After spending 11 years as a triathlete and a triathlon coach, Diane Stokes knows a thing or two about fitness and nutrition. She admitted that although she is usually “up on all the latest nutrition products,” she was surprised to find out how much the InsideTracker program taught her about her body.
Stokes’ InsideTracker results and analysis revealed that she was high in B vitamins and low in vitamin D. The results also showed that her levels of vitamins B12 and B6 were extremely high, which presented a different problem. “I’m 48 years old, and women my age are told to take a B vitamin,” Stokes explained. “However, my B levels were three times that of a normal person. If I had been taking a vitamin B supplement, as recommended by many doctors, I would have been at toxic levels.”
What makes InsideTracker unique is its integration of an “optimal zone” in the blood analysis — a number that is specific to each person and takes into account his or her own unique demographic information such as: age, gender, ethnicity, activity level, as well as lifestyle and performance goals. InsideTracker’s sophisticated algorithm called B.R.A.I.N (Biomarker Research Analysis Integrative Network) determines the optimal zones for each marker based on the latest peer-reviewed research. So while medical professionals may have recommended that Stokes take a B vitamin, her levels were actually much too high to warrant a supplement.
“InsideTracker is great because it can tell you what is going on with your body at any point in time,” she added. “Athletes who exercise outside may think they are getting enough vitamin D from being in the sun, but sunscreen prevents absorption and people who live in colder climates are generally lower in vitamin D.”
Impressed by InsideTracker’s analysis, she signed up for a second blood test, this time with the Performance Plan, which tests 20 different biomarkers. During this time, Stokes recalled feeling sluggish, tired, and generally not as healthy as her usual self, so she submitted a second blood sample in the hopes of discovering the root cause of her fatigue. She soon found her answer. She discovered that she was low in magnesium, testosterone, and zinc—biomarkers that are related to energy levels—which explained why she was feeling tired. She also found out that her vitamin D levels were still sub-optimal.
After taking supplements to fix her magnesium, zinc, vitamin D, and testosterone issues, Stokes reports feeling much better. Thankful for her new clean bill of health, Stokes bought an InsideTracker test for her husband. “I eat a pretty healthy diet, and I know what foods have what vitamins and minerals in them,” Stokes said. “But InsideTracker gives insight into how your body is doing, and it can give you the tools you need to help you feel better.”
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