Any InsideTracker review would agree that the concept of human and healthspan optimization seems too good to be true.
However, by analyzing the finest details of the human body, you can fine-tune and optimize your diet and nutrition to suit your every need.
From genetic predispositions to blood analysis, InsideTracker is a revolutionary, modern way to lead a healthier lifestyle.
In this review, we’ll go over my experiences with InsideTracker, using it to get my body into its best possible shape.
We’ll also talk about the program as a whole, determining what’s included and what could be missing.
What Is InsideTracker’s Main Purpose?
Whenever people start talking about vials of blood, I get queasy, but with InsideTracker, it’s for a good reason.
This innovative platform gives you revolutionary health advice based on your blood samples.
It takes a nouveau approach to tailor your fitness and healthy lifestyle journey, thanks to the minds of students from MIT, Harvard, and Tufts.
Not only does InsideTracker assist with finding a healthy diet, but it also helps with your overall health and longevity.
By providing samples for blood analysis, the platform can give you deeper insights into aging, genetics, and your personal biometric data.
Using intuitively programmed algorithms, you will use an app that gives you personally-driven health recommendations to help you reach your goals.
The quality of InsideTracker is relatively simple to note, as it’s been reviewed by major publications like Forbes.
In addition, it received a U.S. military contract in 2016 while partnering with Garmin and Apple Health in 2021.
How Does InsideTracker Work?
The primary tenet that makes InsideTracker unique is that it focuses on your biological age rather than your chronological age.
Chronological age measures how long you’ve been alive, while biological age determines how old your cells are.
For some individuals, their chronological and biological ages are the same, while others are quite different.
The InsideTracker team understands numerous factors can influence your biological age, including:
- Genetic markers
- Daily stress levels
- Overall heart health (including LDL cholesterol)
- Genetic predisposition for diseases
- Chronic diseases
- Inflammation markers
- Nutrition habits
- Wellness traits
Each of these factors and your blood test results will lead to the algorithm providing specific health recommendations to help you optimize your longevity.
Let’s get into the quick steps I had to follow to get started:
Step 1: Choose the Right Plan
The first thing I had to do when using InsideTracker was to choose the optimal plan for me, of which there are several options.
I also had to review the cost of each plan, ensuring I chose the right one for my budget. The plans I was able to choose from included:
Essentials ($189)
- Blood test included
- Tests 13 biomarkers
InnerAge 2.0 ($249)
- Blood test included
- Tests up to 17 biomarkers
DNA Kit ($249)
- At-home DNA testing kit included
- Checks 261 genetic markers
Immunity ($269)
- Blood test included
- Tests 25 biomarkers
HomeKit ($299)
- Blood test included
- Tests seven biomarkers
Shalane Flanagan Panel ($399)
- Blood test included
- Tests over 20 biomarkers
Ultimate ($589)
- Blood test included
- Tests 43 biomarkers
The Complete Picture ($799)
- Blood test included
- Tests 261 genetic markers
- Tests 43 biomarkers
- DNA test included
Step 2: Fill Out the Questionnaire
From there, I had to answer several survey questions about my dietary habits, lifestyle habits, exercise lifestyle, and more.
Step 3: Book a Blood Test
The program then prompted me to schedule my blood test, allowing me to visit a Quest Diagnostics location of my choosing, along with all the prep steps I needed.
For example, I had to fast 12 hours before to ensure my blood wasn’t tainted by foods and beverages.
Step 4: Wait for the Results
After going in for my blood test, I had to wait around five to seven days for the results to come back.
Like other online programs and testing, you will receive an email when your data and InsideTracker results are ready for review.
If you choose an at-home blood test, it can take up to 14 days for the results to be received.
Step 5: Log In to the App
The second to last step of the process is to review the results of your blood test and the specific recommendations of the platform.
Using either the website or the mobile app, you can log in to see your biomarker levels, compare them to average ranges, and see your personalized recommendations.
It’s important to note that some biomarkers from the tests, such as the InnerAge 2.0 tests, differ from men to women.
Step 6: Develop an Action Plan
With an idea of your health goals in mind and programmed into the InsideTracker app, it’s time to begin working on your action plan.
For some, it could be getting your cholesterol levels within their optimal range, while others focus more on lifestyle recommendations for fat loss.
Regardless, using the personalized steps offered after having your blood analyzed will surely help you achieve your every health goal.
As with any other fitness or lifestyle tracker, you can keep track of your progress within the app.
As time progresses, you will receive a Wellness Score, keeping you up to date with your long-term progress.
I also found it pretty convenient that the app paired with my Apple Watch, helping sync all my health-related data into one concise application.
How Long Does InsideTracker Last?
As with any plan to help you maintain optimal health, keeping your physical changes updated is imperative.
As such, InsideTracker is recommended for three months per blood test.
At the end of the three months, a new blood draw is recommended to give updated information about your blood cells, including any improvements.
Does InsideTracker Have Any Problems?
The general purpose behind InsideTracker is equally as fascinating as it is reliable.
It takes a unique approach to analyzing your health using actual blood analysis rather than taking guesses on ways to optimize your lifestyle.
That said, there are a ton of benefits I experienced from enrolling in the program myself.
However, as with everything, there are a couple of disadvantages to note, as well. Let’s review a few downfalls of InsideTracker and its processes:
Extra Fees
It is always important to read the fine print, especially when it comes to your blood draws.
Residents of New Jersey, New York, Hawaii, or Rhode Island will likely have additional fees and costs associated with getting their blood taken.
These states require phlebotomists to visit your home for mobile blood draws.
In New York, this can add around $100 to your existing plan fees, a rather costly addition for mobile blood draws.
Considering many of the plans are well above $200, it is an important issue to note.
Hefty Expense for Health Management
If you are working with a tight budget, getting personalized insights from InsideTracker is one of the last things to consider.
Sure, you will have personalized tips and details to help you manage your blood sugar, food recommendations, and supplement recommendations. But at what cost?
When you pay for InsideTracker, it is not a one-time fee for as much testing as you need.
You will have to pay the same fee for every test, which is often recommended every three months.
That said, if you are investing $300/three months, that’s nearly $1,200/year to get personal advice about your lifestyle habits.
The other downfall to note is that even if you choose a lesser expensive test, its number of biomarkers isn’t worth the investment.
You’d be better off paying extra to get more in-depth insights about your genetic markers.
Limited Availability
InsideTracker is looking to expand its services worldwide, but it can still be challenging.
Customers in North America will find it easy to get their blood biometrics with several options for a blood draw.
However, international customers have extremely limited options, as there is no way to confirm the quality of blood technicians and blood labs.
As such, international residents are likely to have access only to the HomeKit, requiring you to upload your own blood test results.
You won’t have a pick of the litter from other programs that other customers have.
Doesn’t Replace Medical Professionals
InsideTracker gives a surface-level DNA analysis to help create a food list and track different health conditions.
It’s also a remarkable solution for optimizing the average person’s muscle health, food sensitivities, and blood glucose.
However, it is not designed to replace a visit to an actual healthcare provider, who can request specific tests based on your health.
With a healthcare practitioner, you will be able to look deeper into your family history, get a battery of future blood tests based on your condition, and more.
It’s best to look at the blood biometrics as supplementary information for your health journey than a solid representation of your actual health.
InsideTracker Review: Should You Sign Up?
I found InsideTracker’s approach to health refreshing, especially compared to other alternative health programs.
With my InsideTracker review, I appreciated the additional insights I got into my health and personalized recommendations to boost my overall liveliness and longevity.
Although it doesn’t replace actual testing from my GP, InsideTracker’s app can help healthy people access a digital nutrition expert anytime.
