If you've ever been told your labs look “normal” but you still feel tired, bloated, anxious, or off… you're not alone.
Standard lab ranges are designed to catch disease — not optimize health. That means you can be within the range but still far from feeling your best. This guide is here to help you dig deeper.
Inside, you’ll learn how to interpret common blood markers through a functional medicine lens — so you can better understand your body and take charge of your health.
| Test | What It Shows | Optimal Range |
|---|---|---|
| TSH | Thyroid function signal from the brain | 0.5–2.0 uIU/mL |
| Free T3 / Free T4 | Your active thyroid hormone levels | FT3: 3.0–4.0 pg/mL |
| FT4: 1.0–1.5 ng/dL | ||
| Reverse T3 (rT3) | Thyroid hormone blocker (slows metabolism) | 11–18 ng/dL |
| hs-CRP | Inflammation and cardiovascular stress | Under 1.0 mg/L |
| Vitamin D (25-OH) | Immune, mood, and hormonal support | 50–70 ng/mL |
Each test tells a unique story about what’s happening beneath the surface.
Tip: Always ask for a full thyroid panel (not just TSH), and test for Vitamin D and hs-CRP even if they’re not standard in your physical.
Here are the foundational markers I recommend looking at in nearly every case — especially if you're dealing with fatigue, mood swings, gut issues, or hormonal imbalances.
Here’s where the real detective work begins. When you combine markers and symptoms, you uncover patterns that point to root causes.
Low Free T3 + High Reverse T3
= Possible thyroid conversion issue (often stress, gut, or nutrient related)
“Normal” TSH but Low Free T3/T4
= Thyroid may be under-functioning despite “normal” labs
High hs-CRP + Low Vitamin D
= Inflammation + poor immune regulation (commonly gut or autoimmune related)
Low Vitamin D + Fatigue + Mood Swings
= Vitamin D deficiency impacting energy, mood, and hormone balance
These patterns are just a starting point. Everybody is different, but this road map can help you ask better questions and demand better answers.
Looking at your labs is just the beginning. True healing starts when you:
Want to go deeper? Here are some free tools to keep learning and healing:
🎧 **Beyond Wellness Radio Podcast **https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-wellness-radio/id836857469 – Functional medicine deep dives every week
📺 **YouTube Channel **https://www.youtube.com/@JustInHealth – Lab reviews, protocols, Q&As
📝 **Blog Library **https://justinhealth.com/blog/ – Articles on thyroid, hormones, gut health, and more
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