What if you could take control of your health today to live not just longer, but better? That’s the core promise of Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Dr. Peter Attia—a book that’s reshaped how I think about wellness in 2023 (Read: The Wisdom of ‘Outlive’ by Peter Attia). After diving into its pages, three main takeaways stand out: exercise is the ultimate longevity drug, personalized nutrition beats one-size-fits-all diets, and proactive prevention trumps reactive treatment. These aren’t just theories—they’re actionable principles. For me, that means committing to a consistent workout routine (think strength and cardio which I was lacking), getting ahead of health risks with regular and prevention focus check-ins and tweaking my meals based on my body’s unique needs (more protein and other supplements).
But how do you actually get the data you need to help you decode your health and deliver insights tailored for you? Enter FunctionHealth, a platform that runs 100+ blood tests that give you a lot of actionable insights. Let’s dig in!
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Why are blood tests powerful?
70% of medical decisions depend on lab tests
The average physical tests around 19 biomarkers, missing red flags and precursors to disease and chronic conditions. It’s why Function includes the whole-body picture through 100+ biomarkers each year
Blood tests are a powerful and affordable way to assess our health because they offer a direct, detailed snapshot of what’s happening inside our bodies without breaking the bank. Think of your blood as a live feed: it’s circulating everywhere, picking up clues from your organs, hormones, and cells. A single draw can reveal a ton: how your liver’s holding up, whether your heart’s at risk, if your blood sugar’s creeping up, or if inflammation’s stirring trouble. Tests like FunctionHealth’s 100+ biomarker panel dig into specifics—cholesterol, vitamin levels, even early disease markers—that you’d never spot just by how you feel.
My Journey with FunctionHealth
I’ve signed up for Function Health in November 2024.
What is included with your FunctionHealth Membership?
For $499 a year (as of January 2025), you’re covered for two rounds of testing (160+ blood tests) + access to an online dashboard that is easy to read, tracks your numbers over time, as well as a written Clinician’s Summary breaking it all down in simple to understand english.
You can also add optional tests like the Galleri multi-cancer early detection ($899 extra) or others items like Lyme disease, additional heavy metals tests or allergies, all at clear and affordable prices.
Last but not least, there is no insurance is needed to sign-up and you can even pay your membership with FSA/HSA eligible.
For the latest details on what is included as part of the membership, check the official page here.
What to Expect When You get Started with FunctionHealth?
Signing up for FunctionHealth requires an invitation code, however if you use our sign-up link you can skip the line and sign-up directly.
You will get 100+ lab tests right at the start, checking everything from your heart, liver, and kidneys to hormones, nutrients. These aren’t your typical basic checkup tests—think five times more detail than what most doctors order. A few months later (3-6 months), you get to schedule a follow-up with 60+ tests to track how things are shifting, like if that new workout or diet is paying off.
The tests happen at Quest Diagnostics labs which have over 2,000 spots across the U.S.. You schedule them yourself based on your availability. It’s two quick visits (about 15 minutes each), and you’ll need to fast beforehand. You should expect draws around 12 vials of blood each time, plus a urine sample on the second trip.
What is getting tested?
The FunctionHealth 100+ blood tests check key areas of your health in one go. They cover heart (cholesterol, ApoB), thyroid (TSH, T4), hormones (testosterone, cortisol), metabolism (glucose, insulin), liver (ALT, AST), kidneys (creatinine), nutrients (vitamin D, iron), blood (red and white cells), inflammation (hsCRP), cancer signals (PSA), heavy metals (lead), and autoimmunity (ANA).
What information do you get?
Overall Dashboard
FunctionHealth gives you a simple dashboard that shows all your biomarkers at a glance—ones you’ve tested, ones in the normal range, ones that are off, and ones you’ve improved by working on them. It’s an easy way to see everything in one spot!
It also provides you with your biological age, which is different that your chronologicial age and that is based on the data from your blood biomarkers. In my case I’m almost 10 years younger than my chronological age!
Category Dashboard
You can then dive into each blood marker grouped in 18 categories. I like that the blood tests are grouped in category so you can access your health based on your organs (liver, kidney, heart…) or major functions of your body (autoimmunity, stress…)
When you select a specific category, FunctionHealth delivers a comprehensive overview of that category alongside your results. Unlike most standard blood tests, FunctionHealth stands out by grouping related blood markers together, offering a more complete picture of your health. Take heart health as an example: while cholesterol is a valuable marker, total cholesterol by itself doesn’t tell the full story. That’s why FunctionHealth includes 13 different markers just to evaluate your cholesterol, ensuring a thorough assessment.
Here is a sample of such data for the Heart category.
