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- Food Allergy, non-foods, nutrient deficiency, & toxin testing (hair follicle testing)
- MRT 176 (mediator Release Test) (blood testing)
- MRT 176 with dietary care support (blood testing)
- Blood Work panels
- Genetic Testing
OUR HEALTH TESTING OPTIONS
What’s the primary benefit of getting tested? Knowing what is going on in your body! Finding the root cause of your symptoms so we can find an actual solution instead of just treating a symptom. A tremendous amount of health problems have been linked to genetics, neurotransmitter imbalances, hormonal fluctuations and even food intolerances. Common everyday problems like migraines, aching joints, fatigue, depression, anxiety, insomnia, gastrointestinal disorders, eczema, weight gain, and even obesity are symptoms of these health issues.
Health Testing Options with Essential Vitality Plus Peptides:
- Food Allergy Testing
- Neurotransmitter Level Testing
- Blood Testing
- Genetic Testing
WHY FOOD ALLERGY TESTING?
Sometimes a reaction to food is not an allergy. It is often a reaction called a “food intolerance or food sensitivity”. Food sensitivities occur when your immune system reacts to a particular food. Food sensitivity reactions are often delayed and dose-dependent. This means that a food you ate yesterday could cause unwanted symptoms today or even tomorrow!
Food allergies only use one pathway of the immune system. Food sensitivities however can go through two different pathways in your body to cause symptoms. These are known as type III and type IV reactions and involve antibodies (IgA, IgG, or IgM) or white blood cells.
The end result of all food sensitivity reactions is the release of immune chemicals called mediators from your white blood cells. This meditator release ends up causing your unwanted food sensitivity symptoms.
In adults, the foods that most often trigger allergic reactions include:
- Fish and shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster, and crab
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts, such as walnuts
- Eggs
- Gluten
- Dairy
HOW DO THESE REACTIONS TO FOOD OCCUR?
The allergens in food are those components that are responsible for inciting an allergic reaction. They are proteins that usually resist the heat of cooking, the acid in the stomach, and the intestinal digestive enzymes. As a result, the allergens survive to cross the gastrointestinal lining, enter the bloodstream, and go to target organs, causing allergic reactions throughout the body.
HOW DO THESE REACTIONS TO FOOD OCCUR?
The allergens in food are those components that are responsible for inciting an allergic reaction. They are proteins that usually resist the heat of cooking, the acid in the stomach, and the intestinal digestive enzymes. As a result, the allergens survive to cross the gastrointestinal lining, enter the bloodstream, and go to target organs, causing allergic reactions throughout the body.
COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS LINKED TO FOOD ALLERGIES OR SENSITIVITIES
Numerous health problems have been linked to food allergies and food intolerances – common everyday problems like:
- Migraines
- Aching joints
- Fatigue
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Eczema
- Hyperactivity/ADHD, asthma
- Obesity
- Brain Fog
- Depression
- Auto-immune flare ups
Each person is different and has an individualized response to food sensitivity reactions. The list of potential symptoms can be quite long. If you suspect that a certain food or foods may be causing or worsening your symptoms, you may want to consider food sensitivity testing.
MEDIATOR RELEASE TEST (MRT)
The MRT food sensitivity panel is the test we use at Essential Vitality Plus Peptides. It is a blood test that is drawn in the office which analyzes your individual response to 170 different foods and chemicals. Your blood samples are sent to Oxford Labs, who then uses a machine to expose your blood cells to each freeze-dried food or chemical antigen.
Your individualized response is recorded by measuring the size of your white blood cells before and after exposure to each tested food or chemical. The food sensitivity reaction is based on how much your white blood cell shrink. The more they shrink, the more pro-inflammatory chemicals they have released.
MRT is measures your body’s reaction to foods at a cellular level as the white blood cells are exposed to the foods or chemicals. Your MRT results are reported as a color coded bar graph which makes it easy to see the magnitude of your individual response to each food or chemical.
WHAT MAKES MRT DIFFERENT?
The MRT panel stands out as the best option for testing food sensitivities because it captures ALL types of food sensitivity reactions (type III and IV) by indirectly measuring the release of inflammatory chemicals called mediators. The release of these mediators are what cause the symptoms of food sensitivities.
