May 5, 2014
This week, I took a deluxe deep dive into the inner workings of my blood and biomarkers. The best way to think about blood testing is this: it’s like paying attention to your check-engine light instead of waiting for smoke to shoot out of the hood.
WellnessFX describes the Premium Panel I just did (which included the 16 vials of blood pictured above) as the…
“…most comprehensive and exclusive diagnostic package yet, gives you VIP-level access to every biomarker we offer..”
Wow.
They call it “The Premium Panel” and you can read more about this state-of-the-art biochemical and genetic marker testing by clicking here. So what's it look like when a hard charging athlete businessman like myself does the most comprehensive blood test on the face of the planet? Let's delve in with the screenshot video below, which includes all my results and an explanation of everything.
If I were going over lab results with one of my clients, I'd spend a good 60 minutes on a lab like this, but figured I'd give you the quick play-by-play in a shorter video. If you have trouble seeing anything, here's a .pdf download of my WellnessFX results. Enjoy, leave your questions below in the comments section!
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Resources
–GI Effects Gastrointestinal Comprehensive Panel
–.pdf download of my WellnessFX results I outline above
–Aggressive Strength Testosterone Booster
–“The Thyroid Sessions” online workshops
–One-on-one consultation with me to discuss YOUR blood/biomarker testing results
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Summary
After watching the video and reviewing the resources above, some of you more astute readers may be asking yourself: What about the gut? Parasites? Yeast? Fungus? Bacteria? Does this blood panel test any of that?
The answer is no.
To test your gut, you need a “poop panel”.
So, tomorrow I am launching into Phase 2 of my big yearly check-up: a GI Effects Gastrointestinal Comprehensive Panel – ordered directly to the comfort of my own bathroom from DirectLabs. The methodology used in this panel combines DNA Analysis, GC/MS (Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry), Microscopic, Colorimetric (test for the presence of enzymes, specific compounds, antibodies, hormones and many more substances), Automated Chemistry and EIA (enzyme immunoassay uses antibodies and color change to identify a substance).
In other words, I'll find out if I have any critters or bacterial overgrowth in my gut – issues that can cause everything from brain fog to insomnia to decreased physical performance (issues I discuss in my “How To Fix Your Gut” blog post).
So yes, I shall alight my Squatty Potty, have a nice poop, and keep you posted on the results. After all, we're all friends here, right?
In the meantime, leave your questions, comments and feedback about this comprehensive blood test below and I promise to reply. You can also click here to schedule a one-on-one consultation with me to discuss your results.
Ben, appreciate all of the content you put out! Great work and keep it coming.
Similar to your other recommended products, do you have a discount code for WellnessFX? I’m in need of my 1 year update and saving some $ to spend on Kion supps would be appreciated! Thanks!
No code currently.
Hey Ben,
Just curious, Di they take all 16 vials at the same time for these tests? If so, would you agree that the test is only like a snapshot of your overall health? For example, your hormone levels will alter somewhat drastically based on your daily diet, how much you slept that day, if you worked out or received some bad news the same day of drawing the blood sample. I would be interested to see a test designed that tested your levels over the course of 1 month with different (controlled-ish) circumstances. What are your thoughts?
Thanks!
Hey Ben, just a quick thank you on this one. My Wellnessfx was very similar to yours… working too hard, too many workouts without carbs, and not enough calories due to intermittent fasting.
My T3 was a little low, IGF1 low, even though my Testosterone levels came in at 1191, it wasn’t converting that well to free T, plus my androgen was high.
I’m going to start taking the stinging nettle and bolus to bring down my SHGB and EATING!!
Thanks again.
My entire blood test results came back recently and everything on the test was within normal levels with the exception of billirubin (found in the blood test) but not the urine test. My billirubin was a 3.0 which is more than twice as high as the desired upper parameter of 1.2. I had thought that eating a plant based diet could result in a “false positive” so to speak since I thought there were chemical structure similarities between billirubin and plant products. But, yours appears to be very normal despite a diet high in plant based foods. What would you suggest and is there any merit to my surmise?
I neglected to mention that I am 6’2″, 190 lbs (built very similar to you), age 42 and I stay fit, eat healthy, have never smoked or done a drug, no tattooes, and swim/bike/run every week and do sprint triathlons.
