New Tests Coming Soon!

GrassrootsHealth’s D*action project has been providing thousands of participants with results from lab testing and the myData-myAnswers personal health system to help answer questions about vitamin D and omega-3s, and showing how that information might affect your personal health.  In addition, we are now starting to show interactions with other nutrients as well.

NEW Answers for YOU with New Lab Tests

We are adding a large set of NEW tests which you can choose to take to add to your knowledge, and help you measure and track key health issues from diabetes to gluten sensitivity and, of course, vitamin D. With this information, plus the analyses from the myData-myAnswers system, you can be much more confident in developing your health action plan!

These tests will be available for you within the next couple of weeks. Today, we’d like to ask you to take a look at the list and complete a quick survey for us to let us know what your priorities are.  We’ll have more information for you next week regarding the release schedule.  Please let us know if there are other tests that you would like to see us offer to help you continue to ‘take charge’ of your own health!

All these tests and processes are part of our existing IRB approved project of testing and education, and our feedback to you on your actions.  The process of testing with all the new tests will be very similar to the existing one: enroll/answer a questionnaire with health information, the kit is shipped to you, you do the blood spot test (or, possibly urine sample), send it in, and results come to you along with data analysis.

Brain Health

This combination of tests can help measure your cognitive status and help identify imbalances that lead to mood and cognitive dysfunction.  Test results can pinpoint inflammation, imbalances in nutrients essential to brain health, and hormone imbalances.

• hs-CRP (High Sensitivity C-reactive Protein)
• Fasting Insulin
• Homocysteine
• Vitamin D
• Zinc/Copper Ratio
• Glutathione
• Cortisol & Sex Hormones Panel
• Thyroid Panel

Cardio Panel

This set of tests can help identify your risk of cardiovascular disease by looking at a combination of cholesterol levels, inflammation, and other known contributors to heart disease risk.

• Fasting Insulin
• hs-CRP (High Sensitivity C-reactive Protein)
• HbA1C
• HDL
• LDL
• VLDL

Cortisol & Sex Hormones Panel

Cortisol is the body’s main stress regulating hormone.  It moderates how the body responds to stress and prepares it for “fight or flight.”  It can also suppress the production of other hormones, including those involved with reproduction, such as estrogen (E2), progesterone (Pg), testosterone (T), and DHEAS (DS).  Each of these can be measured using saliva samples, which are collected at 4 times throughout the day (upon waking, before lunch, before dinner, and before bed).

• Estrogen
• Progesterone
• Testosterone
• DHEAS
• Cortisol (x4)

Diabetes/Pre-Diabetes Panel

These tests can provide insight to the risk of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, both of which are precursors of developing diabetes.

• Vitamin D
• Omega-3 Index with AA:EPA and Omega-6:Omega-3 Ratios
• HbA1C
• hs-CRP (High Sensitivity C-reactive Protein)
• Fasting Insulin

Inflammation Panel

An increasing body of evidence has shown that chronic inflammation can cause or advance many common chronic diseases, with higher levels of cellular inflammation indicating a greater risk of the development of and/or accelerated progression towards chronic disease.

• Vitamin D
• Omega-3 Index with AA:EPA and Omega-6:Omega-3 Ratios
• hs-CRP (High Sensitivity C-reactive Protein)
• HbA1c

Nutrient Panel

Measure your status of Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, and Selenium – important essential elements required for hundreds of enzymes and functions in the body.  Deficiency of these elements is easy to rectify once identified.

• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Copper
• Selenium

Thyroid Panel

Combining the results of these tests can provided an indication of whether the thyroid is over or under functioning, resulting in hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.

• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
• Free T3
• Free T4
• Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Antibodies

Individual Tests

AA:EPA with Omega-6:Omega-3 Ratio Test

The AA:EPA Ratio test measures the ratio of the amount of the omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA) and the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in the cells.  This test is a measurement of the amount of bad fats to good fats in the cells, and it can be an indication of the amount of cellular inflammation in the body, since AA is pro-inflammatory and EPA is anti-inflammatory.

The Omega-6:Omega-3 Ratio test is another way to measure the amount of bad fats to healthy fats in the body.  Both tests can provide guidance to specific dietary changes that could support improvements in chronic inflammation and disease.

Celiac Disease/Gluten Sensitivity Test 

The Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity blood spot test can help identify the presence of Celiac Disease, non-Celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), and wheat allergy, which can cause gastro-intestinal symptoms and inflammation.  This test measures Deamidated Gliadin Peptide (DGP) IgA, Deamidated Gliadin Peptide (DGP) IgG, Gliadin IgA, Gliadin IgG and Gluten IgG.

