Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, 2 home test kits to try
Naomi is an active member at Cryojuvenate taking WBC (whole body cryotherapy) weekly. We asked Naomi to sample two of the home testing kits (Vitamin D and Mineral Deficiency [zinc, selenium, magnesium]) from our new stock by Cerascreen® to find out what she really thought about the whole process and of course, the results and her reasons why for wanting to take part.
Naomi has always been a strong advocate in taking control of her health and wellness. As a MIND, BODY, and NUTRITION Coach (NourishbyNaomi) she works with clients globally helping them break free from the relentless cycles that are holding them back!
** read more about Naomi’s captivating back story here
What to consider when investing in supplements
“As a Holistic and integrative wellbeing expert I do think supplements can be beneficial, but there are a few things to consider before investing a tidy sum into the latest fad or promised super pill. I have been working in the field of holistic health for 10 years and have crashed from CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) a few times over the years so have my own personal experience to share as well as a professional one.
When I first collapsed from CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) I saw various experts in this field and was very quickly prescribed a cocktail of supplements. At that time I didn’t know anything about the quality or about gradual introduction so I just took all that was suggested”
How do you know what supplements to take?
I was making other changes in my life, diet, and mindset but I can honestly say that the hundreds of pounds I was spending on supplements didn’t seem to make much of a difference. I felt reliant on a number of supplements that I thought I needed to take but equally, I didn’t really know if they were working or not!!
Subsequently, I wanted to pull back on the cumulative amounts I was taking but I didn’t know what to stop taking – it was a thoroughly confusing time for a very foggy-headed me …. and that’s with a fair bit of knowledge at that time.
A big question, a big industry so what do you really need to know?
The problem I see with chronic stress/fatigue is that your digestive system is compromised so I question how much of the nutrients from a supplement is absorbed. Plus a lot of supplements on the market are synthetic vitamins and minerals so the quality isn’t great…….meaning that you can be taking a lot of stuff (which in theory should have you feeling like a superhero) but in reality, might not be living up to the expectation or giving you very little or low-quality vitamins and minerals.
So quality and quantity really are key – look for natural supplements and food state rather than synthetic.
Feel empowered
I also recommend the gradual introduction of new supplements into your lifestyle so you can start to notice any small changes and shifts. To feel empowered about your body and health you need to know that what you are taking makes you feel better.
These days I limit the amount of pill-based supplements I take and vary with liquid tinctures and vitamins (vitamin C and D are better absorbed if they are in an oil base for example) powdered superfoods which are naturally abundant in nutrients and IV Therapy. This is a much more effective way to get deliverable nutrients directly into your system.
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Then comes the big question.…what exactly should you take?
There are 1000’s of options on the market and new products being launched on a daily basis with big marketing budgets that make you think YES I NEED THAT. Before long you have a list as long as your arm of things that you need and have spent a fortune to fund the health fad.
I call it a fad as the advertising plays on your pain points to make you think you need it and promises that you will feel XYZ with this super product, you buy the product and you feel disappointed and said promise and fantasy of radiant health didn’t come in the form of the magic pill you were sold and bought into.
Holistic approach
My holistic and integrative approach with my clients explores our well-being as a whole. I believe that we find our radiant health when we invest time into making improvements in our diet, mindset, exercise, stress, relationships, and self-care.
However, the fast-paced stress fuelled world we live in plus lower quality food that is available to us means that even if we do all the work as above we can still be deficient in vital nutrients that really help us to feel that radiance that is lacking. I personally recommend and have relied on home deficiency testing to identify what supplements I need to take.
As mentioned fatigue is one of my problem areas so I keep on top of my cortisol levels, Vitamins B12 and D. But minerals are also vital to our optimum health with zinc being key for immunity, selenium for thyroid, and magnesium is a key player and needed for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body and depleted by too much sugar in the diet.
“Understanding what is going on in our body puts our health in our hands which is empowering and connects us to what we really need rather than what we think we need. From this place, we can start to slowly introduce targeted and high-quality supplements that work more effectively for our overall health and wellbeing”
Taking the test
I quickly and easily did the Vitamin D test as well as the Mineral deficiency test (selenium, magnesium, and zinc – vital minerals), and whilst a deficiency might be what we look out for, something we might not be aware of is having an excess which can also be just as bad and cause fatigue and neurological issues.
WATCH NAOMI TAKE THE TESTS HERE (YOUTUBE)
Simplistic and easy testing
The tests were super simple to complete as you saw from my video where I showed you how to do a home blood test, I sent my blood off and was notified by email every step of the way up to the point where my results were ready. The reports are easy to read and understand with some basic information about the next steps, it is always worth seeking out professional advice if you are looking to supplement as not all supplements are equal as I mentioned in my earlier blog.
The results
Generally, my tests were really good with magnesium and zinc in balance but my selenium was too high (my love for brazil nuts) and my vitamin D too low.
What I’m going to change
Firstly, I will be increasing my vitamin D to 5000iu a day alongside vitamin K (Biotin). I use an oil-based Vitamin D for maximum absorption currently so I may now add in a spray and fish oil which is also a great source of Vitamin D. I will retest this in a few months and make sure that it has improved, equally too much Vitamin D isn’t great so getting the right amount is key.
In terms of the selenium, I checked all my other vitamins and minerals to see if I was over supplementing which I wasn’t, so I will cut back on my brazil nuts which are my go-to snack. Have to admit I do eat a lot of them as they are great for thyroid health but it is now clear I have been overindulging! I’ll adjust this and then retest in a few months to recheck levels.
Overall rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am really pleased with the efficiency and simplicity of these tests and the insights into what’s going on for me, I would not have guessed I was low in Vitamin D or had too much selenium so have gained some vital information from them which will help me going forward.
Find out more about Naomi's work
Cerascreen® tests are already in stock at Cryojuvenate, these include Stress Hormone (cortisol), Mineral Deficiency, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Amino Acids, and Cholesterol. BUY ONLINE we can offer you a 12% discount – use this code: Cryojuvenate_UK21
About Cerascreen
Cerascreen® provides health test kits that you can easily and quickly use at the convenience of your home. Samples taken with the cerascreen® health test kits will be evaluated in specialised and certified medical partner laboratories that doctors and clinics also collaborate with. Together with your personal test result, you will receive individual recommendations to live healthier.
