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Fuel Your Mind and Body: The Science of Lab Testing for Optimal Nutrition and Performance
Paula Gallagher on
In our pursuit of peak performance—whether it’s in the gym, on the field, or simply in our daily lives—nutrition plays a crucial role. Yet, despite our best efforts to eat well and stay fit, we often overlook a critical tool that can elevate our performance: lab testing. By understanding the science behind lab testing for nutrition, we can unlock the secrets to more effectively fueling both our minds and bodies.
The Link Between Nutrition and Performance
Nutrition forms the foundation of both mental and physical performance. The food we consume provides the raw materials our bodies need to function optimally, affecting everything from energy levels to cognitive clarity. However, not all diets are created equal, and what works for one person may not work for another. This is where lab testing becomes invaluable.By identifying specific nutrient levels in your body, lab tests can reveal deficiencies or imbalances that may be hindering your performance. For example, low iron levels can lead to fatigue and decreased endurance, while insufficient vitamin B12 can impair concentration and memory. Armed with this knowledge, you can make targeted adjustments to your diet or supplementation routine, ensuring that your body and brain are operating at their peak.
The Science Behind Lab Testing
Lab tests are not just for diagnosing illnesses—they’re powerful tools for optimizing health. Various tests can assess your nutritional status, each offering unique insights into your body’s needs. Here are some of the most common:Blood Panels: These tests measure levels of vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients in your bloodstream. For instance, a complete blood count (CBC) can reveal iron deficiencies, while a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) assesses liver and kidney function, both of which are crucial for nutrient processing.
Micronutrient Testing: This specialized test evaluates the levels of specific vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants within your cells, offering a more detailed picture of your nutritional status than standard blood tests.
Hormone Testing: Hormones significantly influence metabolism and energy levels. Testing for hormones like cortisol, testosterone, and thyroid hormones can reveal imbalances that affect both physical performance and mental sharpness.
Food Sensitivity Testing: Identifying foods that trigger inflammation or other adverse reactions in your body can help you refine your diet for better performance and overall well-being.
Personalized Nutrition for Peak Performance
Once you have your lab results, the next step is to tailor your nutrition plan to meet your specific needs. This may involve:
Targeted Supplementation: If your lab tests reveal deficiencies, supplements can be a quick and effective way to restore balance. For example, if your vitamin D levels are low, a high-quality vitamin D supplement can improve mood, bone health, and immune function.
Diet Adjustments: Lab tests may indicate that you need to increase your intake of certain foods. For example, if your omega-3 levels are low, incorporating more fatty fish like salmon or flaxseeds into your diet can boost brain function and reduce inflammation.
Monitoring and Adjusting: Nutrition is not a one-size-fits-all science, and your needs may change over time. Regular lab testing allows you to monitor your progress and make necessary adjustments as needed, ensuring that your body and mind are always performing at their best.
Lab testing is more than just a diagnostic tool—it’s a key to unlocking your full potential. By understanding your body’s unique nutritional needs, you can make informed decisions that fuel both your mind and body. Whether you’re an athlete looking to optimize performance or someone striving for better focus and energy in daily life, lab testing offers a personalized roadmap to success.
Ready to take your performance to the next level? Consider incorporating lab testing into your health routine. It’s an investment in your well-being that can pay dividends in both your personal and professional life. Contact Village Green Apothecary for more information.
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LAB TEST
Micronutrient & Antioxidant Analysis
No reviews
$492.00
$615.00
Cellular Micronutrient Assay
This comprehensive nutritional analysis measures over 50 micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other key nutrients) at the cellular level. Compared to serum testing, which only gives a snapshot of one’s nutrient status, cellular testing provides insight into long-term, functional nutritional status.
Why is this test important?
Nutrients are vital to health and are required for every metabolic process in the body. Insufficiencies can negatively affect health and play a role in compromising immune health and setting the stage for degenerative processes, such as arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
Nutrient requirements are unique to each individual and are impacted by many factors, such as diet, age, digestion and absorption, medications, stress, genetics, pregnancy, activity levels, illnesses, sleep patterns, and toxin levels. Regularly evaluating one’s micronutrient status can help to determine optimal daily nutrient intake and allow for ongoing customized support.
