Functional Testing
Functional testing is a game changer when it comes to understanding your unique health needs. By using advanced diagnostic tools and techniques, we take out the guess work and get straight to the heart of what’s going on inside you.
This approach gives us personalised insights into your nutritional needs, reveals areas for improvement, and helps us pinpoint the root causes of your health concerns.
Here are some tests available at Atsike Nutrition:
Comprehensive Blood Panel
A comprehensive blood panel provides a broad overview of your overall health, assessing key markers related to organ function, metabolic health, and potential disease risks. It is like a health MOT.
This test is a powerful tool for understanding your body’s intricate systems. It goes beyond standard blood work to evaluate:
- Hormone balance (including cortisol, DHEA, and sex hormones)
- Gut health (markers for digestion, absorption, and inflammation)
- Immune function (markers of inflammation and immune response)
- Metabolic function (including blood sugar regulation and energy production)
- Detoxification pathways (assessing the body’s ability to eliminate toxins).
This comprehensive analysis helps identify root causes of health concerns, providing a detailed picture of your physiological status. This information can then be used to create personalised protocols that address your specific needs, optimising your health and wellbeing.
This test is beneficial for individuals experiencing a wide range of symptoms and health conditions, including:
- Chronic fatigue and low energy
- Digestive issues (IBS, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea)
- Hormonal imbalances (PMS, menopause, or low libido)
- Mood disorders (anxiety, depression, or irritability)
- Sleep disturbances
- Weight management challenges
- Autoimmune conditions
- Individuals seeking to optimize their overall health and performance.
- Anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of their body’s function and take a proactive approach to their wellbeing can benefit from a comprehensive blood panel.
Stool Testing
A stool test is a type of diagnostic tool that analyses the contents of an individual’s stool to identify potential health issues or imbalances in their gut microbiome. Here’s what you need to know:
The stool test typically measures various factors, including:
- Presence of pathogens: Bacteria, viruses, and parasites that may be causing illness.
- Gut bacteria diversity: Imbalanced levels of beneficial and harmful microorganisms in the gut microbiome.
- Inflammatory markers: Presence of inflammatory chemicals or biomarkers indicating inflammation in the gut.
The stool test may be beneficial for individuals with:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms: Such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, bloody stools, or coeliac disease.
- Infections and parasitic infestations: Those who have recently traveled to an area where these infections are common and there may be presence of pathogens, such as giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, or hookworms
- Nutrient deficiencies: Imbalances in nutrient absorption due to impaired gut function or malabsorption syndromes. Patients with symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, iron deficiency anaemia, or other nutrient-related disorders.
- Immunological issues: Evidence of an overactive immune response, allergies, or autoimmune disorders.
- Other symptoms: Persistent gastrointestinal issues (e.g., bloating, abdominal pain), diarrhea or constipation, blood in the stool, weight loss or fatigue, skin rashes or allergies
Hormone Testing
A comprehensive hormonal test is a type of laboratory test that measures various hormone levels in an individual’s urine or salivary sample.
A hormonal test identifies underlying hormonal imbalances that may be contributing to various health issues. This comprehensive analysis checks multiple levels of hormones and cortisol, as well as markers for nutritional deficiencies, oxidative stress, melatonin, and other vital indicators.
Test results will typically include:
- Sex hormones (oestrogens, progesterone, testosterone) production
- Adrenal hormones (DHEA and cortisol) production
- Free cortisol and cortisone
- Melatonin production through the night
- Micronutrient availability and oxidative stress (organic acids panel)
A hormonal test is used to assess:
- Hormonal imbalances: Unbalanced levels of hormones can point to health conditions such as thyroid disorders, adrenal fatigue, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and menstrual issues.
- Stress response: High cortisol levels can indicate chronic stress, anxiety, or adrenal fatigue and symptoms of burnout.
- Menopause: helpful to monitor how HRT manages symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and osteoporosis
Results can help identify potential causes of symptoms such as:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain or loss
- Hair thinning or loss
- Irregular, heavy period or breast tenderness
- Skin issues.
- Mood swings or emotional instability
Cardiometabolic Profile
A cardiometabolic profile is a comprehensive test that assesses an individual’s risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic disorders.
The cardiometabolic profile typically measures various biomarkers related to heart health, metabolism, and insulin sensitivity, including:
- Lipid profiles: Cholesterol levels, triglycerides, Apo A-1, ApoB and LDL/HDL ratios.
- Metabolic risk markers: Blood sugar, insulin, glucose, leptin, Adiponectin.
- Inflammation markers: Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), homocysteine, and other inflammatory biomarkers.
The cardiometabolic profile may be beneficial for individuals with:
- Family history of CVD: Those with a strong family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, or stroke.
