What My Hair Mineral Tissue Analysis (HTMA) Told Me at One Year Postpartum

What My Hair Mineral Tissue Analysis (HTMA) Told Me at One Year Postpartum

The HTMA test is something I've been training on over the past several months, and what better way to learn a new tool than to try it on myself! I just recently hit the one-year postpartum mark with my third baby, and this timeframe always feels like a good time to do some lab testing to check in on nutrient status and make sure I'm getting what I need from my diet and supplements.

I went ahead and wrote a blog explaining all the labs I will be running on myself over the course of the next month or so, if you're interested you can read the whole thing here.

Between being pregnant or breastfeeding for over six years now, sleep deprivation that compounds with each kid, the stress of running a household, and starting two new businesses this year, I've been feeling a bit depleted. I know firsthand, from working in the functional medicine space for over 10 years, the toll that chronic stress can take on the body...and yes, even me, someone who has all the tools and is "doing everything right," is still going to feel that impact. 

So of course my first stop is to order lab testing on myself, to see where the "holes" are in my diet and supplements, and get an idea of any patterns that need to be addressed. Nothing is "wrong" per se,  I was seeing some stress-related hair loss, having pretty bad knee pain that came on suddenly, and just feeling tired. Most people would dismiss these symptoms as just part of getting older (I did just turn 38, after all). Labs help piece together seemingly unrelated trends, and in many cases, help get ahead of disease and dysfunction before it can progress in the body. 

How This Applies to Me at One Year Postpartum

So back to me. At one year postpartum with baby number three, after six-plus years of being pregnant or breastfeeding almost back to back, I knew I was due for some depletion, I just didn't know exactly where. And that's the thing about this stage of motherhood: everyone tells you it's normal to be tired, it's normal to lose some hair, it's normal to feel run down. And sure, some of that is true. But "normal" and "optimal" are not the same thing, and I didn't want to just accept feeling depleted as the cost of doing business for the next however-many years.

The stress-related hair loss, the knee pain that came out of nowhere, the fatigue that wasn't going away no matter how much I tried to prioritize rest, none of those symptoms exist in a vacuum. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are enormous mineral events. Your body is quite literally handing off nutrients to another human, pregnancy after pregnancy, and unless those stores are being actively replenished, you're running an increasing deficit each round. Add in the sleep deprivation that stacks with every kid, plus the very real stress of running a household and launching two businesses this year, and my nervous system has basically been asked to sprint indefinitely, without a lot of downtime.

That's exactly the kind of picture HTMA is built to catch. It's not going to tell me I have a "disease." It's going to tell me where my body has been quietly running low, and where my stress response actually sits on the spectrum, whether I'm in that acute, early "alarm" stage of stress or something further along. And honestly, that's the piece I was most curious about with my own results, because I feel like I run hot and fast most days, and I wanted real data on whether that feeling matched what my body was actually doing at the mineral level.

Here's What My Results Actually Showed

My Metabolic Type: Fast 1

The first thing I look at on any HTMA report is metabolic type, and mine came back as Fast 1.

This classification is based on your overall mineral pattern, not just one number, and it reflects how those minerals are stimulating or inhibiting the glands that regulate your metabolism, mainly the thyroid and adrenals. Fast 1 specifically means a sympathetic-dominant nervous system, sometimes described as "fight or flight" mode, along with increased thyroid and adrenal activity. In plain terms: my body is producing energy quickly and running "hot".

Here's what's interesting about being a Fast Metabolizer: it's not automatically a bad thing. Fast types tend to function well under stress, even seek it out a little, and often thrive on having several projects going at once (guilty). The catch is that this pattern is sustainable only up to a point. Fast metabolizers convert nutrients into energy so quickly that if intake doesn't keep pace, you start burning through your mineral reserves faster than you can replace them, which is exactly the kind of picture that shows up after years of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and general go-go-go life.

Physically, this type is often associated with a warmer body temperature, perspiring easily, and a tendency toward carrying weight in the abdominal region due to elevated cortisol, even in someone eating and training "right." It's a good reminder that metabolic type isn't a reflection of willpower or effort; it's a reflection of what your glands and mineral status are actually doing underneath the surface.

Knowing I'm a Fast 1 gave context for everything else in my results, because once your energy-producing glands are running in overdrive for long enough, particular minerals get depleted in a fairly predictable pattern. And that's exactly what I found when I got into the individual numbers.

Nutritional Elements

After the metabolic type, we look at the 4 macrominerals: Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Potassium. 

Low Calcium: Not surprising for a postpartum mama with multiple kids, my calcium is in the tank. I am still actively breastfeeding and the depletion is real. 

