I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Calley Means, co-author of the book “Good Energy” and a policy advisor to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Our conversation uncovered some shocking truths about the origins of our modern food system and the dire health consequences we’re facing as a result.
However, Means’ insights into the corruption of our health institutions and his ideas for reform leave room for much optimism about the future of health in America.
The Tobacco Industry’s Secret Takeover of Our Food Supply
The tobacco industry’s covert influence on our food system is responsible for many of the processed foods that line grocery store shelves today. As Means explained:1
“In the 1980s when you looked at the most valuable companies in the world — now it’s Microsoft and Amazon and Google — it was Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds back then. These were two of the largest companies in the world and they had the largest cash piles, the largest balance sheet of any company in human history because smoking was such a profitable business.”
As smoking rates began to decline due to public health warnings, these tobacco giants made a calculated move. With their core business under threat, these tobacco giants used their massive cash reserves to buy up major food companies:2
“They had big piles of cash, cigarette smoking was clearly going to decline, what do they do with that cash? They bought food companies. So, we think about the 1980s as the age of Wall Street, M&A [mergers and acquisitions], Gordon Gekko. When you look at the biggest deals and the biggest Wall Street transactions in the 1980s, the two largest were cigarette companies buying food companies.”
The implications of this shift were profound:3
“By 1990, the two largest food companies in the world were R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris. The book ‘Barbarians at the Gate,’ which is the preeminent book on the M&A deals of the 1980s, was about R.J. Reynolds buying Nabisco. And then you had Philip Morris buying Kraft, US Foods, some of the largest transactions in U.S. history.”
Making Food Addictive: The Cigarette Company Playbook
What happened next was a deliberate effort to apply tobacco industry tactics to food production:4
“So, what the cigarette companies did very intentionally is they shifted two departments over, they shifted their scientists over to make food more addictive. And this is an amazing situation, right? And this is documented. This is very clear what they were trying to do.
They’re going from cigarettes, which is becoming a stigmatized industry where it’s not allowed for kids, to something every single American needs — to eat starting basically at birth.”
To push their new addictive foods, the industry employed the same lobbying tactics that had kept tobacco “safe” for decades. They funded biased research from prestigious institutions like Harvard to claim sugar doesn’t cause obesity. But this wasn’t just about changing recipes.
The tobacco industry’s influence extended to shaping nutritional guidelines. This junk science was then used to create the infamous USDA food pyramid, which Means called “the most deadly document in American history.” The goal was clear: “And just as any drug provider, the business is getting people hooked, getting them hooked early, getting them hooked for a long period of time.”5
The Health Consequences of a Corrupted Food System
The impact of these changes on public health has been devastating. As Means pointed out:6
“Cancer rates actually exploded since the 1980s dramatically. So, I joke, but I’m being somewhat serious, we’d be much healthier if the cigarette companies were back to making cigarettes.
It was actually a total disaster for the metric they were trying to solve with coming down on smoking — cancer rates. By letting the cigarette industry actually get to our food, cancer rates have absolutely just exploded along with every other chronic condition.”
This history has been largely obscured from public view. When I asked how they managed to hide their involvement, Means explained that while it has been reported on, the information hasn’t been widely disseminated. He learned about it through his work in public affairs, where they openly discussed using the “tobacco playbook” for food companies.
Beyond the personal toll, this epidemic of chronic disease is threatening the economic stability of our nation:7
“Health care costs are going up at an increasing rate today. They’re at 20% GDP, they’re growing double the rate GDP, health care costs. They’re the largest source of U.S. inflation. They’re going to be 40% GDP … just mathematically, if these trends don’t change, we will be a fat, infertile, sick, depressed and bankrupt population, if these trends aren’t reversed.”
