Blood work testing for plant-based athletes - Ep. #43

Bob and Dina discuss blood biomarkers that are important for plant-based athletes and the context of why, when, and how. You’ll want to tune into this one, especially if you are considering switching to a more plant-based diet (vegan or vegetarian) or if you are already eating a plant-based dietary pattern. We chat: · What does “plant-based” mean? · Understanding the reasons for moving towards plant-based eating · Why a baseline dietary assessment and supplement check is critical before going to a plant-based pattern · Higher priority blood biomarkers or panels to have checked include: CBC (Complete Blood Count) with platelets and differential Ferritin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation Hematocrit, hemoglobin B12, folate RBC magnesium Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) · Other markers to consider are: Lipid panel Omega-3 index A full thyroid panel (not just TSH) · Is blood testing appropriate for teen athletes? · How often should blood testing be done Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Athlete Blood Test, who provide individualized, athlete-specific blood analysis to discover your unique nutrition, training, and recovery needs. USE CODE ISN22 for a 15% savings on any of their testing panels. Check them out on the web at www.athletebloodtest.comand on Instagram @athletebloodtestcom and Facebook at Athlete Blood Test. You can also email [email protected] for more information. Got a question related to blood testing? Send us an email to [email protected]. And don’t forget you can learn about the nutrition coaching and testing services we offer: Bob Seebohar at www.enrgperformance.comand Dina Griffin at www.nutritionmechanic.com