Test it Tuesday: hs-CRP

 

🔬 What is hs-CRP—and Why Should You Care?

When it comes to health, especially cancer prevention, most people wait until symptoms appear. But what if we could catch the earliest whispers of imbalance before disease takes hold? That’s where hs-CRP steps in—a quiet but powerful biomarker that can help you understand what's happening beneath the surface.

hs-CRP stands for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a blood test that detects subtle levels of inflammation in your body. Unlike standard CRP tests that measure acute inflammation (like with an infection), the high-sensitivity version picks up on low-grade, chronic inflammation. And that kind of inflammation has been strongly linked to a higher risk of chronic diseases—including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune conditions.

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🌿 Why Inflammation Matters in Cancer Prevention

Inflammation is your body’s natural defense mechanism—but when it becomes chronic, it acts like a slow-burning fire, damaging cells, mutating DNA, and setting the stage for tumor growth. Studies have shown that elevated hs-CRP levels are associated with increased cancer risk, especially in cancers of the colon, breast, lung, and prostate.

By checking your hs-CRP levels regularly, you’re giving yourself a deeper view of your internal terrain. It's a peek into the terrain before the storm. When this number is elevated—even in someone who feels perfectly healthy—it’s a call to action, not panic. It tells us that your body may be silently inflamed and asking for support.

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📉 What’s a Healthy hs-CRP Level?

• Optimal: less than 1.0 mg/L
• Mild risk: 1.0–3.0 mg/L
• High risk: greater than 3.0 mg/L

It’s important to test when you’re not acutely sick, as illness can temporarily elevate CRP levels. If your numbers are high and you’re not experiencing an infection or injury, it’s time to dig deeper.

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🧬 What to Do If Your hs-CRP is Elevated

The beauty of hs-CRP is that it's modifiable. Lifestyle and nutrition can make a significant impact:

• 🌱 Anti-inflammatory diet (high in fiber, phytonutrients, omega-3s)
• 💪 Movement to regulate insulin and immune function
• 🧘‍♀️ Stress management—chronic stress is inflammatory
• 🌿 Targeted supplements like Curcumin, Red Yeast Rice, omega-3s, and medicinal mushrooms
• 🧪 And most importantly… retesting to track your progress

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❤️ The Takeaway

Checking your hs-CRP is a simple, affordable, and powerful way to take control of your health. It doesn’t diagnose cancer—but it gives us insight into the terrain that cancer can thrive in. In my practice, I use it as one of many tools to assess cancer risk, monitor inflammatory load, and build personalized prevention plans.

Don’t wait for a diagnosis to start caring about your health. Prevention isn’t passive—it’s proactive.

This is what Test It Tuesday is all about: educating, empowering, and helping you take the next right step toward wellness.

Supplement Sunday Spotlight: Red Yeast Rice—Nature’s Gentle Cholesterol Support

 

🌿 Supplement Sunday Spotlight: Red Yeast Rice—Nature’s Gentle Cholesterol Support

When we think about heart health, most people jump straight to cholesterol. But what if I told you that some of the most powerful ways to support your heart—and your cancer prevention journey—are found not in a prescription bottle, but in the natural world? This week, we're spotlighting Red Yeast Rice, a supplement that’s been used for centuries and now stands at the intersection of tradition and modern science.

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💊 What is Red Yeast Rice?

Red Yeast Rice is exactly what it sounds like: a type of fermented rice cultivated with the yeast Monascus purpureus. During fermentation, it produces a compound called monacolin K, which has a similar structure to the active ingredient in statin medications. This means it has the ability to naturally inhibit the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase—the same one statins target to reduce cholesterol.

But unlike synthetic statins, Red Yeast Rice (when used correctly and from high-quality sources) is generally gentler and less likely to cause the harsh side effects that many people experience with prescription drugs.

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❤️ Why I Recommend It

Red Yeast Rice supports the body in regulating LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, reducing triglycerides, and in some cases, gently improving HDL (“good”) cholesterol. But what really makes this supplement stand out is its ability to impact inflammation, too. Since chronic inflammation is a driving force behind many degenerative diseases, including cancer, anything we can do to modulate it matters deeply.

What I especially love is how Red Yeast Rice connects to our functional approach—it doesn’t just suppress symptoms. It supports the body in restoring balance.

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🧪 Pairing With Biomarkers: Why This Ties Into hs-CRP

Just like we’re highlighting in Test It Tuesday, inflammation markers like hs-CRP give us a window into hidden stress in the body. Elevated hs-CRP has been linked to cardiovascular disease and cancer. Red Yeast Rice may help lower hs-CRP by reducing inflammatory lipids and promoting smoother blood vessel function. It’s not just about lowering a number—it’s about creating an internal environment where health can thrive.

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🌱 Choosing the Right Red Yeast Rice

This part matters. Not all Red Yeast Rice supplements are created equal. Many products on the market are contaminated with citrinin, a mycotoxin that can damage the kidneys. Always choose a citrinin-free, third-party tested brand—this is non-negotiable in my practice.

I also often recommend pairing Red Yeast Rice with CoQ10, as it can help offset any potential depletion of this important antioxidant and mitochondrial nutrient.