The Flexner Report: How American Medicine Lost Its Way
Our discussion then turned to the historical roots of America’s dysfunctional medical system. I brought up the influential Flexner Report of 1910, which Means agreed was a pivotal moment:8
“John D. Rockefeller, and let’s be clear, maybe with some good intentions, the medicine was the Wild West, it wasn’t … I don’t want to get into his psyche, but I want to just say what happened. As he was a top funder of modern medical education, so Johns Hopkins was one of them, and he also was the father of the modern pharmaceutical industry from a lot of his byproducts from oil.”
The Flexner Report, commissioned by Rockefeller, fundamentally reshaped medical education in America and laid the foundations of the modern medical system, dubbed “Rockefeller medicine.” Rockefeller financed the campaign to consolidate mainstream medicine, adopt the philosophies of the growing pharmaceutical industry and shutter its competition.
Rockefeller’s crusade caused the closure of more than half of U.S. medical schools, fostered public and press scorn for homeopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic, nutritional, holistic, functional, integrative and natural medicines, and led to the incarceration of many practicing physicians. It emphasized a reductionist approach that siloed different conditions and focused on pharmaceutical interventions. As Means explained:9
“That report said anything about nutrition, anything about holistic, is not serious science. Serious science is siloing a condition, naming it once somebody already got sick, and then drugging it or committing surgery. And then that has really infiltrated medical education.”
Biology didn’t change just because Rockefeller was pressured under monopoly threats from the U.S. government to advert from oil and shift into pharmaceuticals. Biology still remains the same and requires treating the causes of disease, which we in no way, shape or form do with our current medical paradigm.
Further, this paradigm shift left most physicians woefully unprepared to deal with the chronic disease epidemic plaguing the U.S. today. Our medical system excels at acute interventions but struggles to address the root causes of ongoing health issues. A key factor in perpetuating this crisis is the corruption of our health institutions, which leads to dangerously misguided health advice.
“The problem is that the majority of NIH [National Institutes of Health] grants go to conflicted researchers, that the FDA drug approval department is 75% funded by pharma, that the USDA Guideline Committee on Nutrition — 95% of the advisors are funded by food or pharma,” Means says, adding:10
“The American Diabetes Association, which accepts money from Coca-Cola, is dictating standards of care, saying that Type 2 diabetes is nonreversible and basically just a drug deficiency. It is not. It is reversible and we just need a correct accounting of why people are getting diabetes and how to potentially reverse it.”
Strategies to Transform American Health
Despite the dire situation, Means remains optimistic about our ability to turn things around. He outlined a strategy for transforming American health, including fixing corrupted medical guidelines. Ideally, the first step is to remove conflicts of interest from the bodies that set medical guidelines and research priorities. As Means put it:11
“Within a week we can do this — make it that there cannot be conflicts on these key medical advisory committees. What happens then? We actually get a report on what glyphosate is doing to us, we actually get reports on standards of care and tell the American Diabetes Association to stop dictating completely corrupt guidelines.”
While Means encourages this top-down approach to reforming the system, it’s a challenge because these regulatory agencies have been taken over by the very industries they’re supposed to be regulating. This occurred decades ago, and it’s getting worse as time goes on. Lobbying efforts and new rules, legislation, is controlled.
It’s almost impossible in the current state to defeat this system, so the approach I’ve taken is to go from the bottom up — go to the people directly with solutions. Fortunately, technology is emerging that allows us to have the manpower, or at least the AI power, to help people understand what they need to do to achieve optimal health.
Part of Means’ plan also involves restructuring the financial incentives in health care. Currently, the system profits from keeping people sick and managing chronic conditions rather than preventing or reversing them.
The Power of Grassroots Action
He also emphasizes the need to educate and empower patients directly, which aligns closely with my own approach of providing people with actionable health information, and cleaning up our food supply. Means believes that with the right political will, significant changes could be made quickly:12
“The president tomorrow can sign an executive order saying that the USDA Nutrition Guideline Committee can’t take money from food companies. The president tomorrow can sign an executive order saying that NIH cannot go to researchers with conflicts of interest. Tomorrow the FDA can be disentangled from the pharmaceutical industry.”
