Caroline Manzo thought her fitness routine and diet meant she had little reason to worry about her health. A recent round of testing changed that assumption.
The former Real Housewives of New Jersey star said doctors warned her that she was “a heart attack waiting to happen” after extensive bloodwork uncovered several issues she had not expected.
Caroline says tests uncovered a fatty liver and vitamin deficiencies she did not expect
Manzo, 65, said her daughter, Lauren Manzo, repeatedly encouraged her to undergo a complete blood panel. Caroline initially resisted because she exercised daily, ate carefully and generally felt healthy.
“In my arrogance, I work out every day. I look great. I feel great. I’m doing everything right,” she said on Instagram.
After eventually agreeing to the testing, the RHONJ alum underwent additional bloodwork that required seven or eight vials of blood.
The results revealed a fatty liver, low Vitamin B levels and a Vitamin D deficiency. Manzo also said her doctors found what she described as a toxin level between 93 and 98 percent, which she called “a critical level.”
According to Manzo, doctors attributed the problems to genetics rather than her current lifestyle.
“They said to me, ‘You are doing everything right. It’s your genetics,’” she recalled.
The findings prompted the former Real Housewives star to change how she approached her health. Manzo said she had entered “beast mode” and planned to address each issue while continuing to share updates with followers.
“I cannot believe that, for somebody who thought she was doing everything right, has so much going on in her body that I did not know about,” she said.
Manzo also encouraged followers not to rely solely on how healthy they feel.
“You need to get yourselves checked!” she wrote.
Her comments drew support from fans, including Kristin Chenoweth, who said she was glad Manzo listened to her daughter and now had information she could act on.
Manzo had previously discussed changing her diet and fitness habits in 2019. At the time, she said she had cut back on foods including bread, pasta, meat, soda and cake and had lost nearly 20 pounds.
