Medical Conditions

Do I Need To Have My Blood Tested?

At Edge Dietary Consulting, we only do finger prick tests. These provide us with enough information to correctly assess your nutritional status, as well as pick up food intolerance to more than 150 foods. We can also test your blood fat, or triglycerides, with the same test. This tells us how effectively you’re burning your energy.

The Consultation Process

Consultations are covered by your medical aid.

DNA and Food Intolerance tests are for your own account.

Assessment

Our comprehensive assessment includes:

• Finger prick
• Fat percentage
• Weight
• Waist measurement
• Dietary intake

Planning

• Meal plan and tailor-made supplementation plan according to your medical condition

Evaluation

• Follow-up visits to monitor the process

Medical conditions closely related to dietary intake should be treated with a scientific approach in combination with medication. The following medical conditions respond well to dietary intervention:

• High Cholesterol Levels – Easy to diagnose with a blood test called a lipid panel, which measures your total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.
• Migraine Headaches – These last between four and 72 hours, and which are characterised by moderate to severe pain, accompanied by either nausea and/or vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound.
• Insulin Resistance – Insulin plays a major role in metabolism—the way the body uses digested food for energy. In insulin resistance, muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond properly to insulin and thus cannot easily absorb glucose from the bloodstream. As a result, the body needs higher levels of insulin to help glucose enter cells.
• Hot Flushes & Hormonal Disturbances – Hot flushes are defined as the sudden, and short-lived, the influx of intense heat that floods the face, head. They are commonly caused by an imbalance in the levels of a woman’s sex hormones and are a very common symptom of perimenopause and post-menopause.
• High Blood Pressure – Also known as hypertension. Blood pressure is the amount of force exerted against the walls of the arteries as blood flows through them. Risk factors include age, obesity, smoking and a high-fat diet, among others.
• Fluid Retention – Water retention occurs when excess fluids build up inside the body. It occurs in the circulatory system or within tissues and cavities. It can cause swelling in the hands, feet, ankles and legs.
• Increased Uric Acid (Gout) – When the body breaks down purines, a substance found in human tissue and in many foods, uric acid is formed. Usually, this dissolves in the blood and passes through the kidneys and into urine for elimination. If the kidneys do not eliminate the uric acid properly, the uric acid begins to crystallise. Symptoms vary, depending on the severity of the condition, but can include pain, redness, swelling and tenderness of the affected joint.
• Sinusitis – A common condition in which the lining of the sinuses becomes inflamed. Symptoms include a green or yellow discharge from your nose, a blocked nose and sinus headache, among others.
• Osteoporosis – A bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. As a result, bones become weak and break.
• Urticaria/Skin Rashes – Also known as hives. It affects about 20 percent of people at some point, and is characterised by an itchy patch of skin that turns into swollen, red welts. The itching may be mild to severe.
• Depression – Depression is a real illness that impacts the brain, and is more than just feeling “down.” It is caused by changes in brain chemistry, but other factors can also contribute to the onset of depression, including genetics, changes in hormone levels, certain medical conditions, stress, grief or difficult life circumstances.
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) – This is a debilitating disorder characterised by extreme fatigue or tiredness that doesn’t go away with rest and can’t be explained by an underlying medical condition. Symptoms include loss of memory or concentration, chronic insomnia, muscle pain, and a frequent sore throat, among others.
• IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) – A common disorder that affects the large intestine. Symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhoea or constipation (or both).
• Hyperactivity – Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects about five percent of children, half of whom will carry their symptoms into adulthood. Untreated ADHD can cause numerous mental and physical problems, so important to recognise the symptoms, which can include lack of focus, disorganisation, forgetfulness and impulsivity, among others.
• Tension headaches – These are most common headaches, and feel like a constant ache or pressure around the head, especially at the temples or back of the head and neck.
• Cluster headaches – These are recurring headaches that occur in groups or cycles. They appear suddenly and are characterized by severe, debilitating pain on one side of the head, often accompanied by a watery eye and nasal congestion, or a runny nose, on the same side of the face.
• Sinus headaches – When a sinus becomes inflamed, often due to an infection, it can cause pain. It usually comes with a fever.
• Rebound headaches – Ironically, overuse of painkillers for headaches can lead to rebound headaches. Common culprits include over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, as well as prescription drugs.