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Phone:  (661) 306-7517
Ashley Hurst MS RD - Nutrition for Digestive Health
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Tests I offer: 

How to Order a Test:

Nutrient, Mineral & Antioxidants
Comprehensive Stool Panel
Comprehensive Hormone Panel
Cardio-metabolic & Lipid Panel
Thyroid Panel 
Standard Labs
Currently, all tests are included within a program. If you are interested in becoming a patient, please schedule a call and fill out the call application. 


Let's Chat

For a more comprehensive breakdown of each test including sample reports and learning tools, read on below...

Micronutrient Testing & Analysis

What is Micronutrient Testing? 

Micronutrient tests measure the function of 35 nutritional components including vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and amino acids.


What do Micronutrients actually do?

Many micronutrients regulate important functions in our bodies like digestion, immune function, sleep/wake cycles, making neurotransmitters, turning on/off inflammation, energy production and much more. 


Why use this test?

​Standard serum testing doesn’t accurately measure all nutrients and how they are performing and functioning in the body. For example, only 1% of magnesium can be found in standard serum testing. This is why traditional tests can’t be used as an accurate marker for magnesium levels. This test looks at nutrient status over a period of time to get a more accurate assessment for how a nutrient is being absorbed and utilized which gives a more meaningful and impactful measurement.

Why you need a customized micronutrient plan

You are biochemically unique.
Each person is very different in their unique nutrient needs. Factors that influence nutrient needs include- diagnosis, gut health, genetic predisposition and stress. 
​

You have a chronic digestive, autoimmune or mood disorder.
Chronic digestive, autoimmune or mood disorders can influence nutrient status or demand both directly and indirectly. This can increase demand by sometimes 4-5 times what a healthy individual might need. It’s important to give your body extra support when dealing with a new or ongoing diagnosis.


You feel fatigue for no reason.
Fatigue is your body’s first warning sign that something isn’t right. It’s your body calling you to slow down until it has the energy it needs to do whatever tasks are at hand. Nutrients are the regulators of energy production, so if you are feeling fatigue it’s worth it to check in and see what you are low in.
Who is this test for?
Micronutrient deficiencies can create dysfunction and contribute to the overall condition of one’s health and diseases such as:
  • Digestive Disorders
  • Autoimmune Diseases
  • Mood disorders
  • Arthritis​ & Fibromyalgia​​
  • Hormonal Imbalance
  • ADHD and Autism
  • Food Allergies/Sensitivities
  • Neurological Conditions
  • Fatigue​
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The Gut-Brain Connection
B12 is commonly low in many mood disorders. B12 can become low with any changes to the acidity in the stomach. When the acidity isn’t high enough- intrinsic factor cannot bind properly to facilitate B12 absorption.
 

Folate is considered a “building block” of many neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Low folate levels can cause poor response to anti-depressant meds. synthetic folic acid is commonly put in foods and supplements, however it is poorly absorbed and can play a role in actually blocking zinc and folate from absorbing. ​​

How to know if this test is for you
Do any of these sound like you? If so let’s talk...

“I eat a healthy diet and am on a multivitamin so why would I be low?”
This is one I’ve heard before. A better question is… how do you feel? Are you dealing with anything chronic? What if you could feel better? What if you upgraded your multivitamin? This can be a huge game changer for so many. I’ve had countless friends, family, colleagues and a few patients have incredible health changes by just adding a multivitamin in that actually works.

“Multivitamins don’t work anyways so why test?”
This is one you’ve probably seen a variation of on countless blogs when you googled late at night- why am I feeling so tired?! And, for the most part I agree! MOST multivitamins don’t work. I’ve looked closely at many of your standard over the counter multivitamins- and many of them although they are cheap have 500-1000% mark ups. I know this because they use low cost nutrients that don’t absorb well. That being said, your multivitamin probably doesn’t work- so let’s find one that does work. Testing can be an incredible tool for getting beyond guessing and into a more strategic plan for repleting what’s low so that we can cater your multivitamin to fit what YOU need.

​

Check it out for yourself: 
Sample Report 

How medications alter nutrients

Comprehensive Digestive & Stool Analysis

What does this test look at?
This test looks at normal helpful bacteria and harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites to get an overall snapshot of your microbiome. The test also looks at other markers to measure GI inflammation, immune function, gluten response, enzyme secretion and more.
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Why is digestive function important?
The digestive tract is home to 70% of the immune system and the site of our nutrient absorption which makes it the starting place for working with getting to the “root” cause of dysfunction. The digestive tract is also home to trillions of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses known as the microbiome. Your microbiome changes in response to its internal and external environment and its composition can influence health outcomes significantly. Imbalance in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, Food sensitivities, IBS, Acid Reflux and many other chronic disease states. Beyond just gastrointestinal diseases, dysfunction in the digestive tract can also lead to autoimmunity and mood disorders like depression, anxiety, etc. 
​

