According to the National Kidney Foundation, over 33% of American adults are at risk for developing kidney disease. Kidney disease impacts over 10% of the world’s population. Sadly, 90% of those with kidney disease are not aware they have it, because it is often symptomless.

What do our kidneys do for us?

We recently discussed the importance of Liver health and ways to take care of our liver. It is of equal importance that we pay attention to 2 more precious organs that are one of the main filtration systems for our body: our kidney. Much like our liver our kidneys act as a special filtration system for our body. They remove waste products from our blood. They also remove acid that is produced by the cells of our body, and help to maintain a healthy balance of water, salts, and minerals. They control blood pressure, remove extra fluid from our body, and produce urine. They also activate vitamin D to maintain healthy bones, and release the hormone that directs production of red blood cells.

Lifestyle Factors for Kidney Health

Since our kidneys are such a powerhouse that do so much for our bodies and health, it is only fitting that we take as many steps as we can to help support our kidney health. We cannot live without proper kidney function. There are many lifestyle factors that can help support overall kidney health which includes eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated with plenty of water, exercising regularly, controlling weight, quitting smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, monitoring cholesterol levels, getting annual physicals and blood work and being aware of your family health history.

In addition to lifestyle factors, it is important to monitor the health and wellness of our kidneys, especially if there is a family history of kidney disease, or someone has high blood pressure or diabetes, cancer, or takes many prescriptions, drinks a lot of alcohol, or does drugs. In addition to our standard physicals and lab work with our licensed primary care physicians, there are other ways to support our kidney health.

The At-Home Kidney Function Test from Allergy Test

We are so lucky to have state of the art lab technology to help us monitor our kidney health in a quick, easy and inexpensive way from home. Allergy Test has once again come up with an outstanding at home lab test to help us monitor our health and wellness. The at Home Kidney Test is a quick way to see if kidney health is off. Kidney dysfunction and disease is usually silent and symptomless, so taking a quick easy test such as this, can prompt a consultation for further investigation and diagnosis with your license health care provider, and help protect your kidney health. Supporting your kidney health can help prevent or halt irreversible damage, chronic illness, or even death.

The Kidney Health Test from Allergy Test is so easy to do! A testing kit will be shipped directly to you, with detailed instructions, easy to use sample collection, and a 24/7 support team available for assistance if needed. It is an easy urine test that will give you your results in 1 minute. This test will assess creatinine, protein, and specific gravity levels, which are very important kidney health parameters. Creatinine levels in urine can help look at how well your kidneys are functioning. Protein in the urine also measure how well your kidneys are working. A large amount of protein in the urine would prompt a consultation with your primary care provider to further investigate the cause of increase protein in the urine. Lastly, specific gravity measures the concentration of particles in the urine and the density of urine compared with the density of water. This is an easy and convenient way to see if you are properly hydrated and how well the kidneys are functioning. If any of these parameters are outside of the range indicated on the test, we recommend additional blood and urine lab work with your primary care provider.

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What is the function of the liver?

The liver is our largest internal organ as well as one of our most important ones, and It’s connected to every part of our body making it so important to look after especially in Liver Cancer Awareness Month. When we think of the liver, we often think of its function of removing toxins and harmful substances. In addition to filtration and detoxification, the liver also plays a large role in digestion and metabolism, protein synthesis, and storage of vitamins and minerals. The function of the liver is also to process the blood that leaves the stomach and intestines. Once it does, the liver breaks it down and creates the nutrients for the rest of the body to benefit from. It produces bile to help with digestion, processes drugs/alcohol/hormones, and stores vitamins and minerals.

Supporting your Liver Function In Liver Cancer Awareness Month

When the liver isn’t functioning optimally, excess hormones and toxins build up in the body. This can cause hormone imbalances, as well as other symptoms. Since the liver is such a crucial organ, it is important that we can take care of it. In addition to lifestyle modifications and parameters, we can get laboratory results to further assess liver function.

