Tag Archive for functional health testing

The power of multiple options

March 30, 2020 No comments

Key point: I am sorry to announce that I’m now closed for neuromuscular therapy appointments until further notice. However on a very happy note, I am OPEN for functional health consultation! I’ll be posting further about what that means, or feel free to send me a message.

Mindset Monday

Functional Health Education & Coaching

Now, since I normally post a “Mindset Monday,” today I’ll share a little anecdote about having options.

30-ish years ago I was changing careers — out of arts management and into — I wasn’t exactly sure. I’d started a Master’s degree program in lifespan developmental psychology and had just graduated from massage school.

We can learn a lot while producing opera!

One day, we were over at the Fisher Theatre (Detroit) having a daytime dress rehearsal of “Follies” with leading women Juliette Prowse, Nancy Dussault, and Edie Adams. There was a glitch with the dressing room situation, requiring a change. It was a very busy show for both the costume and wig / make-up crews, and we needed to check with them about the proposed adjustment before we put it into place. They were in the middle of a bunch of quick changes, so we were going to have to catch them during the intermission shift.

It was, as I mentioned, daytime. And I needed to get back to the office. An incoming staff person was visiting to get a feel for how our company operated, and he was hanging out at the theater. We decided I’d head back to the office and he’d handle implementing the change.

I think the best option would be…

And so I started explaining. “I think the best solution is this… But if it doesn’t work for some reason, then the next best option is probably that…”

A conversation ensued. Incoming staff person wondered why we needed a second option. đŸ˜… I knew from experience that the costume and wig / make-up crews knew their needs better than I did. We had to include them in the decision.

It was then that Dave, our burly technical director — who had been standing by listening — spoke up. “There’s something you don’t know yet. Elizabeth ALWAYS has a Plan B.”

Wow, I so appreciated Dave at that moment! Well, I actually appreciated his commitment and dedication to doing his best all the time — but this was extra special.

Do you usually have a Plan B?

It’s true. I nearly always have a Plan B. Which sometimes turns out to be better than “A.” There may or may not also be a “C” or “D.” This applies to more than how I manage my own life. It’s also how I work to support others in acquiring a more resilient state of health. Which is potentially good news for you. đŸ˜ƒ

So thanks for reading, and I look forward to sharing more. Now back to completing a few website tweaks.

Stay safe, friends!

email: wellnessimages @ gmail .com

Mindset & Self-Regulation , , , , , ,

What’s in your gut? Wheat sensitivity?!

December 19, 2018 No comments

What’s in your gut?

In a lot of cases, part of the answer is “inflammation.” Gut inflammation may influence other parts of the body. That’s how I got into studying functional nutrition. Neuromuscular therapy clients started showing up with what appeared to be systemic inflammation. Bodywork can’t fix that. It’s nutritional. Sometimes, wheat sensitivity may be involved.

As we talked, people began asking questions like this: “Could gut upset be part of my situation even if my symptoms are somewhere else in my body (joint stiffness, mood issues, headaches, fatigue, and so on) and I poop like clockwork every morning? Where does it come from? What can we do?”

The answer: “It depends.” We explore it case by case.

What's in your gut?
Beautiful wheat fields can be found all over North Dakota!

I now live in the state of North Dakota, having moved here from metropolitan Detroit 17 years ago. I work with functional nutrition clients from this local area as well as from other parts of the US.

One thing I probably don’t have to mention about North Dakota. Agriculture is the primary industry here. The primary commodity crop is wheat. In fact, according to the North Dakota Wheat Commission, 9 million acres of our state are planted in wheat crops each year.

Wheat!?

Today, let’s look at one piece. Wheat sensitivity.

I know a lot of wheat farmers. They’re awesome people who mean you no harm. I mean them no harm by sharing this information. The truth is a lot of people do not tolerate today’s wheat-containing food products very well. Even some of the wheat farmers.

Fortunately, objective testing is available. If my clients want to know whether their body has an immune reaction to wheat (hellooo inflammation), it’s pretty easy to find out.

Objective Testing for Wheat Sensitivity

The test results pictured are from someone whose main health concern was a GI issue. I honor their courage in wanting to find out the effect that wheat might be having on their system.

Wheat sensitivity. Gluten sensitivity
Objective testing for wheat sensitivity shows multiple immune system responses.

Here’s what we learned from running a test called Wheat Zoomer. First, all the celiac disease markers came back negative. My client was happy to hear that! Next, intestinal permeability is an issue. (These markers are not illustrated.)

In addition (see graphic above):

  1. They registered an immune reaction to wheat germ.
  2. Five of the six gluten peptides explored on the test triggered an immune system reaction.
  3. They registered an immune reaction to all five of the additional non-gluten wheat proteins measured.

Bottom line: In order to tame the fire in their gut, this person needs to strictly avoid both wheat (even wheatgrass juice / powder) and gluten (including barley and rye). It’s an adjustment. Fortunately, awareness of wheat sensitivity is becoming much more common, and the social aspect of trying to explain to Aunt Tilly that you can’t have a piece of her birthday cake is getting easier.

If you suspect that gut challenges may be slowing you down, I offer two suggestions:

#1. Pot luck tip: Contribute something you can eat!

Roasted vegetable medley
Roasted veggies are nourishing and delicious!

#2. Need help figuring out what’s in your gut? We offer functional health testing and consultation. Check it out.

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