Nutritional Counseling

We're all at different stages in our health journey. Some of us are at the beginning and simply haven't had the time to even think about planning for a healthy lifestyle. Others have made great progress but might be stuck trying to lose a few more pounds even though they're eating well and following an exercise plan. Wherever you are in your journey, you may benefit from a supportive coach guided by scientific testing.

Dr. Inman understands that you're in a unique position, you're experiencing stress and a life situation that varies day-to-day and month-to-month. Often it can feel overwhelming to even start thinking about a healthy lifestyle when you're crazy busy and seem to have more to do than hours in the day. Thankfully, you don't need to be perfect to make progress and sometimes even small changes can have major impacts.

Detailed Testing Tells the Story

Dr. Inman takes an approach to nutritional counseling that uses data to develop strategies that work with your body, rather than against it. You may not realize that your body responds to certain foods or exercise in a way that makes progress much harder than it should be. That's why it's important to see the data, the behind-the-scenes information that can highlight the truth hiding just beneath the surface.

There are two main types of testing Dr. Inman recommends for her clients: a general, genetic test and a more exhaustive, traditional laboratory test for those who've been diagnosed with certain medical conditions. With the data provided by these tests, Dr. Inman and you will have a deeper understanding of how your body works.

Genetic Testing

The primary test Dr. Inman uses to gather data for nutritional counseling is a genetic test. These tests have become much more common due to advancements in genetic testing, so you may be familiar with them already.

The test is performed with a simple cheek swab. The cells gathered from the swab are analyzed to gather information about a few different areas. Once the analysis is complete, typically three to four weeks later, you'll receive a customized report full of information you can use to improve your life. To get an idea of what the report contains, explore the sample report (pdf) which shows what you'll receive.

As it specifically relates to nutrition, the test evaluates your genes for likelihood of vitamin deficiencies, occurrence of food sensitivity, and ability to remove environmental toxins. Certain genetic markers can indicate a limiting effect on your body's ability to convert vitamins into a usable form.

When your body has a harder time converting what you eat into the nutrients your body needs, you may need to adjust eating patterns to mitigate the issue or supplement your diet with additional vitamins and minerals. It's not uncommon that those nagging problems you've been facing over time are caused by the lack of certain vitamins in your diet.

Our bodies can also have food sensitivities that affect how we process certain foods. Celiac Disease, a condition where your body experiences an adverse reaction to gluten, is a food sensitivity that has become top of mind in recent times. Unsurprisingly, this isn't the only type of food sensitivity to which we're susceptible.

Another common food sensitivity is lactose intolerance. Lactose, the sugar found in dairy products, is difficult to break down for a sizable portion of the population. Knowing that you have genetic markers that could lead to lactose intolerance can help you avoid problems and live a healthier life.

Our environment is full of toxins, many of which can lead to health issues if not remedied. With this genetic test, you can understand how your body reacts to toxins, like insecticides, and how effective it is at removing those toxins. 

The genetic test also provides information about neurotransmitter metabolism. Your body could process the chemicals in your brain faster than average and that may lead to symptoms that could drastically affect your day-to-day. As an example, if you process serotonin more quickly than the average person, then you might experience symptoms of depression. Wouldn't it be interesting to find out that your body does something a little too efficiently?

Having evidence that those symptoms could be caused by neurotransmitter metabolism can provide you with a fresh perspective and give you agency in making decisions about your health.

Traditional Laboratory Testing

When clients have a medical diagnosis or are experiencing more severe symptoms, Dr. Inman recommends more traditional laboratory testing. In order to get a comprehensive overview the following tests are included: a complete blood count test, a metabolic panel, a thyroid panel, a cholesterol analysis, a vitamin D analysis, urinalysis, stool testing, and a hair and tissue mineral analysis.

The human body is made up of many different systems and each one contributes to your health in its own way. Each test explores how different systems in your body function. The complete blood test, for example, explores your circulatory system while the urinalysis takes a look at your excretory system. These systems work together to maintain your health and any problems can adversely affect your overall health.

For this level of testing, you would typically expect to pay between $2,000 and $2,500. Through her agreements with US-based labs, she's able to make these tests available to her clients for a much more reasonable fee, just $500. Included in that price is an initial consultation and a follow-up, one-on-one review of findings where Dr. Inman will explain everything in easy-to-understand terms.

You won't need to wait very long to get the results from these tests, either. Usually the results will come back in just a week or two. Once the results are back, you'll have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Inman. During the appointment you'll get a personalized report of the test results and Dr. Inman will walk you through the findings. Similar to the genetic test, here's a sample report (pdf) for you to explore.

The report includes a customized vitamin regimen to improve numbers that aren't in healthy ranges. If you're currently taking any medications the report will inform you of side effects and expected nutritional deficiencies you may be experiencing due to those medications. The report also contains a general eating and exercise plan that recommends foods and ways to exercise that support your long-term health goals.

Are you ready to get started?

Your health journey involves many steps. Whether you start with the testing mentioned above or more general counseling, you can begin today to change how you feel. Dr. Inman wants you to be healthy and knows that having support and coaching can help you get there sooner. Take the next step in your health journey and schedule a nutritional counseling appointment with Dr. Inman today!