Today I want to share with you some pearls to help you get the most out of the next set of labwork that your healthcare provider draws for you. I am also attaching the PDF about Vitamin D that I share with my clients. You are going to want to save this one!!
Last Friday’s office hours were a blast, as usual. I had the pleasure of teaching about some key pieces of blood work that you can ask your healthcare practitioner to order. We got right into the weeds of these labs, explaining who would benefit from ordering them, and what is the value range that equates to optimal health.
Understanding Lab Reference Ranges
This is a point that I think is worth making very clear for you. The reference ranges listed on your blood work panels are NOT the same as the ideal range for optimal health. The “normal” reference ranges you see provided on your lab work results are the upper and lower threshold between which the majority (usually 95%) of a subset of apparently healthy individuals would fall. “Apparently healthy”… This means that these people may not have been diagnosed with a disease yet, but it does not mean that they are in peak condition, and thriving.
The Importance of Optimal Health Ranges
I don’t know about you, but I prefer to understand what might be brewing below the surface long before I get a diagnosis, and I also prefer to know where I stand in regards to optimal health, not a subset of people that are “apparently healthy.” If this resonates with you, be sure to listen to the recording provided below.
Tips for Accurate Lab Results
Here are some tips to help you get the most accurate date from your labwork:
- Try to get labs done under the most normal circumstances possible. See below for examples 🙂
- Be super hydrated the morning of and the 48 hours before your labs. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS AS DEHYDRATION CAN SKEW SEVERAL IMPORTANT DATA POINTS. Think about getting half your body weight in ounces of water per day, plus about 20 more oz for sweaty workouts. For example, if you weigh 150 lbs, and had a good workout, then you would shoot for 75 oz + 20 oz, for a total of 95 oz of water on that day.
- Do not run labs right after a vacation where you have been eating and partying like it’s 1999! Get back to your normal routine for at least a week, maybe 2.
- Do not run labs after a late night or going out to a heavy dinner.
- Stop all supplements 3 days prior to the labs (Check with your healthcare provider if you are unsure about anything here, and do not stop taking prescription medications unless you have spoken directly to your referring provider about doing this safely in advance).
- Try to live as “typical” of your life as possible in the week leading up to your labs. Remember, we are trying to get a snapshot of what your labs are most commonly.
- Make sure you are fasting for at least 12 hours before your labs are taken.
- Only drink water the morning of your labs. Not even black coffee 🙂
- Leave plenty of time to get to the lab and prepare so that you are not rushing or under any other abnormal stress. Believe it or not, the stress of rushing in the morning will raise your blood sugar and cholesterol levels!
- Try to get the same amount of sleep as usual leading up to your labs.
Vitamin D Information
If you are interested in learning more about Vitamin D, you can download the Vitamin D handout that I share with my clients.
