The Blood Tests Most Pastors Miss (But Your Vitality Depends on It)

The Blood Tests Most Pastors Miss (But Your Vitality Depends on It)

Most pastors track their sermon notes better than they track their health.

We spend hours on outlines, illustrations, and that perfect closing point...

But ask us the last time we got a full blood panel?

Cue crickets.

Here’s the hard truth:

You can’t optimize what you don’t measure.

And if your energy’s tanking, your mood’s unpredictable, and your memory feels like it’s running Windows 95… your blood might be trying to send you a memo.

Let’s fix that.

When I first got serious about health optimization, all the research kept pointing back to the same thing...

Blood markers.

It didn’t matter if I was reading about energy, sleep, longevity, or motivation—it always circled back to the condition of certain key labs.

So I made optimizing those numbers the new scoreboard.

And once I did?

Everything else...

what I ate

how I trained

when I slept

suddenly had a target.

Why This Matters

Your ministry doesn't need a martyr.

It needs a well-oiled vessel...

Someone with clarity, drive, and stamina that can blow through a Sunday without limping into Monday.

If you want more:

• Mental clarity on prep days
• Stamina in your preaching (and your week)
• Resilience under pressure

...you don’t need more coffee.

You need better chemistry.

The 5 Blood Tests Every Pastor Needs (But Rarely Gets)

Let’s make this simple.

Ask for these five labs the next time you're at the doc.

(Write them down. Your provider will nod, smile... and quietly wonder if you're being a smarty pants.)

1. Fasting Insulin

• Yes, this one’s more common—but most pastors still never ask for it directly.
• It tells you how hard your body’s working to keep your blood sugar stable.
• High insulin = early sign of insulin resistance, weight gain, and fatigue.
• You don’t want to be on the slow train to type 2 diabetes. Test this before your A1c ever goes up.

2. Testosterone (Free + Total)

• Not just for bodybuilders or gym bros.
• Low testosterone wrecks motivation, drive, recovery, and energy.
• Pastoring takes testosterone. So does showing up fully for your family.
• And here’s the wild stat: average male testosterone levels have dropped by over 25% in the last 30 years. Many debate the reason—but the trend is clear, and it’s hitting men earlier than ever. Get checked, bro.

3. Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy)

• Most pastors are indoors 6 days a week and wear long sleeves on the 7th.
• Low D = mood swings, brain fog, and immune dysfunction.
• Bonus: It also plays a role in testosterone production. See #2.

4. CRP (C-Reactive Protein)

• Measures systemic inflammation.
• Chronic inflammation is the invisible tax on your brain and body.
• High CRP = slow recovery, fatigue, mental haze, and long-term disease risk.

5. Lipoprotein(a)

• This one’s sneaky—and seriously under-ordered.
• It's genetic (test once for life), and it's an independent risk marker for cardiovascular disease, meaning it's dangerous all by itself.
• Most check-ups skip it, but high LP(a) = serious heart risk.
• You can be lean, active, and still be at elevated risk. Only this test will tell you.
• And get this: it's elevated in 1 out of 5 people. That's not rare. That's church-membership-level common. (My wife and I each have it.)

Real Talk: What This Means for Your Ministry

If these numbers are off, no amount of caffeine or willpower will keep you going long-term.

And here’s something else no one tells you:

Knowing your blood status doesn’t just inform your next doctor visit—it fuels your daily choices.

When you see the insulin spike or the low testosterone, you suddenly care a lot more about what’s on your plate and whether you hit the gym.

It’s not guilt.

It’s clarity.

It turns vague motivation into targeted action.

Your passion might be high...

But your mitochondria are writing a resignation letter.

✅ Clear blood = clear brain.
✅ Balanced hormones = sustainable drive.
✅ Low inflammation = fewer sick days and more ministry years.

Bottom Line

You’d never walk into a team meeting, a counseling session, or a strategic planning retreat without some level of preparation.

So stop living without it.

This cheat sheet isn’t about chasing longevity just to say you lived to 98.

It’s about showing up strong in every role you carry—leading teams, casting vision, organizing chaos, and yes, preaching too.

You can’t pour from an empty vessel.

But you can draw blood, fill the gaps, and refill your tank.

Test. Track. Adjust.

Then go minister like your sweet labs just gave you a kiss.

More Resources To Help You Optimize

🥤Momentum Shake: The Complete Longevity Shake for Optimal Health

🎥 Sermon Shots: Repurpose Sermons Into Clips & Other Engaging Content in Minutes

💊 My (Scott's) full supplement regimen