Understanding Your Labs
Understanding Your Labs
How Functional Lab Tests Reveal
What Your Symptoms Are Trying to Tell You
If you’ve ever been told “your labs look normal” but still don’t feel normal, you’re not imagining things.
Conventional bloodwork can be great for ruling out disease, but it often misses the subtle imbalances that make you feel off — tired, moody, bloated, or burnt out. That’s where functional lab testing comes in.
Think of it as getting the behind-the-scenes footage of what your body’s really up to. It’s less “snapshot” and more “full documentary.”
Why Regular Bloodwork Often Misses the Full Picture
Blood tests measure what’s circulating at one moment in time — kind of like taking a selfie. Helpful, yes, but it doesn’t always tell you what’s happening beneath the surface.
For example:
Your blood calcium might look perfect, but your tissue levels could be depleted.
You might have “normal” thyroid levels, yet your metabolism still crawls.
You could test fine for iron, but poor mineral balance could still be driving fatigue.
The truth is, your body works hard to keep blood levels stable — even when deeper deficiencies or toxicities exist. Functional lab testing looks deeper to find those patterns before they turn into symptoms.
The Power of Functional Testing
Functional tests go beyond diagnosis — they give insight into why your body feels out of balance.
Some of the most powerful tools I use in my practice include:
1. HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) AKA The Minerals & Metals Test
Shows your long-term mineral status and heavy metal exposure
Reflects how your body is handling stress
Highlights imbalances that affect hormones, thyroid, mood, and energy
Example: Low sodium + low potassium can suggest chronic stress or sluggish adrenals
2. OAT (Organic Acids Test) AKA Candida, Metabolic & Vitamins Test
Reveals gut dysbiosis, yeast overgrowth, nutrient deficiencies, and detox function
Provides insight into neurotransmitter balance (think mood, focus, sleep)
Highlights mitochondrial health — your energy factories!
Example: high oxalate markers can suggest poor detox or gut imbalance
Together, these tests act like a roadmap — helping us see where to focus instead of guessing with endless supplements. These two lab tests are included in the Starter Kit, which I include in most of my programs. To view a comparison of all the lab tests I offer, visit Products.
Common Symptoms and What They Might Point To
Your symptoms aren’t random — they’re messages. Here’s how functional tests can help translate them:
Fatigue: Often linked to mineral imbalance, low mitochondrial function, or toxin load
Mood swings or anxiety: Could be connected to gut bacteria, yeast, or nutrient deficiencies (especially B vitamins and magnesium)
Hair loss or brittle nails: May reveal thyroid sluggishness or mineral depletion
Bloating and constipation: Often tied to gut dysbiosis or poor bile flow
Hormone imbalances or PMS: May involve stress minerals (like sodium/potassium) and sluggish detox pathways
When you start matching symptoms to their deeper causes, the healing process suddenly makes sense — and you stop feeling like your body is in “mystery mode.”
How I Use Labs in My Practice
Functional testing isn’t about collecting data for fun (though I’ll admit, I get a little nerdy about results!). It’s about creating clarity.
Here’s how it works in my practice:
We start with your story — symptoms, health history, environment, stress, nutrition, and goals.
We run targeted labs (like HTMA and OAT) to see what’s actually happening internally.
We interpret results together, connecting the dots between what you feel and what your body shows.
We create a personalized plan to rebalance minerals, heal the gut, and support detox pathways.
You finally get answers — and a plan that makes sense.
What Makes Functional Labs So Empowering
There’s something incredibly freeing about seeing your results and realizing, “Oh, it’s not all in my head.”
You understand why you’re tired, moody, or foggy — and you have a clear, data-driven path forward. That knowledge gives you both peace of mind and power to heal.
And if you’re a mom or preparing for pregnancy, these insights become even more valuable. You get to rebuild your body’s foundation — not just for you, but for your family’s next chapter too.
The Bottom Line
Your body is talking. Functional testing helps you finally understand what it’s saying.
By looking deeper than traditional bloodwork, you can uncover hidden stressors, restore balance, and begin feeling like yourself again — vibrant, clear, and full of energy (not just caffeine).
If you’ve been feeling off but your labs say “you’re fine,” it’s time to look deeper.
I help women uncover what’s really going on through HTMA and OAT testing — connecting symptoms to solutions so you can heal naturally and feel like yourself again.
[Learn more about my 4-Month Postpartum Program or book a free clarity call here.]