While I’m skeptical about the ease of implementing such changes given the entrenched interests opposing them, the power of grassroots action remains. Means is working to build grassroots momentum through his nonprofit, EndChronicDisease.org:13
“We have thousands of people coming and taking action. You can sign up and email your congressperson and call them. These basics, that’s what pharma does.
When there’s a bill threatening pharma, they do this grassroots advocacy where they have a bunch of old people call members of Congress and say, ‘Don’t take my drugs away.’ That matters … As I meet with members of Congress I hear a lot, ‘Our phones aren’t ringing on this issue.’ So, we’re getting the phones ringing on this issue.”
Means is also taking concrete steps to improve the situation through his company TrueMed. They’re working within the current system to expand access to preventative health measures. This innovative approach allows people to use tax-advantaged health savings accounts to invest in their wellbeing proactively, rather than just paying for drugs and procedures after they get sick.
The Spiritual Dimension of Health
By making chronic disease a politically resonant issue, we can drive real change and create the political pressure needed to enact real reforms. However, a point that’s central to my philosophy is the connection between physical health and spiritual growth. When you’re truly healthy, you’re better able to connect with your intuition and fulfill your higher purpose. It’s difficult to do that when you’re not healthy.
Ultimately, it will take a multi-pronged approach to truly transform our health system — empowering individuals with information, developing new technologies and business models to support wellness, and pushing for policy changes at the highest levels.
If you’re inspired to get involved, I encourage you to check out Means’ work at TrueMed.com and EndChronicDisease.org. By adding your voice to this growing movement, we can build the momentum needed to create real, lasting change in U.S. health care.
Remember, your health is your most valuable asset. By taking control of your own well-being and advocating for systemic reforms, you’re not just improving your own life — you’re contributing to a healthier, more vibrant future for all.
<!–
A Revolutionary Peek Into Optimizing Carbohydrates from My New Book
Now, I’d like to offer you a glimpse into the groundbreaking content of my new book, “Your Guide to Cellular Health: Unlocking the Science of Longevity and Joy.” What follows is a brief excerpt that introduces a revolutionary approach to understanding and consuming carbohydrates. This is just one of the many paradigm-shifting concepts explored in depth throughout the book.
As you read, keep in mind that this represents only a fraction of the innovative strategies and insights waiting for you in the full text. Let this serve as a tantalizing preview of the transformative knowledge you’ll learn in this book.
Carbs Made Simple: A Color-Coded System to Guide Your Gut Health Journey
Let’s explore a revolutionary approach to carbohydrate consumption that may challenge your preconceptions. This method ranks carbohydrates based on their impact on your biology, specifically in relation to your gut health. Surprisingly, for many people, this approach favors simple carbs over complex ones.
Before you dismiss this idea as counterintuitive, consider its dual objectives: enhancing your mitochondrial energy production and promoting gut healing. This strategy isn’t just about choosing carbs; it’s about strategically resetting your body’s metabolic processes. By focusing on how different carbohydrates interact with your unique gut environment, you can optimize both your energy production and digestive health.
This approach recognizes that the traditional complex vs. simple carb dichotomy likely does not tell the whole story when it comes to individual health outcomes. Instead, it suggests that the relationship between your gut health and carbohydrate metabolism could be key to unlocking improved overall wellness.
Stay open-minded as this approach can revolutionize how you think about carbohydrates and their role in your health journey. This new perspective on carbs isn’t about following a one-size-fits-all diet, but rather about understanding how your unique gut biology interacts with different types of carbohydrates. By tailoring your carb intake to support your gut health and mitochondrial function, you may discover a more effective path to energy production and overall well-being.
Why does this approach work? Simple carbs provide a quick energy boost for your cells and mitochondria. It’s like giving your body’s energy factories an immediate fuel injection. At the same time, this approach gives your gut a chance to rest and heal. A compromised digestive system can worsen your symptoms.
