The Most Ignored Lab Markers? The Basics.

Written By Dr. Chelsea Dakers ND; Edited By Sena (AI).

In the functional medicine world, labs are our version of “clickbait”.

Everyone is salivating to get the most advanced testing done. GI maps, hormone panels, microbiome sequencing— these tests are powerful tools, no doubt. But here’s the thing: the real answers to why your labs are “off” often don’t live inside those reports. They live in the story of how you’ve been living.

Yes, there are times when the right test is run, the results are crystal clear, and the treatment is simple and effective. That happens… Sometimes.

But more often, I see women who feel both validated and confused when their labs come back “normal”—yet they feel anything but fine.

Let’s remember where these lab reference ranges come from. Conventional lab values are rooted in allopathic medicine—a knowledge system designed to identify dysfunction and apply a countermeasure. This model is incredibly effective in acute and emergency settings, where stabilizing the system is the priority. In that context, labs are essential tools for identifying disease.

But in my practice, I use labs differently.

I approach labs as storytellers.

What narrative is your body revealing through these numbers? How do these data points weave together to tell the story of a system that may be silently struggling, long before it breaks down? To get that kind of clarity, we have to look beyond isolated numbers.

Take iron, for example.

I meet a lot of blood-deficient women. Many don’t know they are. And it matters—iron deficiency can quietly fuel chronic fatigue, fertility challenges, painful periods, low libido, anxiety, and more.

But running just one iron marker—like serum iron—won’t cut it.

To understand what’s really happening with iron, I want to see serum iron, transferrin, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), ferritin, and a full red blood cell picture. I want to know about inflammation that might mask true iron stores. I want to listen to your lived experience: your bleeding patterns, your digestion, your stress levels, your relationship with food.

Because I treat people, not lab values.

Let’s ask the deeper questions:

• What signals has your body been whispering (or screaming) that we've missed?

• Why is iron low in the first place?

• Are we even creating the conditions to absorb it?

This brings us back to physiology.

Iron in the blood? That’s serum iron. Iron in storage? That’s ferritin. But where does it all begin?

Digestion.

Our food. Our chewing. Our stomach acid. Our ability to break down proteins and absorb nutrients. These are the places we have to look if we want to create sustainable change. No lab test can fully capture that.

So yes, we can and should run a thorough iron panel. If there’s a deficiency, we’ll address it. But that’s not the end of the story. It’s the beginning.

We’ll also work together to create the conditions for your body to absorb and hold onto iron. That means tending to digestion. That means looking at how, when, and what you eat. That means honoring the blood you lose during your cycle and learning how to replenish it with care. That means tapping into ancestral wisdom that may hold the key to your unique genetic strengths.

This is a process. A relationship. A return to listening.

Lab values can give us powerful clues. But they can’t replace the full story of your body’s lived experience. And they never will.

So if your labs are “normal” but you still feel depleted, you’re not imagining it.

This is the gap between conventional and functional care. This is the art of listening to the whispers before they become screams.

Because healing isn’t just about what we find in the blood. It’s about what we create in our lives.

Learn more at chelseadakers.com or join the conversation on Instagram @chelseacreateshealth.

The disclaimer… The amazing thing about humans is that we all have incomparably unique health profiles and needs. The health-related information contained in this article is intended to be general in nature and should not be used prescriptively or as a substitute for a visit with a naturopathic doctor/health care provider. This information is intended to offer general information to individuals. If you have questions about how these strategies could be used in adjunct to your current health regime, book an appointment with us or consult a registered naturopathic doctor for individualized care.