Most other food sensitivity tests look at one potential pathway of food sensitivities, known as IgG antibodies. Looking at only this pathway doesn’t give us the complete picture. IgG antibodies can increase with normal consumption of certain foods. A positive result on an IgG food sensitivity test may simply indicate that you have recently eaten that food or that you eat it frequently. You may not necessarily have a negative reaction to it!
In our opinion the biggest factor that distinguishes MRT from other food sensitivity tests is the elimination diet protocol that is included with it, it’s called LEAP.
LEAP ELIMINATION DIET
LEAP stands for (Lifestyle Eating and Performance). We use the MRT panel with this elimination diet protocol. Our training allows us to interpret the MRT food sensitivity panel and help guide patients through the LEAP elimination diet.
Treating food sensitivities is more than just avoiding your reactive foods. We work with you to develop a personalized food sensitivity elimination diet based on your MRT results.
The protocol is normally broken into phases over a 2 to 3 month period. Your list of reactive foods will have a green, yellow or red color next to it to determine the severity of the sensitivity. For the first two weeks, you will try to eat 30 of your lowest reactive “green” foods. During this time, many people can experience a reduction of 50%-75% in their symptom frequency and/or severity.
Once you begin feeling better and more stable, we slowly add one food at a time into your diet. We also monitor for any reactions that may occur, and set you up for long term success.
OUR HEALTH TESTING OPTIONS
What’s the primary benefit of getting tested? Knowing what is going on in your body! Finding the root cause of your symptoms so we can find an actual solution instead of just treating a symptom. A tremendous amount of health problems have been linked to genetics, neurotransmitter imbalances, hormonal fluctuations and even food intolerances. Common everyday problems like migraines, aching joints, fatigue, depression, anxiety, insomnia, gastrointestinal disorders, eczema, weight gain, and even obesity are symptoms of these health issues.
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FOOD SENSITIVITIES LINKED TO COMMON HEALTH CONCERNS
Did you know that food allergies and sensitivities can contribute to weight gain? What we eat can affect our bodies in numerous ways, especially if we have an allergy or reaction to specific foods. Numerous health problems have been linked to food allergies and intolerances, including common everyday problems like migraines, aching joints, fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders, eczema, hyperactivity/ADD, asthma, and obesity. Here’s a look at some of the links between food allergies and common health issues.
FOOD REACTIONS & WEIGHT GAIN
We gain weight when we eat more than we can burn off. But this conventional diet wisdom does not always hold true. Weight gain can also be caused by health conditions such as hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, organ disease, prescription drug use, anxiety, blood sugar imbalance, and essential fatty acid deficiency. Additionally, one common cause is food sensitivity.
Reactions to foods are not always immediate. They can occur many hours later as bloating and swelling in the hands, feet, ankles, abdomen, chin, and around the eyes. Much of the weight gained is fluid retention caused by inflammation and the release of certain hormones. In addition, there is the fermentation of foods, particularly carbohydrates, in the intestines, which can result in a swollen, distended belly and gas production. Food allergies, as well as food sensitivities, can cause weight gain.
How Testing Can Help
Addressing food allergies and sensitivities can play a significant role in weight loss. When the body reacts to certain foods, it can cause inflammation and fluid retention, leading to weight gain. By eliminating these foods from your diet, you can reduce inflammation and fluid retention, which may result in weight loss.
Avoiding foods that affect your health can also help regulate your digestive system, leading to more efficient calorie burning and a healthier gut. If you suspect you may have a food allergy or sensitivity, consider getting tested for food allergies. Identifying and addressing these allergies/sensitivities can be crucial in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
FOOD SENSITIVITY & ADHD SYMPTOMS
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral condition in which children/adults struggle with executive function. Adults with ADHD may find it hard to focus, organize, or finish tasks, among other symptoms.
While there isn’t a significant amount of research on food and ADHD, those concerned about diet and ADHD have hypothesized that there may be a toxic or allergic effect by some foods. The most commonly targeted foods are milk, wheat, dyes, preservatives, sugars, and caffeine. These diet elements are believed to at least contribute to ADHD and ADD Symptoms.
