Dr. Casey Means: Attacking The Root Cause of Disease With Self-Quantification And Behavior Change

Dr. Casey is a Stanford-trained head and neck surgeon who ditched a promising medical career to plunge into the world of functional medicine and healing disease by attacking the root cause of inflammation.

You will love the story of her amazing journey of blending insights from genetic science to observe the shortcomings of western medicine as sick care rather than health care. Dr. Casey describes our current model as “reactionary medicine,” where we play “whack the mole” by attacking the symptoms of various diseases with drugs and surgery. 

Casey describes the frustration of seeing many patients returning for the same invasive procedures that were caused by lifestyle-driven inflammation. After leaving surgery and getting additional training in functional medicine, Dr. Casey presents a unique, hands-on approach to patient care focused on optimizing lifestyle behaviors that will promote health and prevent disease. The centerpiece is the emerging technology of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) that she offers to clients as a co-founder of LevelsHealth.com operation. 

In this show, you’ll learn why metabolic dysfunction is perhaps the most distressing disease condition of modern times. This is represented mainly by an inability to regulate glucose or burn fat efficiently. You’ll be inspired to take personal responsibility for your health, especially through the use of a now-affordable and accessible CGM device, and learn the importance of tight glucose regulation to feel and look your best. 

TIMESTAMPS:

Brad interviews a surgeon who discovered most of her patients needed to improve their lifestyle rather than be under the knife. [01:43]

Environmental factors change the expression of our biological blueprint. [05:20]

Newer medical ideas expand from “here are these symptoms; here is the treatment.” [07:59]

The majority of the diseases that are plaguing our country are diseases that are chronic illnesses based in lifestyle and dietary decisions. [10:23]

As an ENT surgeon, Dr. Means realized that most of the cases were inflammatory in nature. [12:41]

Is there a profit motive involved in the medical profession that keeps the “Whack-a-Mole” system going? [16:52]

Research suggests that those more dietary and lifestyle interventions and healthy maintenance are the highest value. [21:07]

The insurance companies share the risk across a large population, some of which will be very ill and some very healthy. [23:35]

Symptoms arise from biologic dysfunction. Functional Medicine looks at all the variable functions. [25:24]

Every day we make hundreds, if not thousands of small decisions that affect our biological reality. Even how we respond to a stressful email, translates through our hormones to affect our cellular biology. [28:43]

There is emerging technology of continuous glucose monitoring which is a powerful behavior modifier. [30:14]

The fluctuations in glucose levels may be potentially more harmful than sustained high glucose levels alone.  [34:53]

Metabolic dysfunction is the root of infertility, erectile dysfunction, anxiety and depression. [37:19]

Could one deliver a normal fasting glucose but still be getting into trouble with poor glucose variability? [39:01]

What kind of particulars might influence our varied response to white rice? [45:07]

After a sprint workout where the glycogen is depleted, what happens when I have an ice cream treat? [48:52]   

Is the afternoon slump always associated with a blood glucose drop? Is it manageable? [50:46]

If two people eat the exact same number of calories per day, the exact same food, but they eat them at different times of the day, they will have a totally different metabolic outcome. [54:44]

In our culture, we are eating 150 pounds of refined sugar on average per person per year. [01:03:17]

Realize that when you are getting in stressful situations like traffic or at the workplace, you are spiking your glucose just like going down the street to get a Hostess Pie [01:05:16]

LINKS:

Brad’s Shopping Page

Dr. Casey Means

Levels Health

Dr. Casey’s Kitchen

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Sponsors

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