Ep 97 - Dr Casey Means | 93% of Adults Have Metabolic Issues (10 SIGNS Your Body Is Failing)
Sep 15, 2024
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Dr. Casey Means, a Stanford-trained physician and author of 'Good Energy,' dives into the alarming state of metabolic health in America, revealing that 93% of adults are affected. She highlights the systemic failures of big pharma, big food, and the medical community that focus on profits rather than root causes. Dr. Means explains how mitochondrial dysfunction underlies many chronic diseases and urges a shift towards preventative measures like low-carb diets and personal accountability in healthcare choices, empowering listeners to take control of their wellness.
Metabolic dysfunction, stemming primarily from poor dietary choices and lifestyle factors, is a leading cause of chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer.
The current healthcare system prioritizes profit over patient health, often neglecting preventive measures and root-cause healing for chronic conditions.
Monitoring metabolic markers such as fasting glucose and insulin empowers individuals to make informed choices, improving health and preventing chronic diseases.
Deep dives
The Role of Mitochondria in Disease Prevention
Mitochondrial health is integral to preventing chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, and heart disease. The discussion emphasizes that over 90% of chronic diseases stem from poor dietary choices and mitochondrial dysfunction, rather than solely genetic factors. A significant portion of chronic diseases is preventable, with numerous cases of conditions like early-onset dementia, type 2 diabetes, and cancer being heavily linked to lifestyle and environmental exposures. By focusing on improving mitochondrial function through diet and lifestyle changes, individuals can significantly alter their health trajectories.
Impact of Environmental Changes on Health
Significant alterations in food systems, movement patterns, and emotional well-being have contributed to the rising incidence of chronic diseases in America. The consumption of ultra-processed foods laden with pesticides has become a norm, with nearly 70% of daily calories derived from unhealthy sources. Additionally, the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles has increased, leading to detrimental effects on metabolic health. The podcast highlights that chronic illness is not just an issue for older populations, but younger individuals are increasingly affected due to these modern environmental shifts.
The Flawed Healthcare System and Profit Motives
The current healthcare system is designed to profit from illness rather than promote health, creating a conflict of interest among hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and practitioners. This structure incentivizes institutions to treat diseases reactively instead of focusing on underlying causes, stifling prevention and root cause healing approaches. Consequently, many patients do not receive adequate support or education regarding lifestyle factors that could improve their health. By raising awareness of these systemic failures, individuals can begin to take control of their health outcomes.
Metabolic Health Metrics Everyone Should Know
Monitoring key metabolic markers can provide invaluable insights into overall health and help prevent chronic conditions. Individuals are encouraged to regularly check their fasting glucose, triglycerides, blood pressure, and waist circumference, ensuring they stay within optimal ranges. Particularly, fasting insulin is highlighted as a crucial indicator of metabolic health, with ideal levels being significantly lower than typically recommended standards. Understanding these biomarkers empowers individuals to make informed lifestyle choices and adjustments for better health.
Strategies to Improve Metabolic Function
Implementing lifestyle changes aimed at enhancing mitochondrial function can lead to substantial health benefits. Key strategies include adopting a diet rich in real, unprocessed foods, engaging in regular physical activity throughout the day, and ensuring adequate exposure to natural light. Moreover, fostering social connections is emphasized as a way to combat loneliness, which has negative effects on mitochondrial health. These multifaceted approaches underscore the importance of holistic wellness in improving individual health outcomes and combating the rising tide of chronic diseases.
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Casey Means, MD, a physician trained at Stanford University School of Medicine, an expert on metabolic health and the author of the book, Good Energy. Head to https://shop.theprimal.com/ to try 100% clean tallow balms.
Dr Casey Means Book 'Good Energy': https://amzn.to/4dXiye1
Dr Means has decades of experience understanding the root cause of the most chronic health diseases, namely cancer, Alzheimer's, dementia, heart disease, and obesity. Dr Means asserts our healthcare system, doctors, big pharma, and big food are at the core of our current healthcare crisis, which focuses on profit, not root-cause healing.
Access the full show notes, including referenced articles, books, and additional resources: https://www.theprimal.com/lab/the-root-cause-of-chronic-disease-and-the-link-with-mitochondria
Dr. Means discusses how all the diseases we see are the root cause of metabolic dysfunction. Even though we might see different symptoms of chronic inflammation, it all traces back to the health of our mitochondria.
The first section of this episode highlights why 93% of Americans are sick and why subspecialized medicine is destroying our health. Dr. Means outlines three main industries that are at the core of healthcare: big pharma, big food, and medical doctors, and the trifecta of what's causing metabolic disease: oxidative stress, metabolic dysfunction, and inflammation.
The second section of this episode explains metabolic dysfunction (in simple terms) and how we can fix our mitochondria. Dr. Means explains specific science-based protocols, including nutrition, movement, light therapy, and emotional well-being, and how they impact the mitochondria.
This episode is important if you have a metabolic condition in which the healthcare system has failed you. You will learn the simple science of how to improve your mitochondria through science-based nutrition and lifestyle tools for optimal health and longevity.
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