Review of Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health

Casey Means, MD, author of Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health, writes that: “We make hundreds of daily microdecisions about food that can change our genetic and physiologic “fate.”Dr. Means explains how disease and health depend on, “whether your cells have the energy to do their jobs of keeping you nourished, clear-minded, hormonally balanced, immune protected, heart-healthy, structurally sounds – and so much more” (1).

The book focuses on:

• Top 5 biomarkers associated with risk for a deadly disease.
• How to use inexpensive tools and technology to “see inside your body” and take action.
• Why dietary philosophies are designed to confuse us, and six lifelong food principles you can implement whether you’re carnivore or vegan.
• The crucial links between sleep, circadian rhythm, and metabolism
• A new framework for exercise focused on building simple movement into everyday activities
• How cold and heat exposure helps build our body’s resilience
• Steps to navigate the medical system to get what you need for optimal health

Unforutantely, our bodies are accostomed to the long gradual periods of evolution we experienced in the past. However, “The environment for the cells of the average modern human is now radically different from what the cells expect and need. This evolutionary mismatch is tipping normal metabolic function into dysfunction” (1).

By "good energy", Dr. Means is referring to electrically-balanced cells. Only cells with good energy are able to make protein, which include important enzymes, structural components, immune factors, regulators of DNA, and signaling molecules. Cells with good energy also repair DNA mutations, and are critical for cell transportation, waste ad cleanup, homeostasis and metabolism.

Top Lifestyle Habits to Avoid: 

• Overeating certain macronutrients such as processed forms of carbs fats and proteins leads to greater metabolic waste than the body can detoxify.
• Microbiome issues
• Nutrient Deficiencies
• Environmental Toxins: PFAS (forever chemicals) BPA, PCBs, heavy metals.
• Low Exercise
• Medications that are synthetic
• Lack of sleep and stress
• Circadian rhythm disfunction and artificial light
• Lack of Temperature Change -experiencing changes in temperature releases proteins that protect mitochondria, improve their production of ATP, and stimulate new mitochondria.

Dr. Means did an interview where she explained her book and the counterproductive measures by Big Pharma. When she brought up the fact that big pharma charges Americans far more than any other country for the same drugs, Tucker largely blamed the Republicans for repeating the mantra that “Controlling costs is socialism.” Apart from regulating how much gouging companies can get away with, Dr. Means and her activist brother, also offered some steps we can take as a country.  

What to Do?

• Prohibit FDA panelists from taking money from food companies
• NIH grants should not go to researchers with conflicts of interest (currently 80% do)
• FDA should not get 75% of its funding from Big pharma, with revolving door
• FDA only grows with pharma and isn’t a independent organization
• Make sure Pharma companies cant charge more than they do for the same drugs in other countries.

Some more highlights from the book and interview:

• Earliest puberty rates due to estrogen through xenoestrogens from plastics, and pesticides like atrazine, illegal in the EU, and it’s a very endocrine disrupting
• All cans have plastic lining, microplastic is tied to mitochondrial disruption.
• Ultra processed foods,
• Sleep time and outdoors time is less than any previous generation.
• Papers are PR papers by industry
• Monsanto had ghostwritten science to falsely claims pesticides were safe.
• Ozempic signifies a GLP-1 agonists stimulate hormones associated with feeling of fullness,
• Processed foods associated with disease in humans and domesticated animals. Those same receptors are stimulated through eating whole unprocessed foods
• Most profitable medication in human history might be Ozempic, but does not address the root cause of the toxic soup in which our metabolic processes are drowning. American Academy of Pediatrics pushing for 6 years to take the drug, as currently only legal for 12 years olds.
• HR4818 Obesity Act – Expands Medicare access for covering Ozempic drugs, 74% of the American population. Will create 3 Trillion in drug profits, funneled to the EU where the drug manufacturers are headquartered, and where it is not as expensive, or even prescribed much there.
• Medicaid is spending more on metabolic disfunctions than the defense budget, Rigged by pharma as a piggy bank, built up by mostly the lower income populations. (Ironically, by asserting that it’s a social justice issue, and urging increased budget). Harvard, asserts that it’s genetic disease, and that it’s prejudicial to suggest otherwise.
• Very simple inputs into the metabolic system cause obesity, namely ultra processed foods and industrial toxins.
• Birth control pills shut down hormone regulation in the body, and there are significant impacts, such as losing the regularity of the menstrual cycle, which is itself a marker of health.
• Pesticides from Nazi Germany now pervasive, organic phosphate chemicals, are federally subsidized. Government is promoting the poisonous food, and outcompeting the natural organic farmers.
• 15% teens on Aderol, developed by Nazi Germany, given to soldiers to become more aggressive but discontinued due to psychosis, but now the stronger version is prescribed to youth.
• 95% of USDA have conflicts of interest with the food industry. Kraft is brokering deals with the government to provide Lunchables.
• USDA recommending added sugar (10%) for 2 years olds?
• 40% of Bidens appointees, to the USDA Nutritional Guideline Committee are largely funded by the makers of Ozempic, a foreign drug manufacturers.

Resources

1. Means, Casey. Good Energy
2. Casey Means, M.D. Interview