Episode 88: How Functional Testing Finds Root Causes (Part 2)
In Part 2 of our functional testing mini-series, we dive deeper into the functional lab testing that uncovers the root causes of symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, and low resilience. If you’ve ever been told “everything looks normal” on your blood work while still struggling with low energy, mood swings, or brain fog, this episode is for you. We explain how functional medicine uses advanced testing to investigate stress hormones, brain chemistry, and nutrient deficiencies that conventional lab testing often overlook.
You will learn how cortisol patterns, neurotransmitter imbalances, and mitochondrial function play a major role in your daily energy, sleep, and mental clarity. We walk you through real-life scenarios from our clinical practice and share how tailored interventions, based on data, not guesswork, can restore your vitality and help you feel like yourself again. You'll also learn the importance of interpreting lab results in the context of your full health history, not just in isolation.
This episode answers questions like:
“Why do I still feel tired even though my blood tests are normal?”
“How to test for adrenal fatigue or cortisol imbalance?”
“Can nutrient deficiencies cause anxiety or brain fog?”
“What does functional medicine look for that regular doctors don’t?”
“How do I know if my mitochondria are working properly?”
“Why is my energy so low?”
“Is there a test for neurotransmitter levels?”
Learn how functional testing bridges the gap between symptoms and solutions, so you can finally get to the root cause of what’s going on in your body.
DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast and related website is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. It is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat, instead it is designed to help educate and inspire. Always seek the advice of a professional medical practitioner or qualified health practitioner. Never ignore or disregard advice given to you based on information in this podcast or related website and do not delay in seeking medical advice.
Timestamps:
[01:40] - What is an Adrenal Saliva Test?
Learn how this functional cortisol test maps your daily stress hormone rhythm and reveals hidden causes of fatigue, sleep problems, and burnout.
[04:40] - Who should get an Adrenal Saliva Test?
Explore symptoms of adrenal dysfunction, including brain fog, poor sleep, anxiety, and post-viral fatigue like long COVID.
[07:00] - What does a Neurotransmitter Profile show?
Understand how this urine test can detect chemical imbalances causing low mood, mental fog, poor focus, and anxiety.
[08:45] - Signs you may need a Neurotransmitter Test
Discover the emotional, mental, and physical symptoms that point to neurotransmitter imbalances, from mood swings to poor stress resilience.
[10:10] - Mitochondrial Stress Test explained
Find out how mitochondrial testing uncovers cellular dysfunction, oxidative stress, and low energy production, root causes of chronic fatigue.
[12:30] - Who benefits from Mitochondrial Testing?
Learn why people with fibromyalgia, exhaustion, slow recovery, or toxin overload should consider testing their mitochondrial function.
[13:45] - What is Functional Nutrition Testing?
Dive into how functional blood, urine, and organic acid tests detect nutrient deficiencies that impact energy, mood, hormones, and immunity.
[16:40] - Who should get Functional Nutrition Tests?
Learn how this testing supports people with hormone imbalance, digestive issues, low energy, and unexplained symptoms missed by standard labs.
[17:30] - From guesswork to personalized root cause health
Discover how functional testing allows for tailored protocols based on your unique biochemistry, not just symptom management.
“So many of my clients come to me saying, ‘I’ve tried everything and nothing’s worked.’ And when we run the right functional tests, we find the missing pieces. It’s not in their head, it’s in their biology”
Essential learnings from this episode…
Cortisol testing reveals your hidden stress patterns. The adrenal saliva test provides a full picture of how your body handles stress, helping to uncover burnout, insomnia, and hormone disruption, often missed in standard blood tests.
Neurotransmitter testing helps decode anxiety, brain fog, and focus issues. This functional urine test shows if symptoms like irritability, low motivation, or mental fatigue are due to imbalances in serotonin, dopamine, or GABA.
Mitochondrial dysfunction is a root cause of chronic fatigue. The mitochondrial stress test analyzes energy production and oxidative stress, helping people with fibromyalgia, long COVID, or autoimmune issues regain their energy.
Functional nutrition testing identifies nutrient depletion before disease appears. Unlike basic blood tests, this method reveals functional imbalances in B12, magnesium, CoQ10, and more. They explain why you're still tired, inflamed, or hormonally off.
Functional lab tests create a personalized map for healing. These tests move beyond symptoms and dig into your body's biochemistry, helping to create targeted protocols for stress, sleep, energy, and mood.
You can stop guessing, and start testing. Functional lab testing provides the data needed to match the right supplements, nutrition, and lifestyle changes to your specific needs, accelerating real healing.
EPISODE 88
Important links & mentions from this episode
Episode 79 Functional Testing (Part 1)
Take the FREE MitoImmune Health Assessment
Connect with Nicole on Instagram
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