DECEMBER NEWSLETTER: PERSONALIZED TESTING

By: Gleason Center Editors, Dr. Daniel Gleason DC

Have you ever wondered exactly what vitamins your body needs? We all want to be healthy, but we’re all individuals with our own unique biochemical makeup. The ION Test is the most comprehensive and accurate way to determine what you need to eat and what supplements will help you heal. It measures over 125 key nutrient biomarkers and ratios that help identify nutritional deficiencies which lead to chronic disease. In this month’s newsletter, Dr. Gleason discusses The ION Test, a powerful tool to help you heal.

Our diets are deficient in many necessary nutrients required for optimal health and longevity. Our food is grown in ways that diminish its nutrient content. It’s packaged and shipped in ways that further degrade nutrition. Processing removes many essential nutrients and often adds toxic additives and preservatives. Short of growing and preserving our own food - it’s nearly impossible to get everything we need from our diet. Supplementation is not simply optional, it’s required for optimal health. That being the case, what do we need?

Functional and holistic practitioners test their patients to determine their needs. At our clinic, we've tested hundreds of patients using the ION (Individual Optimal Nutrition) test. While there are some deficiencies common to most people, nearly everyone has their own unique pattern of nutrient need. We recommend the ION Test for everyone and we commonly find what we call The Fab Five deficiencies.

The Fab Five

1. Vitamin D3 (4-6,000 units per day)
2. Fish Oil (1000+ mg of EPA + DHA)
3. Magnesium (Chelate 400+mg/day)
4. Multivitamin
5. Probiotic (Especially if you’re not eating fermented foods)

What does the ION Test measure?  

Pages 1 & 2 cover amino acids. These are the building blocks that proteins are made of. Proteins consist of connective tissue including skin, hair, muscles, bones as well as neurotransmitters, receptors, enzymes and immunoglobulins. 

Page 3 looks at the nutrient minerals as well as heavy metals. 

Page 4 looks at fat-soluble vitamins including A,D,E, CoQ10 and anti-oxidant needs. 

Pages 5 & 6 cover dietary fats including omega 3,6,9, monos, saturated fats and trans fats. Omegas 6 to omega 3 ratios tell us about inflammation level.

Page 7 looks at fat metabolism, carb metabolism, mitochondrial function and B-Vitamin levels. 

Page 8 looks at B12 and folate levels, neurotransmitters including adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin. It may indicate the presence of hidden infections. Page 8 also measures liver detoxification pathways. 

Page 9 measures levels of gasses given off by bad bugs in the small intestine including things like candida albicans. 

The ION Test is performed by Genova Diagnostics, which is headquartered in Ashville, N.C. For best results, we recommend consultation with an experienced practitioner to help with the interpretation and implementation of the this testing. To get an even more comprehensive evaluation, findings of this test can be combined with the results of conventional lab tests as well as other functional tests including comprehensive stool testing for GI function, food allergy testing, and hormone testing. As always, I suggest doing your own research, checking with your physician, and asking people you know for a clinic near you that can help determine your personalized path to health.

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