Ask for
These Tests Fasting Insulin: This
test is often done on insulin-dependent diabetics but not on healthy people. “Fasting insulin is the first indicator that your body’s having trouble metabolizing glucose,” says Darshan Shah, M.D. Insulin rises before blood sugar begins to be elevated. If your insulin is high and you change your diet — by eating more whole foods and fewer starchy and sugary foods and beverages — it can drop back to normal. Aerobic exercise and
strength training, as well as good sleep and stress management, are other parts of the remedy. Inflammation: An
hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) test indicates levels of chronic inflammation. If it’s elevated, the source
needs to be identified and addressed, such as inflammation in the digestive tract, in the mouth from gum disease or an infected tooth, or abdominal fat that is inflammatory. Homocysteine is an amino acid that, when elevated, indicates inflammation. “There’s one particular genetic defect that can cause high levels of homocysteine, and it means that you’re not able to utilize your B vitamins correctly,” says Shah. If your homocysteine is high, he recommends taking a B vitamin complex that is “methylated,” a form that bypasses the genetic inability to use these vitamins. Heart Risk: Two different
types of cholesterol not usually tested are valuable
markers of risk for heart disease. Elevated Lp(a) — short
for lipoprotein A — is a type of “bad” LDL cholesterol that is genetically higher in some people. It causes very high risk for arterial plaque. ApoB — short for
apolipoprotein B — transports different types of “bad” cholesterol in the blood. High levels increase risk for heart disease. The remedy for high
levels on these tests is to make lowering total cholesterol a priority. Omega-3 Test: Low levels of omega-3 fats increase risk for heart disease, neurological problems, pregnancy complications, and some eye diseases. Omega-3 fat, found chiefly in oily fish, is anti- inflammatory. Omega-6 fat is found in seed oils such as corn and soybean oils; these are typically refined, inflammatory,
and eaten in excess. Shah recommends
testing levels of omega-3 and omega-6. The optimal ratio is 3-to-1 (omega-3 to omega-6). If omega-3 is low, take fish oil supplements.
Coronary Calcium
Scan: Also referred to as a heart scan, this is a special type of CT scan that measures calcium in arteries. It can be an early indicator of arterial plaque.
Optimal Levels of Markers M
edical guidelines your doctor follows have established healthy levels for total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol;
triglycerides; and fasting glucose. According to Darshan Shah, M.D., below are optimal
levels of the additional markers he recommends testing: Blood Test
Fasting insulin hs-CRP
Homocysteine Lp(a)
ApoB Omega-3
Coronary Calcium Scan
Optimal Level Below 5 uIU/mL Below 1 mg/L
Below 10 umol/L Below 75 nmol/L
Below 90 mg/dL, and if there are other risk factors such as a family history of heart disease, below 50 mg/dL
Varies, depending on the type of test
0 is ideal. If the score is 100 or higher, get a consult with a cardiologist.
APRIL 2025 | NEWSMAX MAXLIFE 83
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