The SpectraCell Functional Intracellular Analysis (FIA)

Poor nutrition can often mean poor health. Studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association confirm the connection between nutrient deficiencies and disease processes. Diseases contributed to by nutrient deficiencies include arthritis, Parkinson’s, cancer, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular diseases, chronic fatigue, diabetes and many more.

What is the Functional Intracellular Analysis (FIA)?

To test your levels of cholesterol and other vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, BodyLogicMD uses SpectraCell Functional Intracellular Analysis (FIA) for a comprehensive understanding of your nutritional deficiencies. FIA is a gold standard test for measuring specific vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and other fundamental micronutrients, including cholesterol, within an individual's lymphocytes or white blood cells. The comprehensive testing panel provides an extensive nutritional analysis used to find your best possible health and costs $295.

The testing consists of a quick and simple blood draw and does not require fasting. It can be performed at the draw site nearest you. These sites include American Health Associates, Axiom Laboratories, Granite Labs and several more. Click here to find your nearest blood draw site.

Your test results will help your BodyLogicMD physician create an inclusive nutrition plan to be used in combination with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and a fitness program for optimal health results. If your cholesterol levels are not optimal, your physician will outline the proper diet, nutritional supplements and exercise to help you achieve recommended cholesterol levels. Once your cholesterol and hormones are balanced and once you are receiving the proper levels of vitamins and minerals, you should start experiencing improved mental performance, better digestion, increased energy and vitality among others.

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy and fatlike substance that is found in every cell of the body. But unlike conventional thinking, cholesterol is not all bad; it is necessary for the body to strengthen cell membranes, digest fats, make hormones and insulate nerves.

There are two types of cholesterol: LDL (bad) and HDL (good). LDL cholesterol causes build-up of plaque in arteries and blocks blood flow to the heart and brain. HDL, on the other hand, appears to have the ability to help prevent heart disease by carrying LDL cholesterol away from arteries — making high levels of HDL cholesterol a good thing.

Cholesterol and Hormones

Cholesterol naturally rises with age and is a leading contributor to heart disease – the number one killer in the United States. While you may have heard the importance of watching your cholesterol levels for a healthy heart, many people do not realize the connection between cholesterol and hormones. Cholesterol is the building material for the following hormones:

• Pregnenolone
• Progesterone
• Cortisol
• DHEA
• Testosterone
• Estradiol
• Aldosterone

These hormones are important in many aspects of our lives including mineral balance and sex hormone balance along with blood pressure regulation and blood sugar regulation.

Symptoms of hormone deficiency may occur if adequate cholesterol levels are not maintained and kept balanced. In turn, the hormones mentioned above cannot be produced by the body in sufficient quantities, leading to potential problems.

The many benefits of cholesterol include:

• Keeping your cell membranes intact
• Aiding digestion
• Maintaining your energy, vitality, libido, and fertility
• Repairing damaged tissue
• Boosting mental performance
• Building strong bones and muscle
• Regulating your blood sugar
• Protecting against infectious diseases

The American Heart Association says that total cholesterol levels below 200 mg/dL are most desirable; 200-239 mg/dL are borderline high risk for heart disease and strokes. One out of every two Americans has high cholesterol, in fact, more than 106 million Americans have cholesterol levels above 200 and another 46 million have levels above 239.

These statistics indicate that a number of Americans are suffering from imbalances due to improper diet and the inability to handle insulin. In turn, this can potentially have an effect on many other hormones in the body. At BodyLogicMD, we believe in treating these symptoms naturally by using a combination of lifestyle changes including diet, supplements and fitness, integrated with bioidentical hormone therapy (when necessary).

The SpectraCell FIA test will identify your levels of cholesterol, among others, and will detail the exact cause(s) of your cholesterol levels. This allows BodyLogicMD your physician to accurately treat or correct a deficiency or excess of cholesterol.