By Jasmin Murphy, Communications Manager

A Legacy of Proactive Health: The  Evolution of Check Your Health

t Riordan Clinic, we’ve always believed that knowledge is power – especially when it comes to your health. Before ‘preventative medicine’ gained mainstream recognition, we advocated for the power of a whole foods diet, supplementation, and individualized testing to prevent and even reverse chronic illness.

This philosophy wasn’t always widely accepted. In fact, decades ago, much of what we now know about antioxidants, cellular metabolism, and disease prevention was dismissed by the medical mainstream. But Dr. Hugh Riordan and his colleagues at The Center for the Improvement of Human Functioning (now Riordan Clinic) were undeterred. They knew that measuring key nutrient levels in the body and making proactive health adjustments could help people beat the odds against diseases like cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s (Riordan, Jackson, & Hunninghake, 1992).

That belief led to the creation of Beat The Odds – a groundbreaking, long-term program designed to help people reduce their risk of degenerative diseases through advanced lab testing and personalized health insights.

The Early Years: Beat The Odds and the Rise of Nutrient Testing

Launched in early 1992, Beat The Odds was more than just a lab event – it was a 20-year research initiative focused on tracking how nutrition and lifestyle choices influenced long-term health. Participants had their nutrient levels measured annually, completed dietary and lifestyle assessments, and received personalized reports with guidance from Riordan Clinic physicians. The goal? To see if individuals who proactively monitored and optimized their nutrient levels would experience less disease and slower aging than the general population (Riordan et al., 1992).

The early lab work focused on a core set of essential micronutrients, including:

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin C

• Vitamin E

• Zinc (RBC)

• Magnesium (RBC)

• Selenium (RBC)

Early findings revealed widespread deficiencies in key nutrients—vitamin C, magnesium, and selenium—highlighting the need for targeted supplementation and monitoring (Riordan et al., 1992). By identifying these gaps early, individuals could take corrective steps and significantly improve their health trajectories.

Expanding the Vision: Corporate Wellness and Comprehensive Testing

By 1994, Beat The Odds had grown into a week-long event, with the nutrient store hosting a special sale all week long and blood draws taking place on Thursday, Friday, and half a day on Saturday. The focus remained on nutrient testing, ensuring that participants had easy access to discounted lab work to track their health trends.

Then, in 1995, an exciting shift occurred. The owner of Lawrence Paper Company reached out to Riordan Clinic after noticing that several of his employees had experienced significant health improvements after being seen at the clinic. He wanted to bring those same benefits to his entire workforce, leading to the birth of Riordan Clinic’s corporate wellness program.

This expansion laid the foundation for Check Your Health, broadening the scope of testing beyond nutrients to include metabolic, immune, and hormonal markers.

The Beat The Odds Health Event

By 2005, Beat The Odds had evolved into a two and a half-day community health event that transformed the entire clinic into a hub for wellness screenings, education, and lab draws. People would check in at Dome 1, have their blood pressure and body composition measured, and then move to the lab for nutrient testing – all at a reduced cost.

The event sometimes included a health fair, an open house, or an education series similar to today’s Lunch & Lectures. The clinic’s nurses and staff worked together to process over 120 lab draws in just four days at its peak, helping hundreds of individuals gain valuable insights into their health.

The philosophy behind the event remained the same: The best way to know if your health is changing is to monitor it (Riordan et al., 1992).

A New Name for a New Era: The Birth of Check Your Health

With the expansion of lab offerings and the increasing focus on disease prevention through biomarker monitoring, the name Health Hunter/Beat The Odds was officially changed to Check Your Health in 2010 .

The new name captured its expanded accessibility, allowing participants to take charge of their health without needing a doctor’s order.

The event underwent further evolution and became a streamlined, lab screening program offered twice a year over a two week period that continues to this day. While the structure has changed, the core mission remains: to make affordable, accessible lab testing available so people can track their health trends and make informed decisions about their well-being.

