Nutrition Test RESULTS Dun Dunn Dunnnnn (Part 2)

As promised, I am following up my post from a couple weeks back with the results of the nutrition test.  (I'm sure you've all been on pins & needles waiting).  Ha.   To review,  the point of me taking the test is not to see IF I'm healthy, but to determine where I stand in terms of Optimimal Nutrition, rather than just "passing grade" levels of nutrition.  

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

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.....