Lifestyle modifications to support liver health

• -Eating cruciferous vegetables because they help bind excess hormones and toxins in the body.
• -Staying hydrated! Aim for 1/2 oz of water per pound of body weight
• -Eliminating/reducing high-fructose corn syrup, food colorings, additives, and preservatives as much as possible
• -Maintaining a healthy diet (includes healthy fiber intake and healthy fats
• -Limiting/reducing alcohol
• -Minimizing over the counter medication use )(like ibuprofen and acetaminophen), reducing and eliminating trans-fats such as fast food, limit toxic exposure and heavy metals as much as possible, exercise,
• -Incorporating dandelion tea or burdock into your diet
• -Incorporating movement and exercise daily
• -Optimizing Vitamin D levels

At-Home liver function test from Allergy Test

In addition to lifestyle and nutrition modification to support the liver, there is also a simple, quick, and inexpensive way to monitor liver health from the comfort of our own homes. We offer a rapid liver function test that measures 11 parameters from a quick urine sample. Results take between 2-4 minutes. This test has greater than >97% reproducible results.

• Results do not give a medical diagnosis on their own but can be used as a prompt to follow up with your licensed medical provider for further examination and testing to help form a diagnosis or rule out a condition.

There’s no better time to support our liver health than now during Liver Awareness Health. Shop our Liver Function Test here!

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September is world prostate month! There is no better time to optimize and support prostate health than now! Nearly 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. It is important to have prostate awareness month because it creates more opportunities for education, prevention, and early detection. It is the most common non-skin cancer diagnosed in men.

What is a prostate, and what is its function?

The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that is located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The main functions of the prostate is producing seminal fluid, hormone production, and regulating urine flow. Being familiar with the prostate and its function is an overall part of mens health and wellness. The good news is, because of effective screening options, prostate cancer is often caught before it spreads.

What would prompt a consult for a prostate exam?

According to the American Cancer Society, men and people who were assigned male at birth, should have their first prostate exam by age 50. If there is a family history of prostate cancer, an exam is recommended at age 45. In addition to recommended exams, symptoms can arise that may prompt a consultation and prostate exam.

A person should see their doctor if they notice any of the following symptoms:

• pain while urinating or after ejaculation
• pain in the penis, scrotum, or the area between the scrotum and anus
• blood in the urine
• severe discomfort in the abdomen
• a weak urine stream or dribbling at the end of urinating
• trouble controlling the bladder, such as stopping or delaying urination
• inability to empty the bladder completely
• urine with an unusual odor or color

How is the prostate tested?

Medical professionals can diagnose problems with the prostate using various types of prostate exams. Some of these exams include:

• Digital rectal examination: During this exam, the doctor inserts a finger into the rectum and feels the prostate to detect lumps, nodules, and signs of cancer.
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA): Blood tests can assess the levels of this PSA. High levels indicate an increased risk of prostate cancer.
• Prostate biopsy: If a doctor suspects cancer, they can take a small sample of prostate tissue for testing. To do this, they insert a needle into the prostate via the rectum.
• Prostate ultrasound: Doctors may refer to this as a transrectal ultrasound. During the procedure, the medical professional inserts a probe into the rectum, positioning it close to the prostate. Doctors usually carry out biopsies with guidance from an ultrasound.
• Prostate MRI: This can show prostate anatomy in great detail, including identifying areas suspicious for cancer. New technology allows targeting of these areas through an MRI-ultrasound fusion biopsy.

Quick, easy and affordable way to support prostate health!

In addition to an exam by a license health care provider, one of the quickest and easiest ways to monitor prostate health at home is through a Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test offered. The prostate antigen (PSA) is secreted by the prostate gland, which is situated in the abdomen under the bladder surrounding part of the urethra and plays an important role in semen production.

The prostate antigen level gives information about the prostate’s physiological condition. Levels above normal may indicate a range of conditions, including benign hypertrophy, prostatitis, or cancer.

A PSA level higher than 4μIU/mL indicates a higher than normal level.

The test provides results based on a Positive/Higher or Negative/Normal basis in less than 10 minutes. Positive results can then be used to prompt and request a secondary test and consultation with a licensed medical provider.

The post Raising Awareness On Prostate Health Month appeared first on Allergy Test.

How does the body use iron and how can we test our levels?

The body uses its stored iron in the muscles, and many organs, like the liver, spleen and bone marrow. When levels of iron stored in the body become low, iron deficiency anemia can happen. This causes red blood cells to become smaller and contain less hemoglobin. As a result, blood carries less oxygen from the lungs throughout the body. When your body uses iron, cells release a small amount of ferritin into your bloodstream. Ferritin levels show the amount of iron stored in the body. One of the easiest and best ways to test for iron deficiency is through a ferritin test. If a blood test shows a blood ferritin level that is lower than normal, it might indicate that your body’s iron stores are low, and it may be anemia.

