Stop Guessing: What to Know About Your Body Before You Change Your Diet

If you're starting, or restarting, an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, there's one step most people skip that could save months of frustration:

Testing before you tweak anything.

We’re often told to cut out sugar, eat more greens, or add turmeric. But if your hormones are off or your sleep is wrecked, those changes won’t touch the real problem.

In this post, I’m sharing what I wish I had known before I started making changes and the exact tests that finally gave me clarity.

 

The Mistake I Made: Guessing Instead of Testing

When I decided to clean up my health, I followed the typical advice:

• Cut back on fried foods
• Swapped out some coffee for tea
• Started walking more
• Tried anti-inflammatory recipes

And while those things helped a little, I was still:

• Waking up exhausted
• Feeling wired at night
• Struggling to lose weight
• Wondering why none of it was “working”

I was trying everything except understanding what was actually happening inside my body.

My doctor didn’t have answers beyond “try birth control again” or “it’s just aging.” After being diagnosed with long COVID, things only got more confusing.

That’s when I found Function Health and started getting my own labs. And that changed everything (you can ask your doctor to run these tests, too!)

 

The Core Labs I Recommend

You don’t need every test under the sun (unless you love data like me!), but there are a few essentials that give you real insight and direction.

1. hs-CRP & Fasting Insulin

These are two of the most underrated markers:

• hs-CRP: Measures systemic inflammation. If it’s high, something’s off. Unfortunately, it won't tell you what is wrong, but at least you'll know your inflammation is higher than it should be.
• Fasting insulin: Shows how hard your body’s working to regulate blood sugar and is often high before glucose numbers shift.

Together, they give you a snapshot of your inflammation and metabolic baseline.

2. Full Thyroid Panel

Not just TSH. Ask for:

• TSH
• Free T3
• Free T4
• Thyroid antibodies (TPO and TgAb)

Even “normal” TSH levels can mask low active thyroid function, which affects everything from energy to digestion. Looking at a complete thyroid panel gives you better insight into how your thyroid is functioning.

3. Cortisol + Hormone Panels

If you’re tired all day but wired at night, this is a must:

• A 4-point cortisol test shows your daily rhythm, not just your levels in the morning which is what you typically get if it's rolled into your "standard" blood work order.
• A sex hormone panel can reveal estrogen, progesterone, or androgen imbalances that drive symptoms.

When hormones are off, your body doesn't function like it's supposed to.

4. Basic Nutrient Panels

You don’t need a full micronutrient workup (unless you want one). Make sure you check:

• Vitamin D for immune and inflammation regulation
• B12 for energy and brain function
• Iron/ferritin, especially if you’ve had a history of heavy periods or anemia

Even slight deficiencies can make life feel harder than it should.

5. Sleep Study

Most women don’t think of this, but if you have sleep apnea, anti-inflammatory eating won't make up for it.

Sleep apnea isn’t just about snoring. It’s about getting enough oxygen while you're asleep to heal your body and keep you functioning well.

And low oxygen = high inflammation.

If you’re sleeping enough but still waking up tired, it’s worth checking, especially if you carry weight in your midsection or wake up frequently during the night.

Good news? You can do these in your own home!

6. Gut Testing (Optional but Helpful)

If you have chronic bloating, irregular digestion, or mystery sensitivities:

• A stool test can uncover imbalances, overgrowths, or low enzyme production.
• It’s not for everyone, but it can save time if your gut is holding things back.

 

The Shift That Changed Everything

Once I had my results and knew exactly what was out of range, I stopped wondering why I still felt bad even though I was working so hard to get better. 

I could:

• See what was actually off
• Track what improved
• Focus my energy where it counted

Knowing my numbers gave me a clear pathway to choosing solutions that fit what I needed instead of trying things blindly hoping they would work

 

Ready to Build Around Your Data?

Once you know where you stand, the next step is building routines that work with your body.

That’s where the Anti-Inflammatory PWR Reset Membership comes in.

Inside, you'll get:

• Anti-inflammatory habit guidance that meets you where you are
• Mindfulness prompts and quick movement routines
• A recipe database designed for real-life eating

It’s for women who want sustainable progress for the long term.

You don’t need to do more.
You need a rhythm that helps you keep going.

Check out the membership here.

If you're interested in checking out Function Health, learn more here.  Use Access Code: LTORBERT10

Have questions? I’d love to hear from you!