Today, Check Your Health offers comprehensive panels designed to assess a wide range of health factors, including:

• Inflammation markers (such as hs-CRP and fibrinogen)
• Hormone levels (including thyroid, cortisol, and sex hormones)
• Blood sugar and metabolic health (HbA1c, fasting insulin, and lipid panels)
• Immune function and oxidative stress (CoQ10, glutathione, and oxidative stress markers)
• Advanced nutrient testing (expanded vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids)

Knowing your numbers is key to proactive health management, empowering you to fine-tune your supplementation, diet, and lifestyle.

The Power of Personalized Data

Fast forward to today, Check Your Health continues to be one of the best ways to get a clear picture of what’s happening inside your body. Each individual possesses a distinct biochemical makeup influenced by factors such as genetics, environment, diet, and lifestyle choices. Standardized health recommendations may not address these unique needs. By measuring specific biomarkers—including nutrient levels, hormone balances, and metabolic indicators—you can identify deficiencies or imbalances that may impact your health. This personalized data serves as a foundation for informed decisions regarding supplementation, dietary adjustments, and lifestyle modifications.

How Check Your Health Facilitates Informed Choices

Check Your Health provides access to detailed lab profiles designed to assess various aspects of your health. For example, the Advanced Wellness Profile includes measurements of essential vitamins, minerals, and metabolic markers, offering a comprehensive overview of your nutritional status. Armed with this information, you can:

• Customize Supplementation: Identify specific nutrient deficiencies and select supplements that address your unique needs, avoiding unnecessary or redundant products.
• Optimize Diet: Understand how your current diet influences your nutrient levels and make targeted changes to enhance nutrient intake through food sources.
• Enhance Lifestyle Choices: Recognize how factors like stress, sleep, and physical activity affect your biomarkers, enabling you to implement lifestyle changes that support overall health.

Empowerment Through Knowledge

Participating in the Check Your Health event not only provides critical health data but also fosters a proactive mindset toward wellness. By understanding your body’s specific needs, you become an active participant in your health journey, making informed decisions that can lead to improved energy levels, disease prevention, and enhanced quality of life.

Embrace the opportunity to “know your numbers” and utilize the insights gained from Check Your Health to tailor your supplementation, diet, and lifestyle. This personalized approach empowers you to take control of your health and work towards achieving optimal well-being.

Check Your Health: Accessible for Everyone

Check Your Health is designed to provide affordable, comprehensive lab testing for anyone looking to take a proactive approach to their health. Whether you’re a new participant, a returning guest, or a current Riordan Clinic patient, this event offers a convenient way to monitor key health markers and make informed decisions about your well-being. If you are an existing patient, you can absolutely participate! Simply call your provider care team for guidance on how to proceed.

Special Considerations

Oncology patients or individuals with an active cancer diagnosis – If you have cancer or suspect you might, we recommend reaching out to a New Patient Coordinator to discuss becoming an established Riordan Clinic patient. We offer a dedicated oncology panel designed specifically for cancer care, and our team can guide you toward the best next steps.

Check Your Health is about empowerment, giving you direct access to the health insights you need to take control of your wellness journey. Schedule your lab draw today and start making data-driven choices for your health!

Spring 2025: Your Chance to Check In On Your Health

Whether you’re tracking nutrient levels, checking inflammation markers, or just wanting a baseline for your overall wellness, our Spring 2025 event will provide the tools you need at a discounted rate.

Our Check Your Health event takes place at both our Wichita and Overland Park locations. There are a variety of lab tests tailored to your health goals, with flexible appointment scheduling to fit your schedule.

Proactive health starts with awareness. Measuring your biomarkers can help prevent issues tomorrow. Ready to take control of your health? Schedule your Check Your Health lab draw today.

References

Riordan, H. D., Jackson, J. A., & Hunninghake, R. E. (1992). Beat the odds: A long-range research/clinical program for disease prevention and aging reduction. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, 8(4), 227-231.