What prompts an iron test? What can cause deficiency?

Symptoms of iron deficiency can include tiredness and fatigue, stomach upset, weakness, lack of energy, and problems with concentration and memory. In addition, people with iron deficiency anemia are less able to fight off germs, making them more susceptible to get sick. Iron deficiency is not uncommon in the United States, especially among young children, women under 50, and pregnant women. It can occur in people who do not eat meat, poultry, or seafood, from blood loss, from certain GI conditions that interfere with nutrient absorption, eating a nutrient deficient diet, or other health conditions that can impact ferritin levels in the body.

How we can help!

The At-Home iron deficiency test from allergytest.co is one of the quickest, easiest and most affordable ways to see if your ferritin levels are low. This test provides immediate results based on normal or abnormal/deficient ferritin levels. An abnormal low level will help prompt a consultation with your license health care provider in order to address and treat it. This at home iron deficiency test requires a small blood sample that will measure your concentration of ferritin. Based on your results, you will be able to fill your life with iron-rich foods, take iron supplements, and generally live a healthier lifestyle.

Why our Iron deficiency test makes sense!

We are so lucky to have these affordable and quick at-home tests at our fingertips so that we are able to be our own health advocates. With this affordable, quick and easy at-home iron test, we are able to quickly takes steps toward optimizing health and wellness, and getting a handle on ensuring that iron, as one of our crucial elements for health is in check.

The post Iron and Ferritin: The Basics and the Importance appeared first on Allergy Test.

Do you get that feeling when you know something is off? Do you want a better picture of your overall health? The Sensitivity Plus Test is a great option! BIORESONANCE TESTING is a holistic form of therapy and is categorized as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Bioresonance hair analysis testing takes a deep dive into areas that are not typically looked at by Western Medicine, and serves as a great educational tool to optimize overall health and wellness.

A small hair sample is used to determine:

• Potential food sensitivities
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
• Nutritional imbalances
• Environmental intolerances (e.g. specific types of pollen, mold, dust, dander etc)
• Heavy metal exposures
• Gut biome and metabolic health (specific strands of probiotics, digestive enzymes etc.)
• The exclusive sensitivity plus test can benefit nearly everyone because it gives a view of health and wellness that most people do not know about. Knowledge is power, and this test can be used as a tool to truly optimize personal health. It is a valuable tool for those who are healthy and fit and are seeking to optimize their health even further. It offers guidance and help with diet, nutrition, and lifestyle management.

It is also beneficial for those who may be feeling frustrated because they have tried almost everything and are still not feeling well. It is very common to hear that someone has normal lab tests and physical exams, yet continue to experience certain symptoms or discomfort.

The Sensitivity Plus Test assesses 975 food, non-food and environmental items, nutrition (vitamins, minerals, and nutrients), Heavy metals toxicity, gut microbiome, hormonal balance, and digestive health items, and combines them into one easy to understand report.

Let’s take a little look at the cool science behind the sensitivity plus test…

BioResonance Lab Testing is done by Bruce Copen Laboratories at Allergytest.co. They follow a quality management system in accordance with AC: 2007 and are certified as a manufacturer of medical products. The MARS III is approved as a medical device class IIa in accordance with Directive 93/42/EEC.

Bioresonance technology has been used in practices globally since 1970’s and has been improving at a significant rate. For the testing that the lab performs, a few strands of hair are placed in one of the four MARS III analytics machines. From the sample the equipment generates a report to identify whether or not the client will have any reactions, and therefore whether or not you need to avoid certain items or could be experiencing any imbalances. The test results provide a comprehensive and detailed overview of the potential items which a client may be sensitive to. The labs also include food items, non-food items, nutrition/vitamins, gut biome, hormones and metals in one comprehensive report.

The science behind bioresonance has existed for quite some time, though its application in science and medicine seems to be a bit more of a mystery. Bioresonance Lab testing involves using a series of pieces of equipment together to get the accurate picture and analysis of your hair strand to give you the results that you’re looking for. These pieces could include x-ray machines, radiology equipment, and even ultrasound equipment itself. Even though it sounds complicated, it’s thought that the testing process is actually more streamlined than blood sample testing.

The hair is analyzed using this equipment, and a clear picture shows your sensitivities to certain foods in realtime, as recorded by your hair. With this information unable to be covered up or hidden or even misunderstood (such as a lot of self-diagnoses), it’s nice to be able to rely on the validity of this kind of testing as far as its results.

