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The High Performance Journal - August 12th, 2025

My client hit 18% body fat and looked incredible. Then his blood work came back.

HbA1c is elevated in the pre-diabetic range.

The mirror said healthy, but his blood said danger.

This is why I make all clients get blood work. It is possible to have abs and dying organs. You can look fit and be metabolically broken. You can feel fine and be months from diabetes.

In today's newsletter, I want to share with you 8 specific blood tests that will predict your health better than your waistline ever could.

You ready? Let's go 🔥

8 Blood Tests That Will Predict Your Future Better Than Your Waistline

Before getting into these tests, one thing I will mention is that you can get these tests from your local GP. If they can't do this, then I'd recommend a functional blood test.

Functional blood tests help you test for an abundance of markers while giving you instructions on how to improve them.

Companies I recommend are ​Siphox​ and ​Superpower​.

Test #1 - Complete Blood Count

Measures your red/white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, and hematocrit.

Why it matters: 

This test uncovers anemia, infection, immune status, and potential cancer risk, which are all major predictors for long-term health issues and mortality.

This is like checking the fluids in your car. Red blood cells are the gas (carry oxygen), white blood cells are the windshield washer fluid (clear out problems like infections), and platelets are the brake fluid (help stop bleeding).

If any are too low or too high, the whole car runs poorly or breaks down.

Test #2 - Hemoglobin A1C (HBA1C)

Measures your average blood glucose over 2-3 months.

Why it matters: 

Higher values reveal prediabetes or diabetes, which are major risk factors for cardiovascular events, kidney dysfunction, and early death, before physical signs are obvious.

Think of this like reviewing your report card from the last semester, but in this case, it's your blood sugar.

You'll see an idea of how you've been performing for months, not just today.

Test #3 - Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

Measures liver and kidney function, electrolytes, and blood sugar.

Why it matters: 

Seeing imbalances can signal a risk factor for organ failure, diabetes, and adverse heart events, often earlier than any change in weight or waistline.

Think of this like a house inspection that checks the plumbing (kidneys), furnace (liver), wiring (electrolytes), and pantry (blood sugar).

Test #4 - High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)

This is a measure of your main factor markers of inflammation.

Why it matters: 

Even mildly elevated CRP is a strong, independent predictor of future cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer risk.

This is the smoke detector for the body. It doesn't tell you exactly where the fire is, but even a little smoke means something is burning inside.

Test #5 - Apolipoprotein B (APOB)

Measures the total number of atherogenic particles (LDL, VLDL, IDL) in your blood, not just the cholesterol content.

Why it matters: 

Each of these particles is capable of contributing to artery plaque build-up, raising heart disease risk.

It's becoming increasingly common to measure your ApoB over your LDL because it gives you a better predictive value for your risk factor.

This is like watching how much snow piles up in your roof’s gutter. One snowflake is harmless, but too many can block water flow and cause damage.

Test #6 - Vitamin D Levels

Measures blood vitamin D concentration.

Why it matters: 

Around 75% to even up to 90% of people in the modern world are low on vitamin D. This can lead to weaker bones and immunity, lower energy, and mood dysfunction while increasing your odds of heart disease and certain cancers.

Also, vitamin D is the most anabolic of all nutrients, contributing to your ability to gain muscle and burn fat.

We are solar-powered individuals, and without enough sun, nothing works at full strength.

Test #7 - Functional Hormone Panel (Including Thyroid)

This test measures:

Sex Hormones: Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA Adrenal Hormones: Cortisol (ideally mapped throughout the day), DHEA-S Thyroid Hormones: TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, anti-TPO antibodies Pituitary/Hormonal Connectors: LH, FSH, prolactin Sleep/Aging: Pregnenolone, melatonin

Why it matters: 

Hormone imbalances can drive fatigue, mood changes, poor sleep, metabolism issues, and immune dysfunction years before symptoms are abnormal.

Thyroid function in particular is often missed and can underlie weight changes, mood issues, and future disease risk.

This is like your car's dashboard, which shows the levels of fuel, oil, and other fluids to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Test #8 - Alzheimer’s Blood Test (PrecivityAD2™)

Two proteins in your blood (amyloid beta and p-tau217) give a score called the Amyloid Probability Score (APS2). This score shows how likely it is that you have early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

Why it matters: 

This test can predict Alzheimer's risk up to years before memory loss with a ≥90% accuracy.

This is like checking for rust in your car's engine before it breaks down.

Summary: 8 Blood Markers To Test For Optimal Health

1. Complete Blood Count (CBC)
2. Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c)
3. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
4. High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)
5. Apolipoprotein B (APOB)
6. Vitamin D Levels
7. Functional Hormone Panel (Including Thyroid)
8. Alzheimer’s Blood Test (PrecivityAD2™)

If you want to keep your health optimal, I would recommend getting these tests every 6 months to a year.

The Final Word

What you measure is what you manage.

Your body composition shows you how healthy you are on the outside, while blood tests reveal what's happening on the inside.

The great thing about improving these markers is that they not only help you live longer, but they also help you reach your full potential, both physically and mentally.

Your homework now is to get some blood work and to find out how healthy you are.

Onward and upward. 🚀

- Dan

When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help:

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References

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Disclaimer: This email is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician.