My mother used to say,"The blood tells everything, go and get your blood tested.” Well, she was pretty on track with this one. I can tell you that getting your blood checked is probably one of the most important things that you can do for yourself. But, the problem lies here. Doctors do not run enough tests. They can't. The insurance company won't let them. If they prescribed every blood test that should be done for every patient's health and well being, the doctor would soon find himself off the preferred provider list of insurance companies. He would then loose all his referrals from them. It's a matter of money.

Once again, you need to be accountable for your own health. Ask, and if that doesn't work, TELL your doctor what blood work you want done in addition to any other blood work he might recommend. Unless you speak up, I guarantee that he will not run all the test that are recommended here. Remember, insurance companies would frown on the cost if he ordered every test for everybody.

The blood work I am suggesting here are the tests recommended by Life Extension Foundations. (http://www.lef.org), an organization who's the sole intent to better our health and extend our lives. They are a global authority on health, wellness and nutrition as well as a provider of scientific information on anti-aging therapies. I strongly recommend that anyone and everyone over the age of 40 join this organization. For a very small price, you will receive a monthly news magazine filled with the most cutting edge scientific data on anti aging/ health recommendations. Joining them is one of the best things that I have ever done.

After you get your blood results, I urge you to not only discuss them with your doctor, but also seek advice on the results from an endocrinologist. Most doctors are not thoroughly familiar with some of the more rare test presented here.

If you want to take it one step further, map them out on an excel spread sheet like the example at the end of this section. I was taught this by a man whom at the time, I thought was obviously way over obsessive for even thinking of such a daunting task. But, after doing so, not only did I find it relatively simple, I found it to be the most useful way to keep track of my blood/hormonal health. Even the doctors who I now see find this as a very useful tool to help them.

I have listed two sets of blood work, one for males and the other for females. A few tests will be optional depending on your age and other factors. There is a new anti-aging wave taking over in the scientific medical circle. If your doctor is not current with all of this cutting edge information, or does not chose to keep you informed, I would also encourage you to also seek advice from the many anti-aging specialists emerging.

The blood tests recommended are for informational purposes only. It is not the intention of Jim Stefano or this article to provide specific medical advice. Rather, it is here to provide readers with information to better understand their health. Specific medical advice including diagnosis and treatment will not be provided if you ask. Always seek the advice of a trained health professional for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Please remember NOT to eat anything for 12 hours before taking the test . Most people have their blood drawn in the morning before they eat breakfast. You can and should drink water to avoid dehydration

Here is a sample of what charting your blood work would look like. Notice the bold red numbers would mean that they are out of the reference range. This will make it easy to spot problems.