What do studies show?

Studies show that bioresonance (aka hair analysis) is effective in detecting drug use, making it helpful in organizations that are tracking long-term use and its effects. Many laboratories rely on it for its ability to go back through time and detect usage patterns and their effects for weeks or even years (depending on the hair sample). Other than drug testing, research is promising about its ability to detect and diagnose both food sensitivities and potentially allergies (though this is still under development), particularly in those who are hypersensitive or dealing with more severe reactions.

Historically speaking, bioresonance has been used around the world for all sorts of healing purposes. Now science is trying to catch up by using the same technique to help diagnose sensitivities to foods as well as toxins and chemicals.

Sensitivity testing can offer a cost-effective and non-invasive alternatives.

The expert team at Allergytest.co including bioresonance technicians and lab managers have spent the last 13 years continually developing hair testing technology to bring you the most effective tests on the market, covering the largest number of trigger items, all from their ISO9001 accredited Allergy and intolerance testing laboratory.

If you want to discover your sensitivities and start optimizing your health, have a look at our sensitivity test plus, to test your body against 975 common sensitivities

The post What Is Bioresonance Testing? Finding The Right Test For you? appeared first on Allergy Test.

Ovarian health is extremely important as it relates to overall women’s health. Especially as we age, being aware of ovarian health is extremely important. Health and hormone balance are some of the most common reasons women seek consultation with primary care, ob/gyn, endocrinology, and functional health doctors.

Some Stats Around Ovarian Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2023, about 19,710 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed. Family history is the top risk factor for the disease, which is diagnosed in nearly 20,000 American women annually.

A woman is considered at higher risk of ovarian cancer if her mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, or daughter has had the disease. Additionally, inherited mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene raise risk considerably, according to the National Cancer Institute. While about 1.2% of women overall will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime, up to 17% of those with a BRCA2 mutation and up to 44% with a BRCA1 mutation will do so by ages 70 to 80. Thus, it is important to be aware of ovarian health and well as certain symptoms that could prompt further evaluation.

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

One of the trick things is that many ovarian related pathologies have vague symptoms that can easily be associated with dozens of other conditions. Some symptoms or conditions that may prompt an appointment with Primary Care and OB/GYN include:

• Family history of ovarian cancer
• Lack of appetite or feeling full immediately after eating
• Urgent need to urinate and suddenly urinating more than usual (even after other conditions have been ruled out)
• Swollen stomach and constant bloat
• Pain and tenderness in lower stomach or pelvic area
• Unexplained weight loss
• General fatigue
• Variety of bowel and motility issues

Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer

A tissue biopsy is the only thing that can definitively confirm an ovarian cancer diagnosis, as well as full evaluation and testing by a licensed physician. However early detection of Ovarian Cancer is often missed. Thankfully there are some easy and non-invasive ways women can discreetly support their ovarian health at home, which would help prompt a visit to their primary care and OB/GYN that may have otherwise been missed. One easy way to do this is through the rapid Ovarian test from Allergytest.co.

How Easy Is It To Detect?

A simple lateral flow test is used to detect the presence of CA 125 in a quick and easy blood finger prick with results in 10 minutes. CA 125 is a glycoprotein found in the bloodstream, where normal levels are 35 U/ml (units per milliliter) or lower. It is a type of tumor marker that can help prompt a visit to a licensed physician who can diagnose, treat and manage ovarian cancer, particularly if levels are above 40 U/ml (units per milliliter).

There are many other conditions that can contribute to elevation in CA 125 (including, but not limited to, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, abdominal and pelvic inflammatory conditions, and certain liver conditions. A large majority of women with ovarian cancer have elevated levels of CA 125 in their blood, and it has primarily been a useful tool in the women’s health field.

This accurate, quick and discreet at home testing kit has been validated against CA 125 diagnostic kit (CMIA) and had 97.4% overall accuracy in comparison to similar tests. Results do not give a medical diagnosis, but they may be used to help prompt a visit to your doctor who can then form a diagnosis or request secondary examinations and/or testing. We are so lucky to have affordable, quick, and easy tests at our fingertips.

The post Detecting Ovarian Cancer Early appeared first on Allergy Test.

With warm weather on the horizon, the last thing anyone wants to worry about is Bloat…

Summer and warmer weather comes with so much, joy but sometimes comes with worry when digestive symptoms like bloat are a frequent occurrence.  You should be at beach, relaxing in the sun and pool free of any worries, especially looking and feeling bloated. Don’t worry, The team at Allergy Test is here to help you enjoy the summer you deserve, and support you with some great tips to minimize bloating.

