The best way to evaluate your mood is through urinary neurotransmitter markers. This allows me to customize your program according to your individual needs. This test helps identify exactly where your neurotransmitters need help. Neurotransmitters play an important role in communication in your brain and the rest of your body.  When a neurotransmitter such as serotonin is not functioning optimally, it will affect your mood, cognition, and your outlook on life among other things. Besides measuring serotonin levels, this test also measures other neurotransmitters such as GABA which helps calm anxiety and provide a sense of relaxation and Dopamine and Glutamate to support your ability to concentrate, improve motivation and energy and contribute to your ability to experience pleasure. Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline is included in this test as both a hormone and neurotransmitter.  When epinephrine is imbalanced, you are going to feel wired but tired and notice that you respond to everything as a crisis, even when it is not!

The best way to evaluate your response to stress is through a salivary cortisol test. This test measures adrenal function within the HPA Axis and helps identify exactly where your cortisol and DHEA levels need help. When the adrenal glands are not functioning optimally, your ability to handle stress well will be diminished.  Adrenal stress leaves you feel ing more tired, experiencing more sugar craving, irritability and overwhelm and likely waking frequently in the middle of the night. You may feel wired but tired and notice that you respond to everything as a crisis, even when it is not! This is because the parasympathetic (also known as "rest and digest") nervous system,  has been suppressed allowing cortisol and adrenaline to keep your body constantly in a flight or fight state. This leads to burnout syndrome and adrenal insufficiency.

Keeping your hormones balanced feels like a constant juggling act! Your female hormones influence inflammation levels, your mood, common PMS symptoms, bleeding irregularity, fertility, bone density, vaginal dryness, libido and even energy. Estrogen dominance resulting from low progesterone levels along with high estrogen levels and imbalanced cortisol levels can turn the menopause journey into a nightmare. Additionally, when you are experiencing extra stress, cortisol will interfere with proper hormone production. If you find yourself planning your calendar around your hormones, it may be time to take back control of them yourself! A simple saliva test can measure your estrone, estradial, estriol, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol and DHEA levels.

DNA testing is no longer about just determining ancestry or disease risk. This test is the future of functional health! It provides insight into genetic variants that can impede specific body functions and prevent optimal health. Understanding variants and mutations in your DNA can help you address unresolved inflammation, toxin overload, neurotransmitter and hormone production, digestive disturbances, immune concerns, food sensitivities, allergies and nutrient absorption. This simple salivary one-time test provides information that will last a lifetime! Knowing your unique genome provides a preventative approach to your health!

Sometimes a simple lab test can give you additional important information about your health. But, without insurance, lab tests can be cost prohibitive. Ulta Lab Tests offers almost all tests at a significantly reduced price, making blood work affordable even for those without insurance! Ulta Lab Tests offers common tests like cholesterol, low thyroid panels, inflammation, blood sugar, and vitamin D but also offers more unique tests like a heart healthy panel, and a comprehensive thyroid antibodies panel.