The Cellular Micronutrient Assay measures the following nutrients:
Vitamins
Minerals
Amino Acids
Other Nutrients
Thiamine (vitamin B1)
Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
Biotin
Cobalamin (vitamin B12)
Folate (vitamin B9)
Nicotinamide (niacin, vitamin B3)
Pantothenic Acid
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
Vitamin C
Vitamin A
Vitamin D
Vitamin E (delta-tocotrienol)
Vitamin K1
Vitamin K2-MK7
Vitamin K2-MK4
Boron
Calcium
Chromium
Copper
Iodine
Iron
Lithium
Magnesium
Manganese
Molybdenum
Potassium
Selenium
Strontium
Vanadium
Zinc
Arginine
Asparagine
Cysteine
Glutamine
Glycine
Histidine
Isoleucine
Leucine
Lysine
Serine
Methionine
Phenylalanine
Taurine
Threonine
Tryptophan
Tyrosine
Valine
Alpha-ketoglutarate
Carnitine
Choline
Glutathione
Inositol
Antioxidant Protection Assay
Exposure to air pollutants, toxins, industrial chemicals, smoking, medications, ultraviolet rays, etc., can all generate harmful free radicals in the body. Even normal metabolic processes, such as eating food, can produce free radicals. An overload or accumulation of free radicals causes oxidative stress, which has been shown to be an underlying factor in the aging process, chronic inflammation, as well as in the development of degenerative diseases.
One of the body’s most important mechanisms for combating oxidative stress is by utilizing antioxidants, which can neutralize free radicals and protect cells against damage. For optimal protection, antioxidant resources must continually be restored via diet and/or supplementation.
The Antioxidant Protection Assay measures your cell’s resistance to oxidative stress, determines your overall antioxidant capacity, and provides you with specific antioxidant nutrients that can improve your antioxidant capacity and best protect your cells from oxidative damage.
The Antioxidant Protection Assay measures the following antioxidants:
Botanicals, Plant Extracts, Pigments, and Phytonutrients
Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Nutrients, Fatty Acids and Enzymes
Acai Berry
Andrographis
Astaxanthin
Astragalus
Camu Camu
Chlorophyll
Echinacea
Elderberry
Frankincense
Gingko biloba
Goji Berry
Grape Seed
Green Tea
Lavender
Lutein
Lycopene
Maitake mushroom
Mangosteen
Milk Thistle
Noni Berry
Piperine
Pomegranate
Pycnogenol
Quercetin
Resveratrol
Rhodiola Root
Shiitake mushroom
Sulforaphane
Turmeric
Wild Cherry Bark
Zeaxanthin
Beta-carotene
Catalase
Coenzyme Q10
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
Glutathione
Linoleic Acid
Lipoic Acid
NADH
Oleic Acid (omega-9)
Palmitoleic acid (omega-7)
Pyrroloquinoline
Selenium
Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD)
Vitamin C
Vitamin E (Delta tocotrienol)
Zinc
Test Type:
Blood – A test kit will be mailed to you along with instructions for having your blood drawn at a participating lab. We can also help connect you with a mobile phlebotomist, if you prefer. Please note an additional blood draw fee will be required.
Results:
In approximately 14 business days, DHA Laboratory will email you your test results. For a detailed interpretation of your results as well as recommendations for next steps, please schedule a consultation with a Village Green nutritionist.
Sample Test Report
Please note:
All tests are authorized and reviewed by a physician from our partner laboratory, DHA Laboratory.
Questions?
Email a Village Green nutritionist or call 800-869-9159.
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LAB TEST
Womens Wellness Panel
No reviews
$404.00
$505.00
Women's Wellness Panel
This comprehensive lab test is designed to help women establish a thorough baseline of their health, detect possible health risks, and provide indicators of health concerns. Repeating this panel yearly is a great way to stay on top of one’s health.
