Data backed insight into your body’s needs.

Your oxidation rate reflects how efficiently your body converts food: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats — into usable energy. This process, known as oxidation, takes place inside every cell and directly influences how you feel: your energy levels, mood stability, metabolism, stress resilience, and even your hormonal rhythm.

By looking at key mineral ratios in the hair, especially Calcium/Potassium (thyroid) and Sodium/Magnesium (adrenal) the Rhythm Foundational Minerals Lab provides a clear picture of your metabolic pace. When oxidation occurs too fast or too slow, energy production becomes compromised, which can lead to fatigue, irritability, anxiety, cravings, weight changes, and mood fluctuations.

Your oxidation type is shaped by both genetics and lifestyle factors (particularly nutrition), meaning the foods you eat can either support or strain your metabolic efficiency. Understanding your oxidation rate helps tailor your diet and lifestyle so your body can produce energy in a way that feels smooth, stable, and sustainable.

✨ Why Oxidation Rate Matters

When your diet doesn’t match your metabolic pace, your mitochondria — the energy factories in your cells — struggle to keep up. Over time, this mismatch can contribute to:

• emotional dysregulation
• overwhelm or burnout
• chronic fatigue
• digestive issues
• difficulty losing (or maintaining) weight
• hormone imbalances
• mental health challenges

Eating in sync with your oxidation type helps restore balance, improve energy, and support your nervous system.

✨ The Three Oxidation Types

Fast Oxidizers

Fast oxidizers burn fuel quickly and tend to produce energy at a rapid pace. They often feel best with higher protein and fat intake, which burns more slowly and helps stabilize their system. Blood pH can lean slightly acidic, and without the right nutrients, fast oxidizers may experience irritability, anxiety, or quick energy crashes.

Slow Oxidizers

Slow oxidizers convert food into energy at a more gradual rate. They typically thrive on higher healthy carbohydrate intake compared to proteins and fats. Because slow oxidation is commonly associated with diminished thyroid and adrenal activity, this group may be more prone to fatigue, sluggishness, low mood, or feeling “stuck.” Their blood pH tends to be more alkaline, and they respond well to plant-forward meals and lean proteins.

Mixed (Balanced) Oxidizers

Mixed oxidizers sit between fast and slow and generally do well with a balanced combination of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
They may shift into fast or slow oxidation under stress, so paying attention to these changes through periodic re-testing can be highly supportive. (You get to re-rest this every year in Rhythm!)

Beyond the core minerals that shape your energy, hormones, and metabolic rhythm, we also measure a group of lesser-known but highly impactful trace elements. These minerals work quietly behind the scenes to activate enzymes, support detoxification, stabilize mood, regulate digestion, and influence nervous system balance. Even slight changes in these elements can tell us a great deal about hidden stressors, nutrient deficiencies, or metabolic patterns that aren’t obvious on standard lab work.

Nickel (Ni)

Most nickel exposure comes from everyday diet sources such as cocoa, chocolate, hydrogenated oils, soy products, and certain processed foods. It can also leach from batteries, lower-cost dental materials, costume jewelry, and nickel-plated items—common triggers for nickel sensitivity or dermatitis. Smoke and cigarette exposure further increase nickel load. Elevated nickel may interfere with enzyme activity and contribute to skin irritation, immune reactivity, or digestive symptoms.

Cobalt (Co)

Cobalt is a structural part of vitamin B12 and is essential for healthy red blood cell formation and nervous system support. Stored mainly in the liver, cobalt helps activate numerous enzymes and is excreted through bile.
High cobalt levels on an this lab can worsen the toxic effects of selenium and reduce iron absorption—and most importantly, elevated cobalt often points to selenium deficiency, making it a key marker for thyroid and antioxidant function.

Molybdenum (Mo)

A vital trace mineral involved in detoxifying sulfites, metabolizing amino acids, and supporting liver pathways. Molybdenum deficiency has been associated with gout-like symptoms and poor sulfur tolerance.
Low levels—especially in people who consume large amounts of meat—may indicate digestive dysfunction, suboptimal enzyme activity, or the need for digestive support.

Lithium (Li)

A naturally occurring trace element required for balanced nerve signaling and emotional regulation. Even in micro-amounts, lithium has a calming, stabilizing effect on the nervous system. Low lithium is extremely common and often under-recognized. Deficiency may contribute to mood instability, irritability, anxiety, disrupted sleep, or reduced stress resilience.

Electrolytes: Your Body’s Electrical System

Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electrical charge, helping regulate hydration, nerve signaling, muscle contraction, and stress response.
The foundational minerals lab test looks closely at calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium, which must stay in the proper balance to maintain optimal function.

Electrolyte Ratios: What They Reveal

Calcium + Magnesium Ratio

This ratio reflects how your body is coping with stress — both past and present. It can indicate:

• emotional or environmental stress load

• blood sugar instability

• chronic inflammation

• tension in the nervous system

A balanced ratio supports smooth metabolic function and calm, steady energy.

Sodium + Potassium Ratio

Often considered one of the most important markers in the lab. It gives insight into:

• adrenal function

• cortisol and aldosterone balance

• your body’s ability to handle stress

• overall resilience

A low ratio is commonly associated with burnout or overwhelm, while a high ratio can suggest acute stress or inflammation.