Happy Apple Nutrition

What is hair mineral testing?

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a reliable, non-invasive screening tool that uses hair as a tissue sample to assess the body’s mineral status and toxic metal burden. This method has been in use for over a century and offers an affordable way to gain valuable insights into long-term mineral patterns.

Hair testing is simple, painless, affordable way to test 35 minerals and heavy metals in the body. Hair provides a blueprint of biochemistry occurring during the period of hair growth and development (about the past 3 months).

After you cut some snippets of hair from the back of your head it is “prepared in a licensed clinical laboratory through a series of chemical and high-temperature digestive procedures. Testing is then performed using highly sophisticated detection equipment and methods to achieve the most accurate and precise results.” – Trace Elements Inc. I only order HTMA testing from Analytical Research Lab and Trace Elements Inc, they adhere to the strictest standards.

Trace Elements utilizes state-of-the-art ICP-Mass Spectrometry (NexION® models) for all trace element determinations.

Why not use blood instead?

• Hair testing is non-invasive and easy
• Cutting your hair is painless
• No special handling of the sample so it can be mailed in an standard mail envelope 
• Cost-effective
• Blood is a snapshot; hair shows an average over the past 3 months. It is great to use them together!

HTMA is especially useful for evaluating and monitoring metabolic imbalances, helping to guide personalized nutritional and lifestyle protocols for restoring balance.

Because hair reflects the body’s internal chemistry over time, it serves as a powerful indicator of overall health. It can reveal subtle shifts in metabolic function, often detecting imbalances before they manifest as more serious health conditions.

Why do a HTMA test?

• To assess how efficiently your body converts food into energy
• To identify potential exposure to heavy metals
• To uncover the root causes of persistent fatigue and learn how to increase your energy levels naturally
• To evaluate the health of your thyroid and adrenal glands
• To gain insight into the underlying causes of chronic fatigue and long-standing health issues—and how to begin reversing them
• To determine how well your body is digesting food and absorbing essential minerals
• To create a personalized nutrition plan with the ideal balance of macro- and micronutrients for your unique biology
• To design a targeted supplement protocol tailored to your body chemistry, supporting your natural healing processes and helping to restore long-term wellness

The primary electrolytes are where we start working on balancing.

Other minerals are important too, and are addressed after the primary electrolytes.

We take toxic heavy metals into account. Oftentimes they barely show up in a depleted person’s hair sample and can show up in higher amounts on re-testing after the person has been working on mineral balncing a bit and given the body the power to push them out.

I also look at the ratios that can tell me about your adrenals, thyroid, blood sugar handling, infections and more!

Lastly, your oxidation rate which is like you metabolic rate can be elucidated from this test and guides dietary recommedations.

How does it work?

Sign up for a HTMA package of your choosing:

HTMA hair testing (add on for existing client) $99 if pay by check, $105 if pay online Click to book

HTMA hair testing: just results $114 if pay by check, $118 if pay online Click to book

HTMA hair testing: results + interpretation via email. We do not meet. Includes evaluation of symptoms and Symptom Burden Graph. $184 if pay by check, $189 if pay online Click to book

Once ordered, I will ship a kit to you via snail mail.

Please fill out the intake forms I send.

Follow the included instructions to collect your hair sample, then send it to Trace Elements lab using the prepaid envelope provided.

It typically it takes about 4 weeks to get your results.

If you bought a “test only package”, I will forward your results to you right away.

If you are an existing client in Nourish or Happy Apple Nutrition, we will go over your HTMA results at our next appointments.

If you bought a test + my interpretation via email I will email it to you ASAP.

Will you recommend supplements based on the testing?

Dietary, lifestyle changes and supplements will be recommended. Option to create a customized supplement in powder or capsules through Vykon Customs that costs about $100/month.

What outcomes are expected?

Because minerals impact every cell in your body, you can expect:

• Improved gut symptoms
• Less fight or flight reactions (less stress)
• Improvements in sleep, energy and motivation
• Decreased pain
• Improved cognition and mental clarity
• Healthier skin and hair
• Fewer autoimmune symptoms
• Mental Health benefits from mineral balancing–as energy levels and mineral levels balance out, the body will get the energy it needs to allow for the release of trauma

Ready to try HTMA? You have nothing to lose!

Click here to book HTMA testing with me