Do you take care of yourself by exercising regularly and eating a healthy, natural diet? Do you use key supplements to support your overall well-being? While these habits should form part of your daily lifestyle, it’s also important to consider doing an annual health check. I believe this is essential for monitoring some of the most important health indicators, ones that can quickly reveal if something needs your attention.
Let’s take a closer look at what I mean.
YOUR ANNUAL HEALTH CHECK
While I strongly advocate for using natural foods and remedies to build and maintain good health, I also fully support the use of allopathic medicine, especially when it comes to assessing your current health status. Modern medicine has made remarkable advances and now offers a wide range of highly accurate diagnostic tests.
One of the most effective ways to check your health is through blood testing, because blood doesn’t lie. It can reveal whether there are any underlying issues, allowing you to take targeted steps to address imbalances before they develop into more serious problems.
You have a couple of options when it comes to testing. If you’re looking for a comprehensive overview, you can opt for an in-depth panel that includes a complete blood count and a wide range of other markers.
On the other hand, if you generally feel well, a more basic test focusing on key indicators of metabolic health may be sufficient.
To better explain this, I’ll share what I did during my visit to Belgrade in May 2025. Let’s take a look at each parameter I checked and what it can tell you about your health.
MY ANNUAL HEALTH CHECK
In the photo below, you can see the blood tests I had done in Belgrade. I visited the same reputable laboratory where I previously completed several COVID-19 antibody tests back in 2020. They offer a wide range of blood tests at affordable prices, making it a convenient and reliable choice.
HAEMOGLOBIN A1c
The HbA1c test measures the amount of glucose (sugar) attached to haemoglobin in red blood cells. Because these cells have a lifespan of approximately 2–3 months, the test provides an average of your blood sugar levels over that time period.
To ensure consistency across laboratories and countries, the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) has standardized HbA1c measurements in mmol/mol. For individuals without diabetes, a typical HbA1c range is between 20–42 mmol/mol.
Although the IFCC standard is now widely used, some laboratories still include the older DCCT (Diabetes Control and Complications Trial) percentage (%) alongside the IFCC value, a practice known as dual reporting.
The HbA1c test is a vital tool for diagnosing, managing and monitoring diabetes, offering a clear picture of long-term blood sugar control.
As shown in the photo below, the lab provided both IFCC and DCCT results. Both fall within the normal range, although I’d prefer to see them closer to the lower end of the scale. I’m not sure how easy it will be to lower these values in the future, but I’m certainly going to try.
It’s important to remember that everything you eat is eventually converted into glucose. One potential strategy for improving blood sugar levels might be incorporating periodic fasting.
LIPID PROFILE
A lipid profile is essentially a cholesterol test. It’s a blood test that measures the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood.
Typically, the test reports total cholesterol, HDL (the “good” cholesterol), LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) and triglycerides. While HDL cholesterol is beneficial, it’s important to watch your LDL cholesterol levels closely.
LDL cholesterol consists of two types of particles – small, dense LDL and large, buoyant LDL. Small, dense LDL particles are more harmful and have been linked to cardiovascular problems. However, most standard tests don’t differentiate between these particle types.
If your LDL levels are elevated, your doctor may recommend statins. But keep in mind that statins are toxic drugs with serious side effects and you should never take them. Lifestyle and dietary changes can effectively manage and improve your lipid profile without medication. That said, this is a topic that deserves its own post.
In the photo below, my lipid profile results are as follows:
-
Total cholesterol: 5.56 mmol/L – slightly higher than the ideal range
-
HDL cholesterol: 1.27 mmol/L – lower than desired
-
LDL cholesterol: 3.79 mmol/L – within the normal range
-
Triglycerides: 1.10 mmol/L – within the normal range
There are two more important parameters, not always listed in your results, that you can easily calculate yourself:
-
Total cholesterol to HDL ratio – this ratio helps assess your cardiovascular health and your risk of heart disease or heart attack. A ratio below 5:1 is generally considered normal, with lower values being better. My ratio is 4.38, which falls within the healthy range.
-
Triglycerides to HDL cholesterol ratio – this is a surrogate marker for insulin resistance. Ideally, this ratio should be below 2. A value above 2 indicates a higher risk of metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetes). My ratio is 0.87, which suggests I have no metabolic issues and am not at increased cardiovascular risk.
APOLIPOPROTEIN B (Apo B)
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a large protein that forms the structural backbone of certain lipoproteins, especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL).
ApoB acts as a carrier, transporting lipids throughout the body. However, it only carries the “bad” types of lipids, namely LDL and VLDL. You won’t find the “good” HDL cholesterol associated with ApoB. So, whenever ApoB is present, you can be sure LDL is there too.
Measuring ApoB may actually provide a better prediction of heart and vascular disease risk than a standard lipid panel. This is because each ApoB molecule corresponds to one “bad” lipoprotein particle, allowing for an accurate count of potentially harmful cholesterol.
I also tested for ApoB myself and, as you can see in the photo below, my result was 1.060, comfortably within the healthy range.
HOMOCYSTEINE
Homocysteine is a natural by-product of methionine, an amino acid found in many of the foods we eat. Your body produces it every day and, in small amounts, it’s perfectly normal. The problem starts when levels get too high.
Elevated homocysteine has been linked to more than 50 serious health conditions including heart attacks, strokes, certain cancers, diabetes, depression and even Alzheimer’s disease. Keeping it in check could be one of the most important things you do for your long-term health.
You can see below my result of 6.61, well within the healthy range. Also, you can read more about this health parameter in my post “Do You Check Your Homocysteine?”
PSA TEST
The PSA test is a blood test primarily used to screen for prostate cancer. It measures the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland located below the bladder in men.
PSA is mostly found in semen, which is also produced by the prostate, but small amounts normally circulate in the bloodstream.
The PSA test can detect elevated levels of PSA that may indicate the presence of prostate cancer. However, other conditions, such as an enlarged or inflamed prostate, can also raise PSA levels and require further investigation.
Below, you can see my excellent result of 0.601. And, of course, this test is relevant for men only.
So, this was the state of my health about two months ago. It seems my lifestyle choices are paying off in a positive way.
I should mention again that you can opt for a much more comprehensive health screening, including a complete blood count, liver and kidney function tests and more.
However, if you’re looking for a basic health check, what I’ve shared in this post is a solid starting point. If I ever receive any abnormal results, I’ll definitely investigate further. For now, all I need to do is continue with my current habits and, hopefully, avoid any serious health issues.
Back to Healthy Life