New Nottingham-based wellness venture launches
Bob Woods, MBE, founder of wealth management company Mattioli Woods, has launched a new Nottingham-based testing brand, lastinghealth. The Everyday Chemical Test has been designed to help consumers measure recent exposure to common environmental chemicals.
Inspired by Bob’s personal experience managing asthma symptoms, the launch comes as the UK preventive health market, including screenings and at-home diagnosis, was projected to exceed £1.8billion in 2025, driven by rising consumer demand for proactive, personalised health insights.
Bob comments, “I’ve been fit and healthy all my life with the exception of chronic asthma, which inexorably worsened into my mid 50s. I discovered a clinic which specialised in environmental medicine who believed my condition had been made worse by toxins in the environment. After a long-term detox programme my asthma was almost completely resolved, which inspired me to launch lastinghealth.
I firmly believe that environmental toxicity could well turn out to be the biggest health issue of our age. There’s growing awareness of plastic and atmospheric pollution but far less focus on the cumulative impact of everyday chemical exposure. We’ve all been educated to believe that the secret to longevity is good diet and fitness, but I think there is a third pillar that is missing, which is a focus on environmental toxicity. I want to bring best-in-class information to people so they can understand the potential risks in order to make lifestyle changes for the good of their wellbeing.”
A growing body of research supports the link between exposure to everyday chemicals and increased risk of developing some health conditions including cancer and low fertility rates. The new Everyday Chemicals Test screens a single urine sample for 27 metabolite markers to indicate exposure to chemicals including phthalates, parabens, pesticides, herbicides, VOCs and other chemicals we come into contact with every day, including glyphosate and BPA.
The testing process involves a simple urine test which is analysed by an accredited laboratory using LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography + Advanced Mass Spectrometry) technology. This is a highly sensitive and selective analytical technique that combines the separating power of liquid chromatography with the mass analysis capability of mass spectrometry.
The results are available via a secure online portal, which explains the likely sources of any detected chemicals, and includes a full results report, as well as helpful lifestyle guidance to help reduce exposure.
Bob founded wealth management and employee benefit specialist Mattoili Woods in the early 1990’s, taking the business from a start-up to a listing on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).
He received an MBE in 2017 for services to business and the community. In recent years, he has undertaken business mentoring for budding entrepreneurs and was awarded an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Law) by the University of Leicester.
The test costs £399 and is available at www.lastinghealth.com