The Women’s Wellness Panel covers everything found in a basic lab check-up but goes well beyond the typical markers that doctors tend to run. For example, this panel includes a thorough look into thyroid health, hormone balance, markers of inflammation, key nutrient levels, cardiovascular health, and metabolic health.
This Panel Includes:
CBC (Complete Blood Count)
A CBC gives important information about the kinds and numbers of cells in the blood, especially red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. This panel looks for many illnesses, including anemia, infections, and leukemia, in your blood.
CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel)
CMP is a blood test that measures your sugar (glucose) level, electrolyte and fluid balance, kidney function, and liver function. This panel includes ALT/(SPGT), alkaline phosphatase, AST/SGOT, bilirubin total, bun, calcium, carbon dioxide total, chloride, creatinine, globulin, glucose, potassium, protein total, sodium. AG ratio, bun/creatinine ratio.
Lipid Panel
The lipid panel measures HDL (high-density lipoprotein), LDL (low-density lipoprotein), VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein), and provides a LDL:HDL ratio. The ratio can help a person evaluate their risk for heart disease.
Urinalysis
A urinalysis is used to help detect substances or cellular material in the urine associated with a range of disorders, including urinary tract infections, diabetes, and kidney disease.
Hormone Panel
Prolactin
This test measures the level of the hormone prolactin, which is made by the pituitary gland. Prolactin’s primary role is to help initiate and maintain breast milk production in pregnant and nursing women. High prolactin levels can interfere with ovulation. The test can be used to diagnose galactorrhea, or abnormal lactation, but can also be useful in the diagnosis of headaches and visual disturbances.
Progesterone
The hormone progesterone is produced by the ovaries during ovulation. Measuring progesterone levels can be helpful in determining whether or not a woman has ovulated, when ovulation occurred, or to monitor the success of induced ovulation. An imbalance between progesterone and estrogen is linked to weight gain, insomnia, anxiety, depression, migraine, cancer, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, and osteoporosis.
Estradiol
Estradiol (E2) is the most dominant and strongest form of estrogen. Made in the ovarian follicles, estradiol plays an important role in the first half of the menstrual cycle as well as after ovulation. It can be helpful to look at the relationship between estradiol and progesterone in evaluating menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, mood disorders, and aging skin.
FSH/LH
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are made by the pituitary gland and play an important role in sexual development and functioning. These hormones help to control the menstrual cycle and growth of eggs in the ovaries. FSH and LH levels change throughout the menstrual cycle, with the highest levels just before ovulation. Measuring FSH can be helpful in determining ovarian reserve.
DHEA, S
DHEA is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. DHEA-sulfate (DHEA-S) is the sulfated form of DHEA and represents a stable measure of adrenal function and stress accumulated over time. DHEA-S helps to modulate neurotransmitter synthesis, and plays a role in immune health, inflammation, executive function, working memory, attention, and has a stress-buffering effect.
Testosterone, Free & Total
Testosterone is produced by the adrenal glands and ovaries. It is also produced from the conversion of steroid hormones such as DHEA. Testosterone plays an important role in mood and mental outlook, bone and muscle health, cardiovascular health, and libido. Testosterone levels tend to decline with age. Total testosterone measures the total amount of testosterone in the blood stream. Free testosterone measures the amount of testosterone that is available to connect with testosterone receptors in the body.
Thyroid Analysis (TSH, FTI, T3 Up, T4 Total, T3 Total, Free T4, Free T3)
This comprehensive analysis provides an assessment of thyroid function and can help to pinpoint underlying causes contributing to hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
Inflammatory Markers
CRP, Cardiac
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein in your blood, which when elevated, is indicative of inflammation. This test can be used to evaluate your risk of developing coronary artery disease, a condition in which the arteries of your heart are narrowed. Inflammation (swelling) of the arteries has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.
