dizzy spells and headaches Decreased stamina and poor recovery after exercise Test Profiles: Basic Hormone Profile (Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEA, Cortisol - waking) Comprehensive Hormone Profile (Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEA, Cortisol - waking, before lunch, before dinner, bedtime) Adrenal Function Profile (DHEA, Cortisol - waking, before lunch, before dinner, bedtime) Lab: Labrix/Doctor's Data (located in Oregon, U.S.A.) Specimen Type: Saliva Cost: $219-$292 CDN (based on the test profile) *There is no HST on lab tests. Please note that fees for lab tests do not include the consultation fee to review your test results.

Food sensitivity is not a disease but may play a role in causing disease or worsening certain symptoms. Symptoms associated with food sensitivities develop slowly over time and can create inflammation. The RMA FST™ IgG Food Sensitivity Test can help identify potential food sensitivities and take the guess work out of your diet. You can develop a food sensitivity at any age. Food sensitivities often develop over many months and are thought to be triggered by the production of IgG antibodies in the immune system, causing a level of inflammation in the body that can persist for a long time. ​ Symptoms that may be related to food sensitivities include: Digestive - abdominal pain, gas, bloating, diarrhea Skin - unexplained rashes, redness, itching, eczema symptoms Pain - joints pain, muscle stiffness, migraine headaches Brain - mood disturbances, behavioural issues Lungs - chronic bronchitis and asthma symptoms Metabolic - difficulty losing weight ​ Identifying which foods you may have a sensitivity to is difficult, because the body can have a reaction and produce symptoms in just a few hours, or it can take a few days. The IgG Food Sensitivity Test (FST) may help you make it easier to identify these foods through a simple blood test. Read more about food sensitivity testing and view a sample test report here Test Profiles: RMA FST Basic - tests 125 foods, including the most commonly reactive foods in all categories including milk (cow, goat and sheet), eggs, corn and wheat. RMA FST Vegetarian - tests 160 foods including all of the vegetarian foods offered in the Enhanced panel but excludes fish/seafood and meat. RMA FST Enhanced - tests for over 200 foods. This panel is especially popular with people who have diverse culinary tastes, eat less meat, wheat and refined sugar. Lab: Rocky Mountain Analytical (located in Burnaby, BC) Specimen: Blood Cost: $245-$337 (based on the test profile) *There is no HST on lab tests. Please note that fees for lab tests do not include the consultation fee to review your test results.