Entrepreneur offers lifestyle advice based on blood analysisEntrepreneur and certified blood analyst Deborah Parker uses a microscope to try to help clients achieve a healthier lifestylePaul MitchisonSep 6, 2002 One small drop of blood can tell a big story about the general state of your health, says Deborah Parker. She's a certified blood analyst, and an entrepreneur. Armed with a $25,000 high-powered microscope hooked to a monitor, she's ready to interpret for clients what's going on in their bodies, through what's visible in their blood. She's also getting into the business of setting up others interested in becoming blood analysts, to perform what she feels is a life-changing service that can lead to greatly improved health. "It's quite amazing what you can see," Parker maintains. Being able to examine your own blood on a monitor acts like an educational "feedback mechanism", motivating clients to improve their health. Issues such as liver function, cholesterol, and the strength of one's immune system, are all visible from a blood sample. She encourages clients to return for follow-up analysis so that they can see the results for themselves, once they adjust their lifestyle. For those unfamiliar with the term, blood analysis is a technology that has long been known in Europe, and is lately becoming more high-profile throughout the U.S. and western Canada. She accepts numerous speaking engagements, and has demonstrated her services at wellness fairs, health clubs and natural food stores, as well as service club meetings. Her client base includes more than 800 people who've had their blood tested. Parker, as owner of Bloodlink Inc., located in her home on Bromley Road, is a strong believer in the technology, though many remain skeptical of what she views as a more holistic approach to managing health. Until recently she had an office on Kerr Street in Oakville. Knowing your blood type is crucial to the process. If you're not already aware of your type, blood typing is offered for $25. Many people who've donated blood may know their type. Parker is a firm adherent of the studies of Dr. Peter D'Adamo, author of various "Eat Right for Your Type" books. She sells the books at her home, as well. D'Adamo claims you should eat and drink according to your blood group. He suggests each of the blood groups emerged at different stages of our evolution, and your blood group determines the way you absorb nutrients. Type O, the predominant group, emerged some 50,000 years ago, when humans were skilled hunters and gatherers. Meat was their fuel and so (by a huge leap of logic) a meat-heavy diet is the best regime for type Os. People with group A are "farmers", whose blood group dates from the dawn of agriculture (20,000 BC) and they should be largely vegetarian. Type B, the "nomad", dating from the time of mass migration across the continents around 10,000 BC, are suited to most foods, except chicken. Type ABs are "modern" and D'Adamo says these people have "the benefits and intolerances of types A and B". Some nutritionists refuse to accept the basic premise which is at the heart of the diet. According to information on a British health and wellness Web site, www.well-aware.co.uk, D'Adamo is off base: "The moment you cut foods out of your diet you'll lose weight, but that's nothing to do with your blood type," says Dr. Susan Jebb, head of nutrition and health research at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Human Nutrition Research, Cambridge, England. "The books are so complicated and full of so many long words and endorsed by a doctor that people are bamboozled into thinking there's real evidence for it. But there hasn't been a single trial which has looked at whether anything to do with your blood type and diet makes any difference to your weight." But Parker thinks the key to winning over the skeptics is education and word of mouth. She says many people would change their eating habits if they knew what blood type they were and how that affects their well-being. Once people can see and feel the benefits of proper blood analysis, they'll be sold, she feels. Medical doctors aren't necessarily on board, she acknowledged, but she thinks that's because they're not sufficiently trained in homeopathic medicine. Parker herself got into the field when she began exploring ways to improve her own health. During visits with her brother in Calgary, she decided to go to a clinic on his recommendation. The results led to a change in diet and a daily regimen of nutritional supplements. Combined with regular exercise, Parker says she not only lost weight (two dress sizes), but has experienced increased energy, fewer colds and flu and a desire to eat less. Delighted with her own results, Parker decided to take her science background (a B.Sc. in biology from Queen's and a diploma in Laboratory Science Technology from St Lawrence College) and train to become a certified blood analyst. "I'm 47, but nobody guesses my age. I have tons of energy, from eating the right foods," she said. As a type B, she avoids chicken, substituting turkey. She's also a big proponent of starting one's day wit a special power drink, containing a healthy mixture that includes greens, fruits, bee pollen, liquid calcium and goat whey. Her home on Bromley Road is like an oasis of calm, with an English garden in the back, relaxing acoustic music playing throughout, attractive art on all walls, and the calming sound of water. When she meets clients, she prefers to spend as least an hour with them, including time to ask questions about stress, diet and lifestyle. "People like to talk about their health, and it shouldn't be hurried along." The process of blood analysis requires an expensive, high-tech microscope and camera specially made in Germany. Clients can view their blood cells on a monitor as Parker analyzes what she sees. A 15-minute consultation is offered for free. From there a client can consider something called a live Ultra Darkfield Blood Analysis, for $60. That indicates, at the cellular level, the state of your overall health, Parker said -- issues as poor digestion, liver, kidney, bowel, gall bladder stress, vitamin deficiencies, weakened immune system, level of toxicity, hormone imbalance, plaque and poor circulation. A client actually watches his or her blood cells on a computer monitor, hooked to the microscope. "We discuss the optimal food, exercise, and vitamins to improve what we see." Even more revealing is a live, Layered Blood Analysis for $95. This process indicates where in the body there are weaknesses and how they are developing over your lifetime, she said. "This is a great tool for tracking your internal health, before you feel any major issues developing." An appointment includes a discussion of the optimal food, exercise and vitamins to improve one's health. A videotape can be purchased of what is seen under the microscope, if one wants a permanent record of their blood on a certain date. It's still a largely unregulated field. While there's a push for recognition of certified blood analysts, she said existing courses in using the necessary equipment are only a few days in length, and offered only in Calgary and San Francisco. Little time is invested in the sales and marketing aspect of spreading the blood analysis concept, said Parker, and technicians often fail in their businesses. She feels what she does can be taught more effectively and economically by an experienced technician such as herself, here in Burlington, where she can also stress the business side. With a microscope, training, computer software and more, she's offering a complete turnkey business for about $40,000. For further information call 905-639-2872.
Or check out the website of www.blood-link.com