LLN Episode #327: Katie Hardie - The "Normal Labs" Trap: What Midlife Women Must Know to Get Better Testing

About this episode

Lynne Wadsworth and Katie Hardie discuss the importance of understanding lab results and advocating for comprehensive testing for midlife women.

Have you ever been told your labs are "normal"… but you still feel off? In this episode, Lynne sits down with Katie Hardie , a board-certified holistic nutritionist and FDN practitioner, to unpack what so many midlife women experience: symptoms that don't always show up clearly on standard bloodwork. Katie explains the difference between standard lab ranges (which are designed to identify dysfunction) and functional optimal ranges (which are designed to support how you actually feel). They discuss why it's worth advocating for more comprehensive testing, how inflammation can play a role in midlife symptoms, and why stress support — including simple breathing tools — can be a game-changer for overall wellbeing. They also touch on hormone profiling options like the DUTCH Plus test , and why ongoing support and education can help women feel more confident and less stuck when navigating perimenopause and midlife changes. What You'll Learn · How to start listening to your body's signals in midlife · Standard lab ranges vs functional optimal ranges · Why symptoms matter even when labs look "normal" · Inflammation support through food (simple starting points) · Stress physiology and how…

People in this episode

Host: Lynne Wadsworth

Guest: Katie Hardie

Topics covered

• midlife health
• functional testing
• hormone profiling
• inflammation
• stress management
• nutrition

Keywords

• normal labs
• functional optimal ranges
• midlife symptoms
• stress support
• breathing tools
• perimenopause
• nutrition

Mentioned in this episode

Products: DUTCH Plus test

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