Test It Tuesday: Testing What Matters Most with Cardio Tri-Plex

Test It Tuesday: Testing What Matters Most with Cardio Tri-Plex

By Dr. Cindy Ross | Life Wellness Forever

In the world of functional medicine and integrative oncology, we don't guess—we test. One of my favorite phrases to repeat is, “what you don’t measure, you can’t manage.” Whether someone is using Cardio Tri-Plex for cardiovascular support, cancer recovery, or both, targeted lab testing lets us see how the body is responding—beneath the surface.

This week for Test It Tuesday, I’m diving into the three key labs I often run for patients on Cardio Tri-Plex, and I’ll show you what optimal really looks like—not just “normal.”

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🫀 Why Cardio Tri-Plex?

Cardio Tri-Plex combines CoQ10, Red Yeast Rice, and Omega-3s—each with evidence-backed benefits for heart health, cholesterol balance, and systemic inflammation. But it’s not just about the heart.

These ingredients also play a role in:

• Mitochondrial energy support (crucial during and after chemo)

• Lowering inflammation (which fuels both heart disease and cancer)

• Improving lipid metabolism and circulation (affecting tumor microenvironments)

In my clinical experience, when you support the cardiovascular system, you support the cancer terrain.

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🔍 What Labs to Run

To truly tailor a supplement like Cardio Tri-Plex, I order the following baseline and follow-up labs:

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1. Lipid Panel

While most providers check this once a year, I look at more than just “high or low.” I evaluate patterns, ratios, and trends.
Here are my functional ranges:

• Total Cholesterol: 160–200 mg/dL

• LDL (bad cholesterol): < 100 mg/dL (ideally 70–90)

• HDL (good cholesterol): > 60 mg/dL

• Triglycerides: 50–100 mg/dL

• Total Cholesterol:HDL Ratio: Optimal < 3.5

• LDL:HDL Ratio: Optimal < 2.0

Why it matters: Red Yeast Rice can support natural LDL reduction without synthetic statins. If someone’s cholesterol isn’t moving or ratios remain off, we adjust dosing or add additional support (like fiber, niacin, or liver detox).

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2. hs-CRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein)

hs-CRP is one of the most powerful but underused tools in medicine. It measures systemic inflammation—the root of so many chronic illnesses, including cancer.

• Optimal: < 1.0 mg/L

• Mild inflammation: 1.0–3.0 mg/L

• High risk: > 3.0 mg/L

Why it matters: Omega-3s can help lower CRP over time. I use this marker to evaluate the impact of dietary, supplement, and lifestyle interventions. If it’s high, we dig deeper—sometimes checking gut health, heavy metals, or infections that may be triggering immune reactivity.

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3. CoQ10 Levels (Ubiquinone/Ubiquinol)

Patients on statins, chemotherapy, or struggling with fatigue are often severely deficient in CoQ10. It’s essential for mitochondrial function and cellular energy.

• Optimal: 2.0–3.5 µg/mL

• Therapeutic (oncology, cardiac patients): 3.0–5.0 µg/mL

Why it matters: If someone’s CoQ10 is low—even while on Cardio Tri-Plex—they may need additional standalone CoQ10 (especially ubiquinol for older adults or those with heart issues).

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4. Optional: Lp(a) – Lipoprotein(a)

This genetic lipid marker is gaining attention. It drives inflammation and clotting, increasing risk for cardiovascular disease and possibly influencing cancer metastasis.

• Optimal: < 30 mg/dL

• High risk: > 50 mg/dL

Most conventional providers don’t check it, but if a patient has a strong family history of heart disease or unexplained inflammation, I will.

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🧪 Why Optimal Ranges Matter

Standard lab ranges are based on the average population—but in my practice, I don’t want average. I want optimal. My goal is to catch imbalances before they become disease and to support the whole terrain of the body—not just one symptom or lab.

Tracking your progress gives us insight into whether:

• The supplement is working effectively

• Inflammation is calming down

• Your cells are truly being supported at the mitochondrial level

It’s also empowering for patients. You can see your healing and take part in your transformation.

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📌 Final Thoughts

Cardio Tri-Plex is more than a heart supplement—it’s a therapeutic tool for holistic wellness. When paired with proper testing and a personalized plan, it becomes part of a proactive strategy for cancer prevention, recovery, and long-term cardiovascular vitality.

So this Tuesday, don’t just take your supplements—test them. Let your blood show you the story beneath the surface.

The Benefits of CoQ10

The Benefits of CoQ10-

Today we are talking about the supplement CoQ10.

What is CoQ10?

CoQ10 is a compound whose job is to help cells generate energy. Although you can find it in supplement form at the store or online (more on that later), it is naturally produced by the body.

Your body stores this compound in the mitochondria of your cells. The mitochondria uses CoQ10 to generate energy (ATP) and protect cells from damage and disease.

Unfortunately, however, as you age, the production of CoQ10 declines. It also declines with chronic stress, toxin exposures, and certain medications. The decreased amount of CoQ10 in your cells contributes to the gradual loss of energy that most of us experience in our thirties and beyond.

If you think you are deficient in Coenzyme Q10—and if you are in your thirties or older, you’re probably right—you can increase your intake through both choosing CoQ10-rich foods and high-quality supplementation.

Although CoQ10 plays a key role in the body, most healthy people have enough CoQ10 naturally. There is some evidence that adding more -- in the form of CoQ10 supplements -- may be beneficial. Increasing age and some medical conditions are associated with dropping levels of CoQ10.

CoQ10 has been tested in clinical trials and found beneficial in several medical conditions that have relevance for a person with diabetes, including diabetes itself, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and endothelial dysfunction (an abnormality of the lining of blood vessels)

There are a number of foods that are high in the compound, including

Organ meats like heart, liver, and kidney

Wild-caught cold-water fish like trout, herring, and mackerel

Vegetables like spinach, cauliflower, and broccoli

Fruits like strawberries and oranges

Nuts and seeds

Even with a healthy diet, however, it can be hard to get all of the nutrients you need through food alone. This is especially true if you have gut issues and are not able to absorb vital nutrients and vitamins. If you want to beef up your CoQ10 intake, consider taking a high-quality supplement. When it comes to dosage, I find most people do well with between 100mg and 200mg daily.

If you on Statin medications, which are commonly prescribed today for high cholesterol (and considered standard of care for cardiovascular protection in diabetes) these medications do deplete CoQ10 levels in the body.

There are a few cases where taking CoQ10 supplements could be risky—for instance, people on blood thinners or thyroid medication. Always check with your Functional Medicine practitioner before starting a supplement or if you have questions or concerns about taking any supplement.

Feel free to visit my online dispensary https://www.lifewellnessforever.com/dispensary

You will receive 15% off all supplements.

If you have any questions or you are ready to get started contact my office at 251-949-2220

Or visit my website at www.lifewellnessforever.com

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