If you’re feeling “fine” but still can’t shake that brain fog, stubborn belly fat, or energy crash by 3pm…this one’s for you. Let me tell you something that blew my mind and just might change yours, too:

93% of Americans have some form of metabolic dysfunction—and most of them don’t even know it.

It’s not just a scary stat—it’s a wake-up call.

In my recent Healthy Rebels podcast episode with Margaret Floyd Barry—one of the brightest minds in functional health—we went deep on the real power of comprehensive blood chemistry testing. And I mean deep.

If you’re ready to be the CEO of your own body (and not wait until you’re in crisis mode), keep reading.

📌 Spoiler alert: Your annual checkup isn’t enough.

🧪 Blood Work: Not Just for Diagnosing Disease

Let’s clear this up right now: functional lab testing is NOT about finding disease—it’s about spotting the trends before they spiral into a diagnosis.

In traditional medicine, you only get flagged when your numbers are dangerously out of range. By then? You’re probably already on meds.

In functional nutrition and diet and nutrition counseling in Sarasota, we work with much tighter “optimal” ranges. We’re looking at the story behind the numbers. This is where the gold is.

Margaret put it perfectly:

“Just because your labs are in range doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.”

🚦Functional Lab Testing = Early Warning System

Think of it as a dashboard for your body:

• Your blood sugar might look “fine”…until your fasting insulin shows your pancreas is in overdrive.
• Your cholesterol might not raise alarms…until inflammation and homocysteine reveal a perfect storm brewing.
• Your thyroid panel might look “normal”…but you’re still exhausted, freezing, and gaining weight. (Hint: they likely didn’t test your free T3, RT3, or antibodies.)

We’re looking for the subtle imbalances—those little blips that can quietly snowball into big health problems.

Want a peek under your hood? Speak to a Nutritionist today in Sarasota.

🔬 Markers That Matter (And Why You’ve Never Had Them Run)

Here’s just a taste of what you should be looking at beyond your basic CBC and CMP:

🧠 Thyroid

Beyond the TSH. We go deeper:

• Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3
• TPO and Tg Antibodies (Autoimmune Hashimoto’s alert!)
• Functional symptoms: constipation, hair thinning, weight gain, depression

→ Ladies, this is critical for menopausal transitions.

Check out Menopause Nutritionist Sarasota if this sounds like you.

🩸 Blood Sugar

Forget just glucose. You need:

• Fasting Insulin
• Hemoglobin A1C
• C-Peptide

These show how hard your body is working to manage sugar—long before diabetes hits. This is everything for belly fat, PCOS, brain fog, and more.

→ Looking for Sarasota Diabetes Management? I’ve got you covered.

❤️ Heart Health

What we really want:

• ApoB, ApoA1 (better than LDL/HDL)
• hs-CRP (cardiovascular inflammation)
• Homocysteine (methylation + risk marker)

Did you know many people’s first symptom of heart disease is…a heart attack? Don’t be a statistic.

🔋 Mitochondria & Fatigue

• Uric acid
• Ferritin
• Vitamin D (but interpreted functionally)
• Cortisol (when possible, do saliva or urine)

This is where fatigue, brain fog, and mood issues start making sense.

🍳 What You Eat (and What Your Food Ate)

Lab testing is just the first step. You also need a nutrition strategy that works for your body.

This is where the right thyroid diet plan, nutrition for menopause in Sarasota, or couples weight loss programs come in.

If you’re overwhelmed, don’t worry. That’s why I created one-on-one and group health coaching in Florida, so you can finally stop Googling and start healing.

🔍 The Real Takeaway: Prevention = Power

If you want to extend your healthspan, not just lifespan—this is how you do it.

This isn’t about fear—it’s about freedom.

Because when you see your numbers improve, when you have energy to live your life, and when you finally feel like yourself again—you realize that early testing isn’t just data.

It’s liberation.

And yes—there is room for cake. (I’m not a monster.)

💬 Final Thought

I’ll leave you with this: the best time to test is when you feel fine.

Why?

Because that’s when your body is whispering. By the time it’s screaming, you’re in damage control.

Let’s change that.

👉 Book your one-on-one health coaching session in Sarasota today

🧠 Want to geek out more?

🎙️ Listen to the full podcast episode here: Watch the Episode with Margaret Floyd Barry
👩‍⚕️ Learn more about Margaret’s work: Restorative Wellness Solutions
📥 Or reach out to Bonni London’s Nutrition Services