As healthcare becomes more and more expensive and life expectancy increases, there’s a noticeable shift towards personalised health care through preventative testing and integrative medicine. Tests such as Genetic Testing can help eliminate the trial-and-error method and assist doctors in prescribing the right medication using a patient’s genetic make-up as reference.

Being healthy and staying healthy ‘is a million little things’ and today we need to take everything about a patient into consideration if we really want to improve their health in the long term. That means looking at a patient’s DNA while also considering external factors such as work environment, stress, the food they eat, the water they drink and where they live, among other things.

At Longiva we regularly see patients that have lived with unexplained health concerns for months and even years, visiting doctors and specialists, shelling out money to no avail. This usually leaves patients frustrated and hopeless. But no more – we use specialised testing to help our patients better understand what their body is telling them and us, and then use this information to recommend the right exercise, diet and medicine to address their concerns.

Read on to learn more about the tests we use at Longiva to help our patients improve their health. We spoke to our registered dietician Ezette Oosthuizen who uses these tests daily in her practice to help patients improve the health:

• Genetic Testing

Can anyone have this test done?  

The Genetic Testing use to be an expensive test that was only available to a select few people. Today however, things have changed and technological advancements have made Genetic Testing more available to anyone that wants to understand their genetic makeup better and how it affects their health. Through Genetic Testing we are able to tell patients what exercise is right for them, what the most effective way of losing weight is and even how to improve their physical and mental performance.

Why should someone get a Genetic Testing? 

Because everyone is unique in their own DNA way. The medicine and diet that works for one person, might not work for another and through Genetic Testing we can side-step the old method of trial-and-error, speed up treatment or even completely avoid the symptoms by acting preventatively. Our family’s health history can tell us a lot but sometimes this type of information is not always available to everyone. With this test we can use genetic markers to determine what diseases a patient is predisposed to.

How is it administered? 

This is this easy part. We take a Buccal swab sample which is the medical term for a cheek swab. The whole procedure is non-invasive and painless.

If Genetic testing is so readily available, can’t I do it myself?

The data you receive from the test can really be life changing but only if you know what to do with that information. The data you receive back after analysis needs to be read and interpreted by a health care professional that can advise you on the necessary changes that need to be made according to the results. If you were to do it yourself it would be like diagnosing yourself using WebMD, and we’re all aware of how troublesome that is. At Longiva we use this information and make specific recommendations based on a patient’s lifestyle, health, diet and level of activity.

• BOSS – Biotransformation and Oxidative Stress Status

Who should consider a BOSS test?

Anyone suffering from chronic fatigue, chronic muscle/joint pain, Alzheimers or Parkinson’s disease, depression, anxiety, Schizophrenia, ADHD, has a family history of cancer, allergies, sinus problems, metabolic syndrome (weight problems), premature ageing, cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

We also advise patients that are often exposed to automobile fumes, heavy metals, plastic compounds, toxic chemicals (like pesticides, herbicides) eat a lot of fast food, use tobacco products and regularly drink to take this test.

What does the BOSS test do?

This test is developed to give health care professional an indication of oxidative stress levels using liver detoxification and free radical markers. In the past we knew the liver played a vital part in detoxification, but it’s only now through extensive research and testing that we better understand the intricate role it plays and the complex processes that occur and are needed to keep us healthy.

Oxidative stress is what ages us and is at the root of many diseases. If the liver is overloaded or impaired in any way it will not optimally detoxify and oxidative stress levels in the body will increase. This could lead to many chronic and life altering diseases. Knowing if your liver is working as it should is imperative to improving a patient’s quality of life.

How is this test administered?

At Longiva we use a combination of urine, saliva and blood test to determine oxidative stress levels.

What happens once you get the results back?

After the results are received we do a full break-down of the results and most importantly we give our patients personalised recommendations with regards to diet, lifestyle and nutritional supplements. The liver is an amazing organ that can regenerate itself if it’s given the right support. We can’t always reverse the effects of oxidative stress but in many cases we can improve a patients liver functioning in order to prevent future damage.

• Food Intolerance

What is the difference between food allergies and food intolerances? 

Food allergies illicit an abnormal immune response that triggers an immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reaction. Immediate (Type I) hypersensitivity reactions, mediated by Immunoglobin E (IgE), are obvious – histamine is released causing varying degrees of symptoms like hives, itching, swelling, trouble breathing, wheezing and anaphylaxis. There are also the non-IgE mediated reactions to food that are not as obvious or immediate. Food intolerance or food sensitivity does not involve an abnormal immune response. It’s a negative reaction to a certain food, often with a delayed onset. Because these food sensitivities are sometimes less obvious and can take up to 72 hours to develop they can often be at the root of chronic issues.

Could you have a food intolerance without knowing? 

Yes, because the symptoms are less obvious and can take up to 72 hours to develop. It’s also possible to have a food intolerance and live with it for years.

How do food intolerance affect your health? 

Recurrent exposures to unknown triggers can inflame the gut, activate the immune response, and cause chronic underlying inflammation.  This can manifest as anything from skin issues to behavioural problems, to chronic gastrointestinal complaints. Some of the more common issues include:  acne, asthma, chronic constipation, chronic diarrhoea, eczema, excessive mucous production, failure to thrive, headaches, hyperactivity, irritable bowel syndrome, joint pain, malabsorption, migraines, obesity, poor immune function, rashes, recurrent ear infections, seasonal allergies and wheezing.

What test is used for food intolerance? 

We use a speciliased test that measuring the reactivity of specific IgG4 antibodies from the blood to various foods.

How can Longiva help with food intolerances?

Changing one’s diet and lifestyle after learning you have a food intolerance can be challenging. We offer counselling after receiving the results and supply our patients with customised treatment plans and aftercare support.

To learn more about Longiva’s personalised testing and integrative health and preventative diagnostics, please contact us today.