When you don’t feel well —
but your tests say you’re “normal.”
Many people come to M.E. & You Living feeling exhausted, unwell, and confused — often after being told that their tests are “within range” and that nothing is wrong. Yet symptoms persist.
This disconnect is where nutrition-informed testing can be helpful
— not to replace medical care,
but to look more closely at how the body is functioning day to day.
Why “Normal” Test Results Don’t Always Mean Optimal Function
Most standard lab ranges are designed to:
-
Detect disease
-
Flag severe deficiency
-
Support population-level screening
They are not designed to identify early imbalance, depletion, or functional stress.
This means it's possible to:
-
Fall within a lab's reference range
-
Still lack what your body needs to function well
Why I Focus on Optimal Ranges
Around the world, doctors do extraordinary work.
But modern medicine relies on standardised lab reference ranges, which are designed to identify disease — not always to reflect optimal function.
When someone falls outside those ranges, action is taken.
When they fall inside them, support often stops — even if symptoms are severe.
This is not a criticism of clinicians. It is a limitation of the tools they are given.
One simple example is checking your iron levels.
The NICE guidelines for iron deficiency anaemia state:
“A serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.”
Yet many laboratories list the lower end of the reference range as 11 micrograms/L, and results at this level are frequently described as “normal”.
For many people, especially those with fatigue, immune stress, or neurological symptoms, this distinction matters.
When we only ask “Is this value within range?”, we sometimes miss the more important question:
“Is this value sufficient for this person to function well?"
Nutrition-focused interpretation looks at:
-
Patterns, not single markers
-
Optimal ranges, where evidence supports them
-
How results relate to symptoms
This is not about contradicting medicine — it’s about adding context.
Testing I Work With
Blood Tests
Looking beyond the reference range
Blood tests provide valuable information about:
-
Iron status
-
Vitamins
-
Inflammation
-
Thyroid markers
-
Metabolic stress
When reviewed through a nutrition-focused lens, blood results can highlight:
-
Early deficiencies
-
Suboptimal nutrient status
-
Patterns linked to fatigue and poor recovery
I focus on careful, evidence-informed interpretation, using optimal ranges where appropriate — always alongside medical care, not instead of it.
Doctor’s Data Hair Mineral Analysis
A longer-term view of mineral balance
Hair Mineral Analysis can offer insight into:
-
Mineral patterns over time
-
Electrolyte balance
-
Metabolic stress
-
Potential mineral deficiency
Unlike blood tests, which show a snapshot in time, hair analysis may reflect longer-term trends.
This test is:
-
Used as part of a broader picture, never in isolation
-
Particularly helpful where fatigue, stress, or sensitivity is present
Hair analysis is a valuable complement to blood testing and is a useful functional nutrition tool.
Mosaic Diagnostics Organic Acids Test (OAT)
Insight into energy, metabolism, and nutrient needs
The Organic Acids Test looks at metabolic
by-products in urine, which can give information about:
-
Mitochondrial energy production
-
B vitamin sufficiency
-
Oxidative stress
-
Gut-related metabolites
For people with chronic fatigue or complex symptoms, this test can help:
-
Identify functional blocks in energy pathways
-
Guide nutrition support more precisely
-
Avoid guesswork
As with all testing, results are interpreted gently and within scope, with ME/CFS sensitivity in mind.
Why I Offer Tests With Support
Test results can be:
-
Confusing
-
Anxiety-provoking
-
Easily misinterpreted
Especially when energy is low, more information is not always helpful.
That’s why I only offer testing when it is:
-
Clearly appropriate
-
Supported with interpretation
-
Paced to your capacity
My role is to help you understand what matters now, and what can safely wait.
I provide tests at a discounted price if you book a service with me.
Not Sure If Testing Is Necessary?
That’s completely okay.
Not everyone needs testing — and not everyone needs all tests.
The free getting-to-know-you call exists so we can:
-
Talk through your symptoms
-
Decide whether testing is helpful
-
Choose the least burdensome next step
Nutrition-focused testing is used to support wellbeing and understanding, not to diagnose or treat disease.
All work is intended to complement medical care.
Test - Don't Guess
1
Organic Acids Test (OAT)
The Organic acid test analyses 76 urinary metabolites, revealing insights into metabolic function, nutrient deficiencies, and health conditions.
It includes biomarkers for intestinal microbial overgrowth, neurotransmitters, and detoxification.
Urine analysis, preferred for its higher concentration of organic acids, aids in identifying underlying causes of chronic illness.
I am a practitioner registered with Regenerous Labs, and I can order their test kits worldwide.
If you would likea test, I will place the order with Regenerous Labs, and they will send you a payment link to action.
Your order will be dispatched once the lab has received your payment.
There is no obligation to pay for the order if you change your mind.
2
Hair Mineral Test Analysis (HMTA)
Hair element analysis provides valuable insights into physiological disorders associated with essential and toxic element metabolism.
Nutrient elements such as magnesium, zinc, Iodine, molybdenum, and selenium are vital for enzyme function, whereas toxic elements such as lead and mercury can accumulate in hair, providing a unique perspective on recent exposure.
I am a practitioner registered with Regenerous Labs, and I can order their test kits worldwide.
If you would like a test, I will place the order with Regenerous Labs, and they will send you a payment link to action.
Your order will be dispatched once the lab has received your payment.
There is no obligation to pay for the order if you change your mind.
3
Full Health Screen
Blood Test
Blood tests are vital to understand your body,
A Full Health Screen should include:
-
Diabetes test
-
Vitamin D
-
Total cholesterol test.
-
Full thyroid panel (TSH, T4 & T3)
-
Anaemia test to identify low iron, vitamin B12, and folate levels.
These tests may already have been run by your doctors, but if you would like to have up-to-date results,
I recommend the
low-cost home finger-prick tests available from
Monitor My Health,
(run by the NHS).
You can order these from the website link here:
I have made a tutorial video on how to take these tests on YouTube here
Or, if you are not confident to do a home blood test, I can help you order blood tests with Regenerous Labs
Many people like to deepen their understanding between sessions.
My blog includes in-depth posts on vitamins and minerals, offering context, evidence, and practical explanations to support informed choices.
These resources are there to complement our work together
— or to use independently if that feels right for you.
