Most people walk out of their routine doctor’s appointments with “normal” labs and zero clarity about why they’re tired, inflamed, or not feeling like themselves. In this episode, Erin breaks down what your CMP, CBC, and lipid panel actually measure, and why routine bloodwork often misses the early signs of metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, thyroid issues, and nutrient depletion.
So what are the best add-on markers to ask for that will give you a genuinely comprehensive picture of your health? From fasting insulin and hemoglobin A1c, to thyroid antibodies, ANA, HS-CRP, ferritin, vitamin D, and GGT, Erin provides critical context about each of these – and how each one uncovers clues your doctor’s standard panel never will.
P.S. Download our FREE bloodwork checklist for the exact labs Erin recommends in this episode.
In this episode:
- Why “normal” blood work doesn’t always mean “optimal,” and how functional ranges reveal imbalances years before disease
- The must-have trio for evaluating metabolic health beyond fasting glucose: insulin, hemoglobin A1c, and uric acid
- The #1 liver marker missing from most CMPs and how it reflects toxin load, oxidative stress, and glutathione depletion
- Why TSH alone is an incomplete thyroid screen, and how thyroid antibodies can detect Hashimoto’s years earlier
- How markers like ANA, ferritin, HS-CRP, and RBC magnesium work together to uncover hidden inflammation and autoimmune activity
Resources mentioned:
FREE GUIDE: The 19 Blood Tests You Should Ask For
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Episode 212: A Functional Medicine Approach to Labs
FOR OUR FULL LIST OF LINKS + RESOURCES, HEAD TO:
https://www.thefunktionalnutritionist.com/podcast/386-bloodwork-labs
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