When it comes to heart health and inflammation, most doctors still focus on cholesterol. But at Catalyst, one marker often tells us more: C-Reactive Protein (CRP).

Specifically, high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) can give early warning signs of systemic inflammation, long before cholesterol numbers budge. And in optimization medicine, inflammation is the enemy.

What Is CRP?

CRP is a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation. It rises quickly when your body is fighting infection, healing from injury, or under chronic stress.

The version we care about is hs-CRP, which detects even low-grade inflammation: the kind that quietly drives:

• Fatigue and brain fog

• Weight gain and poor recovery

• Insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction

• Aging-related decline

• Heart disease risk

CRP vs. Cholesterol: Why CRP Wins

While cholesterol tells us about lipid transport (and is still useful), CRP tells us about active inflammation. You can have “perfect” cholesterol and still be inflamed.

Key differences:

Studies show that hs-CRP is a stronger predictor of cardiovascular events than LDL alone, especially in people with “normal” cholesterol.

Optimal CRP Levels (Not Just “Normal”)

• Lab “normal”: <3.0 mg/L

• Functional optimal: <1.0 mg/L

• Athlete target: 0.2–0.6 mg/L

At Catalyst, we flag anything above 1.0 for further investigation — even if your primary care doctor doesn’t.

What Elevates CRP?

CRP is non-specific, which means it doesn’t tell you what’s wrong, just that your body is inflamed. That said, we often see CRP spike from:

• Poor sleep

• Gut issues (e.g. SIBO, dysbiosis)

• Overtraining or under-recovery

• Processed foods or seed oils

• Chronic infections (e.g. EBV, Lyme)

• Environmental toxins or mold

• Hormonal imbalances (e.g. high cortisol)

• Visceral fat and insulin resistance

What We Do About It

CRP isn’t a diagnosis. It’s a signal. At Catalyst, if your CRP is elevated, we look at the full picture:

• Do you also have low DHEA or elevated cortisol?

• Is your hs-CRP rising over time?

• What does your gut testing say?

• Is there a known stressor (injury, illness, emotional stress)?

• How’s your body comp, HRV, and recovery?

Based on this, we may recommend:

• Anti-inflammatory nutrition (e.g. Mediterranean-style, low processed foods)

• Sleep optimization (tracking + protocols)

• Targeted supplementation (e.g. curcumin, omega-3s, magnesium)

• Exercise rebalancing (pulling back or shifting focus)

• Stress & nervous system support (adaptogens, breathwork, HRV training)

• Advanced testing (stool test, toxin screen, hidden infection panels)

CRP as a Longevity Marker

Lowering CRP isn’t just about feeling better. It’s also about aging better.

Chronic inflammation is at the root of nearly every age-related disease, including:

• Cardiovascular disease

• Neurodegeneration (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s)

• Autoimmune conditions

• Metabolic disorders

Tracking and lowering CRP is part of how we help patients build resilience and extend their healthspan.

Want to Know Your CRP?

Every Catalyst Core Member gets hs-CRP testing as part of their quarterly lab panel. We also re-test as needed to track changes, fine-tune recovery, and guide protocols.