What Does Our Blood Really Reveal About Our Health?
Blood values within the normal range - and still constantly tired, irritable, or unable to concentrate? What laboratory reports often do not show: The body can already be in a state of deficiency long before it becomes noticeable in the blood count. Why it is worth taking a closer look and not just relying on tests.
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You went to the doctor, had your blood checked - everything is in the green zone. But inside you, it's different: you feel low on energy, sleep poorly, are more irritable, or forget things in everyday life? You are not alone in this. Many people report exactly that - despite having 'normal' blood values.
The truth is: Many parameters only reflect a snapshot. And the body keeps many values in the blood stable for a long time, even if the cell reserves are already decreasing. A feeling of exhaustion can therefore have many causes that go far beyond what is measured in the laboratory. Our Blood Values Guide helps you to better classify laboratory values and understand what statements they really allow about your health condition.
What your blood test doesn't tell you - and why it's important
The complete blood count captures the number and nature of blood cells and provides clues, for example, about possible infections. This way, we can ideally detect health problems long before they cause noticeable changes. In the case of cholesterol or inflammations, this works quite well, but it is often more difficult with micronutrients.
No uniform reference and standard values
What is still within the normal range according to conventional medicine may potentially be too low. This is because reference values are not based on optimal health, but on average values. A laboratory value at the lower end of the normal range can therefore indicate a noticeable deficiency, even if it is not yet considered pathological from a medical perspective. Terms such as "reference values" or "normal values" should therefore always be viewed with caution. To establish them, large laboratories analyze hundreds of blood samples from supposedly healthy individuals. Since vitamin and mineral levels vary greatly among these individuals, each laboratory defines its own reference range - usually the middle 95 percent of all measured values. The highest and lowest 5 percent are excluded.
In addition, reference values are not consistent. Each laboratory examines different groups of people. Sometimes blood values of young men are used, which cannot simply be applied to a 70-year-old woman. Another problem is the lack of reliable measurement methods - for example, in the case of magnesium, selenium, vitamin B12, or zinc. Here too, depending on the measurement method, a supposedly "normal" value can be misleading.
Example Magnesium - how reliable is the measurement in blood serum
Approximately 99 percent of the magnesium in the body is located inside the cells (e.g. in muscles, bones, organs). Only 1 percent circulates freely in the blood serum. This small portion is what is measured in standard laboratory tests. The issue is that even if the body is already starting to draw magnesium from muscles or bones to maintain stable serum levels, the laboratory value can still appear normal - even though a cellular deficiency may already exist.
Our body shows it to us - often before laboratory values do
It is easy to see on our body whether our cells are optimally supplied or not. The following signs can be sent to you by your body:
Fatigue, even after good sleep
Irritability and "weak" nerves
Muscle cramps or increased tension despite movement
Brittle nails, dry skin, hair loss
Mood swings or lack of drive
Increasing waist circumference
Sleep problems, insomnia
Lack of concentration or feeling of "brain fog"
These complaints are often attributed to stress, age, or hormones - and sometimes that may be true. However, the supply of important micronutrients such as magnesium, B vitamins, iron, zinc, or selenium also often plays a role.
Why holistic thinking makes sense
Instead of looking at individual values in isolation, it is worth taking a look at the bigger picture. In a holistic view, lifestyle, stress, hormonal changes, nutrition, and also the intake of medications all play a role in your nutrient balance.
Often underestimated: Intestinal problems, stress, and medications can increase the need for micronutrients, even if you generally eat healthily.
„Over half of the people take medication. This can lead to an increased need or even deficits, because nutrients may no longer be absorbed in sufficient quantities or may be excreted more quickly.“
Uwe Gröber
Leading micronutrient expert and book author
Did you know? Many medications can affect your micronutrient balance
This includes, for example, blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medications, stomach acid blockers, the birth control pill and hormone preparations, antidiabetic drugs, and painkillers. You can find out which medications increase the need for micronutrients in our overview.
What you can do yourself - even without laboratory tests
If you suspect that your body is not optimally nourished, you can already take action:
Pay attention to your body signals: Are there recurring patterns such as cravings, mood swings, energy dips, or waking up at night?
Question your diet honestly: Are you getting a variety of fresh nutrient-rich foods daily?
Get informed specifically: Read about medications and how they affect your micronutrient balance, for example in our PDF.
Conclusion: Your body knows more than a laboratory analysis
If you feel tired, unbalanced, or simply not quite fit, this is a signal from your body. Our well-being depends more than anything else on optimal cell supply. When cells lose their function, organs, tissues, and hormones also fall out of balance. A holistic micronutrient supply is therefore the key to more energy, mental clarity, and long-term health.
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