Please note that people outside of the usa and new york residents are not ELIGIBLE to test at this time.
could mineral depletion be the reason for your symptoms?
Minerals are often referred to as “the spark plugs of life” for good reason. They are required for just about every metabolic process in the body. They are essential for our bones and teeth, energy production, nerve and muscle function, pH balance, immune function etc. The body cannot make its own minerals.
Hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA), is an analytical test which measures the mineral content of the hair. The sampled hair, obtained by cutting the first inch and one-half of growth closest to the scalp at the nape of the neck, is prepared in a licensed clinical laboratory through a series of chemical and high temperature digestive procedures.
Hair is ideal tissue for sampling and testing.
First, it can be cut easily and painlessly and can be sent to the lab without special handling requirements.
A HTMA reveals a unique metabolic world: intracellular activity, which cannot be seen through most other tests. This provides a blueprint of the biochemistry occurring during the period of hair growth and development.
if your minerals are out of balance, then your body is out of balance.
…if your body is out of balance, then it makes sense why your baby is out of balance with various symptoms.
…make sense?
HTMA pulls the curtain back on mineral imbalances…
AND provides a wide range of knowledge about blood sugar, digestion, stress, heavy metals, thyroid and adrenal function, detoxification pathways, hormones, and more…
Does any of this sound like you?
You feel really tired all of the time
You crave sweets or salty foods and have low energy
You have episodes of “mom rage," anxiety or depression
You have digestive issues (your stool is not 3-4 on Bristol chart and you aren't going 2-3x a day)
You have brain fog
You have experienced hair loss that is more than “normal” for postpartum
You have unexplained bruising
You are eating a limited diet
You have muscle weakness or tingling in your body
Minerals such as zinc, selenium and magnesium have been shown to be lower in babies with allergic colitis and adults with digestive disorders.
This science is just a small sample of research on the topic of minerals and how an imbalance of minerals can cause many health concerns that we see in babies, children and adults.
At Fed Well Baby, we believe that addressing mineral balances is the first step to make sure foundations are in place before addressing any other health conditions.
We also see the connection between maternal health and baby's symptoms such as reflux, eczema, colic and digestive issues that are often tied to food reactions.
WHAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO MINERAL IMBALANCES?
Diet - Improper diet through high intake of refined and processed foods, alcohol and fad diets can all lead to a chemical imbalance. Even the nutrient content of a "healthy" diet can be inadequate, depending upon the soil in which the food was grown or the method in which it was prepared.
Stress - Physical or emotional stress can deplete the body of many nutrients while also reducing the capability to absorb and utilize many nutrients.
Medications - Both prescription and over-the-counter medications can deplete the body stores of nutrient minerals and/or increase the levels of toxic metals. These medications include diuretics, antacids, aspirin and oral contraceptives.
Pollution - From adolescence through adulthood the average person is continually exposed to a variety of toxic metal sources such as cigarette smoke (cadmium), hair dyes (lead), hydrogenated oils (nickel), anti-perspirants (aluminum), dental amalgams (mercury and cadmium), copper and aluminum cookware and lead-based cosmetics. These are just a few of the hundreds of sources which can contribute to nutrient imbalances and adverse metabolic effects.
Nutritional Supplements - Taking incorrect supplements or improper amounts of supplements can produce many vitamin and mineral excesses and/or deficiencies, contributing to an overall biochemical imbalance.
Inherited Patterns - A predisposition toward certain mineral imbalances, deficiencies and excesses can be inherited from parents.
How does HTMA testing work?
We send you a test kit to you home address.
You follow steps for properly washing, drying and cutting your hair close to the scalp (you need about a tablespoon of hair).
You fill out the lab form and mail off your hair sample to the lab.
We receive your hair sample report and will start to analyze the results.
We send you the actual lab results plus an analysis of our findings.
We also give you lifestyle, diet and supplement recommendations to help you take action and balance your minerals.
Later you can retest to see what progress you have made!
IS HTMA SUPPORTED BY RESEARCH?
Hair tissue mineral analysis is supported by an impressive body of literature in a variety of respected national and international scientific publications.
Each year in the United States alone, federally licensed clinical laboratories perform over 150,000 hair mineral assays for health care professionals interested in an additional screening aid for a comprehensive patient evaluation.
Over the past twenty-five years hair mineral testing has been extensive. This does not take into consideration the thousands of subjects used in numerous continuing research studies conducted by private and government research agencies.
HMTA is NOT a diagnosis for diseases or disorders. It's a great screening tool. It's a wonderful way to hone in on the specific nutrition YOUR body needs.
HTMA is not meant to replace blood work but is a different picture than bloodwork can give. Blood work is affected by what you ate before you gave a sample.
HTMA looks at minerals not covered by routine blood work and can see a snapshot of the last few months.
There are many labs out there that do HTMA testing but some are not as reliable. We use the “gold standard” for testing and utilize a lab that ONLY does hair sample reports and does not wash the hair.
Susanna is an excellent resource to have as a mom of a food allergies baby. I could not be happier with our 1:1 consult, she was prompt with answering questions, had a lot of knowledge and insights to share. With her help, I can confidently make food decisions for me and my baby.
-Ks
Book a consult and get started with HMTA testing!
holistic nutrition consultant
Susanna Sauers
I’m the founder of Fed Well Baby, mom of three food-reactive babies and Holistic Nutrition Consultant. I know exactly what it’s like to want to figure out why your little one is having symptoms like rashes, reflux or tummy issues! Sometimes it can be such a struggle to figure out if another food is causing problems or whether something else is going on.
I specialize in helping you get to the root cause of WHY your baby is reacting.
Although your allergist, GI specialist and pediatrician have a roll in all of this, they are exclusively looking at baby. My roll is looking at your health, baby’s health and your entire story including pregnancy, birth and postpartum to put together a sold game plan to get relief and make sure that you are supported nutritionally while you breastfeed.