Function Health

How Often to Retest Blood Biomarkers The frequency depends on your situation, but here are general guidelines: General Healthy Adults Annually is a good baseline for standard panels Services like Inside Tracker, Function Health, or Quest Diagnostics offer yearly comprehensive panels More Frequent Testing (Every 3-6 Months) if you're: Actively changing diet or lifestyle Managing a chronic condition Optimizing athletic performance Adjusting supplements or medications Recommended Services by Use Case Function Health – 100+ biomarkers, good for comprehensive annual tracking Inside Tracker – Great if you want personalized recommendations with retesting built in Levels Health – If metabolic health/blood sugar is a focus LabCorp OnDemand – Affordable, flexible, no doctor required Ulta Lab Tests – Budget-friendly for frequent retesting Practical Tip Retest 8-12 weeks after making significant changes (diet, exercise, supplements) to see measurable impact Keep results consistent by testing at the same time of day, fasted Important Note Always consult your doctor or a registered dietitian to interpret results and determine the right frequency for your specific health needs.

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Blood Biomarkers That Actually Matter for Longevity Tier 1: Strong Evidence Metabolic Fasting insulin & HOMA-IR – insulin resistance is a root cause of many diseases HbA1c – long-term blood sugar control Fasting glucose – immediate metabolic health signal Triglycerides & triglyceride/HDL ratio – cardiovascular and metabolic risk Cardiovascular ApoB – better than LDL for predicting cardiovascular risk Lp(a) – genetic risk factor most people never check hs-CRP – systemic inflammation marker Organ Health eGFR/creatinine – kidney function ALT/AST – liver health Tier 2: Meaningful but Context-Dependent Homocysteine – inflammation/cardiovascular risk Vitamin D (25-OH) – immune and metabolic function Testosterone/estradiol – hormone optimization TSH – thyroid function Ferritin – iron storage and inflammation Who Can Help You Track These Function Health – comprehensive panels, Peter Attia-affiliated Inside Tracker – analyzes trends over time LabCorp/Quest – order through your doctor or Marek Health The Honest Reality Standard annual physicals often skip ApoB, Lp(a), fasting insulin, and homocysteine — the ones with arguably the strongest longevity signal. Want specifics on any of these?

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Best Affordable Biomarker Testing Under $200 Top Recommendations Function Health (~$500/year but ~$100-170 per panel equivalent) 100+ biomarkers tested Physician-reviewed results Best overall value for comprehensive testing Everlywell ($150-200 range) Heart Health Test or Metabolism Test Easy at-home collection CLIA-certified labs Good for specific health goals Life Extension Blood Test ($75-180) Female/Male Panel options Highly reputable lab (LabCorp) Frequent discounts available Great for longevity-focused markers Ulta Lab Tests ($50-199) Order specific panels directly Uses Quest Diagnostics Best for customizing exactly what you want tested Own Your Labs / RequestATest Affordable à la carte options Uses major certified labs Good for targeted testing Quick Advice Most comprehensive under $200: Ulta Lab Tests or Life Extension panels Most convenient: Everlywell (at-home kit) Best lab quality: Request A Test (Quest/LabCorp) Would you like recommendations based on a specific health goal (heart health, hormones, metabolism, etc.)?

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At-Home Blood Tests vs. Annual Physical Labs: Do You Need Both? Short answer: Probably not both, but they serve different purposes. Annual Physical Labs (Through Your Doctor) Best for: Insurance-covered comprehensive panels Results interpreted by your physician Tracking health history in your medical record Diagnosing and treating conditions Tests requiring clinical oversight At-Home Tests Can Add Value If: You want more frequent monitoring between annual visits: Everlywell – Wide variety of panels, easy to use, HSA/FSA eligible Function Health – 100+ biomarkers, great for health optimization enthusiasts Inside Tracker – Good if you're fitness-focused, links results to lifestyle recommendations You want specific tests your doctor won't order: Hormone panels, food sensitivities, micronutrient levels My Honest Recommendation: Don't skip your annual physical – it's usually covered by insurance and your doctor catches things you might miss Add at-home testing only if you have specific health goals, symptoms between visits, or want deeper data Function Health is worth considering if you want a genuinely comprehensive picture Bottom Line Your annual physical labs are the foundation. At-home tests are a supplement, not a replacement. What specific health goals are you trying to track?

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Blood Biomarkers That Actually Matter for Longevity Core Panel (High Evidence) Metabolic Health Fasting glucose & insulin – insulin resistance is a root cause of many age-related diseases HbA1c – 3-month blood sugar average; strong predictor of metabolic aging Triglycerides & HDL ratio – better cardiovascular risk indicator than total cholesterol alone Inflammation hs-CRP – high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; chronic inflammation marker IL-6 – interleukin-6; stronger predictor than CRP in some studies Organ Function ALT/AST – liver health Creatinine/eGFR – kidney function TSH – thyroid function affects nearly everything Increasingly Validated ApoB – better LDL cardiovascular risk marker than standard LDL Lp(a) – largely genetic cardiovascular risk; important to know once Homocysteine – cardiovascular and cognitive risk Vitamin D – immune, bone, metabolic function Emerging (Promising But Less Established) IGF-1 – growth factor linked to aging pathways DHEA-S – adrenal aging marker Epigenetic clocks (DNA methylation) – biological age testing Where to Get Tested Function Health – comprehensive panel, physician-reviewed Inside Tracker – adds personalized recommendations Quest/LabCorp – affordable basics through your doctor Bottom line: Metabolic markers and ApoB are probably the highest-yield starting point.

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Best Affordable Biomarker Testing Under $200 Top Recommendations Function Health (~$500/year but ~$100-125 per testing period) 100+ biomarkers included Best overall value for comprehensive panels Physician-reviewed results Everlywell Comprehensive Men's/Women's Health Test (~$150-199) Tests 45-50 key biomarkers Easy at-home finger prick collection CLIA-certified labs Good for hormones, thyroid, metabolic markers Life Extension Female/Male Panel (~$75-150) Excellent value Tests CBC, metabolic panel, lipids, hormones Walk-in lab draw (no finger prick) Frequently runs sales Walk-In Lab Basic Health Panel (~$50-100) Budget-friendly Partners with LabCorp/Quest Good starter panel InsideTracker (~$179 for "Essentials" plan) Adds personalized nutrition/lifestyle recommendations Good for fitness optimization My Top Pick for Value: Life Extension or Walk-In Lab give you the most biomarkers per dollar, using trusted national labs like LabCorp. Would you like recommendations focused on a specific health goal (heart health, hormones, longevity, etc.)?

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