Homocysteine
Homocysteine is an amino acid that is produced by the body and is normally changed into other amino acids during the methylation process. However, due to a variety of factors, homocysteine levels can rise. Elevated homocysteine is a risk factor for cardiovascular events in addition to cognitive decline.
Blood Sugar Markers
Glucose
This test detects blood sugar imbalances, such as high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Measuring glucose can screen for prediabetes and diabetes and is also important for monitoring persons with diabetes.
HgA1c with eAG
The hemoglobin A1C test provides a measurement of a person’s average blood glucose levels over the past 2-3 months. This serves as a helpful indicator of how well blood sugar is being controlled. Also included is an estimated average glucose (eAG), which is a calculation of a person’s average daily blood sugar level.
Key Nutrients
Vitamin D
Vitamin D, 25-hydroxy test measures the level of circulating vitamin D in the blood. This very important vitamin performs many vital roles in the body, including supporting bone and immune health. Many people do not have adequate vitamin D levels. This test can be helpful in identifying an insufficiency and determining an optimal vitamin D3 supplement dosage level.
Magnesium, RBC
Magnesium is a mineral that is important for strong bones and muscles, heart health, glucose and blood pressure regulation, energy production, and nerve function. This test is used to determine the level of magnesium in red blood cells, which provides a very accurate measurement.
Test Type:
Blood test* and Urinalysis
You will receive an email within 24-48 hours from our lab partner, DHA Laboratory, that contains your lab requisition form and necessary instructions. Take this to a local LabCorp Patient Service Center. Please note that this test requires fasting 12-14 hours prior to blood collection.
Results:
In approximately 5 business days, DHA Laboratory will email you your test results. For a detailed interpretation of your results as well as recommendations for next steps, please schedule a consultation with a Village Green nutritionist.
Please note:
All tests are authorized and reviewed by a physician from our partner laboratory.
*Blood testing services are available only in the continental United States and Anchorage, AK. Not available in New York or New Jersey.
Questions?
Email a Village Green nutritionist or call 800-869-9159.
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LAB TEST
Food Sensitivity Dbs
No reviews
$360.00
$450.00
Food Sensitivity Test
If you suffer from digestive issues, fatigue, brain fog, migraines, sinus symptoms, joint pain, skin issues, or other health problems, you may have sensitivities to certain foods. Research and clinical studies suggest food sensitivities can be a major contributing factor in many chronic health conditions.
Unfortunately, even healthy foods can be troublesome for some individuals. Repeated exposure to reactive foods can trigger inflammation, cause gut permeability, and negatively impact the body in numerous ways. Because symptoms associated with food sensitivities tend to be delayed, it can be difficult to pinpoint which foods are problematic. Fortunately, IgG food sensitivity testing can help to identify the specific foods that your body is reacting to.
This lab panel measures your antibody response to 190 different foods, including Candida yeast. Based on your results, an elimination and/or rotation food plan can be followed to help reduce stress on your immune system and allow for GI repair and healing.
Test Type:
Dried Blood Spot (DBS)
A test kit will be mailed to you from our lab partner, DHA Laboratory, that contains detailed instructions. You will need to collect five small full circles of blood.
Results:
In approximately 10-14 business days, DHA Laboratory will email you your test results. For a detailed interpretation of your results as well as recommendations for next steps, please schedule a consultation with a Village Green nutritionist.
Sample Test Report
Please note:
All tests are authorized and reviewed by a physician from our partner laboratory, DHA Laboratory.
Questions?
Email a Village Green nutritionist or call 800-869-9159.
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Dr. Barnard leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research.
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Dr. Joseph Pizzorno, ND is a pioneer of integrative medicine and a leading authority on science-based natural medicine.
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Village Green Apothecary
5415 W Cedar Ln
Bethesda, Maryland, 20814
(301) 530-0800
Toll Free: (800) 869-9159
The information provided on this site is not intended to be a substitute for advice or treatment from a qualified physician, nor is it intended to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Consult your physician prior to starting any new health program or if you any questions regarding a medical condition.
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