Proper mineral balance is essential to preventing as well as overcoming health problems. These imbalances are often the result of nutritional deficiencies. Heavy metals can antagonize the absorption of their more healthful / essential mineral counterparts.Hair permanently records the past events of your trace element status. These records can be the result of environmental and dietary factors revealed and explained through personalized interpretations.For many elements, hair more closely reflects the body's mineral stores than does blood or urine. Due to “homeostatic” mechanisms our blood levels of minerals are constrained to normal levels despite inherent and dramatic mineral deficiencies. Indeed there is often no clear linear relationship between mineral tissue levels indicated in hair and the levels in serum. Serum blood trace mineral levels are believed to be defined extracellularly where as the hair trace mineral levels are believed to be defined at intracellular trace element concentrations. This is why hair analysis is considered to be a better record of mineral tissue levels. Not affected by dietary intake that week and an accurate measurement gauge of the past 3-5 months for mineral tissue levels.Often, hair will uncover a metal toxicity when the blood or urine does not. Hair analysis is used as forensic evidence in virtually every courtroom. It is performed using ICP Emission Spectroscopy. Dr. Gordus of the University of Michigan tested the head hair of naval midshipman, Annapolis and army cadets from West Point. When the incoming freshman cadets arrive at their respective academies they have widely different levels of trace minerals in their hair, reflecting variation in their local nutritional intakes. As they accumulate time at the academies their hair trace mineral patterns became more and more a like suggesting that nutritional intake, not individual genetics, is the primary factor determining hair trace mineral levels and nutritional status.Hair analysis is the most convenient laboratory test as an overall health indicator and measuring tool for biochemical mineral imbalance. It is recommended that this safe, simple, and cost-effective test be performed once or twice a year on individuals of all ages. It should be recognized that hair analysis is a screening test and cannot be used to precisely diagnose the presence or absence of disease. As with any test, hair analysis has valid applications as well as certain limitations.Used properly, hair analysis is a helpful indicator to monitor major and trace element imbalances and environmental toxicity. With the information obtained from hair analysis and other examinations, specific nutritional programs can be wisely designed to restore the natural balance of the body.