FOOD ALLERGIES & ARTHRITIS
The body can be allergic to any food; therefore, any food allergy is capable of causing inflammation and worsening arthritis symptoms. This includes RA, juvenile arthritis, and undefined joint pains. This is why it can be difficult to recognize the relationship between their diet and their symptoms.
Let’s use a dairy allergy as an example. If you eat any form of dairy, be it milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, or even dairy in the form of casein or whey in another food product, such as bread or milk chocolate, you can potentially trigger the symptoms of your food allergy, in this case, arthritis. Allergy symptoms may show up hours or even a day later, well after food is absorbed into your system.
FOOD SENSITIVITIES & CHRONIC FATIGUE
Researchers do not know what causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), but they believe this illness involves interactions between the dysfunction of the immune system and trigger agents such as viruses. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome causes incapacitating fatigue, pain, neurological problems, and a list of symptoms that can represent other disorders. Each person living with CFS has a unique assortment of symptoms that fits into a recognizable pattern.
Allergic reactions to food, food intolerance (hypersensitivity), refined food, junk foods, food additives, and chemical contaminants in food can alter our moods and lead directly or indirectly to a constant low-energy state.
People with CFS frequently have sensitivities to foods, chemicals, and other inhalants. These may be classical allergies – which are IgE (Immunoglobulin Type E)-mediated sensitivities or food intolerance (which is not IgE-mediated, so allergy tests, such as skin prick tests, are negative) and chemical intolerance are especially common. Patients showing evidence of this often find that managing these sensitivities can be essential to improving or recovering from the illness.
FOOD TRIGGERS & ECZEMA
Eczema flare-ups can be prevented through careful management of your diet. One such way is by identifying food triggers that cause your eczema to flare up. Not all triggers are the same for everyone, so you will need to determine your food triggers.
The other way is to ensure that you have an adequate supply of nutrition that supports good healthy skin. Many eczema patients are found to be deficient in certain essential vitamins and supplements. Ensuring an adequate supply can help reduce the incidence of skin inflammation and dry skin.
DIET & FIBROMYALGIA
While there is no specific diet for all fibromyalgia cases, different symptoms may suggest ways of improving your health through diet. As fibromyalgia sufferers often have one condition amplifying another (or several others), relieving even one can increase your quality of life, sometimes substantially.
If your body overreacts to certain foods, it could worsen conditions ranging from digestive troubles (gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea) to fatigue, headache or migraine, joint pain, mood disorders, muscle aches, and skin problems. Beef, citrus, chicken, corn, dairy, eggs, gluten (protein in wheat, barley, rye, spelt, and kamut), soy, sugar, tomatoes, wheat, yeast, etc., are common problems for individuals with food intolerance.
FOOD & IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)
The cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not well understood. In IBS, the movement of the digestive tract is impaired, but doctors cannot find change in physical structure, such as inflammation or tumors.
Treatment will depend on the types of symptoms you have and their severity, as well as how they affect your daily life, and will likely involve changes to your lifestyle. Active involvement in treatment is important to manage it successfully. Treatment usually focuses on changes in diet and lifestyle, avoiding foods that trigger symptoms, and managing stress.
FOOD TRIGGERS & MIGRAINES
Migraines involve changes in chemicals and blood vessels in the brain, which trigger pain signals, leading to headaches and other symptoms.
In many people, migraines are triggered by certain foods or smells. Eliminating exposure to these triggers may stop the headaches.
SYMPTOMS OF FOOD SENSITIVITY
Food plays such an important role in our bodies. Unfortunately, food that is completely safe to some might be the root of serious problems such as migraines, fatigue, arthritis, and weight gain in others.
In many people, migraines are triggered by certain foods or smells. Eliminating exposure to these triggers may stop the headaches.
Symptoms of food sensitivity can include:
- headache
- indigestion or heartburn
- fatigue
- depression
- joint pain or arthritis
- canker sores
- chronic respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, sinus congestion, or bronchitis
- chronic bowel problems such as diarrhea or constipation
RELIEF BEGINS WITH HEALTH TESTING
Dealing with food allergies and health issues can be challenging and often frustrating. It’s important to remember that food allergies can affect anyone, regardless of age or background. If you suspect you may have a food allergy or sensitivity, getting tested is a crucial first step in understanding your body’s reactions and identifying potential triggers.
