Having digestion issues and tired of the bloating? Or, are you having detox issues? Maybe it’s oxidative stress causing fatigue. Read on to learn all about digestion, detoxification, and oxidative stress, AND what you can do to address pesky health complaints and be proactive about your health. It all lies with the Metabolic Wellness Profile.

Digestion Primer

In a nutshell, digestion is the process of breaking down food into smaller molecules so that it can be absorbed and used by the body. The digestive system is composed of various organs, such as the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, and pancreas.

Each organ has its own role in breaking down food into nutrients that can be used by the body’s cells. During digestion, enzymes break down proteins into amino acids, carbohydrates into simple sugars, and fats into fatty acids and glycerol.

These molecules are then absorbed through the walls of the intestines and transported to cells throughout the body for energy or to build new tissues.

There are lots of places where things may go wrong in digestion, and there are many stressors that affect the digestive system.

For example, these items may interfere with optimal digestion:

• Stress (everyday stress, not eating, not sleeping, etc)
• PPIs and antacids
• Malnutrition
• Dysbiosis
• Inflammation
• … and many more

One way to get a glimpse of how your digestion is working is to look at indican. Indican is a byproduct of the putrefaction of protein in the intestines, pointing to maldigestion and/or malabsorption of protein. If you’re not breaking down protein, you may not be breaking down other nutrients either.

For example, if you are not digesting or absorbing protein correctly, you may not get enough amino acids into your body, which could affect neurotransmitter levels and mood. This is just one example of the consequences of poor digestion.

Detoxification Primer

Detoxification is the process of removing toxins from the body. This process is mainly done by the liver, which is responsible for breaking down toxins and eliminating them from the body. Detoxification occurs in two phases: phase 1 and phase 2.

In phase 1, toxins are converted into more water-soluble molecules that can be easily eliminated from the body through urine or sweat.

In phase 2, these molecules are further broken down into harmless substances that can be safely excreted from the body.

Detoxification helps to maintain a healthy balance of bodily functions and also helps to protect us against diseases caused by toxic buildup in our bodies.

When detoxification processes are not optimal, there may be a recirculation of undesired molecules such as toxins, xenobiotics, drugs, pollutants, and excess hormones. Spillover (and liver congestion) may be measured in the urine as urinary bile acids. If urinary bile acid levels are high in the urine, then liver congestion and sub-optimal detoxification are possible.

Oxidative Stress Primer

Oxidative stress is a condition that occurs when the body accumulates too many free radicals, which are molecules produced by the body’s natural processes. Specifically, free radicals are molecules with unpaired electrons that can damage cells, proteins, and DNA by reacting with them.

These free radicals can damage cells, proteins, and DNA, leading to health issues such as inflammation and cancer. Oxidative stress can be measured by looking at biomarkers such as 8-OHdG (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine), which is an indicator of oxidative damage to DNA. By understanding oxidative stress and its effects on our bodies, we can take steps to reduce it and maintain better health.

Curious to get these insights for yourself? The FLUIDS iQ Metabolic Wellness Profile (MWP) functional lab test produces results for all of these biomarkers.

What is the Metabolic Wellness Profile (MWP)?

The MWP is the Metabolic Wellness Profile functional lab from the laboratory FLUIDS iQ. It measures 3 biomarkers that give insight into digestion, detoxification, and oxidative stress.

What’s the main goal of the MWP?

The goal of the Metabolic Wellness Profile is to give you further insights into your digestion, detoxification, and oxidative stress pathways. Poor digestion or detoxification and high levels of oxidative stress can lead to many unwanted symptoms and even disease.

With these insights, course correction can begin, and these biomarkers can help you monitor your progress! Being proactive about your health is key for longevity and a life truly full of lots of great memories. 

What does the MWP measure?

The MWP measures

• Indican
• Urinary bile acids (UBAs)
• 8-OHdG (8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine)

Indican

Indican is a biomarker used in functional lab tests and acts as an indicator of digestive health. The MWP measures levels of indican in urine, which can help hint at digestive issues like leaky gut syndrome, malabsorption, small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), etc. It can also be used to monitor progress when making lifestyle changes that are designed to improve digestion.

Indican levels of high or low may indicate issues like improper protein digestion or insufficient HCl, and many other items in between. 

Urinary Bile Acids (UBAs)

Urinary bile acids (UBAs) are important components of functional lab testing. They can provide insight into the body’s ability to detoxify and help identify potential areas of concern.

UBAs are produced when bile is broken down in the liver and then excreted through the kidneys.

It is also possible for bile (and other substances) to be recirculated back to the liver through enterohepatic circulation. This happens when bile and other liver products are secreted into the gut lumen by the gallbladder. These substances are then recirculated back to the liver. This spillover can be measured by UBAs.

Elevated levels of UBAs can indicate an imbalance in the body’s detoxification pathways, which can lead to a variety of health issues.

8-OHdG (8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine) 

 8-OHdG (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine) is a biomarker of oxidative stress, which is caused by the production of free radicals in the body. 8-OHdG is an oxidized form of deoxyguanosine, a nucleoside found in DNA. It can be used to measure the level of oxidative damage to DNA and has been linked to various diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

Studies have also shown that 8-OHdG levels are elevated in individuals exposed to environmental pollutants such as air pollution and cigarette smoke. By measuring 8-OHdG levels, one can understand overall cellular oxidative stress and identify major healing opportunities. Monitoring 8-OHdG can also indicate whether lifestyle changes and the use of antioxidant therapies are helping.

What types of insights can I get from the Metabolic Wellness Profile?

Hormone and stress testing are two important components of a comprehensive health assessment. By testing for hormones and stress levels, it is possible to gain valuable insights into the body’s internal state and how it is responding. This can help to identify underlying health issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Testing can also provide an early warning system for potential problems, allowing individuals to take proactive steps to maintain their health. With regular testing, individuals can track their hormone and stress levels over time, giving them a better understanding of how their body is functioning and what lifestyle changes might be beneficial.

How do you take the MWP?

In order to get a test kit, you must go through a health practitioner that has access to order the kit for you. Once ordered, the test kit will be mailed directly to your address, and you can take the test right from the comfort of your home.

The MWP is a dried urine test (yay, no blood again!). You will collect a urine sample, dip a paper into it, then let it dry.

The results will be sent to your health practitioner, and then you will have a follow-up call to discuss the results and next steps.

If you’re interested in the Metabolic Wellness Profile, check out the services page here. As an FDN-P, I have the ability to order these tests for you.

Summary

At-home digestion, detoxification, and oxidative stress testing through the Metabolic Wellness Profile gives invaluable insights into these various systems in your body. Identifying healing opportunities will help remove unwanted health symptoms and greatly increase your overall health and well-being.

It’s always best to catch things before they become a problem so that you can focus on what matters most to you like loved ones, adventure, and tranquility.