Taking Control of Your Health: Navigating a System Stacked Against You

We've all been taught to trust certain institutions—healthcare, the food industry, and government regulations. But what if the very systems we're taught to rely on are not designed with our best interests at heart? What if, instead of guiding us toward health, they are structured in a way that profits from our poor health? Over the past year, I've discovered this firsthand on a personal journey that transformed my health and my life.

A year ago, I was 207 pounds with a 38-inch waist, reliant on medication to manage my health. Today, I’m 163 pounds, with a 30-inch waist, off medication, and in the best shape I've been in since college. This transformation didn’t happen because I followed the conventional advice from healthcare providers. In fact, they all told me to get on medication and I did the opposite. It happened because I took charge of my health, educated myself, and made choices that aligned with what my body truly needed.

Throughout my journey, I realized that the healthcare system is often more focused on treating symptoms rather than addressing root causes, particularly when it comes to nutrition. As highlighted in a recent conversation I listened to with Dr. Casey Means, a healthcare professional turned advocate, and her brother Calley Means, it's clear that the system is not set up to prevent illness but rather to manage it with medications. Like many of you, I was prescribed medications to manage my health, but I wasn’t given the tools or information to address the underlying issues related to my diet and lifestyle.

Our food system is another player in this rigged game. It's designed to maximize profits, often at the expense of our health. Ultra-processed foods loaded with sugars and unhealthy fats are marketed to us relentlessly. These foods are engineered to be addictive, making it harder for us to make healthier choices. For years, I was caught in this cycle, consuming foods that were convenient and heavily marketed, but ultimately detrimental to my health. It wasn’t until I understood the science behind what I was eating that I could break free from these unhealthy habits.

While government regulations have stepped in to control other health risks, like tobacco, they've been slow to address the dangers of ultra-processed foods. The regulations we might expect to protect us from harmful dietary practices are often lacking or heavily influenced by industry lobbyists. This leaves us vulnerable and often misinformed about what constitutes a healthy diet. During my journey, I had to dig deep into nutritional science and bypass much of the common advice that simply wasn’t leading me toward better health.

Even within the medical community, there's often a disconnect between diet, lifestyle, and chronic health conditions. Many doctors are highly specialized and may not consider how various aspects of our lives are interconnected. As discussed in the podcast, the education of many medical professionals is influenced by pharmaceutical companies, leading to a narrow focus on medication rather than holistic health. This means it’s up to us to seek out information and resources that consider the whole picture of our health.

Given these realities, it’s clear that we cannot solely rely on these systems to ensure our well-being. We must take charge of our health by educating ourselves about nutrition and learning how to establish a healthy diet that supports long-term wellness. This involves being proactive, questioning what we’ve been told, and making choices that align with our health goals, even when they go against the grain of what’s most convenient or popular. My own journey taught me that true health comes from understanding what your body needs and being disciplined enough to pursue it.

The more we understand about the food we eat and how our bodies work, the better equipped we are to make decisions that promote health rather than hinder it. It’s not easy, and it’s not always fair, but by taking our health into our own hands, we can break free from a system that doesn’t always have our best interests at heart. My transformation is proof that with the right knowledge and commitment, significant change is possible.

What are your thoughts? Have you had an "aha" moment where you realized the system wasn't working in your favor? I'd love to hear your stories and thoughts in the comments. And if you found this post helpful, please share it with your friends—let's start a conversation about how we can all take control of our health.