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✨ Final Thoughts

Red Yeast Rice is a beautiful example of how nature provides us with tools to care for our bodies in a holistic way. It supports not only cardiovascular wellness but also contributes to lowering systemic inflammation, one of the root drivers of cancer and chronic disease. It’s gentle, effective, and deeply aligned with the functional medicine model.

So this Sunday, take a moment to think about the small, daily choices that create long-term resilience. Supplements like Red Yeast Rice aren’t a quick fix—but they’re a step in the direction of intentional wellness.

The Simple Blood Test That Could Save Your Heart and Your Brain

Elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and neurological diseases.

Maintaining optimal homocysteine levels is crucial for overall health, as high levels can lead to inflammation and damage to blood vessels.

Why Test for Homocysteine?

Studies have found elevated homocysteine levels in almost 30% of people older than 65 and more than 40% in people 80 and older.

High levels of homocysteine commonly referred to as hyperhomocysteinemia has long been established as a risk factor for ischemic heart disease, heart attack, sudden cardiac death, premature coronary artery disease, carotid artery stenosis (narrowing), blot clots, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Newer studies have also identified high homocysteine as an independent risk factor for dementia and cognitive impairment.

Homocysteine levels higher than 15 µmol/L are associated with nearly double the prevalence of dementia.

A 2017 study showed that patients with Parkinson's disease and cognitive dysfunction were more likely to have higher homocysteine levels. 

By measuring homocysteine levels, healthcare practitioners can be proactive in their health management, aiding in the prevention of serious medical conditions and promoting overall well-being.

Homocysteine- LabCorp code: 706994

Understanding Homocysteine Test Results

Normal and optimal homocysteine levels should be less than 10 µmol/L.

Levels between 10-15 µmol/L are considered borderline.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is diagnosed with a serum homocysteine level greater than 15 µmol/L. T

Here are three classifications of hyperhomocysteinemia:

Moderate: 16-30 µmol/L

Intermediate: 31-100 µmol/L

Severe: > 100 µmol/L

Causes of Elevated Homocysteine Levels

Factors that can compromise homocysteine metabolism and contribute to elevated levels include:

Comorbid medical conditions: cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid dysfunction, homocystinuria

Folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 deficiencies (most common)

Dietary factors: excess consumption of alcohol, coffee, and methionine-rich foods

Genetic variations of the cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genes

Older age

Health Concerns of High Homocysteine

Elevated levels of homocysteine damage the inner endothelial lining of blood vessels, promoting inflammation and oxidative stress in the vasculature. This increases the risk of atherosclerosis, a thickening and hardening of arteries caused by plaque buildup, and blood clots. 

There is growing evidence that homocysteine is neurotoxic and decreases blood perfusion to the brain. Elevated levels are associated with neurodegeneration progression, as observed in diseases like Alzheimer's disease. 

Strategies to Lower Homocysteine Levels

Addressing high homocysteine through dietary modifications includes moderating alcohol and coffee consumption and adequately consuming foods rich in folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12.

Some of the foods with the highest content of these vitamins are listed below:

Folate: spinach, liver, asparagus, and brussels sprouts

Vitamin B6: fish, organ meats, potatoes, non-citrus fruits

Vitamin B12: fish, meat, poultry, eggs, dairy 

Eating a high-protein diet has also been shown to elevate homocysteine levels. Methionine is found in high quantities in the standard American diet, concentrated in foods like meat, fish, poultry, dairy, and eggs. Limiting the intake of these foods may prevent hyperhomocysteinemia. 

Supplements to Lower Homocysteine Levels

Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of B vitamin supplementation in reducing homocysteine levels.

If your homocysteine is over 10 micromoles per liter, you can lower it by taking B6, B12 and folate. If your homocysteine is above 10 start by taking the pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P) form of vitamin B6, 20-to 50 milligrams each day; the methylcobalamin (methyl-B12) and adenosylcobalamin forms of B12, 1 milligram in total each day; and the methyltetrahydrofolate (methyl-folate), starting with 0.8 milligrams (and as high as 5 milligrams) each day.

After three months, recheck the homocysteine to make sure it has dropped to 10 micromoles per liter or lower. In the uncommon cases in which it hasn't, simply add 500 milligrams daily of glycine betaine (also called trimethylglycine).

Re-check homocysteine in another three months. 

If still high reduce the methionine (the amino acid from which the body makes homocysteine) in your diet by limiting consumption of foods such as nuts, beef, lamb, cheese, turkey, pork, shellfish, soy, eggs, dairy and beans.

Research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids effectively reduce homocysteine levels, especially when simultaneously taken with B vitamins. 

Oral N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) supplementation may be considered for preventing vascular events and treating hyperhomocysteinemia. Four weeks of oral NAC dosed at 1.8 grams daily resulted in reductions of serum homocysteine by 11.7% and significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. 

References:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15218538/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8929261 ;

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/226081

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523279411?via%3Dihub

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523137397?via%3Dihub

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0899900711000098?via%3Dihub

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jcbn/64/3/64_17-56/_article

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1096719220300512?via%3Dihub

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcpt.12424

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231719309589?via%3Dihub

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304394016308461?via%3Dihub

https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-021-01977-8

** Always consult with a physician or healthcare practitioner with significant integrative or functional medicine training before starting any of the above recommendations.