My Biological Age Is 14 Years Younger — What My Function Health Labs Revealed
It is an exciting time to be alive and living well! Today's outlook on personalized healthcare has never looked more promising. It seems like almost every day I learn about another health tool or device that can track your body's biomarkers and deliver tailored feedback specific to you and your unique health goals. The "one-size-fits-all" approach to health and wellness has finally been laid to rest — and thankfully so!
On that note, let's talk about how to take advantage of modern health and wellness solutions and shift your focus from a reactive to a proactive approach to your health. This is how I live every single day, and it's something I encourage everyone to embrace. Daily health habits pay off, and the proof is in the pudding — specifically, my recent lab work (more on that below).
It had been years since I last had bloodwork done — shortly after the birth of my youngest child, who is now almost four years old. I don't recommend going that long without seeing a healthcare provider for an annual checkup, but that's simply what happened in my life. I generally feel healthy and well, but I wanted to take a closer, more in-depth look at what was going on inside my body for peace of mind.
I decided to purchase a Function Health membership and have my bloodwork drawn at a cost I could comfortably afford upfront — with no surprise insurance charges. Function Health is a membership-based lab testing service that offers direct-to-consumer blood and urine testing. Included in your annual membership is access to 160+ lab tests spanning heart health, hormones, thyroid, liver, kidneys, heavy metals, nutrients, inflammation, cancer signals, and more — tested biannually — for just $365 per year, or about $1 a day.
Having worked in the healthcare industry for many years, I can tell you this is an incredible value. Your primary care provider would not be able to order all of these lab tests under a single valid insurance code, and paying out of pocket through a traditional provider's office would cost you thousands of dollars. This is exactly why Function Health has been named a TIME100 Most Influential Company and is becoming an integral part of the personalized wellness movement — at a price most people can actually afford.
How a Function Health Membership Works
Enroll online and complete a short health questionnaire.
Schedule your lab draw at a Quest Diagnostics location (2,000+ locations nationwide) and receive pre-draw instructions.
Attend your scheduled lab visit for a blood draw and urine sample.
Receive your results within 2–4 weeks, along with a detailed clinician report and personalized action plan to address any health concerns.
Repeat testing at 6 months (included in your annual membership) and receive an updated personal health plan.
The process was surprisingly simple, and I was genuinely impressed by how quick and smooth my lab appointment at Quest Diagnostics was. During my visit, I asked the phlebotomist how many Function Health blood draws she collects daily — she said an average of 15 to 20 per day, not counting other lab employees. That was reassuring. They clearly know what they are doing when it comes to collecting blood for this panel — and fair warning, it is a lot of vials, so come prepared!
I actually received my results sooner than expected, presented in an easy-to-read report that includes each test result, how it is measured, a summary of what it means for your health, and specific recommendations for improving that biomarker if needed. I have never received that level of detail from a single lab result at a doctor's office — and this covered over 100 tests. The platform is comprehensive yet easy to navigate, even for those who are not particularly tech-savvy. If any results appear concerning, a Function Health clinician will reach out to you directly. You can also download your full report and share it with your personal healthcare provider.
If you are interested in additional testing, you can add services to your membership annually or as a one-time purchase. Advanced add-ons include a multi-cancer early detection test (screening for 50+ cancer types), full-body MRI, CT scans, and deeper panels for heart health, metabolic function, Alzheimer's risk, allergies, and more. I did not add on any additional tests for my first experience, but will likely utilize some of the additional testing features in the future.
My Function Health Results
Now for the part I know you are curious about. Of the 117 biomarkers tested, 96 were in range, 7 were out of range, and 14 fell into an "other" category — meaning that specific biomarker does not have a standard “in-range” or “out-of-range” reference threshold. Overall, I was relieved to find that things look pretty good! One area I need to work on is my iron level, which came back slightly below normal. I received a thorough summary on how to address this, including lifestyle modifications such as foods to eat, foods to limit, recommended supplements, and self-care strategies.
My Biological Age Result — The One I Was Most Excited About
The result I was most eager to see was my biological age. According to Function Health, biological age is an estimate of how "old" your body is functioning at the cellular level — and it can differ significantly from your chronological age. Function Health calculates biological age using the scientifically validated PhenoAge algorithm, which combines your actual age with nine specific biomarkers from your lab results.
The nine biomarkers used to calculate biological age:
Albumin
Creatinine
Glucose
High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)
Lymphocyte Percentage
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)
Alkaline Phosphatase
White Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Each of these markers provides insight into a different aspect of your health — including inflammation, metabolic function, immune status, and organ health. Together with your chronological age, these markers are entered into the PhenoAge formula to estimate how "old" your body is functioning physiologically. A biological age lower than your chronological age suggests you are aging more slowly at the cellular level — a positive sign for overall health and longevity.
My biological age came back at 23.9 — and I am 38! I am not sharing this to gloat, but it does make me deeply appreciate the daily health habits I have been consistent with for years — knowing they are working all the way down to the cellular level. Now I have the data to back it up! If you want to learn more about the daily habits I believe contributed to this result, you can read all about them in my blog post [here].
Ready to Try Function Health?
If you want to try Function Health for yourself and receive a personalized health plan designed specifically for you, consider a Function Health membership and receive $25 off through this link — referral code applied at checkout.
Share this article with a friend or family member who could benefit from learning more about their health — and what to do about it!
If there is one message to take away from this post, it is this: you can choose to be well today — not just when illness or disease shows up. Taking action to protect and promote your current health will always pay off down the line, giving you more healthy, happy years ahead. 🙂
*A Note From Well North Living: This post is for educational purposes only and isn't a substitute for individualized medical advice — please consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or health protocol. This post may also contain affiliate links, including to my Fullscript dispensary; if you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share products and brands I personally use and trust. Thanks for being here, and cheers to your health!