If you think an unknown food allergy might be causing one or more of these symptoms in you, call 720 712-0028 to schedule a free consultation with a licensed nurse practitioner. You can also fill out the form on near the top of this page if you’d prefer. We will start with a consultation, where you’ll discuss the benefits of getting testing done to determine if a food allergy is the root of your pain or problem.
Health testing can get you back on track to living your best life, living pain and symptom-free. If you have lived with one or more of these issues for years, this might be the answer you’ve been searching for.
ABOUT NEUROTRANSMITTER TESTING
Our nervous system influences how we think, feel, act and function. As we age, we may notice that it becomes harder to concentrate and complete day-to-day tasks. This inability to focus leads to less physical and mental achievements. Stress follows because of these lack of achievements and home life is affected, relationships suffer, and we are left with more stress and worry.
DO YOU EXPERIENCE:
- Stress
- Mood swings
- Anxiousness, irritability, agitation, tension, panic attacks
- Difficulty concentrating, focusing or remembering
- Sleep disturbances or difficulties
- Headaches
- Fatigue, lack of energy
- Weight issues, food cravings
The ANSWER is that the body’s stress response system is dysfunctional. It is a physical problem interconnected with emotional issues. The brain chemicals that help us to respond to stress appropriately can be in limited supply due to diet, stress, exposure to toxins, and/or genetics.
Essential Vitality Plus Peptides works with a company called NeuroLab to tests and measure the level of your brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters, and then suggest all natural ways to restore your balance. Based on the laboratory results, NeuroLab works with us to develop Targeted Amino Acid Therapy programs designed to address the spectrum of neurotransmitter and hormone imbalances. Addressing neurotransmitter and hormone imbalances can lead to significantly improved symptoms for a number of today’s most challenging conditions.
BLOOD WORK AND HEALTH TESTING
“Blood work” refers to a laboratory analysis performed on a blood sample that is usually extracted from a vein in the arm using a needle, or via fingerprick. Blood tests are used to determine numerous things like physiological and biochemical states, diseases, drug levels, drug effectiveness, and organ function. Although the term blood test/work is used, most routine tests are done on blood plasma instead of blood cells.
Many different hormone therapies and treatments require you to have your blood tested so our Doctors are able to analyze the results and select the treatment plan that best suits the current state and needs of your body. If you’ve recently had blood work done, you can bring your results with you to your consultation. If you haven’t had a recent blood analysis, don’t worry. If you need one, we can now do blood draws right in the office for those interested in paying cash. It only takes 48 hours to have the results back which is a much quicker turn around than with other labs. If you would like to use your insurance we’ll be happy to help you find a convenient location of a lab that accepts your insurance provider.
THINGS TO REMEMBER IF HAVING BLOOD WORK DONE
- Find out ahead of time if the test(s) your going to have requires you to do anything beforehand. Some diagnostic tests require you to fast 10 - 12 hours before your blood is drawn. Learn from our Doctors if your blood work will require this to avoid having to do it all over again.
- When you go, bring your proof of health insurance and a government issued identification form.
- Drink plenty of water before you have your blood drawn. Water keeps your body hydrated and increases blood volume.
- If you are scared or uncomfortable with needles tell the phlebotomist (the person drawing your blood) before the procedure is started. This way they can help you to decide when and if your ready to start the procedure and will know to keep a close eye on you during the procedure for signs of shock (such as paleness, sweating, clammy skin and fainting.)
- The biggest mistakes people make while having their blood drawn is to hold their breath, tense up and stare directly at the needle. This is the quickest way to cause yourself to panic. Relax, sit up straight, look away from the needle or close your eyes and take slow breaths. Many people find talking to the phlebotomist is a good way of distracting yourself while the procedure is taking place.
- If you're feeling a little light headed or nauseated then stay seated or laying down for a few minutes until you feel better.
WHY GENETIC TESTING?
