Podcast Summary
Empowering Individuals for Proactive Health Management: By embracing technology and taking charge of our own health, we can shift from reactive to proactive healthcare, leading to better overall well-being.
We have the power to take control of our own health. Traditional healthcare systems often focus on reactive measures, waiting for problems to arise before taking action. However, by looking at our own biology and understanding our numbers through lab testing, we can be proactive and preventive in managing our well-being. It's not just the doctor's job to take care of our health; we have the capacity to know what's happening inside our bodies and make informed decisions. With advancements in technology, such as wearables and comprehensive lab testing, we can gain a deeper understanding of our biology and create personalized roadmaps for our health. By democratizing healthcare and giving people agency over their own health, we can pave the way for a more proactive approach to well-being.
Addressing Poor Metabolic Health: A Comprehensive Solution for Individuals: Poor metabolic health is prevalent in America, but by tracking and analyzing biomarkers over time, individuals can gain insights and make informed decisions about their health through Function Health's comprehensive solution.
Poor metabolic health is a widespread issue in America, affecting 93.2% of the population. Most individuals are unaware of their metabolic health status and the potential risks it poses, such as insulin resistance, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular problems. Only 6.8% of Americans have healthy metabolic profiles without abnormal tests. The traditional approach of focusing solely on single biomarkers is inadequate in assessing overall health. However, by tracking and analyzing patterns of biomarkers over time, individuals can gain valuable insights into their health and make informed decisions. Function Health offers a comprehensive solution to democratize this approach, empowering individuals to take control of their own health and well-being. Don't wait, secure your spot on the waitlist at functionhealth.com.
The Importance of Monitoring Insulin Levels for Overall Health: Monitoring insulin levels is crucial for predicting health outcomes and understanding metabolic health. Elevated insulin levels are early indicators of conditions like diabetes, heart attack, stroke, cancer, and dementia. Seek out functional medicine practitioners or take proactive measures to measure insulin.
Monitoring insulin levels is crucial for understanding metabolic health and predicting various health outcomes. While blood sugar levels are commonly measured, elevated insulin levels often go unnoticed, despite being highly predictive of conditions like diabetes, heart attack, stroke, cancer, and dementia. Insulin levels start rising before blood sugar levels, making it an early indicator of trouble. Unfortunately, many doctors do not routinely test for insulin, emphasizing the importance of seeking out functional medicine practitioners or taking proactive measures to measure insulin. Understanding how to interpret insulin levels is also vital since standard reference ranges for blood sugar may not accurately indicate the risk of developing health issues. Taking control of our health involves monitoring key numbers, including insulin, to assess our overall wellbeing and rate of aging.
Rethinking Normal: Optimal Weight and Health: Monitoring biomarkers like blood sugar levels and insulin is essential for maintaining overall health, aiming for optimal levels of 70-85 for blood sugar and less than five for insulin.
Our perception of what is "normal" in terms of weight and health may not necessarily be optimal. For example, in America, where 75% of the population is overweight, it may seem normal, but it's not the ideal state for vibrant health. Key biomarkers like blood sugar levels and insulin play a crucial role in determining overall metabolic health. Optimal blood sugar levels should be between 70 to 85, while ideal insulin levels should be less than five. Additionally, monitoring hemoglobin A1C, which indicates average blood sugar levels, is essential. Ideally, it should be under five and a half, but the threshold for diagnosing diabetes has shifted from six to six and a half. Understanding and striving for these optimal ranges is crucial for maintaining overall health and preventing severe health issues.
Beyond Blood Sugar: The Importance of Measuring Insulin & Uric Acid Levels for Metabolic Health.: Measuring insulin and uric acid levels, in addition to blood sugar, provides a comprehensive understanding of metabolic health and can detect underlying issues caused by high fructose corn syrup consumption.
Blood sugar levels alone may not be enough to determine your metabolic health. Mark Hyman emphasizes the importance of measuring insulin levels and conducting a glucose tolerance test to get a comprehensive understanding of your body's response to sugar. An example is given of a patient who had normal fasting and two-hour glucose levels but had extremely high insulin levels indicating an underlying issue. Additionally, Hyman mentions the often overlooked uric acid test, which can provide valuable insights into your metabolic health. High uric acid levels, caused by metabolizing fructose, can lead to gout and kidney stones. The source of fructose in the American diet is primarily high fructose corn syrup. Therefore, it is crucial to consider factors beyond blood sugar levels when assessing metabolic health.
Factors affecting metabolic health and ways to improve it: Fructose consumption, high uric acid levels, leptin resistance, and cholesterol quality play a significant role in metabolic health. Addressing these factors can improve overall wellness.
Our metabolic health is greatly influenced by factors such as fructose consumption, uric acid levels, leptin resistance, and cholesterol quality. High fructose corn syrup, which contains free fructose, can lead to fatty liver, insulin resistance, and diabetes. Elevated uric acid levels indicate inflammation and poor metabolic health. Leptin resistance, where the hormone that signals fullness doesn't work properly, can contribute to weight gain. Cholesterol testing should go beyond the standard measurements of HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol, as the quality of cholesterol particles matters. The size and number of cholesterol particles are indirect indicators of metabolic health and can relate to conditions like insulin resistance, prediabetes, and high blood pressure. Understanding and addressing these factors can positively impact our overall wellness.
Expanding Beyond the Standard Cholesterol Panel for a Comprehensive Health Assessment: Supplementing cholesterol tests with additional markers like lipid particle size, triglyceride levels, and CRP can provide crucial insights into metabolic health and inflammation, aiding in the prevention of age-related diseases.
It is crucial to go beyond the standard cholesterol panel when assessing cardiac and metabolic health. By looking at other markers such as lipid particle size, HDL size, triglyceride levels, APOB particles, and C-reactive protein (CRP), a more accurate understanding of overall health can be obtained. These additional tests can provide valuable information on insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and inflammation, which are key risk factors for age-related diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and dementia. It is concerning that these tests are not widely utilized, with only a small percentage of tests done in America focusing on these markers. Taking action to improve metabolic health and manage inflammation can have a significant impact on overall well-being.
Revolutionizing Metabolic Health through Functional Medicine: Understanding the root cause of poor metabolic health, focusing on individual biomarkers, and taking ownership of one's health can lead to significant improvements.
Poor metabolic health is the biggest threat facing America and the world today. This is primarily caused by our ultra-processed high sugar starch diet and sedentary lifestyle. The key to managing and improving metabolic health is understanding the root cause and addressing it, rather than relying on pills or shots. Functional medicine provides a roadmap based on individual biomarkers to guide this process. It is essential to know your numbers, such as insulin resistance and A1C levels, which most people are not aware of. This knowledge empowers individuals to take ownership of their health and make informed decisions. By democratizing access to this approach through functional health, we can significantly impact overall well-being. It is time to go beyond surface-level wearables and delve into the core of our health.
Revolutionizing Healthcare with Comprehensive Lab Tests: Function Health offers affordable and accessible lab tests to address the shortcomings of our healthcare system, empowering individuals to proactively manage their health and prioritize preventive care.
Our healthcare system is struggling to meet the needs of the growing population with chronic illnesses. There is a shortage of doctors and practitioners, resulting in a lack of attention to crucial lab tests and preventive care. Function Health offers a different model by providing over a hundred lab tests that cover various aspects of health. These tests are not commonly done by doctors due to their overwhelming workload. Function Health eliminates the need for burdensome insurance and complicated medical records, providing clear and understandable results that are tracked over time. For just $499 a year, individuals can access all these lab tests and receive actionable advice to optimize their health. Transform your health by joining Function Health and taking control of your well-being.
