44: Feeling Off but Labs Are 'Normal'? – The Best Tests Your Doctor Isn’t Running with Dr. Aaron Hartman

In this episode of Made for Health, Dr. Aaron Hartman shines a light on several essential—but often overlooked—lab tests that can provide powerful insights into your health. From omega-3 fatty acid levels to hs-CRP (high sensitivity C-reactive protein) and vitamin D, these tests are key to understanding inflammation, heart health, and immune resilience—yet they’re rarely part of standard checkups.

Dr. Hartman explains what each of these markers reveals, how deficiencies or imbalances affect long-term health, and why they deserve more attention in preventive care. He also highlights additional tests like vitamin B-12, folic acid, and homocysteine, which can help detect nutritional gaps and cardiovascular risk factors that often go unnoticed.

This episode empowers listeners to take a proactive role in their wellness journey by encouraging meaningful conversations with their healthcare providers and staying curious about their own biology.

Show Highlights:

✅ What omega-3 levels reveal about inflammation and brain health

✅ The importance of hs-CRP in detecting silent inflammation and cardiovascular risk

✅ Why vitamin D is essential for immune function and chronic disease prevention

✅ The link between B-12, folic acid, homocysteine, and heart/mood health

✅ How these tests can uncover root causes of fatigue, mood issues, and brain fog

✅ Questions to ask your doctor to advocate for smarter testing

✅ A call for listener-submitted questions and future episode ideas

Some Questions We Explore:

✅ Why aren’t these tests part of routine checkups?

✅ What do optimal—not just “normal”—levels look like?

✅ How can nutritional testing help personalize your wellness plan?

✅ What should you do if your doctor won’t order these labs?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

✅ How to identify and correct hidden nutrient deficiencies

✅ Which markers provide a deeper look at inflammation and cardiovascular risk

✅ What steps you can take today to become your own health advocate

✅ How to prepare for your next doctor visit with empowered questions

Resources & Links:

🌐 Dr. Aaron Hartman – Richmond Functional Medicine: richmondfunctionalmedicine.com

🌐 LinkedIn – Aaron Hartman, MD: Connect Here

📺 YouTube – Richmond Functional Medicine: Watch Here

🎧 Closing Call to Action:

👉 Don’t wait for symptoms to take action—start advocating for your health today. Subscribe to Made for Health, share this episode with someone who needs it, and send in your questions or test-related topics for an upcoming Q&A!