When calcium is low, it becomes difficult to “shut off” from stress. We can also see sleep disturbance, increased anxiety, and joint pain with this pattern as well as blood sugar dysregulation. 

It is important to interpret calcium in the context of Vitamin D levels in the body because Vitamin D plays a key role in calcium absorption. Optimal Vitamin D levels are 60-100 ng/mL in the blood. If below this level, consider Vitamin D supplementation at 2000-5000 IU daily. I haven't checked my Vitamin D recently so I will be doing that and supplementing in the meantime. 

From there, I focus on calcium rich foods for repletion: organic, grassfed, raw and/or cultured dairy: milk, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, kefir, butter, cream. Other sources include sardines, canned salmon (with bones), tahini, nettle tea infusions (steeped overnight), bone broth, bone marrow, cooked greens including kale and collard greens.

Eggshell powder, oyster shell, pearl powder or an MCHC form of calcium could be considered for supplementation, especially if you do not consume dairy. I'm adding back a supplemental form. 

High Magnesium: This pattern is very common with stress and does not necessarily mean your magnesium intake itself or the level in the body is too high.

We tend to excrete magnesium under elevated stress and actually have a greater demand for it. Note that we need B6 to help us hang on to and utilize magnesium, this is also often depleted under elevated stress. Constipation and anxiety are also often related to magnesium status. 

Magnesium rich foods: leafy greens, pumpkin seeds, cacao/dark chocolate, avocado, black beans, wild-caught salmon, banana, milk, yogurt, cheese, potatoes

Supplemental magnesium in a magnesium glycinate form could be considered at 200-400mg nightly, especially if experiencing sleep disturbance. Epsom salt baths or topical magnesium can also be a great tool for repleting magnesium and gaining the benefits of muscle relaxation and sleep. I will be doing all of this even more diligently than I already was. 

High sodium: This can indicate elevated stress levels and more of an adrenaline response which can trend with anxiety. This does not necessarily mean you are consuming too much sodium, but once again like magnesium that you are spilling or excreting excess. With this pattern we tend to see fatigue that doesn't fully resolve with rest, a tendency toward fluid retention/puffiness, and brain fog. Frequent urination and irritability may also be seen. No need to restrict sodium intake in fact I may have an increased need under stress, but it is important to balance sodium and potassium.

Sodium sources: quality mineral rich salt, bone broth, sea vegetables, pickles (fermented preferred). I won't be restricting sodium rich foods, but I also won't be supplementing with any sodium dominant electrolytes and am going to shift to formulas that are more potassium forward. 

Low Potassium: Potassium looks almost normal, however it is significantly low relative to sodium which echoes the stress picture. When potassium is low relative to sodium, we often will see thyroid sluggishness, anxiety, and fluid retention/bloating. What is super interesting is that with this pattern, a thyroid panel can look normal on paper, but thyroid hormone is not actually getting to the cells. 

Potassium rich foods: leafy greens, avocado, coconut water, potatoes (with skin), bananas, white beans, aloe vera juice, milk, yogurt, cheese, sweet potatoes, oranges, dates

A potassium-forward electrolyte powder such as Seeking Health Optimal Electrolytes, Jigsaw Potassium Cocktail, or Rayvi could be appropriate. I'm going to start taking the Seeking Health Electrolytes regularly instead of the more sodium-dominant forms I have relied on in the past based on my results. 

When Magnesium and Sodium are high and we see the Calcium and Potassium low, this can indicate we've just been through a big stressor but are on or close to the comedown. The results look like a little "hill" or "mountain". Instead of crashing into burnout mode, running the HTMA at this point in time lets me support my system as my stress also naturally comes down. 

What's really interesting in these results is that they directly reflect what's been going on in my life for the past several months. In fact, in March, we had a major life stressor that ultimately resulted in both starting our own businesses essentially overnight! It's great now, but looking back this was a majorly stressful time. I got super sick and was in bed for several days, lost about 15 pounds pretty rapidly, then saw significant hair loss a couple months out. All that to say, boy am I glad I ran this when I did! 

After the macrominerals, we want to look at anything else that is low or high, as well as the ratios between them. What we don't want to do here is chase every single low mineral with an individual supplement. 

Here are a couple other things that really stood out in my results:

Low Copper: Copper is essential for collagen synthesis, iron utilization, and estrogen and progesterone balance. Low copper tends to trend with low estrogen levels and irregular cycles, and hair thinning is common with it too. Copper also plays a role in iron recycling, so if my iron comes back low on bloodwork, copper deficiency could be part of that story rather than just inadequate intake. There's also a synergistic effect between calcium and copper, meaning as I improve calcium status, copper should follow, and vice versa. 

