Metabolic Labs: Using basic labs to design personalized nutrition protocols
The first step in designing a personalized protocol for a client is conducting a thorough assessment. That includes detailed intake questionnaires, diet and lifestyle diaries, asking open ended questions and evaluating relevant laboratory data.
We often jump right to advanced laboratory testing, forgetting there are gems to discover in basic laboratory tests!
Basic laboratory testing is more affordable, and often covered by insurance. When we apply a functional lens in interpreting foundational metabolic labs, the patterns that emerge can help us piece together valuable clues and inform better care. Why not maximize this valuable data with your clients or patients?
This course will cover…
Foundational understanding of metabolic testing include:
- CBC and complete iron
- Lipid testing
- Blood sugar assessment
- Liver function tests
- Thyroid assessment
We’ll begin by laying the groundwork for the most common tests used in clinical practice. Then we’ll layer on “better” testing options and discuss the rationale behind those recommendations.
You’ll feel more confident in recognizing patterns related to various metabolic conditions including:
- Cardiometabolic health
- Insulin resistance
- Thyroid and adrenal dysfunction
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Liver and kidney function
This case-based course will show you how to apply these concepts apply in real life to create personalized plans for your clients.
About this Contributor
Dr Lara Zakaria PharmD MS CDN CNS IFMCP is a Pharmacist, Nutritionist, and adjunct professor specializing in Functional Medicine and Personalized nutrition. She began her career in pharmacy community practice, noticing that her patients’ chronic conditions were advancing. Year-to-year accumulating new diagnoses and a longer list of medications instead of getting healthier. This was the “aha” moment that the pharmaceutical-based guidelines she was trained in were intended to manage chronic disease not prevent progression. That led her to FxMed and the power of nutrition. Dr Zakaria is passionate about prevention and reversal of metabolic, allergic, and autoimmune disease. She splits her time between clinical practice, teaching, and mentorship in service of expanding awareness and access to FxMed and Personalized Nutrition. Dr Zakaria may be reached at hello@larazakaria.com.
