Are You Searching for a Magic Bullet?

Today, let's talk about a topic surrounded by a lot of hope and a lot of confusion: health testing.

So many people are searching for that one single root cause of their problems, believing that one magic test will finally give them the answer. But I’m going to start with a crucial caution: the idea that one test will be your panacea, your be-all, end-all solution, is flawed. And frankly, for a lot of people advocating for constant tests, it’s a huge moneymaking event.

The most important question isn't "which test should I take?" The first question, the most elementary piece of information, is always: "How is your body expressing itself these days?"

A test without context is just data without a story. While diagnostics like MRIs and blood tests absolutely have their place, they are just one type of information, not the whole picture.

A Smarter Way to Test: Creating Your Health Story

So, what is a better approach to testing? It's about shifting your mindset from looking for a single snapshot to creating a health story over time. One test tells you a little, but it doesn't tell you the whole story of your health evolution.

The best method is to build a trendline.

Every couple of years, you get a full blood analysis. After four, five, or six years, you suddenly have a picture. You can see the trend. You get a test and see your cholesterol is starting to creep up in your thirties. You can say, "Wow, I don't want a circulation challenge in my sixties that I could have taken care of right now by changing my diet or lifestyle." You are using information to proactively shape your future. That is the power of strategic testing.

Understanding Your Body's Intricate Balancing Act

To understand why one test isn't enough, you have to appreciate how incredibly complex your body is. I use a simple metaphor to explain it.

Imagine your health is a seesaw. On one side is your healthy body, and on the other are all the toxins you’re exposed to. You keep loading up the toxin side, and eventually, the seesaw gets imbalanced and you become symptomatic. The problem is, you can't just take the toxins off and expect it to go right back into balance. By the time it's tipped that far, too many of your body's systems have already changed in response.

Your brain acts like a master chemist, constantly analyzing trillions of influences, light, sound, temperature, blood chemistry, to keep you in balance. A single blood test is just looking at one small piece of that puzzle.

Which Tests Are Actually Important for the Long Haul?

While any specific test should be guided by your symptoms, there are a few foundational ones I believe are valuable for building that long-term health picture.

• Genetic Testing: This is incredibly important, and you only do it once. It’s your body’s blueprint and shows your tendencies. For instance, knowing if you have a variation on the MTHFR gene can provide valuable information about how well your body detoxifies. 

• Hormone Testing: I often recommend the DUTCH test for a comprehensive look at your hormones. This is increasingly important even for younger people in our modern, toxic world.

• Blood Testing: A full blood count is a staple. But I always tell people to make sure you get a panel for your Vitamin D3 level. It’s that important.

A Warning: How to Be a Smart Consumer in the Testing Industry

Even when you do get these tests, you have to be an informed consumer. There are issues within the industry you need to be aware of.

One is what I call the "doctor-hopping" problem. You go to a doctor, get a full panel of tests, and he gives you a protocol. It works for a bit, then stops. So you go to another doctor, and the first thing they say is, "We need to do new tests with my labs." Often, this is just a way to get more money from you.

The second, and this is crucial, is the "different baselines" problem. Every lab uses different reference ranges based on the "norm" of the population they test. A lab might tell you everything is normal, but if you are still feeling symptoms, you have to question if their "normal" is your optimal.

The Ultimate Diagnostic Tool: Your Own Body

This brings me back to the most important point. All the tests in the world are just one form of information. The most important data, the most accurate diagnostic tool you will ever have, is your own body.

Your skin is a barometer for the chemistry of your blood. Your energy levels tell a story. Your sleep tells a story. I don't need a blood test to understand a symptom, but the symptom can guide us to what the test might confirm.

So, while we gather this valuable data from labs and reports, never forget to ask yourself that fundamental question: "How is my body expressing itself today?"

Listen to that. That is the true root cause. That is where healing begins.

← Previous Post Next Post →