Vital Alchemy 2

The full blood count measures red cells, white cells and platelets — foundational markers included in most health assessments. It is actually a group of tests that examine different parts of the blood. Results from the following tests provide the broadest picture of your health.

This simple iron test measures how much iron you have in your blood, as well as the amount of iron you have stored in your body. Iron levels are relevant to energy, blood cell health and overall wellbeing.

Lipids and cholesterol are fat-like substances in your blood. Some are necessary for good health, but when you have a high level of cholesterol in your blood, a lot of it ends up being deposited in the walls of your arteries and other vital organs. Lifestyle choices including diet, exercise and alcohol intake can all influence cholesterol levels and your risk of developing heart disease.

Your liver processes drugs and alcohol, filters toxic chemicals, stores vitamins and minerals, and makes bile, proteins and enzymes. This liver function test measures key liver enzymes and markers relevant to understanding your liver health.

Your kidneys filter waste from your body and regulate salts in your blood. They also produce hormones and vitamins that direct cell activities in many organs and help to control blood pressure. Your kidneys filter waste and regulate salts in your blood. This panel measures key markers of kidney function.

Insulin resistance is a condition where cells fail to respond to the normal actions of insulin which is produced by the pancreas. When the body produces insulin under conditions of insulin resistance, the cells in the body are resistant to the insulin and are unable to use it as effectively. This can lead to high blood sugar and pancreatic dysfunction.

Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin found in meat products and certain algae such as seaweed. It helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells and is also needed to make DNA, the genetic material in all cells. Symptoms of a Vitamin B12 deficiency can include fatigue, anaemia and poor balance. Check out our Vitamin B12 Check for more information.

Vitamin D is essential for bone strength as it helps the intestines absorb calcium. Calcium and vitamin D play a critical role in developing and maintaining your overall bone health, and when you don’t get enough you increase your risk of developing osteoporosis and the incidence of stress fractures.

C-reactive protein is often the first evidence of inflammation or an infection in the body. Its concentration increases in the blood within a few hours after the start of infection or other inflammatory injury. ESR measures the degree of inflammation present in the body.

Homocysteine is an amino acid that’s regulated by the body’s methylation process, which supports detoxification, energy production, and nervous system health. If methylation is not functioning efficiently, homocysteine can build up, which may raise the risk of heart and and neurological issues.