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

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 Instagram @athletebloodtestcom and Facebook at Athlete Blood Test. You can also email ABT for more information.

Don’t forget you can learn about the nutrition coaching and testing services Bob and Dina offer: Bob Seebohar at www.enrgperformance.com and Dina Griffin at www.nutritionmechanic.com

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