Blood test Results
When you reach a particular marker, Function Health provides not only the value of that marker but also a detailed explanation to help you understand its significance. This includes information about what the blood marker represents, the optimal range, and the ranges that may require medical attention. Additionally, Function Health offers guidance on the types of foods to include in your diet and those to limit, as well as potential supplements or self-care practices that could help improve the marker.
Here is a sample of such data for the HDL-Cholesteror blood marker.
Here are a few more markers with the information you could get from each of them
- Biomarker: ApoB (Heart Health)
- Result: 110 mg/dL
- Range: Optimal is under 90 mg/dL
- Explanation: “ApoB measures particles that clog arteries. Yours is a bit high, which could raise heart risk.”
- Tip: “Cut back on saturated fats—like butter—and add more fiber. Talk to a doctor about statins if this sticks.”
- Biomarker: Fasting Glucose (Metabolic Health)
- Result: 95 mg/dL
- Range: Optimal is 70-85 mg/dL
- Explanation: “Your glucose is in the normal range but not ideal. It shows how your body handles sugar.”
- Tip: “Try a 30-minute walk after meals to keep this lower. Check insulin next time.”
- Biomarker: hsCRP (Inflammation)
- Result: 2.5 mg/L
- Range: Optimal is under 1 mg/L
- Explanation: “hsCRP flags inflammation. Yours is elevated, which might signal stress on your body.”
- Tip: “Boost omega-3s with fish or flaxseed. Stress less—maybe some yoga?”
And then you get a Clinician summary for each market as well as for your overall set of tests
- Clinician’s Summary Snippet: “Your ApoB and hsCRP suggest early heart risk—worth watching closely. Glucose is okay but could be tighter for peak metabolic health. Low Vitamin D (say, 28 ng/mL) might sap your energy—get more sun. Focus on diet and movement; retest in 3 months.”
Add-On Tests and Cancer Screening
FunctionHealth allows you to add extra à la carte blood tests beyond the 100+ already included, letting you dive deeper into specific health markers. This is especially handy if a marker falls out of range and needs more investigation, such as hormone imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, or signs of inflammation that might point to underlying issues.
Plus, FunctionHealth offers the cutting-edge Galleri cancer screening test as an option. This product screens for signals of over 50 types of cancer—many without standard screening methods—using a single blood draw, all for $899. It’s a pricey add-on, matching its retail cost, and typically requires a doctor’s prescription (especially if you’re under 50). I took the plunge with this test, and though waiting for results was nerve-racking—its false positive rate is 1 in 200, so a flagged cancer signal is serious—it offered incredible peace of mind once I got the all-clear.
Clinician’s Notes + Action Plan
You get an overall Clinician’s note that tie all your results together into a clear health picture, which I love. You also get tips on what foods to eat or skip, supplements to try (and even activities to do) in order to fix any off markers). The second test later you order 6 months later help you understand if any changes you’ve implemented are working so you can make sure your are taking the right steps.
What did I learn from my Clinician Notes
My personal health assessment with FunctionHealth shows strong kidney function, balanced electrolytes, and low inflammation, all supporting my longevity goals.
However, FunctionHealth highlighted slightly elevated carbon dioxide and platelet volume levels, plus some concerning lipid markers (like higher LDL and small particles), which hint at potential cardiovascular and respiratory risks.
Though my health foundation felt solid this help me having follow up with physical to understand these further and tweak my lifestyle and diet accordingly. I’ve made these changes a few months ago and I’m looking forward to scheduling my follow up blood test with FunctionHealth to see how much I’ve improved.
Our Bottom Line: FunctionHealth: A Worthwhile Step Toward Longevity
So, is FunctionHealth worth it? After exploring Peter Attia’s Outlive book and testing out FunctionHealth myself, I’d say yes—for the right person. At $499, you’re getting 160+ blood tests (100+ now, 60+ later) that dig into your heart, metabolism, inflammation, and more—way more than a typical checkup. I’ve tracked blood test costs around the world, and this price is a steal for the sheer volume of data alone. Add in the easy-to-read dashboard, clinician summaries, and tailored tips (as I highlighted with my personal learning). FunctionHealth is a no-brainer for anyone serious about staying ahead of their health.
If you want to get started and skip the waiting list, you can sign-up for FunctionHealth using our referral link here.
FunctionHealth needs a U.S. mailing address to sign up, but you don’t have to live in the U.S. to use it. You can do the first visit within 10 days, so it’s easy to join even if you’re just on a quick vacation in the U.S. And then return within 6-12 months to schedule your follow up blood draw.
What do you think—would you spend $499 to get this kind of health insight, or do you have another way to stay on top of your wellness? Drop a comment in the comments section below to let us know!
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