Opening up Lab Results Like it's Christmas

This weekend I had a second session with the FDN-P to discuss the results from my lab tests I sent in less than a month ago. The tests/results included:

• GI-MAP

• IgG Test

• IgG Test – Yeast

• Fatty Acid Profile

As Christian says, it’s like Christmas opening up these results! Needless to say, I was super ready to hear what kind of answers these tests could give me about the state of my health. When I saw some of the findings, I was a little bummed, but Christian reassured me that it was nothing we couldn’t work on and fix.

Let’s start with the GI-Map.

This was a stool test that I did at home, it was kinda weird (not gonna lie,) but necessary. I followed the directions and sent it back to the lab, who then sent the results to the FDN-P. The results show all the balances of pathogens, bacteria, microbes, parasites, viruses, fungi, etc in my gut! The main items that stuck out were:

• Slightly higher than average Helicobacter pylori

Most people live with a small amount of this bacteria, and my level was barely above the reference point. Not much to worry about.

• Staphylococcus Aureus – high. We all have some of it, but in certain people it can take over. I’ve heard a few times on the eczema podcast I listen to that 9 out of 10 people with eczema have staph aureus. So, I wasn’t surprised to hear that I had it, although I was disappointed. He said it can colonize other tissues in the body, so we don’t know where it is – skin? Bloodstream?

• Streptococcus – somewhat high

• Secretory IgA – low, meaning that my immune system has been hard at work for a long time. That would make sense, as I’ve been struggling with these skin issues for many years and using immune-suppressing topical medications.

Here is what Christian recommended to help with these particular imbalances:

• Staph Aureus: kill it internally with an assortment of herbal supplements daily and topically with high heat using a far infrared sauna, 4-5 times weekly. I could purchase a sauna blanket because it’s smaller and less costly than purchasing a huge wooden sauna or paying a fee to go use one. I could also use an infrared lamp on the affected area. Using infrared would be super beneficial in killing pathogens in and on the body, plus making me sweat out toxins. I will also try the herbal supplement topically.

Only issue with the far infrared saunas is the EMFs they emit. I did find some zero-EMF sauna blankets I could purchase, but I’m still researching what would be best.

• Secretory IgA: Colostrum for its immuno-globulins.

IgG Food Map

I sent in a test that included five dried spots of blood. I had trouble pricking my finger and getting enough blood the first time around, but I eventually figured it out. Here are the foods I am sensitive to:

• Almond (highly)

• Bromelain (moderately)

• Egg White (moderately)

• Sesame Seed (low)

That’s it! I can handle that. There were many other foods that tested on the scale but they were so low as to be labeled “insignificant”, so I’m not worried about them.

Yeast Test

I was in the top range of the low reactivity to yeast candida, which is great. I thought it might be higher. The herbal supplement and probiotics he recommended can help with that.

Fatty Acid Profile

• My Omega-3’s weren’t bad, they were on the lower end of the range, coming in at 5% out of 2-14%.

• My Omega-6’s were sky high. 39% of whole blood level, and the top end of the range is 43%! Omega-6’s are precursors to inflammation.

• Saturated fats - good level! 35% (of a 30-40% range)

• Trans fats - low. Yay! My dad always warned me about those.

Recommendations for my fat profile:

• Omega-6. So I need to be avoiding all omega-6 as much as possible. Eat animal-based with plenty of fruit. I must have been eating too many nuts (I love cashews and macadamia nuts!) The omega-6’s hang around for up to four years, so it will be a process to get them out of my body. Taking Vitamin E will be helpful for four years, and then periodically especially when going out to eat at a restaurant, where I can’t control what goes in and on the food.

• Aspirin can inhibit the enzymes that lead to inflammation from omega-6. Willow Bark Extract is the natural form of Aspirin, so I’ll be taking that.

• I’ve got a lot of PUFA’s (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids). They will slowly excrete, and that’s where Vitamin E and Willow Bark Extract will come in to help.

• Liver flush. I mentioned this on an earlier post, but he reinforced the usefulness of doing a liver flush which will help me excrete those fatty acids.

Other:

There’s one supplement Christian calls his “cheat code” and it helps with a multitude of things, including stress and sleep. I will say, I slept through the night for the first time in months this week, after taking this supplement for about five days!

My current diet:

I was instructed to eat clean. Avoid nuts, seeds and grains at least until my issues are resolved, and egg whites (for about three months). Reduce stress in any way possible. Very doable.

I am so relieved to have some answers! I can stop stressing about if drinking coffee is bad for me or if potatoes are going to make me flare up. Now that I know the root causes, I can work on fixing those and enjoy life at the same time.