- Obesity and/or central obesity: Individuals with body mass index (BMI) above 30 or waist circumference exceeding the recommended threshold.
- Hypertension: Patients with diagnosed hypertension or those who are at risk for developing it.
- Dyslipidemia: Those with high cholesterol, low HDL levels, or other lipid disorders.
- History of gestational diabetes: Women who have had gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
Symptoms that might indicate a cardiometabolic profile:
- High blood pressure
- Elevated cholesterol levels
- Unexplained weight gain
- Fatigue or weakness
- Shortness of breath
Allergy & Intolerance Testing
Allergy and intolerance testing identifies specific food and environmental sensitivities that contribute to various health symptoms.
Intolerance testing goes beyond traditional allergy skin prick tests to provide an analysis of your body’s reactions to a wide range of substances.
Allergy testing can identify true IgE-mediated allergies (immediate, severe reactions) whereas intolerance testing identifies delayed IgG and inflammation mediated food sensitivities (intolerance), as well as a gut barrier panel to investigate intestinal permeability (often referred to as leaky gut). By analysing blood samples or using other specialised methods, these tests pinpoint specific triggers that may be contributing to chronic inflammation, digestive issues, skin conditions, and other health concerns.
Understanding these sensitivities empowers individuals to make informed dietary and lifestyle choices, reducing symptoms and improving overall wellbeing.
It is important to know the difference between an allergy and an intolerance. Allergies can be life threatening, and intolerances are not.
Intolerance testing is beneficial for individuals experiencing:
- chronic digestive issues (like bloating, gas, or IBS)
- skin problems (eczema, hives, or acne)
- headaches
- fatigue
- joint pain
- respiratory issues (congestion, asthma).
It is also recommended for those with:
- suspected food sensitivities
- unexplained symptoms
- autoimmune conditions
If you suspect that food or environmental factors are contributing to your health problems, or if you want to optimise your diet and lifestyle for improved wellness, allergy and intolerance testing can provide valuable insights and guide personalised strategies.
Nutritional Testing
A nutritional status test, evaluates your body’s vitamin, mineral, antioxidant, and metabolic nutrient levels to identify deficiencies and imbalances impacting your health.
A comprehensive nutritional status assessment goes beyond basic vitamin and mineral checks to provide a detailed metabolic profile. This advanced test analyses a wide array of biomarkers, including:
- organic acids
- amino acids
- fatty acids
- vitamin and mineral levels
- oxidative stress markers
By evaluating these components, healthcare professionals can identify nutrient deficiencies, metabolic dysfunctions, and imbalances that may be contributing to various health concerns.
This in-depth analysis helps create personalised nutritional strategies to optimise cellular function, improve energy production, and support overall well-being. It uncovers underlying causes of symptoms that simple blood work might miss.
This test is beneficial for individuals experiencing:
- chronic fatigue
- digestive issues (like IBS or leaky gut)
- mood disorders (anxiety, depression)
- cognitive decline
- unexplained pain
- those with autoimmune conditions
It is also recommended for individuals seeking to
- optimise athletic performance
- manage weight
- address chronic health conditions like fibromyalgia, migraines, or cardiovascular disease
- have malabsorption issues
- who follow restrictive diets
If you’re experiencing persistent symptoms that haven’t responded to conventional treatments, or if you want to understand your body’s unique nutritional needs, a comprehensive nutritional status assessment can provide valuable insights and guide personalised interventions.
Thyroid Panel
A Thyroid Panel assesses the complete function of your thyroid gland by measuring multiple key thyroid hormones.
This test measures key hormones including:
- TSH
- Free T3 (triiodothyronine)
- Free T4 (thyroxine)
- Thyroid antibodies (such as thyroid peroxidase antibodies or TPOAb, and thyroglobulin antibodies or TgAb)
By examining these markers, healthcare professionals can gain valuable insights into how effectively your thyroid is producing and utilising hormones, and detect potential autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease. This thorough evaluation helps identify subtle imbalances that may be missed by a basic TSH test alone, enabling a more precise and personalised approach to thyroid health management.
This test is beneficial for individuals experiencing symptoms such as
- fatigue,
- weight fluctuations (gain or loss),
- hair loss,
- changes in mood (anxiety or depression),
- temperature sensitivity (feeling too hot or too cold),
- sleep disturbances,
- irregular menstrual cycles.
It is also recommended for those with a family history of thyroid disorders, individuals with diagnosed autoimmune conditions, or anyone seeking a deeper understanding of their overall metabolic health. If you are experiencing unexplained symptoms or have concerns about your thyroid function, a full thyroid panel can provide valuable information to guide your healthcare decisions and optimise your wellbeing.