Glossary

Hair Analysis

Hair analysis (Trace Mineral Analysis or TMA) is a test in which a small sample of hair is sent to a lab for evaluation of a person's mineral content. This test can detect mineral imbalances and provide a person with information about the minerals that are lacking or excessive, including toxic minerals. Especially significant factors that hair analysis can determine are a person's metabolism, needed vitamins and minerals for supplementation, and recommendations of what foods to eat and to avoid.

For relevant data that can be attained with hair analysis, check out:
Trace Elements, Inc.

The hair is an excellent way to analyze mineral and element ratios because it is easily accessible and noninvasive, unlike blood or tissue samples.  Hair discloses the body’s history of exposure to various environmental toxins, diet, and the body’s metabolism [slow/fast].  The hair provides a more reliable way to determine mineral levels because these levels are relatively stable, where as these levels in the blood can change to quickly for results to be a true representation of any mineral and/or nutritional imbalance. Usually, a hair mineral analysis will reveal imbalances before the blood or urine will.  Therefore, a hair analysis can be used as an inexpensive screening tool to reveal mineral deficiencies or toxicities before illness or specific health problems arise.

Mineral imbalances are caused by a variety of factors, a few being; improper nutritional and diet; physical, mental, and/or emotional stress; pollution and environmental toxins; uninformed use of medications and/or nutritional supplements.

Mineral ratios are determined as opposed to other nutritional components because minerals act as enzyme activators which control normal cellular metabolic functions.  Basic trace minerals are needed for the body to utilize the nutrition available from one’s diet.  Minerals activate the enzymes that allow the body to use amino acids, vitamins, etc. which come from the food one eats.  If these minerals are in a state of imbalance, then the body is unable to efficiently utilize the available nutrition.