What exactly are biomarkers? And why are they so important?
What exactly are biomarkers? And why are they so important?
A lot of people have heard of so-called "biomarkers. But what exactly are biomarkers and what role do they play when it comes to understanding your health? In this article we will explain so you know what biomarkers can do for you.
What are biomarkers anyway?
To make that clear, let's start with a simple example. Suppose you have a plant whose leaves are turning yellow. Then those yellow leaves are a signal - a biomarker - that the plant needs water or may be sick. And so it works the same way in our bodies. For example, an example of a biomarker in our body is glucose. If we measure our blood levels and see that the level is too high, we know that you have an increased risk of diabetes, for example. Molecules, enzymes but also specific cells can be a biomarker.
Biomarkers are found not only in blood but also in other body fluids (e.g., your urine) or tissue. The bottom line is that biomarkers are therefore measurable indicators that provide information about your state of health. Because they are measurable, biomarkers can help us detect diseases, make healthy choices.
Why is it good to regularly look at key biomarkers?
Biomarkers are important for anyone interested in understanding and improving their health. Regular monitoring and comparison of biomarkers can provide valuable insights into the state of your health. It can help identify changes over time, evaluate the effectiveness of lifestyle modifications and adjust treatment plans.
Thus, it is a misconception that only people who suspect than they are sick should check their biomarkers. In fact, it is relevant for anyone who wants to improve his or her health to check biomarkers. We also see many (strength) athletes and bodybuilders who regularly check their biomarkers so they can maximize their performance with proper nutrition (and supplements), training and lifestyle.
Biomarkers and blood values testing
Blood value tests provide a structured and accurate method of measuring specific biomarkers in the blood and obtaining quantitative information about their levels or activity. Blood value tests can measure a wide range of biomarkers relevant to an individual's health and well-being. These biomarkers can relate to various aspects, such as hormones, nutrients, inflammatory markers, liver function, kidney function, cholesterol, blood sugar, etc. etc.
The results of blood value tests can be based on the biomarkers, among other things.
- Detecting abnormalities
Blood tests can help detect abnormal biomarker values that may indicate certain diseases, imbalances or deficiencies in the body. This enables early detection and can encourage further medical evaluation and intervention. - Assessing risk
By measuring specific biomarkers, blood value tests can provide information about the risk of certain conditions. For example, measuring cholesterol levels can help assess the risk of cardiovascular disease. - Evaluating treatments
Blood value tests can be used to monitor response to treatments. By measuring biomarkers before and after a treatment, it is possible to assess whether the treatment has been effective and any adjustments can be made if necessary. - Monitoring your health
Regular blood tests can serve as a tool for monitoring overall health and long-term well-being. By checking biomarkers periodically, changes over time can be tracked and preventive measures taken to prevent or manage health problems.
How often should you have biomarkers tested?
That really depends on several factors such as what exactly you want to measure and why.After all, it makes quite a difference whether you just want to take stock of your state of health or have suspicions that you are sick....or are an avid bodybuilder who wants to closely monitor biomarkers in order to perform at your maximum potential with the right nutrition and supplements.
Anyway, that's why we always advise you to contact us in case you are unsure which test (and which biomarkers) are relevant for you and how often you should test them. We are happy to help you gain further insight into your health so you can improve your vitality!
Which test do we recommend?
The test ' 6 important biomarkers' is a great test to get a good picture of your health! This test looks at:
- Vitamin D (25-OH)
- HbA1c
- ApoB
- hs-CRP (High Sensitive)
- Magnesium Intracellular
- TSH