15+ pages of results of over 150 tests and markers, and a couple of hours of analysis....and I was provided with a simple "report card" by my naturopath to make it easy for me to understand. FYI the report you see below does NOT reflect the entirety of the test; but breaks things down for the lay-person. The test would have been almost impossible to interpret on my own, due to all of the complicated "markers" tests used, look at functionality of processes in the body, but not necessarily the nutrient itself.
So, I got a B which is "Above Average" in the grand scheme of things. I guess I'll take it, although the perfectionist in me wants to definitely improve the Cs or low B's.
STRENGTHS:
CHOLESTEROL - My levels were great! AND I eat about a dozen eggs per week. Take that, medical community.
Cholesterol 190
Triglycerides 36
HDL 73
LDL 109
TRANS FATS - I am VERY PROUD of that A!!!!
IRON - All of that sesame seed & tahini eating is paying off!
FATTY ACIDS - Omega's were pretty good, will plan to get those a little higher.
CARBOHYDRATES - Yay, all the fiber I eat! ;) Will cut back a bit more on the sugars, although my sugar intake is mainly fruits and honey.
WEAKNESSES:
PROTEIN. Now, I have cut way back on meat in the last couple of years, but still make sure to eat protein with each meal. Plenty of legumes, beans, nuts, seeds. Here's the thing. I barely eat red meat...ever. I just don't really prefer it. But, in order to get my levels of tyrosine and BCAA's (amino acids), I will be incorporating a bit more grass fed red meat and and will get an amino acid supplement.
MICROMINERALS. Zinc and copper were just passing. Zinc is REALLY hard to get enough of in foods. It's probably a very safe bet to say most people are deficient. It's found in organ meats, other red meats, oysters and pepitas. I even make a pointed effort to go out for oysters (every couple weeks) and eat pepitas (pumpkin seeds). With my new plan, am now taking a Zinc+Copper by New Chapter. Perhaps some grass-fed calf liver & onions. (NOW I get why this was an important part of ancestral diets)
HEAVY METALS. This didn't go on my report card, but my levels of arsenic were pretty high! Now, this includes inorganic as well as organic sources and doesn't differentiate. Organic arsenic is found in seafood, which I eat quite a bit of. I think the problem, however, is brown rice. I eat quite a bit of brown rice and will definitely need to watch where I am getting it too. U.S. grown seems to be the biggest culprit of arsenic-laden rice. Soaking the rice and also cooking in more water than necessary and draining will help remove any traces. Cadmium and lead were a bit elevated too, although not in the "danger" zone at all. I plan on doing a cleanse to help flush out any remaining bits.
PLAN OF ACTION:
1) Eat more protein (including leaner cuts of red meat), take paleofiber in the a.m. and get a branch chain amino acid supplement because I just WON'T be adding enough red meat to dramatically increase my efforts
2) Focus on getting more cooking herbs (for vitamin K and detoxification)
3) Continuing my new zinc/copper regimen and eating even more oysters. ;)
4) More mushrooms + 10,000 IU Vitamin D per day
5) More potatoes (increase potassium) and less rice (lessen arsenic)
6) Do a heavy metal cleanse and eat more herbs like cilantro
7) Work on a LITTLE less sea salt. :)
8) MORE CHOCOLATE for magnesium, woohoo!
9) Take Methyl factors supplement for my unmetabolised folic acid
I would definitely recommend looking into this test for anyone who's either a nutrition-perfectionist like myself and want to see exactly how your efforts translate into your nutrition status -OR- for people who just all around aren't feeling great and want to start with a baseline check of nutrition.
Our health is our wealth!
~Angela
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