{"id":29752,"date":"2025-07-01T11:48:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T11:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/29752\/"},"modified":"2025-07-01T11:48:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T11:48:09","slug":"what-being-a-vegetarian-did-to-my-biological-age-and-nutrient-makeup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/29752\/","title":{"rendered":"What being a vegetarian did to my biological age and nutrient makeup"},"content":{"rendered":"

I haven\u2019t touched seafood or meat in more than a decade, and aside from a daily multivitamin, I\u2019m hardly what you\u2019d call supplement-savvy.<\/p>\n

I feel healthy overall \u2014 but I had to wonder: Is my vegetarian lifestyle helping me age gracefully, or quietly wearing me down?<\/p>\n

To find out, I turned to Function Health<\/a>\u2019s biological age test, a new service that promises to reveal how your body is aging on the inside and and empower you to take charge of your health.<\/p>\n

Dr. Mark Hyman<\/a>, the company\u2019s founder, walked me through my results \u2014 including one major red flag I probably wouldn\u2019t have caught until it was already causing serious trouble.<\/p>\n

Studies show that roughly 6% of the US population are vegetarians. Tamara Beckwith\/NY Post<\/p>\n

But first: What is biological age?<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve got two ages.<\/p>\n

Your chronological age is how many years you\u2019ve lived. Your biological age reflects how your body is aging at the cellular level.<\/p>\n

A growing number of companies now offer tests that promise to reveal your biological age by analyzing factors like gut bacteria, blood proteins and DNA. <\/p>\n

Function Health launched its biological age test in 2023, backed by investors like Matt Damon and Pedro Pascal.<\/p>\n

For $499 a year, you get two rounds of testing: an initial assessment with 105 lab tests, then a follow-up three to six months later with 60-plus retests to track changes after you\u2019ve had a chance to modify your diet, exercise and supplement intake.<\/p>\n

The process requires over two dozen vials of blood and a urine sample over two visits.<\/p>\n

My results came back in about a week, along with personalized insights from Function\u2019s clinicians.<\/p>\n

I scored 20.8 \u2014 4.2 years younger than my actual age.<\/p>\n

Biological age is a strong predictor of health. Function Health<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means you\u2019re doing better than average,\u201d Hyman told me, \u201cbut the calculation is based on a largely sick population.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the US, 6 in 10 adults have at least one chronic disease, while 4 in 10 have two or more, according to the CDC.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Deficiencies detected<\/p>\n

Function\u2019s biological age test screens your blood for 102 biomarkers, and of them, 11 of mine were out of range.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWith low vitamin D, low iron and low anti-inflammatory omega 3\u2019s, I could immediately tell that you\u2019re a vegan or vegetarian,\u201d Hyman said.<\/p>\n

While these nutrients exist in plant-based foods, they\u2019re typically found in higher quantities in animal products like fatty fish and liver.<\/p>\n

My low vitamin D levels could also be due to a lack of sunlight \u2014 since, like many Americans, I spend most of my time indoors.<\/p>\n

Vitamin D isn\u2019t just for bones. It also supports immune function, mood and muscle strength \u2014 and a deficiency can lead to fatigue, depression and chronic illness.<\/p>\n

I also had low ferritin, the protein that stores iron.<\/p>\n

Function Health offers regular lab testing for people to track their health over time. Function Health<\/p>\n

Low ferritin can zap your energy, weaken your immune system, and even trigger hair loss. Left untreated, it can contribute to heart issues and cognitive decline.<\/p>\n

Then came the omega-3s. My blood showed low levels of EPA, DHA and DPA \u2014 all key fatty acids critical for brain, heart, and cellular health.<\/p>\n

This kind of imbalance has been linked to everything from depression and anxiety to cardiovascular disease and dementia.<\/p>\n

Not-so-sweet news<\/p>\n

Beyond vitamin gaps, my insulin levels also raised a red flag.<\/p>\n

While still in the \u201cacceptable\u201d range, they were above optimal \u2014 which Hyman explained is a sign my body is working harder than it should to keep my blood sugar stable.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is also common in people who are vegan or vegetarian because they tend to have a higher carbohydrate intake,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Reduced insulin sensitivity \u2014 a k a insulin resistance \u2014 can make it harder to manage weight or build muscle. Left unchecked, it can lead to prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n

To find your biological age, Function Health conducts two blood tests and collects a urine sample. angellodeco \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

The red flag hiding in my blood<\/p>\n

But one number made Hyman hit the brakes: my \u201cextremely high\u201d homocysteine levels.<\/p>\n

The normal range is up to 10.4 micromoles per liter. Mine was 27.8.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s just way, way out of range,\u201d Hyman told me. \u201cThat\u2019s usually a consequence of a genetic variation called MTHFR.\u201d<\/p>\n

The MTHFR gene helps the body process key B vitamins and break down homocysteine. If it\u2019s not functioning properly, homocysteine builds up \u2014 and that can cause problems. <\/p>\n

Some nutrients are more readily available in animal products. Prostock-studio \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

Elevated levels have been linked to heart disease, stroke, cognitive decline, osteoporosis and even pregnancy complications.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve really got to take this seriously,\u201d Hyman warned. \u201cBut it\u2019s super simple to fix.\u201d<\/p>\n

No meat, no problem \u2014 with a few tweaks<\/p>\n

Every single issue flagged in my Function test can be improved \u2014 no steak required.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsually, if you\u2019re vegan or vegetarian, you\u2019ll be fine for a few years and then your health starts to degrade,\u201d Hyman said. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to start eating meat, but you do have to be on lifelong supplements.\u201d<\/p>\n

Function provided me with a full action plan.<\/p>\n

Dr. Mark Hyman is a family physician and a leader in functional medicine. Dr. Mark Hyman<\/p>\n

Top 5 foods I need to eat more of:<\/strong><\/p>\n