Functional Testing

A crucial tool for identifying the underlying cause of your health concerns.

Our practitioners prioritize uncovering the root cause of your primary health concern.

We provide a variety of functional tests to equip your practitioner with essential information for crafting a personalized treatment plan. For instance, if you present with anxiety, we need to determine whether it's due to a B12 deficiency, gut infection, heavy metal toxicity, or food intolerance.

Functional testing helps us identify the root cause accurately.

 Here are the functional tests we may discuss during your initial consultation.

  • Research overwhelmingly indicates that gut health impacts overall health. The gut microbiome, in particular, plays a critical role in mediating the effects of diet and other factors on health, including digestive, immune, metabolic and neuroendocrine functions. Assessing GI health with the proper tools can help practitioners get to the root cause of chronic illness.

    The GI-MAP (Microbial Assay Plus) is unique in the field of comprehensive stool testing. It relies exclusively on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology to detect parasites, bacteria, fungi, and more, by targeting the specific DNA of the organisms tested.

    In our experience, this microbiome information is central to the majority of cases we work with and without it is often the reason that patients will get stuck in their healing work.

  • This advanced hormone testing was developed to improve on available hormone testing options. DUTCH offers the most extensive profile of sex and adrenal hormones along with their metabolites. Additionally, the daily (diurnal) pattern of free cortisol is included, along with melatonin (6-OHMS), 8-OHdG, and six organic acids.

    This test offers the most comprehensive summary of hormone levels available and is easily collected in the home for shipment.

  • Food sensitivity is not a disease but may play a role in causing disease or worsening certain symptoms. Symptoms associated with food sensitivities develop slowly over time and can create inflammation. The RMA FST™ IgG Food Sensitivity Test can help identify potential food sensitivities and take the guesswork out of your diet.

    There is a growing body of evidence to support the clinical benefits of eliminating IgG reactive foods from the diet.

    In an IgG reaction, the IgG antibodies bind to food antigens creating antibody-antigen complexes. These complexes are normally removed by immune system cells called macrophages. However, if complexes are present in large numbers and the reactive food is still being consumed, the macrophages can’t remove them quickly enough. The food antigen-antibody complexes accumulate and can be deposited in body tissues. Once in tissues, these complexes can trigger inflammation, which may be responsible for a wide variety of symptoms.

  • The Organix® Comprehensive Profile is a nutritional test providing insights into organic acids and a view into the body’s cellular metabolic processes. Identifying metabolic blocks that can be treated nutritionally allows individual tailoring of interventions that maximize patient responses and lead to improved patient outcomes.

    Organic acids are metabolic intermediates that are produced in pathways of central energy production, detoxification, neurotransmitter breakdown, or intestinal microbial activity. Marked accumulation of specific organic acids detected in urine often signals a metabolic inhibition or block. The metabolic block may be due to a nutrient deficiency, an inherited enzyme deficit, toxic build-up or drug effect. Several of the biomarkers are markers of intestinal bacterial or yeast overgrowth.

    The Organix® Comprehensive nutritional test profile provides vital patient information from a single urine specimen. This organic acids nutritional test is valuable for determining:

    • Functional vitamin and mineral status

    • Amino acid insufficiencies like carnitine and NAC

    • Oxidative damage and antioxidant need

    • Phase I & Phase II detoxification capacity

    • Functional B-complex vitamin need

    • Neurotransmitter metabolites

    • Mitochondrial energy production

    • Methylation sufficiency

    • Lipoic acid and CoQ10 status

    • Markers for bacterial and yeast overgrowth

  • Heavy metals can disrupt a myriad of different organs and systems and this test is the gold standard for identifying levels of mercury, aluminum, lead, and cadmium

    Urine Elements are traditionally used to evaluate exposure to potentially toxic elements and wasting of nutrient elements. Additionally, the comparison of urine element concentrations before and after administration of a chelator can be used to estimate net retention of potentially toxic elements. Subsequent urine element analyses, also following the administration of a chelator, are useful for monitoring the efficacy of metal detoxification therapy. Results are expressed per 24 hours or creatinine corrected to account for urine dilution effects.

    The test can be used to look for root cause information regarding:

    • Toxic Element Exposure

    • Alopecia

    • Bone Density

    • Cardiovascular Disease

    • Depression

    • Dermatitis or Poor Wound Healing

    • Detoxification Therapy

    • Fatigue

    • Gastrointestinal Symptoms

    • Hypertension

    • Immune Function

    • Impaired Glucose Tolerance

    • Inflammation

    • Kidney Function

    • Nutritional Deficiencies

    • Parkinson’s-like Symptoms

Meet Our Naturopathic Doctors

  • Functional Medicine Uptown, Dr. Kristijana Rakic, ND

    Dr. Kristijana Rakic, ND

    As a naturopathic and functional medicine doctor, Dr. K has a special interest in metabolism and weight loss resistance. She also focuses on autoimmune disorders, digestive health, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, hormone health (PCOS, menopause, PMS), cardiovascular disease, diabetes, thyroid health, and brain health.

  • Functional Medicine Uptown, Dr. Ben Snider

    Dr. Ben Snider, ND

    Dr. Ben has a special interest in caring for the mind, body, and spirit in the fullest sense. As a naturopathic and functional medicine doctor, he focuses on uncovering causative factors in the mind and body, using nutritional testing, diet therapy, belief repatterning, meditation techniques and deep respect for the messages of the body.

  • Functional Medicine Uptown, Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Erica Behr, ND

    Dr. Erica Behr, ND

    Dr. Behr, ND is passionate about preventative medicine and educating patients on optimizing their health through naturopathic medicine. She specializes in several areas including skin care, digestive health, weight management, women’s health, stress management, osteoarthritis, and pain management.

  • Functional Medicine Uptown, Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Jen Forristal, ND

    Dr. Jen Forristal, ND

    Dr. Jen, ND is not only a Naturopathic Medicine Doctor but also a school wellness specialist. She is regularly seen in the media as a wellness expert and works both in private practice and in hospital settings providing family medicine for her community.

  • Functional Medicine Uptown, Dr. Aaron Samanta, ND

    Dr. Aaron Samanta, ND

    Dr. Aaron, ND aims to help clients prevent and treat diseases while optimizing their health. He brings a compassionate approach to care, utilizing integrative medicine and lifestyle therapeutics. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Biology, fitness training and testing, and post-graduate studies in naturopathic medicine.

  • Functional Medicine, Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Tina Sestan, ND

    Dr. Tina Sestan, ND

    Dr. Tina, ND, is known for her strong connection with patients and her empathetic, caring nature. She enjoys educating patients and providing tools for self-healing. Tina believes that identifying the root cause of disease is life-changing and focuses on gut and hormone health in her naturopathic practice.

Functional Foundations Program

Functional Foundations Program

Get access to the knowledge, tools, resources and support needed to enjoy a healthy happy life!

This personalized lifestyle and nutrition plan educates and empowers individuals with tools and accountability to live their best health.

Dive into eight foundational modules and ask questions on our live weekly calls all year long. The roadmap for long-term health success