Who is this especially useful for?
- ✓People assessing cardiovascular risk beyond standard lipids
- ✓Those with metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance
- ✓Anyone tracking inflammation from diet and lifestyle changes
- ✓Athletes monitoring recovery and overtraining
hsCRP reflects inflammation — it doesn't tell you the cause. Values >10 mg/L usually indicate acute inflammation and need retesting.
Your cholesterol looks fine, but are you really at low cardiovascular risk? Traditional lipid panels miss a major predictor of heart disease: chronic low-grade inflammation.
That's exactly what our hsCRP Evaluator addresses. It interprets your high-sensitivity CRP across three health paradigms — showing you what "low risk" really means for optimal health.
Acute vs. Chronic: Know the Difference
Values >10 mg/L usually indicate acute inflammation (infection, injury, recent surgery). Wait 2-3 weeks and retest.
Chronic low-grade inflammation (1-10 mg/L) is the concerning pattern — persistent smoldering that damages blood vessels over time. This is what hsCRP is designed to detect.
What is hsCRP?
C-reactive protein (CRP) is produced by your liver in response to inflammation anywhere in your body. High-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) is the same protein measured with a more precise test that can detect the low-grade chronic inflammation associated with cardiovascular disease.
Unlike standard CRP which measures acute inflammation (infections, injuries), hsCRP detects the subtle, persistent inflammation that smolders beneath the surface — the kind that silently damages blood vessels, promotes plaque formation, and accelerates aging.
The American Heart Association and CDC endorse hsCRP as a useful marker for cardiovascular risk stratification, particularly in people with intermediate risk based on traditional factors. It predicts heart attacks and strokes independently of cholesterol levels.
The Three Types of Inflammation
Understanding inflammation context is crucial for interpreting hsCRP:
- Acute (10-100+ mg/L): Infections, injuries, surgery — temporary and normal
- Chronic Low-Grade (1-10 mg/L): Poor diet, visceral fat, stress — damages vessels over time
- Optimal (<1 mg/L, ideally <0.5): Minimal background inflammation — cardiovascular system protected
How to Test
💡 Pro tip: Request hsCRP specifically. Standard CRP is for acute illness and won't detect the low-grade inflammation that predicts cardiovascular disease.
🔍Where to find your result
hsCRP must be specifically ordered - it's not included in routine panels.
How Different Paradigms Interpret This
Different health paradigms interpret hsCRP thresholds differently:
hsCRP Interpretation by Paradigm
Each paradigm has different thresholds and clinical focus:
Standard Medical
Research Consensus
Metabolic Optimization
Standard Medical
AHA/CDC cardiovascular risk stratification established in 2003. Focuses on identifying high-risk individuals for cardiovascular disease prevention. Values >10 mg/L indicate acute inflammation requiring investigation.
Screen intermediate-risk patients. If hsCRP >3 mg/L, intensify lifestyle interventions and consider statin therapy per guidelines. Retest if >10 mg/L after acute illness resolves.
Research Consensus
The 'low risk' (<1 mg/L) category contains meaningful gradation that affects outcomes. Studies show cardiovascular risk increases linearly even below 1.0 mg/L. The JUPITER trial demonstrated statin benefit in patients with 'normal' LDL but elevated hsCRP.
Target <0.5 mg/L for optimal cardiovascular protection. Address root causes: diet, sleep, stress, visceral fat. Omega-3 supplementation (EPA/DHA) has strongest evidence for CRP reduction.
Metabolic Optimization
Values <0.3 mg/L are commonly achieved on anti-inflammatory dietary approaches (carnivore, ketogenic, Mediterranean). This represents minimal oxidative stress and systemic inflammation — the metabolic baseline humans evolved with.
Eliminate seed oils and processed foods. Prioritize omega-3 rich foods. Address visceral fat as primary driver. Optimize sleep and stress. Target <0.3 mg/L as achievable goal.
What Causes Elevated hsCRP?
Diet Factors
High sugar intake
Refined carbohydrates drive inflammation
Excess omega-6 fats
Seed oils promote inflammatory pathways
Ultra-processed foods
Multiple inflammatory compounds
Low omega-3 intake
Insufficient anti-inflammatory balance
Food sensitivities
Gluten, dairy can trigger inflammation
Body Composition
Visceral fat (belly fat)
Primary driver — fat cells produce inflammatory cytokines
Metabolic syndrome
Cluster of inflammatory conditions
Insulin resistance
Creates pro-inflammatory state
Fatty liver disease
Liver inflammation spills into bloodstream
Lifestyle & Medical
Poor sleep
Sleep deprivation directly raises CRP
Chronic stress
Cortisol dysregulation promotes inflammation
Periodontal disease
Gum infections are hidden inflammation source
Smoking
Major oxidative stress and inflammation driver
Overtraining
Excessive exercise without recovery
How to Lower hsCRP
The good news: inflammation responds quickly to lifestyle changes. Significant reductions are possible within weeks.
Diet Interventions
Increase omega-3s
Fatty fish 2-3x/week or EPA/DHA supplement
Reduce seed oils
Replace with olive oil, butter, avocado oil
Eliminate processed foods
Focus on whole foods only
Anti-inflammatory foods
Berries, leafy greens, turmeric, ginger
Lifestyle Changes
Lose visceral fat
Most powerful intervention for lowering CRP
Sleep 7-9 hours
Sleep deprivation directly raises inflammation
Moderate exercise
Regular activity; avoid overtraining
Oral hygiene
Gum disease is a hidden inflammation source
Targeted Support
EPA/DHA fish oil
2-4g/day reduces CRP 20-30% (most evidence)
Curcumin
With piperine for absorption; potent anti-inflammatory
Vitamin D
Optimize to 50-80 ng/mL; low D correlates with high CRP
Magnesium
Deficiency associated with higher inflammation
1-2 weeks: Diet changes begin affecting CRP. 4-8 weeks: Significant reductions with consistent lifestyle changes. 3-6 months: Full effect of weight loss and exercise on CRP.
Key Takeaways
- 1hsCRP measures chronic low-grade inflammation that drives cardiovascular disease
- 2It predicts heart attacks and strokes independently of cholesterol levels
- 3Values >10 mg/L usually indicate acute inflammation — retest in 2-3 weeks
- 4Visceral fat is the primary driver of chronically elevated hsCRP
- 5Target <0.5 mg/L for optimal health; <0.3 achievable on anti-inflammatory diets
- 6EPA/DHA fish oil is the most evidence-backed supplement for lowering CRP