Raw Foods Diet: Laboratory Testing
Recently, I bought some tests online. Online blood work?! Yes, online blood work.

How does “online blood work” really work?
Well, you buy the tests online. Then they send you the information, and a sheet to print out. Taking the sheet to any of the locations they list will allow you to take the tests there. Results will be E-Mailed to you, and you can get a hard copy mailed to you as well.

What tests did you order
I ordered a Complete Wellness Profile test, with a Urinalysis, and a Vitamin B12 test.

What are they testing for?
I have taken the liberty of writing a description of each part of each test. Some are very specific to what I want to be looking out for, while attempting a 30 Day Trial of eating 100% uncooked, vegan foods.

Urinalysis

I do not know the exact specifics of what this test will entail, but once I have completed it, I will fill this in with all the parts of the urinalysis.

Blood Test

Complete Blood Count

WBC - White blood cells are made in the bone marrow. They help the immune response by attacking the bacteria, fungus, or virus that is causing an infection.

RBC - Red blood cells, also made in the bone marrow, transport oxygen to the cells from the lungs and carry carbon dioxide from the cells to the lungs.

Hemoglobin – This is the iron-containing metalloprotein that, found in red blood cells, transports oxygen to the cells from the lungs. Obviously, the levels of hemoglobin in your red blood cell count would be a good indication of your blood’s ability to transport oxygen. Hemoglobin gives blood its red color.

Hematocrit – A measurement of the percentage of blood that consists of red blood cells. Therefore, this gets reported as a percentage.

Lymphocytes – There are three main types of lymphocytes: T cells, B cells, and Natural Killer (NK) cells. Natural Killer cells, named because of an originally incorrect idea that these cells need not be activated to function, are a crucial part of the immune system. In fact, they are largely responsible for the rejection of tumors and cells that are infected by viruses. T Cells and B cells, also crucial to the adaptive immune system and innate immune system, can be identified by their receptor proteins. The T cell has a T cell receptor (TCR) while the B cell has a B cell receptor (BCR).

Monocytes – These leukocytes, white blood cells, protect the body against blood-borne pathogens

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) - This is the mass of hemoglobin that a red blood cell contains.

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) – This is a calculation of how much hemoglobin is inside your red blood cells.

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) - A measurement of of the average size of your red blood cells. This will be especially important to observe because this number will increase with anemia caused by Vitamin B12 deficiency, which is a potential problem with this kind of diet.

Neutrophils (Neutrophil granulocytes) – This is the most abundant white blood cell in your body.

Platelets (thrombocytes) – These are the cells circulating in the blood that are important with the formation of blood clots.

Red cell distribution width (RDW) – This is a calculation of the variation in size of your red blood cells. This is also important to me and this trial, as vitamin B12 deficiency can cause a specific increase in the RDW.

Liver

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (Serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase or SGPT) – ALT is an enzyme which is mostly found in the liver, and therefore most commonly associated with the liver. This is generally done as a diagnostic liver test, or liver function test. ALT will rise dramatically in acute liver damage.

Albumin (Serum albumin) – The most abundant plasma protein found in your body. This aids in proper distribution of body fluids and to keep them from leaking out of blood vessels. Poor nutrition or states of protein catabolism can cause low levels of albumin.

Albumin/Globulin ratio – The ratio of the two total protein classes found in your blood plasma.

Alkaline phosphatase – This enzyme is found in the cells lining the biliary ducts of the liver and can signal large bile duct obstruction if levels have significantly risen in the blood plasma.

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST or SGOT) - While this is raised in acute liver damage, it is not specific to the liver; however, the ratio of AST to ALT can be useful in differentiating between causes of liver damage.

Bilirubin – Hemoglobin breaks down into bilirubin after around 120 days in circulation, and can be then found in bile. Bilirubin might be able to protect some tissues against damage caused by free radicals. Too high of levels causes the appearance of jaundice which can be a signal for a number of health problems.

Total Globulin – There are four different types of globulin: alpha 1 globulins, alpha 2 globulins, beta globulins, and gamma globulins. They are separated mostly by their mobility, with alpha globulins being the most mobile in alkaline or electrically-charged solutions, gamma globulins being the least mobile, and beta globulins being between the two in terms of mobility. For our purpose, I will be paying special attention to gamma globulins, because one type of gamma globulin is immunoglobulins, which function as antibodies.

Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) – This enzyme is often used as a marker for tissue breakdown, and can also be found throughout the body.

Total Protein – This measures the combined amount of all proteins in the plasma portion of your blood: albumin and globulin.

Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase or GGTP) – Very sensitive to even minor liver damage, GGT can also show, and more often does, cholestatic damage.

Kidney

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) – This test measures the amount of urea nitrogen that is found in the blood. There is usually a small, but stable, amount of urea nitrogen found in the blood, as urea is constantly being filtered ou in the livert, traveling through the blood to the kidneys, and then excreted as waste in urine.

