Hello Reader

Since having kids, September has generally been the beginning of my "new year" because let's face it, my life revolves around term time schedules. Now that I am lecturing, academic schedule is even more embedded into my routine. Academia has always had a place in my heart but with influencers and AI, there is more of a need for academia and research than ever before, especially when it comes to health and wellbeing.

In the last few months, I have had more requests for support with interpreting blood test results. And these are not just NHS tests, these are tests taken through other companies that are promoted on social media or by other influencers (including doctors). The downside is that these companies often interpret the test results using AI (which is worse than using a reference range in my opinion). Sure, AI has its place, but when it comes to patient-centred care, AI is anything but patient-centred.

What qualified nutritionists ,health coaches and other private health care practitioners do is spend time and really look after their clients/patients. And nothing comes close to that human attention - that person-to-person care. And with growing reliance of AI, patient centred care is getting further from grasp.

I see and understand the growing interest in longevity medicine. It is a branch that has become a "fad" when it comes to the wellness industry. Ayurveda has always promoted longevity wellbeing without all the expensive tests and supplements. We all want to live longer whilst being healthier. But as I have always said, there is no substitute for healthy eating and living.

Wearing expensive tech or getting expensive tests are only as good as what action you are willing to take from that data.

I do believe that data is good and having some tests done are great for promoting optimal health (but they need to be the right tests). And only if you are willing to take action, both in the short-term and long-term. I have clients who have done the nutrigenomics testing and then have taken action accordingly. Many have even updated their routines and diet to align up with their current life status. Meaning they have really understood their genetic test results and have learned how to adapt their diet and lifestyle to align up with whatever may be going on for them. You cannot always do the same thing - as life changes, your routine and therefore your diet and lifestyle habits need to change accordingly.

Anyhow, when it comes to private testing, you need to be cautious of not only who you go through, what company/lab you use and how your results are interpreted.

Let me give you an example. I have a client, lets call him Dylan to keep his privacy. I first started working with Dylan a few years back as he had type 2 diabetes at the time. His kidney function tests were always borderline (his eGFR - kidney filtration - was around 85 mL/min/1.73m² - ideally you want it to be higher than 90) and he also has high blood pressure. After working with me for about two years, his Type 2 Diabetes went into remission and he has managed to keep it that way for last year and a half. His eGFR, not ideal, but has remained steady and gets it checked by his GP once a year.

Recently, Dylan decided to do one of the longevity health tests that he came across online. The AI interpreted pretty much all his test results to be "acceptable" or "excellent". It did not flag anything as being wrong. He was surprised because he is aware of his kidney health and of course he was interested in seeing how he was getting on with managing his diabetes. He got back in touch with me and asked me to review his blood test results.

Upon reviewing his blood test results, I highlighted that his CRP (inflammation levels) were borderline high (but still within normal range) and his kidney filtration levels were not normal - down to 80 mL/min/1.73m². He is now working with me to lower his inflammation levels and has met with his doctor to address his kidney function.

These tests are great to do, but it is important to have a real person look at the test results within the context of your health. Numbers without context are just numbers. They do not mean much on their own. History of previous test results are important but AI cannot replace expert understanding.

Sure, some numbers, such as vitamin D levels do not need context, but equally, knowing your numbers helps to understand what supplements you may or may not need to take.

If you have had a private health tests done and would like to review your test results, you can book in a nutrition consultation. You can book your session online and send me a copy of your test results ahead of time. Then we can meet to go over your results and I can provide context and education around the test results.

Alternatively, I also offer functional health testing (same as the longevity testing) except when you buy through me, there is no AI interpreting your test results - its me and as testing is only offered to those who book a nutrition consultation, you can rest assured that I will assess your test results in context of your current state of health and health history. I will only recommend tests that are truly needed. If you want to learn more, you can reply to this email and we can arrange to have a chat.

If you would like to choose the more independent route, I would recommend going through YorkTest and use code: PVARSHA at checkout to get a discount. This is the only independent testing company that I currently endorse.

When it comes to living a longer and healthier life, your daily habits matter the most and staying healthy does not need to be complicated. You can combine nutrition and Ayurveda to live a healthier life. Reply to this email and we can have a chat about how a nutrition consultation can support your wellbeing.

Health & Happiness,

Varsha

P.S. If you ever find yourself at a crossroads about which supplement to take or which test to purchase, feel free to reach out and I will always be happy to provide some guidance.

P.P.S. You can shop for supplements using Natural Dispensary. (This is for UK customers only). Using this link will take you straight to a list of supplements that I often recommend and/or are of good quality. When you register for an account, use my name to sign up and use code VARSHA10 to get 10% off your purchase every single time. Do get in touch if you have any questions.