Dr. Means trained as an ENT surgeon at Stanford University before deciding that our current profit driven sickcare model was the problem, not the solution, for most of the issues she was treating, and that she would rather serve patients in a different capacity. This led her to become a functional medicine practitioner, and later to help found the company Levels, which uses continuous glucose monitors to help people glean insights into their metabolic health and learn how to make improvements therein. Now, she’s written “Good Energy”, which has been on the NY Times bestseller list for the past few months.
Dr. Means’ main theme is that mitochondrial dysfunction is at the root of virtually all known chronic diseases, from diabetes to heart disease to cancer to Alzheimer’s. This is well established in the medical literature, and absolutely true. (For those who have forgotten their high school biology: mitochondria are components inside of a cell that generate energy. So in effect, they control our metabolism at a cellular level, and almost all cells in our body have them. Mitochondria that are not working properly have been documented in virtually every illness known to medical science).
Regular readers of this blog will recognize many of Dr. Mean’s recommendations for how to restore mitochondrial health and, thus, improve the odds for a long and healthy life. Namely:
Avoid processed foods
Eat a diversity of plants and an adequate amount of protein
Don’t use drugs or tobacco, and if you drink alcohol, do so in moderation
Try to stay physically active throughout your day, for example by taking periodic breaks for a short walk
Do structured exercise at least a few times a week, with a mix of both cardiovascular and strength training
Manage emotional stress in your life with practices like meditation, spending time in nature, or working with a therapist
Prioritize getting a good night of sleep on a regular basis
Honor your circadian rhythm by getting some regular daylight and limiting your exposure to artificial light after dark
You will not be surprised then to learn that overall I recommend this book. I found Dr. Means’ writing style to be tedious at times, and her recommended “checklist” of action items in the final chapter is absurdly long and probably not obtainable for the average person living a full life with work and family commitments, so I can certainly find things to criticize in the book. But with that said, most of Dr. Means’ advice is spot on. If the average American were to follow the big picture principles laid out in this book, we’d be a much healthier country.
If you’re looking for a decent roadmap for how to get healthier – or a gift this holiday season to give a loved one who needs to do so – “Good Energy” is a very reasonable choice.
