![Header asking, "How Healthy are you?" over a picture of a smiling woman](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Oq2A!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffc326ca2-9f68-4121-a44e-1749b5eb744a_1200x640.jpeg "Header asking, "How Healthy are you?" over a picture of a smiling woman")
If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ve already figured out that I don’t keep a strict posting schedule if I can’t deliver value in the moment. Lately, I’ve been immersed in learning and curation, leaving less time to post as I navigate my bifurcated work life. In June, I’ll be spending time on course creation and delivery, as well as starting to query agents for my new novel, a small-town thriller.
My deep learning will benefit my wellness clients and readers, as I’m 12 weeks into a 14-week comprehensive Osteoporosis program taught by Dr. Kim Millman, a functional MD specializing in Osteoporosis. It’s been intense, and I’ve committed to teaching a 90-minute Osteoporosis Essentials class at my local YMCA—including exercise modifications needed for their Pilates, Yoga, and Barre classes. I will also share some learnings as future Substack posts and offer a webinar.
Another passion of mine is understanding genetics and lab biomarkers to navigate health. Probably because I’m a numbers geek and a critical problem-solver, which I get from my dad, who passed the medical boards at 75. I visit him every two weeks, and we chat, which is truly a gift. Thankfully, he’s in decent physical condition for someone approaching 90, but he’s slipping slowly into cognitive decline, which is heartbreaking to watch. He’s also as stubborn as a mule. God forbid the man eat a vegetable. As an old-school doctor, he defaults to medication vs. lifestyle changes and has no knowledge of newer biomarkers, which makes for some interesting discourse during our Tuesday afternoon chats.
My father’s definition of health is being on only three medications: Metformin, Atorvastatin, and another for blood pressure.
My definition of health is not being on any medication.
So, it was news to my dad when I told him I had an above normal Lp(a), a genetic cholesterol marker, which increases cardiovascular risk by 5x. I tested since he told me years ago that my mother, who passed away in 2023, had unnaturally high cholesterol. Turns out my middle sister and I have the marker, but my youngest sister does not. As a follow-up, we both had a Calcium Score (CAC) scan. Thankfully, we both have scores of ZERO.
Most primary care physicians do not test for Lp(a).
Ask. No, insist.
Why is this important? I met a 55-year-old man during one of my 7 Levers of Wellness presentations who pushed for this test. It saved his life. His CAC showed a blockage at the beginning of the left main artery, or LAD, and the makings of a widowmaker—the kind of artery blockage that causes athletes to drop dead on the football field or basketball court. He had to have surgery.
Which brings me to my point.
How many of you have been tested for hsCRP, Homocysteine, Lp(a), ApoB, A1c, ApoE, or Vitamin D, to name some?
If you have, do you know what they mean? If you have a traditional primary care physician, chances are you’ve never had all of them or even knew they existed. Not a knock on you or your physician, it’s just today’s healthcare. Even if you’ve had them, most of the time your doctor will look at the “normal” ranges and call it good. But good is not good enough. Understanding optimal ranges is critical for spotting a condition before it becomes an issue.
Getting back to Lp(a). You should get tested, especially if you have high cholesterol. Statins can raise Lp(a) by 10-20% for people with the marker, so PCKS9 inhibitors might be a better option, or taking Niacin. With the most recent update to the cholesterol guidelines, it’s guaranteed that doctors will be pushing statins to many more people in the name of “prevention.” Some without ordering a full Quest Cardio IQTM or similar test.
The good news? If you are in the United States, with the exception of NY, NJ, and RI, you can order many of these tests “direct-to-consumer” from Quest and other specialty labs, such as Ulta Lab Tests. There are also services like Function Health that offer a reasonably priced panel of 160+ labs for $365. If you live in NY or NJ, it will cost more due to state regulations.
Although it’s widely believed that Lp(a) can’t be lowered through diet and exercise, lowering lipids, insulin resistance, and other metabolic risk factors, as measured by other biomarkers, can reduce overall cardiovascular and atherosclerotic risk.
Which is why I’ve been inspired to create a webinar, Hacking Your Biomarkers for Better Wellness. The class will provide transparency into optimal biomarker ranges, coaching clients on how to apply lifestyle choices to improve these markers, and give them guidance on what to push for with their healthcare providers. My goal is to educate and empower people to take control of their health and advocate for themselves within a healthcare system not wired for whole-person care.
Join me on June 15th!
Happy 10th book birthday, Caught Up in Raine! Of all my published novels, CUIR is still my favorite, and the one that landed me an agent back in 2015. Sadly, CUIR “died on sub” (meaning, my then-agent couldn’t sell it), which happens far more often than you’d think. After which, my agent and I amicably parted ways. I hired a top-notch publicist and indie-published the book in May, 2016.
Undaunted, I entered the Kindle Scout program (now defunct) in 2017 and won a paid contract with Kindle Press for the second book in the series, Shelter My Heart. Hoping to sell them my third, I submitted Surrender My Heart. The editorial letter I received was amazing, but they had decided to shut down acquisitions, so, once again, I turned to indie publishing. All three books have won awards. I’m incredibly proud of them, but for personal reasons, including burnout, I stepped away from publishing in 2019.
But I still kept writing. The issue I faced? My open projects were attached to existing series, which meant I had nothing new to offer an agent.
Until now! After more than a decade, I’m back on the quest for an agent with my brand-new manuscript. I had the unique opportunity to receive a full manuscript read from a #1 New York Times bestselling author who has written over 30 books. She reignited my spark when she said it was the best unpublished manuscript she’s ever read and volunteered to send it to her agent (which we knew was a long shot) as well as write me a cover blurb for when it’s published! 🥰 I’m super grateful that she took the time 🙏🏻
Even with her endorsement, the industry is crazy right now, and I’m hoping to find a home for my debut small-town thriller. Even if I’m not successful, at least I will know that I tried. I already have requests for pages and several upcoming pitch sessions scheduled. Wish me luck!
Yours in Health & Wellness,
Liz
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POST written by a human. COMMAS corrected by AI.
Not because I want to, but because I have to—Legal Disclaimer:
This post is provided for educational purposes only. The content, including any products and services mentioned or offered, represents my opinion based on my research and experience and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended as a substitute for treatment or services by a licensed healthcare provider. Any content should be taken at your sole risk and discretion. Using the content posted does not create a client-coach relationship, which can only be formed with a signed contract by both parties, nor does it create any liability.
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