Test, don’t guess. By finding out what is actually going on in your body we can create the most targeted, safe and effective healing plan.

Functional tests dig in deeper than conventional tests to look for root-cause issues and show how the body systems are working together. 

When is Functional GI testing needed?

You should consider a functional GI test if you are experiencing any of the following…

• Any type of chronic GI symptoms such as IBS, gas, bloating, reflux, diarrhea or constipation.

• Chronic fatigue

• Acne, eczema or other rashes

• Joint pain

• Headaches

• Weight loss resistance

• Mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression

• Hormonal imbalances

• Any type of chronic health condition such as autoimmune disease or diabetes

• You’ve been to your doctor and “everything is fine” but you feel awful.

• You’re curious where your gut health is and want a baseline for preventative health

Often starting with lifestyle changes can help with many of these symptoms, but there are times when further testing is really needed to dig in deeper and help uncover the root cause of what is driving your symptoms.  A comprehensive stool test such as the GI MAP can be instrumental in helping uncover these upstream issues and give you specific action steps to start feeling better immediately. Additionally, an MRT Food Sensitivity test, when paired with a GI MAP, can help determine what foods and food-chemicals are causing an inflammatory reaction to you specifically to create tailored nutritional recommendations.

A test is only as helpful as the practitioner you are working with, and, unfortunately, I often hear of people who spend a lot of money only to get results that are overwhelming, confusing and overall not that helpful. However, my goal when working with functional tests is to not only offer a comprehensive and easy to understand interpretation of your results, but also to intertwine it with your history, goals and life circumstances.  I then will work together with you to offer a very specific and manageable plan to bring balance into the body, not to just throw a million supplements at you and send you on your way.

The GI MAP is a top-rated comprehensive stool test that looks at a wide variety of microorganisms in your stool, including prevalent species of bacteria, fungi, parasites and other pathogens such as H. Pylori and E. Coli.  It looks at not only what is living in the large intestine, but also how well your digestive system is overall functioning by providing us information as to how effectively you are breaking down fats and producing pancreatic enzymes. It also gives us a window into your level of gut inflammation and how your immune system is functioning. The results show the specific levels of all of these factors, not just a positive or negative like many other tests.  It does this through DNA analysis using a unique quantitative PCR method that offers a high level of accuracy and reproducibility that will help us create a personalized healing plan based off of your unique gut microbiome to allow you to start feeling better faster and to a higher degree.

The MRT, or Mediator-Release Test, is a food sensitivity blood test that gives you quantifiable results of foods and food chemicals that are actively contributing to inflammation specifically for your body. When a triggering food is consumed, it causes an immune reaction by releasing proinflammatory mediators that are detected with this test. Food sensitivities can lead to a wide variety of symptoms, similar to those outlined above. This test will help you determine what to avoid and also what foods are in the clear for you. 

The ideal combination is both a GI MAP and an MRT to take the guesswork out of GI healing and allow targeted-specific healing recommendations. The general plan is to identify what is happening in the gut, remove foods that are actively triggering symptoms and inflammation, heal the intestinal terrain and optimize digestion. Then, slowly reintroduce foods as tolerated.  

The comprehensive blood panel provides an in-depth look at how multiple systems in your body are functioning — offering insights that go beyond traditional blood tests. By examining data across these systems simultaneously, I can assess not only how each one is performing, but also identify patterns and connections between them.

Because your body’s systems work together, evaluating them collectively allows for a more complete understanding of your overall health.

This panel measures a wide range of essential blood markers, including a full thyroid panel with autoimmune markers, a comprehensive metabolic panel, complete blood count, and detailed assessments of blood sugar, cardiac, kidney, liver, digestive, immune, and inflammatory function.

Using a functional approach, I interpret these results with the goal of optimizing your levels and addressing potential imbalances early — before they progress into larger health concerns.