241. Coke’s secret playbook to keep you addicted to sugar with Calley Means
Dec 12, 2023
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Former Coca Cola consultant Calley Means shares strategies used by the food industry to keep Americans addicted to sugar. Topics include Ozempic, corruption in Big Pharma, addiction targeting children, infertility crisis, manipulating the narrative, disrupting nutrition space, seed oils in infant formula.
Food companies use their power and financial resources to influence government policies and funding, control research outcomes, and shape public opinion about processed food.
The prevalence of obesity and metabolic health issues, particularly among children, is reaching alarming levels due to the addictive nature of ultra-processed foods and the lack of nutritional education and standards.
Food and pharmaceutical companies strategically use lobbying, campaign contributions, and paid influencers to shape the narrative, discredit critics, and maintain their stronghold.
Critics of the food industry are often accused of being racist, classist, or fat-phobic to silence their concerns and prevent a fruitful discussion about the impact of harmful food practices on health and society.
Promoting healthy food choices, especially for low-income individuals, is crucial in combating the increasing rates of chronic conditions and improving children's overall well-being by providing education and empowering parents to make healthier choices.
Deep dives
The Influence of Food Companies
Food companies use their power and financial resources to influence government policies and funding, control research outcomes, and shape public opinion about processed food.
The Impact on Health and Obesity
The prevalence of obesity and metabolic health issues, particularly among children, is reaching alarming levels due to the addictive nature of ultra-processed foods and the lack of nutritional education and standards.
Political Tactics and Manipulation
Food and pharmaceutical companies strategically use lobbying, campaign contributions, and paid influencers to shape the narrative, discredit critics, and maintain their stronghold.
Shutting Down Debate and Misinformation
Critics of the food industry are often accused of being racist, classist, or fat-phobic to silence their concerns and prevent a fruitful discussion about the impact of harmful food practices on health and society.
Promoting Healthy Food Choices
One of the main ideas discussed in the podcast is the importance of promoting healthy food choices, especially for low-income individuals. The speaker emphasizes that even with a limited budget, it is possible to buy nutritious food such as ground beef, organic honey, and bananas at affordable prices. They argue that by providing education and empowering parents to make healthier choices, we can combat the increasing rates of chronic conditions and improve children's overall well-being.
Questioning Medical Advice
The podcast delves into the issue of blindly trusting medical advice and highlights the influence of various interests on healthcare decisions. The speaker encourages listeners to question doctors and become informed about their own health choices, suggesting that many doctors are influenced and trapped within a system that prioritizes profit over patient well-being. They emphasize the need for individuals to take control of their own health and become their own advocates in order to challenge the current system.
Political and Industry Corruption
The podcast sheds light on political and industry corruption in the food and healthcare sectors. It discusses how the food industry, pharmaceutical companies, and agricultural corporations influence policies and funding, often at the expense of public health. The speaker calls for national leadership and a bipartisan approach to address the systemic issues underlying the current health crisis. They emphasize the importance of challenging the status quo and advocating for policy changes that prioritize the health and well-being of individuals over corporate interests.
Influence of Intensive Medical Curriculum and Residency Program
The podcast episode discusses how the intensity of the medical curriculum and residency programs in the past has discouraged questioning and critical thinking among medical professionals. This is exemplified by the creation of radical surgeries like the radical mastectomy, which were aggressive and not holistic enough. The influence of Rockefeller and the Flexner Report, written in 1909, is also mentioned, which aimed to delegitimize holistic health and prioritize intervention-based health, drugs, and surgeries. The harmful consequences of this approach and the need for change in medical education are highlighted.
Issues with Overworking and Lack of Questioning in Medical Residency
The podcast delves into the problems associated with overworking and lack of questioning in medical residency programs. The speaker questions the long and intense work hours, which do not promote healthy patient treatment or physician well-being. The inability to question due to exhaustion and the absence of satisfactory answers from the residency director are highlighted as detrimental to the medical profession. The cost of residency and the limited financial compensation, despite the demanding workload, are also addressed. The overall discussion emphasizes the need for change in the medical system to encourage questioning and support the well-being of medical professionals.
Paul sits down in person with Calley Means to talk about the ins and outs of food industry corruption. Calley shares his firsthand experience as a previous consultant for Coca Cola, and unearths their strategies in keeping Americans addicted to sugar.
*Produced by Mountain Valley Media
00:02:00 The truth about Ozempic
00:08:15 Calley’s experience working for Big Pharma
00:27:45 When is Western medicine necessary?00:32:00 Addiction & targeting children
00:42:00 The infertility crisis
00:46:00 How Big Pharma manipulates the narrative
01:06:10 Food Compass & Dariush Mazaffarian
01:12:00 The path forward for medical professionals
01:35:20 Politics & disrupting the nutritional space
01:40:40 Ideas
01:45:40 Seed oils in infant formula
01:52:00 Conclusion & how to connect with
Calley
References:
https://www.truemed.com/
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