Blood work is a valuable piece of the puzzle when it comes to health. Although I cannot draw blood, I can order tests or interpret prior blood work for my clients and it is very helpful in solving the problem of what ails them. In this article you will learn the blood work I suggest for my clients to run as a baseline and why. Just a little disclaimer- the information in this article is for educational purposes only. As a Holistic Nutritional Health Coach I do not provide medical advice, medical treatment plans, or diagnosis. I DO however help my clients uncover the root cause of concerns and begin to rebalance the body through nutrition, lifestyle, and detox. You can read about my coaching packages and book a FREE 20 minute connection call HERE. We will talk about your situation and if coaching sessions with me would be a solution!
Ok let’s dive in!
Thyroid including TSH, T4, Free T4, T3, Free T3, Reverse T3, and TPO Antibodies. I’m talking to mostly women with this test but I am putting it at the beginning because this is SO SO important. Refer to my blog post HERE on a full thyroid panel for all the details but I’ll explain the jist.The routine T4 and TSH tests that most doctor’s run may tell you if you have thyroid dysfunction already but are not thorough enough for prevention of thyroid issues and are certainly not thorough enough to decipher where the dysfunction is coming from. For example, there an immune problem, conversion problem (in the brain, liver, or thyroid), nutrient deficiency, etc. A full -thyroid panel can help us determine where the problem lies with converting and using thyroid hormones.
Hemoglobin A1C– this is a marker that shows average blood sugar over roughly the last 90 days. This is helpful for me to see whether my clients need extra support balancing blood sugar. Blood sugar is a MAJOR component to hormone balance, sleep, mood, eating habits, weight management, liver health, and so much more. This is also a great test to help us prevent type two diabetes.
Lipids including triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and VLDL. These markers can help identify if the body is in an inflammatory state. High cholesterol isn’t from eating fat! Our bodies actually produce cholesterol to respond to inflammation, make hormones and more! Yes eating the wrong types of fat that are damaged (fried food, hydrogenated oils, rancid oils, heating seed oils) can lead to high cholesterol because guess what, this causes inflammation! All of these lipid markers can be used in combination to pick up on liver, thyroid, adrenal, and cardiovascular dysfunction.
CBC- Complete Blood Count– This test measures white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets and is helpful in picking up on infections, inflammation, blood disorders, and b vitamin deficiencies. 1
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel– This involves a number of markers measuring minerals, electrolytes, protein, and waste products to provide insight to liver, kidney and overall health as well as electrolyte imbalance. 2
Vitamin D– Most of us have probably heard from one source or another that everyone is deficient in vitamin D and we should be supplementing. The only way to know is to test. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin which is actually classified as a hormone too. Without making this too confusing, levels of vitamin D is very specific to the person due to factors of absorption and liver health. So just test! It’s easy and afterward you can feel good about knowing how to properly supplement.
Other tests to consider and ask your PCP or functional medicine practitioner about:
Iron– Total Serum Iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), Ferritin, Transferrin Saturation- These tests can help identify anemia and issues with too much iron. I always look into other factors that affect iron like vitamin b and c deficiencies too.
Sex hormones– testing hormones in blood can be helpful to give insight as to hormone production. This may be helpful for those struggling with fertility. For other hormonal imbalances, saliva and urine tests may be more helpful or at least a good adjunct but you should always talk with your practitioner.
I hope you found this article helpful! If you did, please feel free to share with someone else you believe it could serve! Browse my whole blog for other helpful health tips and sign up for my free 6 ingredient or less ebook HERE to be added to my mailing list and never miss out on health tips, recipes, and events!
I realize this is all a lot of information and I am here for you. Connect with me by sending an email to abby@chefabbalina.com. We will talk about your situation and can book a FREE 20 minute call to talk about if coaching sessions with me would be a solution! You can also read about my coaching packages (which include cooking lessons too) HERE. I am excited to connect with you!
In health,
Abigail
Holistic Nutrition Coach/Chef
Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition
Resources:
Abigail E. Holistic 