Creatinine – This waste product is produced by your muscles from the breakdown of creatine. Almost all of your creatinine is excreted by your kidneys, so this test is a good measurement of how your kidneys are functioning. More important than the absolute level of creatinine, is the relative level over time and how much it has changed.

Uric acid – The breakdown of purines, chemicals found in nucleic acid (DNA), that are normally disposed of in the urine and feces. Too much of a build up of uric acid can result in gout.

BUN/Creatinine -This is the ratio of the levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in your system. Increases or decreases of protein can have an effect on this ratio, making it particularly important to keep my eyes on.

Thyroid

Total T-4 (Thyroxine) – Test that finds how much T-4 is in your blood. T-4 (Thyroxine) is one of two major hormones produced by your thyroid gland. Too much T-4 will cause symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism, such as anxiety, weight loss, an increased heart rate, difficulty in sleeping, tremors in the hands, and puffiness around dry and often irritated eyes. Too little T-4 will cause symptoms associated with hypothyroidism such as weight gain, intolerance to temperature changes especially cold weather, dry skin, irregular menstruation, and general fatigue.

T-3 uptake – This test finds how much T-3 is in your blood. Like T-4, T-3 is the other major hormone that is produced by your thyroid gland. Levels too high or too low can cause symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism respectively. Less than 10% of what we call the thyroid hormone, but T-4 only becomes an active thyroid hormone when it is converted into T-3.
The T-3 Uptake test is NOT a thyroid test at all! In fact, it is a test on the proteins that carry thyroid hormones in the blood stream. A high test number could even indicate a low level of protein.

Free-Thryoxine Index (FTI) T-7 – This is a calculation that estimates the free thyroxine index based on the T4 and T3 Uptake tests. The results of this test tell you how much thyroid hormone is free in the blood stream to help the body.

Thyroid-stimulating Hormone (TSH) – This is a test that measures the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone, produced by your pituitary gland, in your blood. A high level signifies that your thyroid is under-active, while a low level signifies that your thyroid is overactive.

Cardiovascular Function

Total Cholesterol – Cholesterol forms the membranes for cells and is used to make hormones, but too much of the wrong kind of cholesterol (LDL) can cause heart disease. This test measures all cholesterol levels in your body.

High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL Cholesterol) – The “good” cholesterol that protects against heart disease by helping to remove excess cholesterol. High levels actually seem to be associated with a lower risk for heart disease.

Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL Cholesterol) – The “bad” cholesterol is thought of as such because cholesterol deposits form in the arteries when LDL levels are high.

Cholesterol/HDL Ratio – This is the ratio of total cholesterol to High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol. This is a test that can help to report LDL, but the better way is just to test for direct LDL.

Triglycerides – These are the fats in the blood which have been associated with heart disease if elevated too high. They provide energy to the cells of the body.

Bone and Minerals

Total Iron - When iron levels get too high, the chance of a free iron being found in a cell exists. This is when excessive iron levels can be poisonous. On the other hand, too little iron can be a sign of iron deficiency anemia.

Calcium – Because I will be avoiding dairy products, I will have to be careful of finding enough Vitamin D sources. Calcium is regulated by Vitamin D, and long-term calcium deficiency can lead to osteoporosis.

Phosphorous – Phosphorous is extremely important to all elements of life. It even forms part of the structural framework of DNA and RNA. It is found mainly in bones and teeth. Phosphorous will also be something I will need to look out for, on a raw foods diet.

Fluids and Electrolytes

Chloride - Chloride exists to keep the fluid levels both inside and outside of your cells in balance. Chloride levels in your blood generally rise and fall with sodium levels.

Potassium – Potassium is absolutely essential for proper nerve and muscle function. Levels of potassium in the body can be affected by kidney function, blood pH, diet, the hormone known as aldosterone, excessive vomiting, and certain medications.

Sodium – Sodium helps with the regulation of your water balance and your electrolyte balance in the body. Too much sodium in a diet has been found to raise some people’s blood pressure.

Carbon Dioxide – This test measures the three different kinds of carbon dioxide (bicarbonate, carbonic acid, and dissolved carbon dioxide) in your blood. Carbon dioxide itself is a gaseous waste product made from metabolism. The tested value of carbon dioxide can indicate several things. It can show how your kidneys are functioning, any metabolic problems you may have, how well your lungs are releasing carbon dioxide, and whether or not your body can maintain a normal blood pH.

Diabetes

Glucose – Although hyperglycemia can’t be diagnosed with only one blood test, testing for abnormal levels of glucose in the blood post special interest to someone who is going to be having quite a lot of fructose in their diet.

Vitamin B12 Test

Vitamin B12 – Vitamin B12 is important to all parts of the body, but especially to red blood cells and nerve cells. This is the vitamin that can not be consumed in a vegan raw foods diet. I am very interested in finding just how much change can be seen at the end of this trial. Under normal circumstances, there is enough Vitamin B12 in a person’s liver to last a year, so I am not too worried.