The Naturopathic Approach to Blood Test Assessment
As a naturopath, one of my favourite parts of working with clients is assessing blood test results! Blood tests provide an incredible window into your overall health, allowing us to uncover imbalances, track progress, and tailor treatment plans specifically to your needs. I encourage every client to get updated blood tests regularly—especially if they are in the active phase of their treatment. Even if you’re not currently working on a specific health goal, I still recommend getting blood tests at least once a year to ensure your body is functioning optimally.
Why I Recommend Regular Blood Testing
Blood tests are one of the best tools we have to assess what’s going on inside your body. Many health concerns don’t have obvious symptoms until they’ve progressed, so testing regularly allows us to catch imbalances before they become bigger issues. Some of the key benefits of regular blood testing include:
✅ Tracking your progress – If you’re working on a specific health concern like acne, hair loss, fatigue, or hormone imbalances, blood tests can help us measure how well your treatment plan is working and make adjustments as needed.
✅ Identifying deficiencies or imbalances early – Low iron, vitamin D, thyroid imbalances, and blood sugar issues can all show up in your bloodwork before you start experiencing symptoms.
✅ Ensuring long-term health and prevention – Many chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and hormonal disorders, develop slowly over time. Catching subtle imbalances early allows us to take action before they turn into more serious health conditions.
✅ Personalised treatment – No two bodies are the same, and what works for one person may not work for another. Your blood test results help me develop a treatment plan that is tailored specifically to your needs.
How My Approach to Blood Test Assessment Differs from Your GP’s
Many of my clients come to me after being told by their doctor that their blood test results are "normal," even though they don’t feel well. This can be frustrating—you know something isn’t right, but because your results fall within a broad reference range, your doctor tells you everything is fine.
The Issue with Standard GP Blood Test Assessments
Your GP assesses your blood test results based on very wide reference ranges. These reference ranges are designed to catch severe deficiencies or diseases that require urgent medical intervention.
🔹 If your results are within the reference range, you are declared "normal"—even if you have symptoms.
🔹 If your results are outside the reference range, your doctor may prescribe medication or further testing.
Essentially, GPs use blood tests to determine whether you need emergency care or medication. If your results don’t indicate a life-threatening issue, there isn’t much they can do from a conventional medical perspective, and you may be told that everything looks "fine."
The Naturopathic Approach: Looking at Optimal Ranges
This is where I come in. As a naturopath, I assess your blood tests using a much narrower, optimal range—not just the broad reference ranges used in conventional medicine.
✅ I look at how far away your results are from optimal health, not just whether they fall within the normal range.
✅ I identify trends and imbalances before they turn into serious health conditions.
✅ I provide specific dietary, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations to help you move back into the optimal range and feel your best.
For example, let’s look at iron levels:
A GP may tell you that your ferritin (iron storage) level of 20 ng/mL is normal because the standard reference range is 15–200 ng/mL.
However, for optimal health and energy, I like to see ferritin between 50–80 ng/mL for most women.
If your ferritin is at 20 ng/mL, you may experience symptoms like fatigue, hair loss, and brain fog—even though your GP says everything is "normal."
This approach applies to many other markers, including thyroid function, vitamin D, blood sugar, cholesterol, and inflammatory markers. By assessing your results through a naturopathic lens, I can uncover imbalances that your GP may have missed and provide targeted recommendations to optimize your health.
How to Get the Most Accurate Blood Test Results
For the most reliable results, blood tests should be done under optimal conditions:
1️⃣ Fasted for 8-12 hours – Eating before your test can affect glucose, iron, B12/folate, insulin, and lipid levels, leading to inaccurate results.
2️⃣ No intense exercise 24 hours before your test – Strenuous exercise can temporarily increase liver enzymes, inflammatory markers, and white blood cell counts, which may lead to misleading results.
3️⃣ First thing in the morning – Hormone levels (such as cortisol and thyroid hormones) fluctuate throughout the day, so morning tests provide the most accurate readings.
If it has been over 12 months since your last blood test, this is your sign to book one!
Recommended Blood Tests for a Comprehensive Health Assessment
When visiting your GP, I recommend asking for the following tests to get a complete picture of your health:
General Health & Inflammation
Full Blood Examination (FBE) – Assesses immune function, oxygen transport, and overall health.
C-reactive protein (CRP) & ESR – Measures inflammation levels in the body.
Iron & Nutrients
Iron Studies (Serum Iron, Ferritin, Transferrin, Saturation) – Assesses iron levels and stores.
Vitamin D – Crucial for immunity, bone health, and mood.
Vitamin B12 & Folate – Essential for energy, brain function, and red blood cell production.
Thyroid Function
TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone)
Free T3 & Free T4 – Provides a deeper look at thyroid function.
Blood Sugar & Metabolic Health
Fasting Glucose – Measures blood sugar levels.
HbA1c – Assesses long-term blood sugar control.
Fasting Insulin – Helps identify insulin resistance.
Hormonal Health
Testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S – Important for skin, hair, and hormonal balance.
Estrogen & Progesterone (for women) – Essential for menstrual health and fertility.
Cortisol – Measures stress levels.
Liver & Kidney Health
Liver Function Panel (ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, Bilirubin) – Checks for liver health and detoxification ability.
Kidney Function (Creatinine, eGFR, Urea) – Assesses kidney health.
Lipid Profile (Cholesterol Panel)
Total Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides – Provides insight into cardiovascular health.
Get Your Blood Test Results Assessed with a Naturopathic Lens!
Once you’ve had your bloodwork done under optimal conditions, you may be looking for a second opinion from someone trained to assess your results through an optimal health perspective—not just a disease-focused lens.
That’s exactly what my Blood Test Analysis Package is for!
This package allows me to:
✔️ Analyse your results using optimal health ranges
✔️ Identify imbalances that your GP may have missed
✔️ Provide personalised diet, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations
✔️ Help you get your levels back to optimal health
If you're ready to finally understand what your blood tests are trying to tell you and take action before symptoms get worse, click the link below to learn more and book your Blood Test Analysis Package today!