Man, I would really need to see your health history, exercise history, other labs, etc. This is the type of thing on best be done via a consult. Here's how to get one: Go to https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/coachme and choose 20 or 60 minutes and we'll get you scheduled.
Thank you very much for your response Ben, much appreciated!
Hi Ben, thoroughly enjoy your work and the podcasts. Probably my favourite is when you and Brock bust out the accents haha. I am in Australia and do triathlon but am constantly run down, even when I don't train hard and doesn't seem to go away with rest days or weeks. I have recently been put on Zoloft for low mood, anxiety, mild depression, low drive and fatigue, which I know you aren't keen on. Can you recommend any specific tests to have a look a bit deeper? I see I can get those via the above post. Thanks.
Yep, I would recommend you do a neurotransmitter analysis, and frankly, you can do it via a questionnaire because the urinary ones aren't too accurate. I recommend looking into neurotransmitter/amino questionnaires like this: http://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-…
Thanks Ben. Is there any more accurate method that you know of for testing this? The questionnaires seem very general and varied depending on which one I read. HRV and other parameters have been fine but, feel drained and anxious without any substantial triggers and minimal training.
Also, do you know if it is legal to have the cbd caps shipped to Australia?
Cheers!
If you order CBD from GreenfieldFitnessSystems, we can ship it to Australia. If I were you, I'd test thyroid, hormones, red blood cells/iron, and also food allergies.
Hi Ben.
I am based in Australia and I would like to get my labs done and then have a consult with you regarding them. I have already been to my general practitioner here and had a decent range of markers tested. Do you have complete list somewhere of what markers I need to make it worthwhile having the consult with you?
Thanks Mark
Yep, get everything listed here: https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/wellnesstest
Once test is done, I'd be happy to help you out via a personal one-on-one consult. Can you please check http://pacificfit.net/items/one-on-one-consultati… and then let me know if you have any questions? We can do 20 or 60 minutes, whichever you'd prefer.
Cheers,
Ben
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Thanks Ben!
Is there a way to calculate pH level of the blood from any markers in this test?
Yes, CO2 and Chloride. You have lots of questions. ;) I'd be happy to help you out via a personal one-on-one consult. Can you please check http://pacificfit.net/items/one-on-one-consultati… and then let me know if you have any questions? We can do 20 or 60 minutes, whichever you'd prefer.
Cheers,
Ben
How does this panel compare against the Metametrix Individual Optimal Nutrition (ION) panel? I wonder if some of the specialty tests like cardiac markers might be better done through more advanced tests like NMR Lipoprofile that actually counts up total LDL Particles (LDL-P).
One thing I really like on the WellnessFX panel is how they chart your measurements over time. Very nice touch.
The Ion panel is more of a micronutrient analysis. Way different than this. I've done the one from DirectLabs: http://goo.gl/JJoOT – definitely a bit more spendy too!
Hi Ben, really interesting stuff. I have been tracking similar markers (about 60-80% of that test) for a couple of times now and it's really interesting to see how you can influence and correlate certain markers to diet, stress or sports.
There is this whole theory about the gut biome, which might be the key to why certain people with shitty diets can outperform people with perfect diets or build easier muscle etc. – do you any studies/links/research/literature in that direction? And does your ful GI test go into that direction?
Stay tuned for my post-GI test post, in which I'll dig into all this and answer those, and also read this: https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/2013/07/how-t…
It looks like you have a history of tests, which test package do you do on a regular basis? The premium seems interesting but at almost 1k is is kind of expensive.
Not as expensive as homecare or even an extended stay at the hospital… just sayin'
Ben I agree that not as expensive as a stay in the Hospital… but as athletes trying to tweak things to maximize performance I am trying to better understand what gives the most value. Maybe the full analysis every year and then something else quarterly?
Now I am guessing this is a business expense for you so are you doing it move often? When you say in your video a number has changed I am not sure of the length of time between the points on the graph.
I do the full meal deal once per year (just like this) – and then they have one called a "Performance Diagnostics" at http://goo.gl/M1JBrV that is really good, and is about $450. You could do that one a couple times a year.
Direct Labs delivers to your bathroom?? Sorry, couldn't resist. :-p