What a HTMA told me about my health!

What a HTMA told me about my health!

I recently took a HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) as I've been having perimenopause symptoms like anxiety, high blood pressure and weight gain around the middle, so I wanted to see what was happening with my minerals. Minerals are the foundation of health as they are involved in every process that your cells run to keep you alive and healthy.

HTMA is a simple non-invasive test where you cut a small piece of hair from the back of your head to find out how your body is doing and assess overall health and potential imbalances. It's NOT a diagnostic test but rather a guide that I use to personalise any nutrition recommendations I give, so that they are personalised to your unique body chemistry and what your body is needing most right now.


Here's what I found out:-

  1. I've been living primarily in my sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight!) and this has depleted 3 of the most important minerals:- sodium, potassium and calcium. I have been supplementing with magnesium so my magnesium was actually OK. When your body is stressed, it burns through magnesium and you become deficient but because I have been supplementing that hasn't happened, so I know my money has been well spent!
  2. Because those 3 minerals are low, I'm in what's called a 3 lows pattern which is indicative of stress! This pattern is a warning sign that I need to focus on handing stress better, improving my digestion and resting more.
  3. I have a probable copper imbalance due to the stress, which I'm not surprised about as copper imbalance is a modern epidemic. This is not a priority for me to tackle at this moment, the other minerals above are.  I will write another blog about copper imbalance as it is so prevalent is today's world.
  4. My metabolic type is a Fast Oxidizer so I burn through minerals quicker. In Ayurveda this is equivalent to Pitta Dosha  (or fire element) and I have been having Pitta type symptoms like heartburn and menorage recently!  So I will focus on cooling down the fire element in my body. Fast Oxadizers are in fight-or-fight mode too much of the time and this can cause high blood pressure and weight gain around the middle!
  5. I need to reduce my carb intake as my body is not handling it very well. A diet with higher protein, lots of starchy complex carbs, and naturally occurring fat in the food is good for my metabolic type.
  6. I have very low manganese so I need to eat more food containing manganese or supplement.

If I was my own client I would be recommending a diet of:-

  • High potassium foods (acorn squash, stinging nettle tea, celery juice, coconut water (no sugar added), coconut milk, beet greens, avocados, russet potatoes with the skins, tomatoes)
  • High sodium foods (celtic sea salt, pickled veggies, sauerkraut, celery juice, artichoke, beets, swiss chard, animal products, eggs)
    High calcium foods (sardines, almonds & almond milk, grapefruit juice, cow & goat milk, cow & goat cheese, yogurt, collard greens)
  • High magnesium foods (Spinach, pumpkin seeds, avocados, hemp seeds, swiss chard, dark chocolate, almonds, cashews, mackerel)
  • Foods containing manganese (nuts, seeds, beans, fruits, and whole grains)
  • Daily adrenal cocktails (1 cup coconut water, ¼ tsp acerola powder, pinch of sea salt and ¼ tsp Cream of TarTar
  • Daily destressing practices like breathing and Yoga. I've let all these practices slip of late so I will make sure to take them up again!
  • Macro ratio of 40% Protein, 25% Fat, 35% Carbohydrates and cut down on sugar!

I like to take a food first approach and if I was to recommend supplements, they would always be whole food or bio available forms as synthetic vitamins are just expensive pee! I already take some fundamental supplements like magnesium, raw organic cod liver oil, probiotics and Irish Seamoss capsules and I will keep taking them and take an extra Seamoss capsule per day as that is nature's multi mineral supplement!

So my main takeaway is that high cortisol levels have been contributing to high blood pressure, anxiety and laying fat on my belly. During perimenopause my adrenals are supposed to be picking up the slack from my ovaries but mine can't, so that is what is causing the symptoms. There is something about seeing it in on test results that makes you want to make the necessary changes more!

If I was trying to conceive, then I most likely would be having a hard time as my body is prioritising survival over procreation.

Do you want to get a window into your health? I can arrange a HTMA for you, interpret the results and give you an easy to follow and do-able plan. This is far superior to an automated report, as I get you to complete a comprehensive intake form so that I know about your lifestyle, symptoms and any medication or conditions you have.

As a special launch offer, my first 3 clients will only pay for the price of the test (£70) and you will get my interpretation and plan for free in exchange for a testimonial if you are happy with the service!

Be quick though as it will be for the first 3 client only!

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