Early Detection Wins: Rethinking Lab Tests with Functional Ranges

What You Will Learn In This Episode:

The inherent limitations of conventional lab tests and what they might be missing.
The powerful advantages of using functional lab ranges to detect imbalances before they become major health issues.
Why catching imbalances early is crucial for preventing chronic diseases and maintaining optimal health.
The specific markers and tests that can reveal hidden imbalances and guide more personalized care.

Key Terms In This Episode:

Functional Lab Ranges: Derived from a healthier population, functional lab ranges are typically narrower than conventional ranges. They focus on identifying early imbalances that could lead to chronic conditions, aiming to optimize health and prevent disease before it starts.
Conventional Lab Ranges: These standard reference ranges are based on averages from a general population that includes both healthy and unhealthy individuals. Conventional lab ranges are often used to diagnose diseases that have already developed, potentially overlooking early signs of imbalance.
Subclinical Imbalances: These are subtle, often symptom-free changes in the body that fall outside the optimal range but don’t yet meet the criteria for a disease diagnosis. Functional medicine prioritizes detecting and addressing these imbalances early to prevent the progression to overt disease.

Resources for this episode

Ritamarie Loscalzo

Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo is a best-selling author and speaker known for her extensive knowledge, infectious energy, and inspirational message that encourages individuals to become their own best health advocate. She is an internationally recognized nutrition and health authority who specializes in using the wisdom of nature to restore hormone balance with a special emphasis on thyroid, adrenal and insulin imbalances. She founded the Institute of Nutritional Endocrinology to empower health and nutrition practitioners to get to the root cause of health concerns by using functional assessments and natural therapeutics to balance the endocrine system, the body's master controller.

Dr. Ritamarie is a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic with Certification in Acupuncture and is a Diplomat of the American Clinical Nutrition Board. She is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist with a Master’s in Human Nutrition, has completed a 2-year, 500-hour Herbal Medicine Program at David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies and has a master's degree in Computer Science, which contributes to her skills as an ace problem solver.