What is “bloat”?

You often hear someone say, I feel bloated! Essentially, bloating is a condition that causes your stomach to feel pressure, full, and tight.

It may or may not be accompanied by a visibly swollen abdomen, and can be downright uncomfortable with a feeling that can range from mildly uncomfortable to intensely painful. It usually goes away after a while, but for some people, it’s a recurring problem.

Between 10% and 25% of otherwise healthy people complain of occasional abdominal bloating. However, as many as 75% describe their symptoms as moderate to severe. For 10% of people, bloat is regular daily occurrence, and can be life limiting.

Why is my stomach bloated?

The most common cause of stomach pain and bloating is excess intestinal gas and digestive issues.  One of the main contributors to bloat are food sensitivities and intolerances.

If you would like to help minimize your bloat, a great first step is taking a food intolerance test with Allergytest.co.  Since bloat may be caused by food sensitivities and intolerances, it is important you identify them so action steps can be taken to help you feel better. Taking an intolerance test is an easy and comprehensive way to personalize and optimize your health, and hopefully help reduce your bloat and digestive discomfort.

Here are some easy tips to help minimize your bloat today

1.) As mentioned above, Take an Intolerance Test and eliminate or minimize offending foods

An intolerance test will tell you exactly what sensitivities you may have. At Allergy Test, we believe you should identify your sensitivities, as you work hard to reduce the symptoms that you are suffering from. How can it help? By identifying your intolerances, we will tell you what foods and items you should start limiting or avoiding.  By identifying your sensitives, Allergy Test can help you become the happier, healthier you.

2.) Water

I can’t stress how important drinking water is, for almost every organ and body system and process.  As it relates to bloat and digestion, drinking enough water will encourage motility along your entire digestive tract and keep your digesting food from becoming too hard and compacted to pass through. Water also helps you feel full between meals, and though it may seem paradoxical, reduces bloat.

Nope, we’re not talking about English Soccer player, Danny Drinkwater, we are recommending that you actually drink lots and lots of water. It can be extremely beneficial, kicking off your metabolism in the morning, flushing your body of harmful toxins, and also keeping your mind fresh, hydrated and ready to work. Getting water to your brain can be the exact change you need.

3.) Eat more Fiber!

If you don’t typically get a lot of fiber in your diet, gradually start incorporating more.  You do not want to overwhelm your system with too much at first.  Fiber will initially cause more gas at first, but once it starts sweeping through your digestive system, it will help clean out the fermenting fecal matter that’s stuck. Fiber also tells your body to drink more water, and it makes you feel full sooner so that you don’t eat too much. Finally, fiber is a prebiotic that helps feed and promote the good bacteria in your gut.  Some great high fiber foods include beans, broccoli, berries, avocado, whole grains, apples, potatoes and nuts.  Often, these foods are initially bloat triggering for many people, but with small incremental amounts, it should end up helping and reducing bloat in the long run.

4.) Move your body!

Exercise and movement helps prevent water retention and keeps your digestion and bowels moving.  If you have a desk job, regular exercise can seem difficult due to time contraints, but it doesn’t take too much — just remember to get up and walk around now and then.

5.) Minimal processed foods

Processed foods are low in fiber and high in salt and fat. Salt causes water retention, and fat slows down the digestive process because it takes longer to digest. All of these things can lead to constipation and bloating. Processed foods are also low in nutrition, and often contain non-nutritive additives, thickeners, preservatives, sugars, fake sugars, and food colorings.  In addition to unhealthy and non-nutritive chemical substances, they can also leave you feeling hungrier even after you’ve consumed a lot of calories. This leads to more eating and compounding the problem.

6.) Mindful Eating

We all have crazy schedules, which sometimes offers minimal meal times.  This leads to a natural tendency to eat food quickly, and not chew it thoroughly.  This in and of itself can create bloat and some unpleasant digestive symptoms.  It can also lead to swallowing air, which causes bloat.  Take your time to chew thoroughly and stop before you are full. Feeling full is a delayed reaction because it takes a while for the food you eat to reach your stomach. Most people eat enough to be full before they can actually feel that they are.

Hop over to www.allergytest.co and take a look around for yourself, it will do you wonders! Our Customer Service advisors are always available via LiveChat, and they are always looking to help you out.

