Today, I’m writing to share something a little different from my usual emails—but it’s something I believe is extremely important, and I urge you to take a few moments to consider it.
It’s no secret that the health of our society is in serious trouble. Over the last several years, one thing has become abundantly clear: the powers that be don’t always have our best interests at heart. Despite being one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world, the U.S. does a dismal job when it comes to fostering true health. Chronic disease is skyrocketing, and much of this can be attributed to a system that prioritizes profits over well-being.
We live in a country with incredible surgical capabilities, advanced pharmaceuticals, and cutting-edge technology, yet we are facing an epidemic of chronic illness. Rates of cancer, autoimmune disease, heart disease, and infertility are accelerating at an unimaginable pace. Diabetes and Prediabetes are so rampant that the medical industry is now pushing for children to receive weekly injections to manage the problem! But we rarely stop to ask why these conditions are happening in the first place. Does this make sense to you? Because it sure doesn’t make sense to me.
What’s even more troubling is that we can’t seem to discuss the real issues that impact our health. We’re living in a world so divided that critical conversations about our well-being are often ignored or politicized. But let me be clear: health is not political. It’s a humanitarian issue that transcends party lines, and it needs to be taken seriously before it’s too late. The decisions we make today will not only affect our generation but will have long-lasting implications for our children and grandchildren.
That’s why I’m sharing this powerful podcast episode (#2210) from Joe Rogan, where he interviews Dr. Casey Means and Calley Means. These two remarkable individuals are boldly confronting the issues that most of us have chosen to ignore. Dr. Casey Means, a Stanford-trained physician and co-founder of Levels Health, speaks at length about the crisis of metabolic health in our country and how it’s driven by our lifestyle, nutrition, and environment—not by a lack of medications.
Some of the key points they discuss in this episode include:
- The explosion of chronic diseases in the U.S., much of which can be traced back to poor metabolic health.
- The toxic foods that dominate the American diet, which are not just unhealthy but are downright harmful compared to other countries. Did you know that the U.S. allows over 2,000 chemicals in our food supply that are banned in Europe?
- The role of ultra-processed foods, excessive sugar consumption, and industrial seed oils in driving conditions like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
- The fact that we treat nearly every ailment with a pill, when the real issue lies in our broken food system, sedentary lifestyle, and exposure to environmental toxins.
- How the U.S. has among the highest rates of chronic disease in the world despite spending more on healthcare than any other nation.
Just think about this: our food supply is loaded with chemicals and additives that are outright banned in Europe and other parts of the world. While countries like Germany and France take a more cautious approach to food regulation, allowing only a small fraction of what we permit here in the U.S., we’ve normalized consuming products that wreak havoc on our health. This is something that should alarm all of us.
But this is not about fear—it’s about awareness and action. As Dr. Casey Means points out, the fact that we are alive today, in the modern world, is a miracle. We need to start treating our bodies and our environment with the respect they deserve before we reach a point of no return.
This podcast dives deep into these issues, offering eye-opening insights on how we can start to reclaim our health. I strongly encourage you to listen to this episode. It’s full of vital information that could reshape the way you think about your health and the future of our society.
Here’s the link to the episode: Joe Rogan Podcast #2210
Let’s take a stand together and begin making changes that will impact not just us, but the generations to come. Health is a journey, not a destination, and it’s one we need to embark on now with our eyes wide open.
To a future of health and prosperity,
Dr. Seth Osgood, DNP, FNP-BC, EMT-P, IFMCP
GrassRoots Functional Medicine email.
