What is it?

Hair tissue mineral analysis is a functional non-invasive test that measures your mineral imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, and heavy metal levels in your body. Think of it as a preventative screening tool that will get us to the root cause of symptoms.

​

How does it work?

Hair contains minerals as it grows. 95% of our minerals are intracellular, that is why we use hair to test. You take a sample of 1-2 inches of hair from the bottom half of your head and closest to your scalp. We use the hair closest to the scalp to get a metabolic reading from the past 2-3 months. By using a small sample, you can see how your body is using minerals and what you have been exposed to.

​

What does it measure?

This test measures 29 minerals and their ratios; calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper, zinc, phosphorus, iron, manganese, chromium, selenium, boron, cobalt, molybdenum, sulfur, and more. Including heavy metals; uranium, arsenic, lead, mercury, aluminum, and more.

 

Minerals and Ratios, why?

Minerals are a game of co-factors! If we have too much of one, we can too less of others. The same goes the other direction. We need to find Goldy Locks (just right) amount of minerals for your body to function properly.

​

The ratio of sodium to potassium indicates the health of the adrenal glands. If you have high sodium and low potassium it can promote an inflammatory response, which causes stress to the adrenals.

​

The ratio of calcium to potassium indicates the health of the thyroid gland. When low or high and indicate if the thyroid is overactive or underactive.

​

These are the results of the test if one is high, and another is low that does not mean to supplement with one or the other. Remember minerals are a game of co-factors. We must look at the whole picture.

​

What does the test show?

It shows how your body deals with stress, energy levels, adrenal and thyroid function, digestive dysfunction, depletion of minerals and nutrients, and your metabolic health.

​

What do the results mean?

The test tells us if you are a Fast or a Slow Oxidizer. That lets us know how your metabolism is functioning on a cellular level. Once you know how your body metabolizes, you can eat the foods your body needs to properly function then you will be able to absorb and utilize minerals.

 

Why minerals?

Minerals are the sparks plugs and life! We need them for our everyday living. They help us with our hormone balance, digestive function, muscle contraction and relaxation, and transfer of nutrients.

​

Mineral deficiencies can lead to anxiety, learning disabilities, infertility, hormone imbalance, digestive dysfunction, high blood pressure, migraines, adrenal dysfunction, and brain fog to name a few.

​

How did we get depleted?

It is due to our overconsumption of processed foods, toxins, fortified foods, water quality, and our industrialized depleted soils, pharmaceuticals, and stress. You know, the modern age 😊 We can get our bodies back to the state of normal function, it will just take some time.

​

What does the protocol look like?

This will depend on the results of your HTMA, food and mood journal, and nutritional assessment questionnaire (NAQ). We will use what you know and build a plan with food and lifestyle changes, supplementation, and digestive support. I suggest retesting every 3-6 months to see how your body is functioning.

​