Bernadette_Abraham
Forum Replies Created
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Hi @Inga-55 – thanks for sharing your results. To help us puzzle piece, it’s always helpful to share why you had these tests done, what symptoms you’re experiencing, any supplements or medications you’re taking, and details about your diet.
Without any other info and solely looking at the results however, below are my thoughts:
1. Omega-3 level and the ratio between Omega-3 to Omega-6 are suboptimal. Increasing omega-3 intake through diet and/or through supplements, and decreasing omega-6 intake (ex. dining out, using vegetable oils at home) can help bring better balance. This is important to reduce inflammation in the body. Please watch this video in our Fatty Acid Balance course, which explains how different fatty acids produce different prostaglandins which regulate the inflammation process.
To help you increase omega-3 fatty acids, please watch the 3 videos from the “Fatty Acid Solutions” section of the course:
2. The hair analysis test suggests high levels of mercury and aluminum. It’s important to determine the sources of these exposures and eliminate them. This handout includes common sources of each.
3. The nutrient elements from the hair test suggest a pattern of high stress. Would you agree? If so, what are you doing to mitigate stress (i.e. mental/emotional, physical, physiological)?
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@Annie – I’m glad you’re venturing down this road and I encourage you to take advantage of our gut health resources in B Better for that as well. There’s a reason why the first course I created for B Better was the Gut Health Masterclass. It’s such a foundational pillar of health and absolutely connected to mental health!
In fact, I dedicated an entire section in that course to discussing the connection between the gut and the rest of the body starting HERE with the gut-brain axis.
As for gut health testing, there’s no perfect test out there. Scientists are still uncovering so many different strains and species, and microbiome health is still an emerging field so it’s not as simple as looking at what’s missing and replacing it. The microbiome is much more sophisticated than that and works in synergy. It is in my opinion the future of medicine however. And the work of doctors like Dr. Sabine Hazan are leading the way. Through her research and trials on familial fecal transplants for example, she was able to significantly help a young 19-year old man with autism. Her research is also seeing promising results for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. If you have not seen her talk in B Better, you can watch her session HERE.
I also share my 2 favorite gut health stool tests in the Gut Health Masterclass course HERE and HERE. These tests will give us good insights into his overall microbiome balance and gut health, which I explain more in the videos.
But one thing is certain: the modern diet is deficient in probiotics, largely due to refrigeration and the reduced intake of fermented foods compared to ancient times, when fermentation was commonly used to preserve food.
So if your brother is not consuming fermented foods like kefir and sauerkraut on a regular basis (every other day or every 2-3 days), encourage him to start! We have many recipes (in Recipes > Fermented Foods & Beverages) if your mom would like to try making some at home. Otherwise, I recall you’re already familiar with Fermenting Fairy. Her products are fantastic! Her coconut kefir is lowest in histamine and would be the safest option to try if he’s new to fermented foods. You can also watch her session if you missed it HERE.
Hope these resources are helpful!
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Hi @sara_alm369 – please make time to watch Dr. Perry Nickelston’s session (aka The Lymph Doc) on lymph flow. He was our guest expert in February and he showed us how to do “The Big 6” which helps open up lymph properly so that other methods like dry brushing, rebounding and any other up/down movement becomes more effective.
Here’s the link to watch his session and understand the lymphatic system better.
And FYI – I moved your discussion to the “Drainage & Detox” forum category.
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Hi @Szilvia – please watch this video on Platelets & MPV from the Interpreting Basic Blood Chemistry course for help interpreting what could be causing clinically low levels in your case.
Iron doesn’t directly create platelets, but it is essential for maintaining healthy blood production and proper bone marrow function, which indirectly supports the production of all blood cells, including platelets.
If you’re looking to increase platelet count, factors like vitamin B12, folate, and overall bone marrow health play a bigger role. Have you checked your levels of B vitamins before? RBC B12 and B9 are more accurate than serum levels if you can get those.
Were you sick when these labs were taken by any chance? The white blood cell differentials (neutrophils, lymphocytes) show a pattern that can indicate the possibility of an active infection or recovery (especially that monocytes are clinically high). Please watch this video which explains the different patterns.
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Hi @Inga-55 – you can find access to ordering the KBMO test in our testing section. From the Succeed menu click on Testing, then KBMO, or simply click here.
As for genetic testing, there are many to choose from. Are you only looking to test MTHFR? If so, take a look at this sample report and let me know if it covers what you’re looking for. We can easily add this test to our B Better Lab Shop through Rupa Health, which as a member you get access to. Cost is $80.
