Vitamin and Mineral Testing 

Why test for Nutritional Deficiencies?

In today’s ever-increasing hectic lifestyle, it is very easy to increase the stress and the demands on our bodies. When such demands are high, our bodies need support to ensure that it operates at its best potential and also to prevent illness. Vitamins, minerals and amino acids are essential nutrients that our bodies need in amounts according to our demands to ensure our bodies are correctly nourished and for the prevention of disease.

It is well documented that specific nutrients are commonly low in certain chronic diseases such as Vitamin D in Osteoporosis and Autoimmune disease, Iron deficiency in anaemia and low iodine in hypothyroidism just to name a few. So, it is essential that these nutrients are assessed and assessed accurately. 

In order to assess the body correctly it is imperative to do the right testing and determine the level of the nutrient before its prescription otherwise merely taking supplements based on what your local shop assistant tells you may be money down the toilet or extra stress for your kidneys and liver. Too many times have we seen in our clinic patients come in with a bag of supplements that their bodies just do not need or are not specific enough to their nutritional status. So, to ensure that your body gets what it needs the right testing is required.

Testing for Vitamins and Minerals and Amino acids

When determining the vitamin, mineral and amino acid status of an individual, it is first important to understand how these nutrients occur and how they are stored and utilised by the body. We then need to ascertain what medium is required to detect the nutrients levels. Once this is known then the appropriate test may be used to determine the bodies levels.  There are various ways to test vitamins, minerals and amino acids and can be done via the following:

1. Blood, Spot Blood
2. Serum SST
3. Urine Analysis 
4. Saliva 
5. Hair
6. Stool Analysis
7. Lith Hep Plasma (fasting)
8. Dietary assessment 

In order to determine the right medium for you make at time to see our Naturopath or Nutritionist for an evaluation.