Nutritional Test Day...Dun Dun Dunnnn (Part 1)

Blood draw time...at least it was in the comfort of my own home.

Today was the day.  Fasting since 9 last night, check.  Morning urine sample, check.  Mobile blood draw with 4 vials taken, check.  Miranda, our mobile phlebotomist from Michigan Mobile Phelbotomy was in and out within 20 minutes with our samples and off to the lab.  She'll send the urine & blood samples for the to Genova/Metametrix today and then we wait patiently for a couple weeks until the results are ready.  The test is called Individual Optimum Nutrition (full nutrient/mineral panel) + add-ons of lipid & thyroid, amino acid, undigested folic acid and vitamin K.  I have to admit it - I am little nervous to have my nutritional levels checked!   Why?

Well...because I make a serious effort, DAILY, to keep my wellness top of mind.  I make sure my diet is varied.  Colorful.  Balanced.  I eat plenty of green leafy veggies.  Drink protein/fiber smoothies with add-ins like bee pollen, spirulina and sea vegetables. I eat oysters and pumpkin seeds for zinc.  Frequent the farm market or the upscale grocers and buy organic produce, chicken and free range eggs.  We don't go out to eat much, and even then, I am conscious of what I order.  I don't drink pop or fruit juice.  I stay far away from HFCS, or any non-organic corn or soy. I limit the sugar in my coffee.  I drink about 2 cups of green or herbal tea every day. You won't find junk food in my home;  everything is cooked or baked from scratch. I barely eat grains, and when I do, it's mainly brown rice. If I bake, it's normally a healthified version, with healthy fats and gluten free flour.  I drink lots of distilled & re-mineralized water and juice fresh veggies.  I practice yoga and ride my bike for exercise. I grow my own veggies when possible.  I ferment my own kombucha tea and sauerkraut for healthy probiotics.  I go somewhere tropical about 2x a year for that added vitamin D. ;)  I've even cut WAY back on alcohol and no longer have that occasional 'social smoker' cigarette.   Take a peek into my "vitamin cupboard"; it looks like a dang health food store display!  You'll find all of the usual suspects (multi-vitamin, fish oil, probiotic, vitamin D, C...) as well as several strains of medicinal mushrooms, iodine, resveratrol, special fiber blends, and a wide array of other professional grade supplements.  I ask all kinds of health questions and have them answered by a Naturopath on the spot.  You get the point.....!  P.S.  This wasn't all implemented overnight, it's been a process for the past 3 ish years.

So what will it mean for me if my vitamin levels and fatty acid profiles are way off?!   To me, it will mean that maybe all of my efforts "aren't enough".  The whole "not being/doing enough" is a deeply rooted fear in my consciousness that affects other areas of my life.   Its something that I struggle with already.   Partially, I'm afraid it will set me back on my emotional journey. It will mean that I have to revise my already revised diet.  I will also be pretty nervous for the rest of my fellow Americans, because if I am deficient, lord help the rest of you!  (I'm half joking, but half dead-as-a-doorknob-serious).  

I do think the results will be empowering.  If there are areas that can be improved upon, I will KNOW exactly what I need to do to get on track, especially knowing I have the support and knowledge of Dr. Matt.   If the results are great, that will be an awesome reassurance that my hard work is paying off.

That's a LOT of nutrients, fatty acids, cholesterol and thyroid levels to test for!

Stay tuned.   I'll post my results and share my POA (Plan of Action) when the results are in.....