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Biohacking for the Optimal Diet

Title: Biohacking for the Optimal Diet


It's been all over the media lately. Transitioning towards a plant predominant dietary pattern has enormous health benefits. With the recent release of the Netflix Documentary, "You are what you eat: a Twin Experiment" there is a growing interest in Maine to not only transition our eating pattern, but to also track our personal health markers.


Here are Lifestyle Medicine Maine, we do just that. Okay, but how does Lifestyle Medicine Maine compare to other options?


TLDR: We do it better.





The idea that we can check pre- and post- lab markers (blood tests) after making diet and lifestyle changes is not a new concept. We call this "Biohacking".


"Biohacking is the practice of employing methods drawn from fields like biology, genetics, neuroscience and nutrition to enhance physical or mental performance, improve overall health and well-being, or achieve a specific health outcome (like weight loss)..." (elegantly stated by Forbes).

The problem is that current options are expensive and out of reach for most of us. For example, lack of insurance coverage through the traditional medical model makes testing and monitoring unpredictable because of a lack of cost transparency. Even those of us who have insurance will likely end up paying out of pocket for lab tests as insurance providers do not currently value this level of individualized care.


This has lead many to turn to companies like Inside Tracker, a platform offering direct to consumer lab ordering. Using this platform, we can track and re-check our lab markers after making diet and lifestyle changes to quantify the actual benefit. But Inside Tracker comes at a exorbitant cost. Just 2 lab draws (pre- and post- intervention) currently costs $1,488.00 (as of 02/26/2024) through Inside Tracker. And that doesn't include the hassle of coordinating with a phlebotomist (someone trained to draw lab tests), someone that you don't know, who will need to come to your home to draw these labs for you.





What labs does Inside Tracker include for that price?

  • Cardiac markers: ApoB and total cholesterol

  • Markers of systemic inflammation: hs-CRP

  • White blood cell count

  • B12 and Folate

  • Iron studies

  • Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP)

  • A1c (screening for diabetes) and insulin

  • Vitamin D



How do we compare?

Lifestyle Medicine Maine Group Weight Loss and Wellness Program

Inside Tracker

Cost for 2 lab draws

$300.00 + about $10 per lab marker requested (typically around $90-120/complete panel)

$1,596.00

Accountability for weight loss

Yes, weigh-in at the clinic on Tuesday's in Scarborough

No

Includes group support to facilitate behavior change

Yes

No

Includes personalized medical guidance and feedback

Yes, meet with our clinician 1:1 as needed throughout the Group Program.

No. Aside from recommendations based on lab results, they do not offer 1:1 medical consultation.

Provides weekly measurable goals to optimize our focus

Yes, each week we focus on a specific, measurable goal designed to optimize your health.

No

Cost for ongoing lab monitoring after 12 weeks

About $10-$20 per lab marker requested with upfront pricing (view our current price list here) for active members.

$699

1 year cost for monitoring every 12 weeks (3 months)

Commit to 1 year at Lifestyle Medicine Maine for $1,800 (3 months free)

$3,192 for 4 lab draws

Inside tracker pricing: updated 02/26/2024



Here are Lifestyle Medicine Maine, we can do better. Our current 12 week Weight Loss and Wellness Group Program costs $600 and includes group support and 1:1 feedback from a trained medical professional specializing in Lifestyle Medicine. Learn more about it here. Groups begin every 3 months, explore the program schedule here.


And that includes continued direct access to our clinician, Jessica Krol, FNP, DipACLM along with the option to schedule weekly 1:1 video visits to answer your questions and help guide your progress.



Bio for Jessica Krol, FNP, DipACLM of Lifestyle Medicine Maine



Want to explore typical lab costs at Lifestyle Medicine Maine? Browse our lab price list here.


How can Lifestyle Medicine Maine afford to offer these services as such a reasonable rate? Our clinician is dedicated to helping you succeed and has years of experience with phlebotomy, meaning that we can keep our overhead costs low. We also limit our panel size (meaning that we only accept a limited number of patients at one time) so that we can take the time to ensure that you get the support that you need. We are a grassroots practice focused on helping Mainer's restore and optimize their health through peer support and truly personalized 1:1 medical care.


If you are ready to take charge of your health, and you are looking to quantify this through monitoring lab metrics, then join us for the next Weight Loss and Wellness Group Program! The session begins as a group on October 6th, meeting on Sunday morning from 9 to 10 am EST virtually. See you soon!




References



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This is not medical advice

The Veggie Press (the Lifestyle Medicine Maine Blog) is not medical advice. The following information are meant for entertainment and education purposes only and should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition nor should they be used as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified, board-certified practicing clinician. Always consult your health care provider before making changes to your diet and/or lifestyle.

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