Copper rich foods: oysters, beef or chicken liver, cashews, sesame seeds, mushrooms, dark chocolate, chlorophyll drops.

I'm adding in Her Package from Heart and Soil, but I also really like the liver capsules or desiccated liver powder from Perfect Supplements.

I'm also pausing any supplements with high amounts of zinc in them as we know that zinc and copper have an antagonistic relationship. This will allow the copper to come back up naturally. 

Low Iron: My iron was low, which is expected postpartum and during breastfeeding. Because iron supplementation can hinder copper, I'm actually focusing on iron rich foods at the moment while I replete copper a bit. I am taking some desiccated organ supplements from Heart and Soil at the moment which will give me a food source of copper, iron and other minerals in synergy.

Food sources of iron: red meat, liver, dark poultry meat, salmon, oysters/clams, lentils, spinach, pumpkin seeds, quinoa

Low Cobalt: Cobalt is the mineral core of B12,  low tissue cobalt often tracks with functional B12 status and can contribute to fatigue and low mood. 

Cobalt rich foods: red meat, liver, shellfish, eggs, dairy

I'm also adding back a B Complex which somehow fell off my list. I have a persistent eye twitch that shows up under stress and I'm hoping between repleting B-12 and calcium and magnesium I can get this under control 

Significant Ratios: 

A lot of this was covered above, so just a few things to call out from my individual results.

Calcium: Phosphorus Ratio: this is the ratio that determines metabolic type and nervous system state.  Mine is so low because my calcium is extremely low. This echos the FAST metabolic type, telling us I am burning through my minerals quickly. 

Sodium: Potassium Ratio: This is the adrenal ratio. When high, can indicate acute stress. Can also indicate inflammation or infection. 

Calcium: Potassium Ratio: This is the thyroid ratio. When low, this can indicate increased permeability on the cellular level which translates to increased thyroid hormone actually getting into the cells. It can create a hyper-thyroid state, even if thyroid blood labs look normal.

Zinc: Copper Ratio: This is the hormone and mood ratio. Zinc trends with progesterone and testosterone, while copper trends with estrogen. I am postpartum and still nursing at night and my cycle has not returned, so I would venture to guess that my hormones across the board are suppressed. 

Sodium: Magnesium Ratio: This ratio indicates increased adrenal function with a tendency toward high cortisol and increased anxiety. This can also trend with irritability and impulsivity or being quick to anger (sorry to my husband). 

Calcium: Magnesium Ratio: This is the blood sugar ratio. High ratios can trend toward insulin resistance, while low ratios like mine can trend toward low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. 

Iron: Copper Ratio: Both are low so this ratio looks pretty balanced, copper is in need of more immediate attention. When high, can indicate infection.

Toxic Elements (Heavy Metals)

No toxic elements were detected in my results. These are the major heavy metals that we'd be concerned about driving symptoms like lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, etc. I will note that sometimes seeing these as low means that the body is simply not prioritizing excreting or detoxing these, not that they aren't present.

However in a fast metabolizer, we typically do see heavy metals if they are present, so I'm not currently worried about Heavy Metals as a driver of dysfunction in my body. Right now I'm using Beam Minerals Fulvic and Humic Acid as a gentle mineral and detox support and I'm going to continue doing this just because we live in a dirty world. 

If something like Mercury or Aluminum showed up, I might use a gentle binder like modified citrus pectin, the fulvic and humic minerals noted above, or add in some chlorella and spirulina. 

We then look at toxic ratios, and there we want to see the higher, the better. 

The toxic ratios tell us about the relationship between toxic elements and nutritional elements in relation to them. For example, when there is less calcium in the bone, lead can move in to replace calcium. When there is mercury toxicity, the body uses more selenium in an attempt to detoxify. Rather than doing a deep chelation protocol off the bat, sometimes just balancing the nutritional elements and gently supporting detox is enough to crowd out the minerals we don't want to see depositing in the body. 

Additional Elements

These are predominantly used for research purposes and don't yet have enough human data to draw firm conclusions, but I'm still watching these trends and thinking about reducing sources of those that came back elevated for me. 

Rubidium: Present in foods including nuts and produce, diets higher in meat and dairy run higher in rubidium. Rubidium can behave similarly to potassium in the body so this is interesting to watch alongside the low potassium trend. 

Lithium: This can be an external exposure such as pool or hot tub as well as certain water supplies. Certain herbs can be high in lithium including chickweed, goldenseal, comfrey, peppermint, alfalfa, black cohosh. Also check supplements for lithium, it is often found in anti-anxiety formulas. I personally take a little lithium in a supplement once in awhile so this is not surprising or concerning. 

