The ZRT Laboratory Blog

A symbol of femininity for so many women, our hair demands attention. Both deeply personal and superficially public, changes in the looks of our hair can inspire a range of emotions, driving us to willingly partake in its cutting, straightening, curling, bleaching, darkening, or other aggressive chemical treatments. Hair is part of who we are and how we present ourselves to the world. This is why…

Tags: Stress, Menopause, Cortisol, Progesterone, Estrogen, PCOS, Thyroid Health, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12

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I was so tired. I needed a new word for tired. I felt exhausted and incapacitated, utterly drained and hollowed out. It was like my brain and body were fading. And yet, these words are still not descriptive enough to relate how I felt. Getting out of bed felt grueling, punishing. I was 24 at the time, in my 4th year of my PhD program at Purdue University. I was newly engaged and so in love with my…

Tags: Thyroid Health, Blood Spot Testing

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While cannabis is being legalized in more and more states, both the adverse and beneficial effects of its use are starting to be better understood. The active compound in cannabis, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is widely known to have effects on the brain, producing the “high” that many users are seeking. However, the other more adverse effects cannabis can have on the body are less widely known. In…

Tags: Endocannabinoid System, HPA Axis, HPT Axis, HPG Axis, Estrogen, Androgen, Adrenal and Cortisol, Thyroid Health

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Growing your own fruits and vegetables is both challenging and rewarding. Many people plant gardens with the expectation that they can control what goes into their food. Gardening, especially in urban areas, has grown in popularity, but unfortunately, it comes with some risks. Contamination with elements present in the air, soil, or groundwater is a concern in both urban and rural gardens, and…

Tags: Heavy Metals, Essential Elements, Elements Testing, Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, Thallium, Mercury, Zinc, Copper

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Here at ZRT, we clinicians are always reading. When we aren’t on the phones or completing laboratory reports for you, we are constantly researching and reading. We read everything from the books that some of you are writing to articles on Pubmed and Medscape. We thought that it might be fun to tell you what is currently on our reading agenda.…

Tags: ZRT Laboratory, Research

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Low testosterone in older men, often referred to as “male menopause” or even “andropause” is fairly well known — and testosterone replacement therapy in this age group has not been without its share of controversy [...] But what about the alarming suggestion that low testosterone is now becoming more prevalent in younger men? An article published last year has brought some attention to a link between poor health and low testosterone levels in younger men.…

Tags: Testosterone, Andropause, Obesity, SHBG

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Have you ever wondered where dietary iodine comes from? Most people are familiar with iodized salt and shellfish containing high levels of iodine, but few realize a vast assortment of food and drinks contain this essential nutrient. What food products contain the highest levels of iodine? It may come as a surprise that most dietary iodine comes from dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt.…

Tags: Elements Testing, Essential Elements, Dried Urine Testing, Iodine, Thyroid Health

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When shopping for jewelry, do you consider what metals make up earrings, bracelets, rings, and other shiny items? A report by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) in California detailed that cadmium was present in numerous jewelry items tested from stores including Ross, Walgreens and Nordstrom Rack. The amount of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, ranged from 40-100% in the items testing…

Tags: Cadmium, Elements Testing, Heavy Metals

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Gadolinium is a rare-earth heavy metal that most humans will have little exposure to. The designation of “rare-earth” element is misleading as it has a very common medical use: gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs). GBCAs were first approved in 1988 to help make diseased tissues look brighter or darker during Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). In 2017 nearly 40% of MRIs used GBCAs, and it is…

Tags: Elements Testing, Heavy Metals, Dried Urine Testing

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As a laboratory that tests for hormone imbalances and exposure to environmental hazards such as heavy metals and BPA, we are acutely aware of the need to be responsible caretakers of the environment. We try to do our part in minimizing unnecessary waste products that can ultimately find their way into the food we eat, the water we drink and air we breathe. This blog looks at some of the ways we…

Tags: ZRT Laboratory

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