9 Important Blood Tests to Order on Keto Don’t guess, test! The more data you have, the more metrics you can analyze for progress and necessary tweaks. I am going to share with you 9 blood tests. Not only will I share them with you, but I will also explain what they mean and the optimal numbers to aim for. The first thing I want you to realize is that the reference ranges on your lab report is not the same as the healthy ranges you should aim for. Lab companies such as LabCorp, Quest and many others, are factoring in your countries entire population who have done these labs before. We live in a sick world of unhealthy people, so why would we aim to be the average of unhealthy people? Instead, I encourage you to aim for the functional reference range. Functional medicine lab ranges are usually much narrower than standard lab ranges. They are labeled “optimal lab values,” meaning anything outside of those optimal values can show patterns and markers that spot trends toward disease. When I give you the suggested reference ranges to hit with the following labs, these are functional medicine lab ranges. Register your FREE spot to my upcoming Secrets to Detox Masterclass: http://www.toxinsmasterclass.com  / / E P I S O D E   S P ON S O R S  EveryDay Dose Everything you love about coffee, none of what you don't — say goodbye to jitters, anxiety, crash, and digestive issues. https://everydaydose.superfiliate.com/KETOKAMP  (5 FREE Travel Packs + Free Frother applied) PureForm Omega Plant Based Oils (Best Alternative to Fish Oil): http://www.purelifescience.com Use ben4 for $4.00 off. Text me the words "Podcast" +1 (786) 364-5002 to be added to my contacts list.  Get Keto Flex Book here: http://www.ketoflexbook.com  Here are the 9 markers! Hemoglobin A1C. How gummed up with sugar are your blood cells? Hemoglobin A1C (hbA1c) measures your average blood sugar from the past 3 months. Your red blood cells carry oxygen to your tissues using a protein called Hemoglobin A. The higher your blood glucose, the more glucose sticks to the hemoglobin A1c protein. How glycated is your hemoglobin? Glycation is a spontaneous non-enzymatic reaction of free reducing sugars with free amino groups of proteins, DNA, and lipids that forms glycated residues. Sugar is sticky (think of cotton candy sticking to your fingers) and this sugar can gunk up your arteries and cells.  Our red blood cells keep a record of your behavior. The answer hides in your red blood cells – specifically, your hemoglobin. A1C measures average blood sugars by detecting the glucose stuck to the hemoglobin protein.  The higher A1C, the more glucose glycated your protein. Test your hemoglobin A1C to learn your average blood sugar. You can request this test from your doctor. There are also companies who have created A1C test kits to do at the comfort of your own home. A “normal” A1C level is below 5.7%, a level of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and a level of 6.5% or more indicates diabetes. Within the 5.7% to 6.4% prediabetes range, the higher your A1C, the greater your risk is for developing type 2 diabetes. The functional medicine range of A1C is 5.2% or lower. C-Peptide. C-peptide is a substance that is created when the hormone insulin is produced and released into the body. The insulin C-peptide test measures the amount of this product in the blood. The pancreas makes insulin, but not directly. The beta cells in the pancreas first produce a protein called “proinsulin.” Each proinsulin breaks down to one molecule of insulin and one molecule of C–peptide. Both are released when blood sugar levels get high. The more your beta cells get stimulated for insulin production, the faster you gain weight and create inflammation. While moderate levels lower inflammation, even slightly higher levels have been linked to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and cancer. C-peptide can give you a good idea if you’ve been overworking your beta cells. The functional