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A liver function test measures specific enzymes and proteins that indicate how effectively your liver is functioning. Early detection through regular testing allows intervention while liver damage remains reversible.

The Mediterranean diet is a familiar face in the longevity world. With healthy fats, fibre, and antioxidants as hallmarks of the eating pattern, a robust body of research backs claims that it can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease while having a protective effect against cognitive decline and dementia.

Vitamin B9 (folate) is a water-soluble vitamin that’s essential for your health. It helps your body produce red blood cells and repair DNA, and it's crucial during early pregnancy. If you're deficient, you might experience tiredness, weakness, and shortness of breath. This article explores folate deficiency causes, symptoms, testing, and treatment options.

At Thriva, we believe the best health journeys are grounded in curiosity, self-awareness, and small, sustainable steps. That’s why we’re proud to share this deeply personal and powerful story from one of our own doctors - Lucas. It’s not just a case study - it’s an honest account of what happens when health data inspires action. In this article, you’ll hear from a doctor who decided to practise what he preaches. The result? A shift not just in biomarkers, but in mindset - and in his ability to support others more meaningfully. We hope his experience inspires you to tune into your own data, listen to what it’s telling you, and take that next small step.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of death in the UK, affecting millions of lives each year. While many factors contribute to CVD risk, one crucial biomarker that has gained significant attention in recent years is apolipoprotein B, or ApoB. This article will explore the importance of ApoB in assessing cardiovascular health and discuss lifestyle interventions that can help manage ApoB levels.

Some of the biomarkers we test at Thriva have a natural fluctuation across a single day, and so the timing of a blood sample can directly influence results. Many of these are due to the body’s internal 24-hour clock, known as the circadian rhythm. 

Whether you decide to stop contraceptive pills because you want to get pregnant or it's simply no longer working for you, it's essential to know what to expect. In this article, we explain the changes in your body, the side effects, and management tips.

There are many changes the body goes through during pregnancy, many of which are widely known, and others that may come as a surprise. In this article we explore these changes through a unique dataset provided by our Director of Product, Tamar, who tracked a wide range of biomarkers during and after her pregnancy.

Cortisol is a stress hormone that’s produced by your body. It’s essential for your health, but too much cortisol can cause problems, ranging from anxiety to diabetes. When high cortisol causes symptoms and conditions, it’s known as Cushing’s syndrome. Here's how to spot the signs of high cortisol, how to test your levels, and what you can do to lower them.

The idea is undoubtedly exciting—a DNA test to unlock your genetic blueprint, providing clear instructions on what supplements to take and how to eat. But the reality is that DNA methylation tests have critical limitations, and they may not deliver what they promise. 

Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients. If you don’t get enough of them, it can lead to a nutrient deficiency. You can take a home blood test to diagnose a deficiency, and if you have one, you can take supplements to support your health.

On the afternoon of Friday 24th January 2025, Sophie Power turned on a treadmill and started running. An incredible 371km (230 miles) later, she had set the world record for longest treadmill distance run by a woman in 48 hours. We were lucky enough to partner with Sophie to track her blood biomarkers in the weeks following her world record.

When Wegovy launched in the UK in September 2023, it marked a turning point in how we approach medicated weight loss. While primarily a blood testing company, Thriva saw an opportunity to provide meaningful health benefits to our customers. In December 2023, we launched our own Wegovy offering, including baseline and follow-up blood tests for those on the programme. This quickly evolved to include the newly developed Mounjaro in February 2024. A renewed focus on our core product meant closing the programme to any new applicants, at which point more than 250 customers had been approved for the medication. Both Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are known as GLP-1 agonists. These medications mimic the effects of naturally occurring hormones that control blood sugar and regulate appetite. Studies have shown that overweight or obese individuals taking GLP-1 agonists can see a steady and long term weight loss. However, potentially of greater value to the customer is the health improvements that are happening internally. With regular blood testing of cholesterol, inflammation and diabetes markers, we were able to see how those on the weight loss programme were improving over time. Here are the results seen by Thriva customers on our medicated weight loss programme.

Normally, your body produces antibodies (a type of blood protein) to protect itself from foreign substances —  like bacteria, toxins or viruses. But sometimes your body mistakenly produces antibodies that attack healthy parts. Thyroid antibodies are an example of this — the presence of thyroid antibodies is a sign of possible thyroid disease.

Ever noticed how some people seem to maintain their health routines effortlessly? The secret might lie in a technique called habit stacking - a powerful approach that could transform your health journey without requiring overwhelming willpower or dramatic lifestyle overhauls.

When it comes to achieving health goals, good intentions often aren't enough. Enter implementation intentions: a powerful psychological tool that bridges the gap between what we want to do and actually doing it. This strategy, developed by psychologist Peter Gollwitzer, transforms vague intentions into specific plans using simple 'if-then' statements.

WOOP - which stands for Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan - represents a powerful mental strategy developed by psychologist Gabriele Oettingen. Unlike pure positive thinking, WOOP combines optimistic thinking with a realistic assessment of obstacles, creating a more effective approach to goal achievement.

Every winter, from approximately mid-October through to mid-February, sun exposure in the UK is not sufficient for our bodies to produce adequate Vitamin D. Throughout these winter months, supplementation becomes all the more important. However, data from Thriva user’s health profiles show that 1 in 3 users are not taking supplements, meaning they are potentially at risk of low Vitamin D levels.

At Thriva, we want to give our users as much insight into their health as possible - and we think community data is a powerful part of that. In 2024 we processed over 30,000 blood tests, and we're excited to showcase some key insights connecting the results to controllable lifestyle factors.

Gout is a type of arthritis that causes severe pain in your joints — this can be due to a build-up of high uric acid levels in your blood. If you have gout, testing your uric acid levels can help you monitor your long-term joint and kidney health. There are many ways to lower your risk of developing gout — from adopting a healthy lifestyle to checking your uric acid levels.