2020 isn’t going to win any awards for the difficult and unpredictable year it’s been, with its controversial presidential election, pandemic, economic hardships, racial tensions, and widespread fear and uncertainty about health and quality of life going forward. Thousands have succumbed to a newfound virus called SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) that continues to elude medical doctors and scientists. Many of us found out that we aren’t as healthy as we thought and that we should have been taking better care of ourselves.
Looking to the new year, what can we do to help our bodies become stronger and perhaps more resistant to the many pathogens out there? Perhaps a more functional and holistic approach to helping our bodies function better can help catapult us to an improved level of wellness, which in turn maximizes quality of life.
Many of us wait until we experience symptoms before acting on our health, but by that time, your body may have undergone dysfunction in multiple organ systems — it may take longer to heal, and you may not be able to heal at all. While traditional medicine is structured to manage symptoms, functional medicine strives to address the causes. In functional medicine, a personalized health treatment plan targets the specific manifestations of disease in each individual. The ultimate goal is to use natural therapy to maximize the inherent efficiency of the immune system. Then a customized health roadmap can be prepared, with the objective of improving health and vitality.
Functional Testing Can Find the Root Cause of Health Issues
There are a variety of tests that can help you identify which organ systems need the most attention. For example, one way to jump-start your health in the new year is to boost and protect your immune system with antioxidant protection — through a simple hand scan, you can get your score within 30 seconds. The term antioxidant refers to any compound that can counteract unstable molecules called free radicals that damage DNA, cell membranes, and other parts of cells. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals. This helps break a chain reaction that can affect other molecules in the cell and other cells in the body.
So how can antioxidants support your immune system? Oxidation-related tissue injury and exposure to free radicals is a particular hazard to the immune system. Because antioxidants can effectively destroy free radicals, they protect the structural integrity of cells and tissues throughout the body, including immune cells. Therefore, healthy amounts of neutralizing antioxidants are actually necessary for preventing damage to immune cells themselves. Studies have found that antioxidant intake is a key part of achieving immunity and overall health regardless of age. Dr. David A. Hughes, who has spent years researching the effects of antioxidants on the immune system, writes, “It might be essential to have an adequate intake of antioxidant nutrients from an early age in order to help prevent the development of, or at least delay the onset of, several degenerative disorders.”
Antioxidant Testing
The Pharmanex Biophotonic Scanner (S3) measures antioxidants, the first line of defense against disease. Lester Packer, Ph.D. and Head of Packer Labs at the University of California, Berkeley, is regarded as the world’s foremost antioxidant research scientist. According to Dr. Parker, “Scientists now believe that free radicals are causal factors in nearly every known disease, from heart disease to arthritis to cancer to cataracts. In fact, free radicals are a major culprit in the aging process itself. By controlling free radicals, antioxidants can make the difference between life and death as well as influence how fast and how well we age.”
Micronutrient Testing
A micronutrient test is a very detailed analysis that measures an individual’s nutrient deficiencies at a cellular level. The aim of the test is to measure just how effectively the body is utilizing consumed nutrients, including a variety of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and antioxidants. It is estimated that 50% of individuals who take regular multivitamins and other supplements are unaware that they are actually micronutrient deficient.
Salivary Hormone and Cortisol Testing
If you are a woman in the 35 – 55 age range, you may be experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, brain fog, fatigue, or sleeping issues. A comprehensive hormone panel can show hormonal patterns of dysfunction, and these can guide the plan of action for you.
Stool Testing for Gut Health
If you suffer from digestive issues like constipation, slow bowels, diarrhea, poor digestion, stomach pain, reflux, bloating, gas, SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), or food intolerance, you are definitely looking for symptomatic relief. A functional microbiome test provides functional gut markers that can benchmark the progress of treatment or make comparisons.
Conclusion
Let’s give 2020 a swift boot and bring in 2021 on a positive note, starting with our health. Health is wealth, and without it we have nothing. Don’t guess, test! This is the only way to find the missing pieces that can help you resolve lingering underlying health issues or help prevent serious chronic conditions in the future. If you are a caretaker in any capacity, whether it’s your profession or care you give to elderly parents or other family members, it is critical that you maintain your health so you can continue providing care to those who need you. Organ system imbalances in the body are very real and need attention over time. When we ignore the symptoms and neglect fueling our bodies, degenerative disease can come on quickly.
All of the functional tests mentioned are available at TLC Medical Centre pharmacy. As an integrative and functional medicine health practitioner, I can use these important health tools to guide you to a healthier happier you. Be proactive in the new year — take control of your health!
