Yes, we are a real business located in Lawrenceville, Georgia. We are a small business with fewer than 20 employees, and we have been in business since 2017. We have served over 330,000 humans and pets.
The owners created 5Strands because they were searching for answers on how their internal and external bodies interact with foods (internally) and the environment (externally). 5Strands provides information to help individuals in making choices about their diet and lifestyle. This empowers them to make proactive choices when taking charge of their health and the health of their pets. Each year, the company reviews the test items and makes suggestions on changes that can improve our tests. We listen to customer feedback and implement information that we receive from our customers each year.
5Strands has a variety of tests to assist humans and pets. Since pets can't talk, a guide is useful to show how they handle what they eat and are exposed to daily. We have a large variety of pet tests, ranging from wet, dry, and freeze-dried kibble to fresh or raw pet food. We also take a look at environmental items and metals. Of course, pets can be sensitive or intolerant to many things, too! So it’s important to get them tested. Pets can't tell you that the kibble they eat daily is making their tummy bloated and inflamed. But you might notice that they lick a lot, have loose stools or diarrhea. Such behavior is a sign that something is up. It is important to test them for answers.
A customer who had a pet with cracked and bleeding paws comes to mind. She conducted various tests and ultimately identified the environmental test that included red items; she then discussed which red items the pet might have come into contact with. There were several items and WOOL was one of them. She was advised to remove all red items from her home, and it appears that the wool area rugs were the most significant factor in making a difference. After eliminating the wool items, the paws began to heal and have not had an issue since. The happy customer replaced the wool area rugs with cotton, and all is going well.
Speaking of getting tested, another story comes to mind that includes both humans and pets…. A personal friend of mine became curious about our tests after asking many questions, and she happily ordered our most comprehensive test, noting that it cost significantly less than what she was spending at the doctor without receiving any answers; she also felt uncertain about what to do next, since she did not have any answers. I just listened and suggested our test. She told me that when she was at home, she had watery eyes and a runny nose, and she was just overall exhausted. She called a few weeks later, after receiving the test results and said, “I knew it! I am sensitive to my cat! I spent thousands of dollars on an allergy panel and it came back that I was NOT “allergic” to cats. I now realize that I do not have an allergy, but I do have sensitivities to cat dander and cat saliva, so I try to limit my exposure and things are much better.” - Sandra
When it comes to protecting your sample and getting the most accurate results, our warehouse team includes an antistatic bag to store your hair. We find that hair is the most stable and easy-to-transport item for use in the mail system. It does not break down or disintegrate with heat or cold. It remains stable throughout the process. Our lab runs a double pass on every sample and provides easy-to-read, color-coded reports for every client via email or app. We aim to offer an affordable solution that empowers both humans and pet owners regarding their health. You and your pet can use it as one of many tools to find answers.
I consider our test a tool. Tools can help, but if you misuse them, you won't get the desired results. The challenging part comes in applying the tools/information. For example, an elimination diet involves removing foods that are red or orange from your diet. Environmental items = reduced exposure. Nutrition will require healing your gut so it can process nutrition properly. All of this takes time and effort. When followed properly, our customers see wonderful results. Oftentimes things that are harder to do net the best results. If you fail to implement the elimination diet or eliminate the environmental items highlighted in red, the results will remain unchanged. We encourage everyone to press through and see the results. We have had reports of clearer skin and eliminated rash, bumps, bloating, cramps, and more. Recently, 5Strands participated in a Consumer Perception Pet Study involving our pet products, and over 80% of the participants who used the tools reported positive results. In our human study, 8 out of 10 participants said they saw improvements after implementing the report information into their daily routine.
Lastly, what makes 5Strands stand out from other providers is that it has a customer service phone and chat line available M-F 10am to 4pm (EST). We have caring reps that answer your questions and walk you through your concerns.
Bottom line, it is a lot of information; it takes a bit of work, but we are here to help you understand it. Apply the report to your daily diet, exposures, and lifestyle, and you will see and feel the difference.