What are some symptoms of digestive imbalance?
  • Acid Reflux
  • Diarrhea or Loose Stool
  • Constipation
  • Indigestion
  • Bloating
  • Pain/Cramping
  • Low Mood
  • Blood in stool
  • ​Nausea

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Gut Fast Facts:

  • E.coli is often found high at higher levels at flare sites in ulcerative colitis and crohn’s disease patients
  • Patients with mood disorders are often found to also have low levels of Bifidobacterium and also Faecalibacterium prausnitzii​
  • Low levels of both Akkermansia and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii correlate with poor barrier function in the gut which can link to food sensitivities

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Gut-Brain Connection

​Did you know that your gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters like serotonin? Serotonin in the gut acts to stimulate the movement (or peristalsis) of the digestive tract. Serotonin in the brain promotes as sense of well-being. The gut and the brain communicate through a nerve that runs from the gut to the brain called the vagus nerve. Gut serotonin may also influence brain serotonin through something called the kynurenine pathway.



Check it out for yourself: 
Sample Report
Stool Analysis Information

Mediator Release Test (MRT)

Why food sensitivities matter

It’s clear that food sensitivities and food additives can be involved in a variety of symptoms and chronic health issues. But figuring out which foods you are reactive to can be very tricky. Figuring out which foods you are reactive to can be incredibly helpful in allowing you to get clarity on how to proceed. The MRT test is a blood panel that looks at which foods you are having an immune response too. Once these foods are identified, you begin an elimination type diet which involves pulling out inflammatory foods temporarily to focus on gut healing strategies. ​

Why use MRT
Food allergies have a more immediate on-set reaction, while food sensitivities can create reactions that hit in as little as 6 hours or as much as 72 hours. The most common blood test to identify food sensitivities is an ELISA IgG which can detect a type 3 immune response. However this type of testing has a high amount of false positives and uncovering type 3 reactions only covers 20% of food reactions. The Mediator release test accounts for both type 3 and type 4 pathways of immune response and looks at 170 different foods and food chemicals.

How do food sensitivities work?
Symptoms related to food sensitivities can affect people in a variety of ways. Some examples are digestive dysfunction, fibromyalgia chronic headaches, nasal congestion, fatigue and low mood. Symptoms can begin when our immune system starts to perceive food in the same way it perceives and intruder (normally bacteria, viruses etc). This leads to the production of mediators from or gut immune cells such as cytokines, histamines and prostaglandins. Inflammatory mediators can give rise to a wide variety of symptoms.

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Copy of Handout: MRT Info Sheet

Who can benefit from food sensitivity testing?
Patients dealing with IBS, migraines, low mood or depression, fibromyalgia and those dealing with an autoimmune disease often have higher levels of inflammatory mediators circulating. 


Who is this test not for?
I’m cautious using this test with experiencing unintentional weight loss or with a history of an eating disorder. ​

Check it out for yourself: 
Sample Report
MRT- How it Works


Hormone Testing

Like nutrients, hormones influence all aspects of health and disease - mood, sleep, metabolism, immunity, heart health and appearance.  An imbalance of one hormone can initiate cascade of events that alters other hormones, so a comprehensive look at hormone status is key.  Hormones are chemical messengers that are secreted directly into the blood, which carries them to organs and tissues of the body to exert their functions.  There are many types of hormones that act on different aspects of bodily functions and processes.

​Clinical Applications of Hormone Imbalance: 
  • Fatigue & energy levels
  • Cardiovascular health (blood pressure, clotting, lipids)
  • Neurology (migraines, sleep, pain)
  • Mental health (depression, anxiety, cognitive function)
  • Immunity (infections, autoimmune disease)
  • Metabolism (blood sugar regulation, tissue repair)
  • Bone density (osteoporosis)
  • Physical appearance (skin, muscles, hair)

Check it out for yourself: 
Sample Report Female
Sample Report Male
Hormone Pathways





Her guidance based on evidence based healthier eating and supplement support of my micronutrient deficiencies has reduced my inflammation and helped keep my autoimmune symptoms at bay.
-Kathy

Ashley is a master of her craft. As a performance coach and corrective exercise specialist, I understand how important proper nutrition is to maintain a perfectly functioning body. I refer all of my professional athletes and general population clients to Ashley because I know she will get the job done!  

-Jay Sutaria

She has been an excellent adviser to our project and an excellent resource to our patients from ACHE Institute of Houston when suffering with chronic inflammatory conditions. Thank you Ashley for your efforts! Keep up the great work!  
​
-Dr. Mauricio Garcia, MD, Team iAche

If you would like to read more go to Reviews and Press. 

Virtual and In Person Consultation 
Ashley Hurst, MS, RD, LD
15200 Southwest Freeway, Suite 266
 Email:  info@wellnessbydesignonline.com
(661) 306-7517


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