The post What Is Bloat? appeared first on Allergy Test.

Gut health is a hot topic in Eastern and Western Medicine. The gut has so much more responsibility than just our digestive health! More and more prominent research shows a direct correlation between our immune system and the gut.

New research has shown that 70%-80% of immune cells are in the gut. Trillions of bacteria live in our gut, good and bad, so they are just loaded with bacteria! All the bacteria in our gut are known as the gut microbiome or microbiota.

So, what are the roles of these little bugs?

The role of our microbes is to assist with digestion, make specific vitamins, break down toxins, and train our immune system. I am very interested in gut health and its link to immunity. Many immune/autoimmune conditions can be potentially tied to the gut’s health.

Often, immune conditions throw us off because of their manifestations and symptoms, but more research shows that these symptoms point to gut health and integrity. The gut is at the heart of everything! Some of the top specialists at Harvard University Medical are looking at how our enormous microbiome impacts and potentially improves many current health conditions.

Elizabeth Hohmann of Infectious Diseases at Harvard University says the Gut microbiome is a new frontier of medicine now being looked at as an additional organ system and can have powerful effects on our gastrointestinal health and overall well-being.

Much like everything that makes us unique, we also have a unique microbiome specific to us. Our microbiomes are impacted by age, nutrition/diet, environment, genetics, medications(specifically antibiotics and NSAIDS), alcohol, etc.

What is dysbiosis?

Often, after an illness that requires the use of an antibiotic, the gut becomes dysbiotic. “Dys-bi-what?” Gut dysbiosis is a term used to describe an unbalanced state of bacteria and other pathogens in the gut. While antibiotics will most likely eliminate your illness, symptoms, and the bad bacteria making you sick, it also wipes out your good bacteria.

This means the“good” bugs are gone too, which can throw your microbiome into an unbalanced state. An unbalanced microbiome due to repetitive antibiotic use is now becoming a very large health concern due to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria called “superbugs.”

Millions of patients are now being diagnosed with infections that are resistant to antibiotics that not long ago would have wiped out their illness fairly easily. Managing antibiotic resistance is very scary. Despite many multi-faceted efforts, some bacteria are still unresponsive.

How to improve gut health

The good news is that there are some things you can do starting today to restore your health. It can be achieved easily through a good quality probiotic, eating more fermented foods, and consuming a whole-food organic diet whenever possible.

Choosing a quality whole-food digestive enzyme supplement, reserving antibiotic and NSAID use only when essential, controlling alcohol and caffeine intake, and avoiding processed foods, sugars, GMOs, pesticides, hormones, and other unnatural food additives and chemicals. Our diet and nutrition significantly affect gut and immune system health.

A Harvard study shows that our diets can alter the population of microbes in the gut and the types of genes expressed by gut bacteria in as little as just one day {1}. Therefore, our diets play a huge role in supporting and balancing our microbiome.

In many ways, our microbiomes can be altered and controlled by us via our health choices. Often, gut dysbiosis and other microbiome alterations (and gut pH alterations) can lead to increased inflammation, gastrointestinal issues, and food sensitivities. This is a great reason to take an inflammation and food sensitivity lab test from allergytest.co.

The results will help you personalize your nutrition based on your individual and personalized needs. Taking steps to improve gut health will always be beneficial! Often, the gut has been left unbalanced for a long time and requires more extensive healing.

In addition to the care of your licensed medical doctor, I highly recommend seeing a trusted functional health practitioner who can guide you through a highly effective whole-food gut health restoration program. Eastern Medicine has stressed the importance of probiotics and fermented foods for a very long time. Western and eastern schools of thought are merging on this subject.

They agree that good bacteria in the gut may be the answer to many health conditions, specifically the strength of the immune system and autoimmune symptoms and conditions. Thus, the gut is essentially one of the main gatekeepers of our body. We should be very selective about what we let in and out of it (we have some control over it!).

If you find intolerance or allergy symptoms affecting your gut, getting yourself an Allergy and Intolerance Test is important to help you avoid these foods that cause issues.

References

1. Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes (2021). Diet, disease, and the microbiome. (https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/diet-disease-and-the-microbiome-2021042122400#)
2. https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/dysbiosis
3. https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/what-is-dysbiosis
4. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/improve-gut-bacteria
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33803407/

The post Do You Have the GUTS? appeared first on Allergy Test.

