Alaina's Functional Testing Journey

The three of us have been taking functional labs over the last few months as a health check in. Watch this video to get a detailed breakdown of why!

For me personally: 

• I am dealing with painful ovulation bloating and cramping. I want to find out the root cause of why!
• I am also looking to grow my family in the next year or two and it's important to me that I approach the next pregnancy with optimal health.

Summary of tests taken so far...

• OAT (Organic Acids Test)
• DUTCH (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) *results coming soon
• THYROID PANEL *results coming soon

OAT TEST

Watch the video of me taking the test HERE. 

As I mentioned above, I've been dealing with PMS & pelvic pain during my ovulatory phase for the last year or so. PMS (premenstrual syndrome) during ovulation can be a mix of things like wonky hormones, inflammation, not-so-great nutrition, and issues with detoxing.

I was tired of guessing WHY so I took the Organic Acids Test (OAT) & working with the Kale Diagnostics team to get to the bottom of this! (if you decide to work with them, make sure you mention our name to receive a $250 credit for future use!)

The OAT checks our your urine to measure these things called organic acids. These little guys are like clues that tell you what’s happening deep down in your cells.

Let’s break down some of the cool stuff this test looks at:

• Hormone Metabolites: It shows how your body is handling hormones, like estrogen and progesterone. Wonky hormones can totally be behind those PMS mood swings.
• Inflammation Markers: This test can spot signs of inflammation in your body. Inflammation can crank up PMS symptoms like mood swings and bloating.
• Nutritional Deficiencies: It can reveal if you’re missing out on important nutrients, like B vitamins, magnesium, or zinc. And these missing nutrients might be causing PMS mood swings, fatigue, and cramps.
• Detoxification Pathways: The test checks how well your body gets rid of waste. If things aren’t running smoothly in this department, it can mess with your hormones and make PMS worse.

Upon receiving my results, the team at Kale Diagnostics created a personalized plan for me. I'll share some of the major points below, all focusing on thyroid health. My practitioner really harped on this because optimal thyroid health is so crucial for healthy pregnancies. 

1. The OAT results revealed elevated Ethylmalonic Acid, indicating potential oxidative stress.
   
   • Oxidative stress can contribute to inflammation, which is known to affect thyroid function.
   • Chronic inflammation can interfere with the conversion of inactive thyroid hormones (T4) to the active form (T3).
   • Working closely with Kale Diagnostics, we've tailored this approach to address oxidative stress and support mitochondrial health, crucial for optimal thyroid function.
   • To help, I've been recommended to incorporate L-Carnitine into my daily routine.
2.   The OAT results highlighted specific deficiencies, including B Vitamins.
   • I'm taking a high quality B-complex to replenish those stores right away (Pure Genomics B-complex). 
   • By addressing these deficiencies with the right supplements, we're optimizing my thyroid health.
   • (Kale Diagnostics has been an invaluable partner, helping me navigate these changes based on their expertise and my individual needs.)
3.  Nutrient Deficiency: Low levels of Branched Chain Alpha-Keto Organic Acids might indicated a deficiency in BCAAs. 
   • Deficiencies in essential amino acids can impact overall protein synthesis and may contribute to broader metabolic issues that could indirectly affect thyroid function.
   • To round it off, I'm incorporating healthy amounts of the right proteins, healthy fats, and foods with a low glycemic index (ensuring I get the right balanced protein to support my thyroid, and incorporating essential BCAAs)

I'm excited to share more as I delve deeper into this journey, including getting a full thyroid panel for even more clarity.

Whether you're already on the path to conception or thinking about it down the road, taking charge of your thyroid health is a powerful step. Stay tuned for more updates!

Next up....

• DUTCH test results
• Full thyroid panel results

Huge shoutout to Kale Diagnostics for helping me navigate these results and create personalized protocols for improvement. (PS. If you sign up to work with them, make sure you mention Balanced Beyars as a referral so that you can receive a $250 credit for future use!)