Endocrine Lab Tests

Simply put, endocrinology is the study of endocrine glands. Endocrine glands are a group of glands in the body which secrete hormones. The purpose of the secreted hormones is to evoke a specific response in other cells of the body which are located far away.  We utilize very specialized lab tests to help pinpoint the underlying cause of your health problem.

Gastrointestinal Lab Tests

We are, essentially, what we eat and then absorb. Over the long haul, excellent health is impossible without good nutrition. However, without adequate breakdown and assimilation, even the best diet offers little help. Additionally, incomplete or faulty digestive processes may lead to a variety of chronic disorders.

Gastrointestinal disorders have a major impact on health. One recent study found that during a three- month period nearly 70% of American households experienced one or more gastrointestinal symptom.

Maldigestion, malabsorption and abnormal gut flora and ecology, as well as many complex chronic illnesses and symptoms, lie at the root of most common GI complaints. Thus, nutrition and digestive processes are central to long-term health. We utilize very specialized lab tests to help pinpoint the underlying cause of your health problem.

Metabolic Tests

Metabolism comes from the root word "metabolismos", the Greek word for "change", or "overthrow", It is defined as the biochemical modification of chemical compounds in living organisms and cells. This includes the biosynthesis of complex organic molecules (anabolism) and their breakdown (catabolism). Metabolism usually consists of sequences of enzymatic steps, also called metabolic pathways. The total metabolism are all biochemical processes of an organism. The cell metabolism includes all chemical processes in a cell.

Metabolic testing is unique to the field of nutrition and medicine, as it can truly discover the underlying causes of a long term illness. Whereas medicine performs many extensive lab tests, few of these tests deal with metabolism. They only tell the doctor if a disease state is present, not what caused it. As a result, the true cause is not located and you don't get better. Metabolic testing would be like taking apart a watch and examining every moving part in that watch so find the part not working properly. To truly understand the results of metabolic lab tests, the doctor must be very well versed in the intricacies of body FUNCTION, all the way down to the cell level, and the various chemical reactions that take place and their relationship with each other. It is this practitioner who can ultimately help a patient with an "incurable" disease because the cause is found.

Water Testing

NOTE: This test is not available in FL, CT, or NY

A significant source of many toxic elements to which individuals are exposed may be in drinking water. There are serious health problems associated with naturally elevated arsenic levels in drinking water in different parts of the world. Lead is another potentially serious drinking water problem as lead can be introduced into drinking water by old pipes in homes or by old plumbing systems bringing water to houses. Additional metals regulated by the EPA include aluminum, antimony, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, thallium, uranium and zinc. Fluoride is a controversial element which can adversely affect health at relatively low concentrations. pH is an important parameter to check because acidic water may cause corrosion in water pipes and leach metals such as lead and copper into the water you drink. To assure safe drinking water, you should test your water for these elements.