Most of the supplements we purchase are not natural.  They are synthetic!

In general, Americans spend billions of dollars each year on nutritional supplements.  The truth is, that the large majority of supplements we purchase in stores today are synthetic.  Synthetic supplements are not natural, meaning that they are never found in nature by themselves.  They give isolated or fractioned pieces of the whole vitamin or supplement being taken.  Taking isolated nutrients, especially at the ultra-high doses found in many supplement formulas today, is similar to taking pharmaceutical drugs.

Studies show the body treats synthetic supplements and formulas like xenobiotics (foreign substances) in many instances.  Synthetic supplements can also lead to an imbalance of vitamin intake because we are sometimes getting massive doses of some vitamins, but not enough of others.  While supplementation with essential micronutrients and vitamins is necessary, this imbalance can cause health problems in and of itself.  Nature does not produce any nutrients in an isolated form.  In addition, synthetic vitamins have the potential to trigger the immune system because it is a foreign synthetic substance being ingested.

Functional Nutrition expert Wendy Myers discusses the chemical profile of synthetic vitamins and their makeup.  She talks about the ways synthetic vitamins are made from petroleum in chemical plants, while the minerals come from mining companies.  Synthetic minerals are derived from rocks like limestone, coral, oyster shell, sand, and chalk.  Yes, these are minerals, but not ones that are correctly absorbed or compatible with the human body.

A better and healthier alternative to synthetic nutritional supplements

Dr Daniel Chong is a naturopathic doctor who firmly believes in the importance of whole-food supplementation versus synthetic supplements.  He discusses the way in which an isolated nutrient works appropriately in the body, and that it needs all the other parts that are naturally present in the food also.  If the parts are not all there, they are taken from the body’s stored supply. This is why synthetic supplements often work for a short time, and then seem to stop working. Once the body’s store of the extra nutrients is used up, the isolated nutrient that is taken does not work as well.  A deficiency in these extra nutrients can then be created in the body.  Since most synthetic nutrients are isolated from the foods they come in, sometimes using potentially nasty solvents and other chemicals, taking high amounts of these products can potentially create exposure to unwanted toxins as well.   Since synthetic vitamins are not made from whole foods, they lack the essential synergistic elements that are usually present in whole foods.  Dr Chong cautions that many of the vitamins that are sold in stores and used today generally only need to have a small percentage of their actual content derived from natural sources to be labeled as “natural.”  If vitamins are not entirely derived from whole foods, they can make us feel even more out of balance nutritionally.

So, what exactly are “whole foods” supplements?

They are whole foods in a tablet, capsule, or powder that preserve all the active enzymes and vital components that make them work as nature intended.  They will list and contain the foods the supplement was made from, without additional and unnecessary nutrients and vitamins. Whole food supplements may include foods that are prepared in a way that safeguards their nutritional value.

How to choose the right whole-food supplement

There are a few key elements to keep in mind when choosing a quality whole-food supplement.  To begin, it is essential to ensure it is as close as possible to its natural form, and that much care has been taken in all the phases of its production.  Dr Chong tells us that some significant features include growing its ingredients, manufacturing, testing for potency, and quality control.

It is also important to realize that the label term “natural” does not guarantee that a product is safe or free from chemicals.  In early 2015, the New York State Attorney General announced that testing found four major retailers sell supplements consisting of cheap fillers and allergenic compounds instead of the herbs that they claimed to contain.  Supplements were sold that did not contain the herbs on the label. Instead, they were made up of cheap fillers like powdered rice, asparagus, and houseplants.  From a regulatory perspective, the herbal and supplements marketplace in the United States is not heavily regulated.  Unfortunately, there are no federal standards to ensure dosing, safety, or purity.  Many products are standardized according to industry guidelines that differ from producer to producer.  It is always a good idea to get quality whole food supplements from a trusted practitioner, as well as from a company that has much history of efficacy and testimonials.  Selecting supplements from companies and practitioners that have a long track record and reputation of providing high-quality products that produce good results in patients can make a tremendous difference in overall health and wellness.

In addition to proper supplementation and nutrition, a fantastic way to optimize overall health and wellness is through food allergy, intolerance and sensitivity testing.  This will allow you to identify foods and nutrients that are most compatible with your diet so that you are able to alter your diet and supplements accordingly.  I’m proud to work with Allergy Test, here in the US, which offers one of the most complete intolerance and allergy testing kits on the market.

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