With the knowledge that results from it, genetic testing is the future of preventive health. Alongside the thousands of tests offered for medical conditions and diseases, the science and research behind genetic testing now help us understand:
Programs tailored to an individual’s DNA have proven to be very effective. A recent study discovered that dieters in weight management programs tailored to their DNA lost up to 33% more weight than those following the usual “one size fits all” programs. We can now take an individual’s genetic profile into account and provide a more detailed approach to care for our patients.
- 1. The specific genes dictating how the human body processes carbohydrates, fat, protein, micronutrients, etc.
- 2. How genes determine the effectiveness of certain fitness activities.
THE RESEARCH BEHIND GENETIC TESTING
Clinical studies and research on genetic testing have been rapidly increasing since the human genome was first mapped in 2003. As testing technology continues to improve and the cost of analyzing DNA decreases, more research facilities around the world are able to do more. This leads to more discoveries about the connections between genetics and preventive health.
TRANSFORMYOU'S GENETICS-BASED HEALTH MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
At Essential Vitality Plus Peptides, we partner with Genetic Direction- the developer of a comprehensive suite of genetics-based health management programs to address the most pressing preventive and performance health concerns in the world today, including GxSlim, GxRenew, GxPerform, and GxNutrient. Read on for additional information about these programs.
GxSlim: Weight Management
GxSlim is a weight management program that takes your unique genetic makeup into account and provides you with diet and exercise strategies tailored to your genotype. Because these are based on your DNA, these are the only diet and exercise recommendations you will ever need again.
GxRenew: Healthy Aging
GxRenew is an innovative healthy aging program that utilizes your genetic profile to provide nutrient, food, activity and lifestyle recommendations to keep you looking and feeling young longer. Research has linked numerous aging signs to genetic predisposition, and many of these indications can be addressed with DNA-based lifestyle changes.
GxPerform: Athletic Performance
GxPerform is a health and activity performance improvement program based on your genetic profile. The best nutrition, workout and supplement regimens for you cannot be determined without understanding your genetic predisposition. Genetic links to sports injury risks, VO2Max, and other athletic traits are also now known and key to athletic performance. For average athletes wanting to be good and good athletes wanting to be great, GxPerform provides you with the food, nutrient, and training recommendations to help you to reach your potential.
GxNutrient: Maximizing Nutrition
GxNutrient provides a comprehensive analysis of your genetic predisposition to absorbing micronutrients that you consume. Even with a perfectly balanced diet including plenty of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, almost all of us have some difficulty absorbing certain micronutrients. Understanding your genetic profile for how your body likely processes vitamins and minerals is an important step in developing a healthy nutrition program.
GETTING YOUR GENETICS-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS
The process you will follow to obtain your genetics-based recommendations is quite simple.
- 1. Obtain your product kit from Essential Vitality Plus
- 2. Inside it are instructions. You simply rub the sterile cotton swab in the kit along your gums and cheeks, pack the sample up, and send it back in the enclosed pre-paid shipping envelope.
- 3. The lab will analyze your sample and identify your genotype.
- 4. Within 3-4 weeks, they will send the notification that your GxSlim, GxRenew, GxPerform, or GxNutrient report is ready.
- 5. We will notify you when it is ready. Your report will be emailed to you and uploaded to your patient portal. If you created a login to the Genetic Direction secure web portal, you would be able to view your report there as well.
You will also be able to access the genotype-specific health content library. This comprehensive resource library contains hundreds of articles, videos, and recipes that are curated and directed to you based on your unique genetic profile. Your report and health content are available at any time and accessible from any connected desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
SUPPLEMENT SHOP
Essential Vitality Plus Peptides offers a convenient way for patients and visitors to order their vitamins and supplements direct through our providers, Fullscripts. Products are manufactured in the USA at a state of the art cGMP facility!
For Fullscript, you’ll need to create an account on the Fullscript page, soon after you will be able to browse and purchase products from the largest inventory of physician-grade supplements!
where you can create an account and explore the thousands of products offered to help you feel your best!
- High-quality, practitioner-trusted supplements
- Easy online ordering anytime, at home or from your mobile device
- Low shipping costs and quick delivery options
Will need a Blog section to put articles in weekly for this website