Vanadium: this is often an industrial or occupational exposure. Main sources are petroleum refining, metal refining and fossil fuel combustion. Vanadium is present in nearly all food and water in low levels. Sulfur and Vitamin C help to oppose the effects and detoxify excess. 

Strontium: Chemically, strontium sits right below calcium on the periodic table, which means it behaves a lot like calcium in the body — it can get deposited into bone and teeth in calcium's place. That's actually the most relevant piece for me personally: with calcium already running as low as mine is, strontium may have an easier time competing for those same uptake pathways. Common sources include certain dental products and varnishes (used for treating tooth sensitivity) and some water supplies. This is one I'll keep an eye on as I work on repleting calcium, since supporting calcium status should also help crowd out strontium's ability to substitute in. I'll also note that a symptom of high strontium is bone pain, which is interesting given the deep knee pain I started experiencing. 

Titanium: Titanium (usually as titanium dioxide) shows up as a whitening additive in food, supplements, and cosmetics. Tt's what gives many supplement capsules their white coating, and it's also used in some sunscreens, toothpaste, and processed foods for color. It's also a common material in dental and medical implants, I actually have a titanium implant so this one is nut surprising at all. 

If I see elevations of any of these in a client, I'm looking at environmental factors. Do they live or work in an industrial area? Are they exposed to any of these elements in their job such as in oil and gas? Do they dye their hair or work in a hair salon? Are they exposed to a lot of pesticides or plastics in their day to day? I also think about water sourcing and generally recommend reverse osmosis filtration when possible, both for drinking and cooking water as well as shower and bath. 

What I'm Prioritizing Based on My Results

Rather than trying to chase all fifteen minerals at once, here's what I'm actually focused on right now. 

Foods:

• Dairy: A solid, consistent source of calcium, which is my most significantly depleted mineral right now, plus it adds some potassium too. I do cottage cheese for breakfast, raw milk in my coffee, and cheese of some form most days.
• Red meat: Covers iron and phosphorus, both of which came back low for me, and it's an easy, protein-forward choice that fits a Fast 1 metabolic type. 
• Organ meats: My single best food source of copper, which is one of the biggest priorities on this whole list, plus it brings iron and B12 along with it.
• Dates with cashew butter: Dates are a great potassium source and cashews add a little copper and magnesium on top. I'm using these as my preworkout snack and loving how it feels!
• Coconut water: An easy, drinkable way to bring in more potassium daily without needing a powder or supplement for it. I've always loved and craved coconut water so this is reassuring! 
• Nettle tea: Not just for pregnancy! I'm bringing back my daily iced nettle infusion which is honestly something I really enjoy anyway. One of my favorite multitaskers, it brings calcium, boron, and a handful of trace minerals all in one cup.
• Liquid Chlorophyll added to water. Supports copper status and general detox pathways, which matters given how low my copper is and how much I want my body supported as any trace metals continue to move. 

Supplements: All of the exact supplements I recommend for HTMA can be found on my Fullscript here or are linked directly below. 

• MCHC Calcium: I need a little extra support for calcium at least while I'm still breastfeeding. This MCHC form is bone-derived calcium, not citrate or carbonate which can be concerning for buildup in the body. 
• Seeking Health Electrolytes: these are more potassium forward than the electrolytes I usually reach for and so far are feeling really good during and after my workouts. 
• Heart and Soil Her Package: A desiccated organ blend that supports copper and iron together, which is exactly the combination I need right now. These are targeted toward female hormone balance as well. 
• Digestive Bitters/Enzymes: Supports protein digestion and absorption, which matters since low phosphorus can point to how well I'm actually breaking down and using the protein I eat, not just how much I'm eating.
• B Complex (especially B12 and B6):  B12 to support my low cobalt finding, and B6 specifically to help my body hang onto and utilize magnesium. Important since I'm actually pausing my prenatal due to potential for zinc and iron interference. 
• Magnesium Glycinate: Yes, even with a high tissue magnesium reading. Since that pattern usually reflects my body spilling magnesium under stress rather than true excess, I'm continuing to support it, especially for sleep and muscle relaxation.
• Beam Minerals Fulvic & Humic: My gentle, ongoing mineral and detox support, since we live in a world with unavoidable trace exposures even when nothing toxic shows up on a test. These also provide another blanket support for trace minerals.

What's Next

I will be retesting in about three months. That's roughly how long it takes for new hair growth to reflect the changes I'm making now, so it gives me a real before and after instead of guessing whether any of this actually worked.