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Hi @Annie – my preference with kids is always a food first approach, so look at finding ways to increase their magnesium levels through food first. For kids aged 1 and 3, the aim should be around 80 mg of magnesium per day. Here are some kid friendly foods and their magnesium content as an example:
• Peanut Butter (2 tbsp): 49 mg
• Banana (1 medium): 32 mg
• Almond Butter (2 tbsp): 45 mg
• Oatmeal (1 cup cooked): 57 mg
• Yogurt with Berries (1 cup plain): 30 mg
• Spinach Smoothie (1/2 cup spinach + fruits): 24 mg
• Trail Mix (1/4 cup with pumpkin seeds, almonds, dried fruit): 70 mg
• Edamame (1/2 cup cooked): 50 mg
• Apple slices with peanut butter (2 tbsp): 49 mg
• Milk (1 cup): 24 mg
• Cheese slices (2 slices): 6 mg
• Whole grain toast (1 slice): 23 mg
• Carrot sticks with hummus (2 tbsp hummus): 12 mg
• Smoothie with spinach and banana (1/2 cup spinach + 1 banana): ~56 mg
• Avocado (1/2 medium): 29 mg
• Pasta made with whole wheat (1 cup cooked): 50 mg
• Pita chips with guacamole (2 tbsp guacamole): 15 mg
Another option in addition to food is to consider transdermal absorption from magnesium sulfate in the form of Epsom salt in their nightly bath routine. This can really help bring on board more magnesium and help with overall relaxation in the evening. Make sure to check the ingredients of the Epsom salt. That should be the only ingredient (magnesium sulfate).
Hope that helps!
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@Annie – it’s common and expected for little ones to explore the world by putting things in their mouths, and while it can be concerning, it’s important to keep in mind that most kids won’t get sick from eating a little dirt. The risk of parasites is generally low unless the soil is contaminated with animal feces or other harmful substances.
In fact, there’s something called the hygiene hypothesis, which suggests that early exposure to microbes, including those found in dirt, may actually help strengthen the immune system and reduce the likelihood of allergies and autoimmune diseases later in life. The idea is that by being exposed to a variety of harmless microbes, a child’s immune system learns how to handle different threats more effectively.
That said, if you’re particularly worried about parasites or if you notice any symptoms like persistent stomach issues, it wouldn’t hurt to contact your pediatrician for peace of mind. Otherwise, keeping an eye on your child and ensuring they’re hydrated should be enough for now.
And thanks for clarifying the issue about the pages loading slowly. I’ll pass that along to our developer to see if they can improve overall performance.
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@Annie – unfortunately, the lessons were filmed individually to keep them short and in bite-sized chunks for easier learning, which is why the audio files are also separate. However, our presentation includes the entire course as a single fillable PDF that you can download at the beginning of each course.
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Hi @Annie – so this is an iPhone issue. Downloading audio files directly from a browser can sometimes be tricky because of iOS limitations. If you’re trying to download audio files from your iPhone, go to the audio file itself in “Materials”, then:
- Tap and hold the audio file link
- You should see a dropdown menu open up with the option to “Download Linked File.” (see screenshot)
- The file will be saved in the Downloads folder in the Files app on your iPhone.
Hope this helps!
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@Szilvia white blood cell differentials each have their own lifespan but in general they recover in a few hours to several days. After being sick, it’s probably best to wait at least 2 weeks to get a more accurate reflection of your baseline measure.
And since your serum B12 was tested, I recommend speaking with your doctor about requesting an RBC B12 test. This will give a clearer picture of your cellular B12 status. Serum levels can be influenced by recent dietary intake, including any vitamins or fortified foods you consumed the day before. To understand this better, please watch this short 4-minute video on testing vitamin B12.
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Hi @Inga-55 – for full methylation panels, you’re looking at ~$450-500 USD with companies like Doctor’s Data and Genova. Here’s a sample report from Doctor’s Data and the one from Mosaic (formerly Great Plains Labs) for your reference.
You can also search for lab panels yourself on Rupa Health’s website by searching through their catalogue. Just type in MTHFR and you’ll see a long list of lab companies offering genetic testing, and if you click on ‘details’, you’ll find a link to sample reports. I’ve gone ahead and added a few genetic tests to B Better’s Lab Shop as well.
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@sara_alm369 – here’s the dry brush that I have and really enjoy.
It also comes with an insert with a visual reference of how to dry brush (which I’ve attached below).
I also usually share this video on YouTube if you prefer a visual demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqKPaG0gAnk
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@Annie when the audio page opens, you should see 3 small vertical dots for more options. When you click on that, the download option should appear. See attached screenshot.
As for the adrenal section, I’m not sure which lessons or course you’re referring to. Can you please share the exact link to the lesson you’re referring to so I can review it?
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Hi @Annie – when you select a course and click on a lesson to watch the video, you’ll see tabs at the top of each video lesson.
See attached screenshot from my phone.
Hope that helps.
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@Annie indeed – knowledge is power and brings with it so much confidence!
I’m so happy to hear that you’re enjoying our content and learning so much! While we currently don’t offer a download feature for our videos in order to maintain control over our intellectual property, we do provide an audio file for offline use, which you can find in the ‘Materials’ tab for each video lesson.
Additionally, you’ll find a downloadable and fillable slide presentation to follow along with the audio, also available in the ‘Materials’ tab of the first video lesson of each course.
Hope that helps with your offline learning!