Cholesterol (with HDL/LDL/VLDL) Test 

Cholesterol can be measured via blood spot, with the total cholesterol shown as the sum of all forms of cholesterol in the bloodstream, including low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol.   High LDL-cholesterol has been linked to a number of diseases, while high HDL has shown a protective effect against many diseases.

Copper Test 

Copper is an essential element required for antioxidant defense, immune function, neuron formation, iron metabolism, and as a cofactor of critical enzymes and proteins.  Typically, copper homeostasis is well maintained; however, toxicity can occur under certain circumstances, such as liver and adrenal gland dysfunction and excessive copper exposure.

Fasting Insulin Test 

The fasting insulin test can help identify the state of glucose metabolism and the body’s ability to monitor blood sugar levels.  Elevated levels are often related to diabetes progression and can be indicative of cardiovascular disease risk.

Glutathione Test 

This test measures glutathione (GSH), which is the most abundant and important intracellular antioxidant.  It plays a major role in the overall health of cells and their ability to endure toxic challenges, and can also contribute to healthy cellular aging and effective detoxification of toxic metals and chemicals.

Glyphosate Test 

The Effective Glyphosate urine test measures the amount of glyphosate in combination with the measurement of its metabolite, AMPA, and is an indicator of a person’s overall exposure to glyphosate.  Also known as Roundup, glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide on the planet.  It is toxic to the liver and kidneys, and is implicated in cancer, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and lower birth weight and shorter-term pregnancies.

Hemoglobin A1c Test 

HbA1c is a measure of how healthy average blood sugar levels have been in the recent few months, and is a better representation of blood sugar health than a single glucose measurement, since glucose levels vary throughout the day.  HbA1c is the compound formed in the blood when a hemoglobin molecule in a red blood cell binds with a glucose molecule in the blood; the resulting molecule is also known as glycated hemoglobin.  It can be a good indicator of glucose intolerance even in the absence of abnormal fasting glucose levels.

High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) Test 

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of the amount of inflammation in the body.  High levels are seen in acute inflammation and have been correlated with high cardiovascular disease risk, while smaller elevations are indicative of chronic inflammation and chronic diseases, such as metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

Homocysteine Test 

A homocysteine test measures the amount of homocysteine in your blood, which is a type of amino acid that your body uses to make proteins. Normally, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and folic acid break down homocysteine and change it into other substances your body needs; therefore, a high level can indicate deficiency in these vitamins.  High homocysteine in the blood is also associated with atherosclerosis and blood clots.

Magnesium Test 

Magnesium is an essential element and required for approximately 600 enzyme systems, and is involved in hundreds of vital bodily functions. It is estimated that 60% of Americans do not consume the daily recommended amount of magnesium.  Magnesium is also a very important co-factor for vitamin D, and deficiency of magnesium can be a contributor to low vitamin D status.

Omega-3 Index Test 

The Omega-3 Index is a measure of the amount of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in red blood cell membranes.  The result is expressed as a percent of total RBC fatty acids, and is a long-term and stable marker of omega-3 status throughout the blood and tissues.

Selenium Test 

Selenium is an element that is essential to thyroid hormone metabolism and function, antioxidant function, and balancing oxidative stress. Selenium supplementation has been shown to increase the effectiveness of cancer therapy or even to help prevent certain types of cancer.

Vitamin D Test 

The most accurate measurement of vitamin D status can be determined by measuring the amount of 25(OH)D in the blood.  Anywhere between 40-75% of the world’s population is vitamin D deficient.  A Scientists’ Call to Action has been issued by 48 international vitamin D researchers to alert the public to the importance to have vitamin D serum levels between 40 and 60 nanograms/milliliter (100-150 nanomoles/liter) to prevent disease.

Zinc Test 

Zinc is an essential element that is required for hundreds of catalytic, structural and regulatory functions, and has also been shown to protect the body from lead and cadmium damage. Some people are more at risk for zinc deficiency, such as vegetarians and vegans who consume elevated levels of plant-based phytates (which prevent zinc absorption) and low levels of animal proteins in foods (which are dietary sources of zinc), and those who consume alcohol.

Zinc/Copper Ratio Test 

This test shows the ratio of the essential elements zinc to copper in the blood.  These elements are considered antagonistic; excess of one can cause an imbalance of the other.   For example, too much copper in relation to zinc can lead to toxicity and cause zinc deficiency, leading to dysfunction.  An imbalance of these two essential elements has been correlated with oxidative stress and inflammation.