Have you ever wondered what‘s really going on inside your body? As an active guy in my 40s trying to balance work, family and fitness, I was curious to learn more about my health at a deeper level.
I don‘t have time for doctor visits and appointments to piece this all together. That‘s why I decided to try InsideTracker – a personalized nutrition and lifestyle program based on your blood and DNA results.
Here’s what InsideTracker does in plain terms:
They analyze important biomarkers in your blood related to nutrition, fitness and general wellbeing. Things like vitamin levels, cholesterol, blood sugar regulation and liver health.
You also have the option to add DNA screening which maps your genetics. This reveals insights on aging, injury risk, food sensitivities and more based on your genes.
InsideTracker then compares your levels to optimal ranges and offers science-backed tips on adding the right foods, exercises, and supplements so you can actually improve any deficiencies over time.
I‘ll cover my experience using InsideTracker the past year, including:
- The different plans they offer with key details on what‘s included
- An inside look at my biomarker blood test results
- The personalized recommendations I received
- How much I spent compared to alternatives
- My honest opinion after 12+ months testing different plans
If you‘re curious what the InsideTracker buzz is about, read on for the real scoop from an actual user!
InsideTracker’s Different Plan Options
InsideTracker offers various bundles based on how many biomarkers you want tested or types of insights desired. I‘ve tried a few plans over the past year – here are key details on each:
Ultimate Plan
- Analyzes 43 biomarkers related to fitness, nutrition, general health
- Blood test required
- Most extensive detail on what‘s going on inside you
- Costs $649 if billed annually
DNA Kit
- At-home cheek swab to analyze genetics
- Maps 261 genetic variants affecting aging, food sensitivities, injury risk and more
- Added context beyond blood test alone
- $249 standalone or adds $149 to other plans
InnerAge Plan
- Focuses on aging indicators in 18 biomarkers
- Offers tailored anti-aging recommendations
- Must be 35+ years old to qualify
- $229 when billed annually
Starter Plan
- Tests 12 basic biomarkers like blood sugar, cholesterol
- Entry-level customization
- Ideal for cost-conscious buyers
- $229 per year
They also offer various bundles that package plans together to save money versus buying individually.
But enough background info – let‘s look at what happened when I spit in a tube and pricked my finger…
My Blood Test Results
I first tried InsideTracker’s Ultimate plan to get the full experience with an in-depth blood test.
After checking in at a local Quest Diagnostics clinic, it was quick and painless to fill a few vials. A week later my biomarker dashboard was loaded with results.
Here’s a sampling of what biomarkers were analyzed:
- Vitamin levels: B12, D, E, Folate, Vitamin A
- Minerals: Iron, Zinc, Magnesium
- Blood sugar and insulin markers
- Cholesterol and heart disease risk
- Inflammation tracking creactive protein
- Liver function indicators
- Kidney function via creatinine
And 30+ more covering everything from red blood cell health to testosterone.
Turns out my Vitamin D was extremely low compared to optimal – likely because I live in the Pacific Northwest where sunlight is scarce and I spend most days indoor for work.
My LDL cholesterol was also on the high side, which didn’t surprise me given my weakness for cheeseburgers and fries…
Below you can see a snippet of my dashboard with the red-yellow-green color coding:
Now that I had visibility into these inner health metrics and risk factors, it was time to actually improve them with InsideTracker’s help!
The Personalized Recommendations I Received
Within a few days of my blood test results becoming available, I had a customized plan waiting in my InsideTracker dashboard.
This included specific suggestions on what foods to incorporate, exercises that target problem areas, and evidence-backed supplements to counter deficiencies.
Here are a few standouts I can recall:
- Eating more shellfish and mushrooms to increase vitamin D levels
- Swapping olive oil for avocado oil to lower LDL cholesterol
- Interval sprinting routines to improve cardiovascular fitness
- Adding an Omega-3 supplement for heart and brain health
- Magnesium glycinate to help remedy low magnesium levels
I liked that InsideTracker explains the “why” behind every recommendation so you understand how it connects to your biomarkers.
The tips frequently reference relevant scientific studies – for example, a paper on sprinting’s impact on blood sugar regulation. This helps motivate you to actually follow the guidance.
Over the next months, I aimed to implement as much of the nutrition and lifestyle advice as practical around my schedule.
Follow-up blood tests at the 3 month and 6 month marks tracked clear improvements:
- My Vitamin D increased from 24 ng/mL to 43 ng/mL – now solidly in the recommended range according to my doctor
- LDL cholesterol dropped from elevated at 155 to a more appropriate 125 after reducing red meat and high-fat dairy
- Vo2Max (measure of cardiovascular endurance) rose from below average to above average likely thanks to the suggested interval training routines
With tangible progress across multiple biomarkers, I was fully bought into InsideTracker’s approach. Their science-backed recommendations clearly worked when applied consistently.
Next I decided to add the DNA Kit to see what potential genetic insights were lurking…
My DNA Test Results
Adding the DNA Kit on top of my blood tests was super easy – InsideTracker sent a quick cheek swab kit in the mail.
I mailed my sample back in the provided packaging and had results on my ancestry and health predispositions within a few weeks.
Testing revealed I have a common MTHFR gene variant making it harder to metabolize key B vitamins like folate. This helped explain why my blood tests showed chronically high homocysteine.
My ACE gene was another standout – it signals increased injury risk, meaning I should be careful not overdo high intensity training.
The DNA analysis also confirmed food sensitivities I’ve struggled with like dairy along with a reduced caffeine metabolism.
With this added context, InsideTracker fine-tuned my nutrition recommendations. I also made adjustments to my training regimen to prevent potential overuse injuries.
How Much Does InsideTracker Cost?
Okay, let‘s talk dollars and cents. I know InsideTracker isn‘t cheap, so is it worth digging into your wallet?
Based on what‘s included, I think the costs are justified – but there are ways to save.
Here‘s a cost breakdown of the plans I used over 12+ months:
Ultimate Plan
- $649 annually when billed monthly
- I saved 15% paying $589 upfront annually
DNA Kit
- $249 one-time fee
Tip: They offer bundled pricing if you buy 6 months or 12 months upfront of multiple plans at once. I saved 20% going that route on my 2nd purchase instead of paying each monthly.
To me, InsideTracker shakes out as very fair value wise when you consider what you‘d otherwise spend on doctor visits, lab tests, nutritionists and personal trainers to piece this together.
Yes, $600 or so a year is real money. But based on the improved energy, performance and sense of control I‘ve felt optimizing these biomarkers, it‘s 100% been worth it in my opinion.
The Verdict: Should You Try InsideTracker?
After a year using InsideTracker across multiple plans, I confidently recommend it. The insights I’ve gotten into my fitness, nutrition and aging biomarkers have been invaluable.
Actually improving overlooked issues like my vitamin deficiencies and cholesterol through science-backed nutrition and training tips has me feeling healthier in my 40s than I did years ago.
I know myself – there’s no way I would have made these incremental diet and lifestyle tweaks without the extrinsic motivation from InsideTracker’s biomarker dashboard.
If you‘re similarly interested about what‘s happening inside your body and ways to reach peak performance, give InsideTracker a shot. Start with one of the more affordable plans before going all-in so you can gauge the value firsthand like I did.
Hope you enjoyed my transparent InsideTracker review breakdown as an actual user. Have any other questions on my experience or their offerings? Let me know in the comments!