That’s because fiber and prebiotics in complex carbs feed oxygen-tolerant gut bacteria. By cutting complex carbs and focusing on simple, digestible ones, you’re giving your gut a much-needed break.
Here’s how to implement this approach. For those of you dealing with severely compromised gut health, start with pure sugar water. I can almost hear the gasps of horror, but trust me, this is a temporary measure to jump-start your healing process. The key is to sip it slowly over time. Never drink more than an ounce at a time or you run the risk of metabolic disturbances by spiking your insulin.
During this initial phase, you could put one-half pound, up to a full pound, of pure dextrose (glucose) into a half gallon of water and sip it slowly all day. Once your gut health has improved, you can switch your primary carb source to whole foods. More than likely, you’ll also need to eat more frequently than you’re used to during this transition to avoid hypoglycemia. Eating every three to four hours, with snacks throughout the day, is crucial when relying on simple carbs for energy.
As your mitochondrial energy production continues to improve and your gut starts to heal, you will begin the transition back to complex carbs. This is a slow and steady process — don’t rush it. Your body needs time to adapt to the fermentable fibers and prebiotics in whole grains, legumes, and vegetables. It must build a tolerance to them.
Once you’re able to include more complex carbohydrates in your diet, you’ll start to notice significant benefits. You’ll be able to extend the time between meals to between four and six hours, and many people find they can comfortably switch to a three-meals-a-day approach. This is because complex carbs digest more slowly, providing a steady stream of energy.
The following chart breaks down several types of carbohydrate sources and how they fit into this plan. We can categorize them into three groups: green, yellow, and red.
Classification of carbohydrate sources. This color-coded chart illustrates a strategic progression of carbohydrate sources, designed to support the rehabilitation of gut health and optimize energy production. The categorization is based on the complexity and digestibility of the carbohydrates.
In the green category, we have dextrose, white rice, and sucrose. We’re going to focus on these carbs initially because they are easily digestible and provide quick energy without overtaxing your compromised digestive system.
The yellow category, the next step in our progression, includes maple syrup, fruit juice with and without pulp, whole fruits, and root vegetables. They offer more nutrients and fiber than the green category but are still relatively easy on the digestive system.
Finally, we have the red category, the most complex carbs: nonstarchy veggies, starchy veggies, beans and legumes, and whole grains. They offer many health benefits but can be challenging for a compromised gut to handle.
This innovative approach to carbohydrate consumption is just a small taste of the groundbreaking concepts introduced in my new book. The ideas presented here are part of a larger framework designed to revolutionize your understanding of health and nutrition. The book goes far deeper into these concepts, offering a wealth of information that challenges conventional wisdom and provides practical strategies for optimizing your health.
My book is backed by nearly 2,600 references, most from papers published in the 2020s. Each reference includes links to the full-text original papers, empowering you to explore the studies firsthand and draw your own conclusions. This level of transparency and depth is unprecedented, allowing you to become an active participant in your health journey rather than a passive recipient of information.
By reading the full book, you’ll gain access to a treasure trove of cutting-edge knowledge and innovative approaches that have the potential to transform your health in ways you might never have imagined possible.
Unlock the Power of Your Cells: The Revolutionary Guide to Cellular Health
Are you ready to revolutionize your understanding of health and vitality? My groundbreaking new book, “Your Guide to Cellular Health,” is not just another health manual — it’s a paradigm shift in how we approach wellness at the cellular level.
• Discover the hidden key to vibrant health
◦ Learn why mitochondrial energy production is crucial for recovering from nearly all diseases
◦ Understand how your body is designed to create your weight in ATP every day — and why most people only produce 1/3 of that amount
◦ Explore how this energy deficit drastically alters your microbiome, accelerating aging and increasing susceptibility to disease
◦ Uncover dozens of groundbreaking insights that challenge conventional health wisdom
• This book offers simple, actionable strategies that almost anyone can implement to
◦ Boost your cellular energy production
◦ Optimize your gut health
◦ Enhance your body’s natural healing processes
◦ Slow down the aging process
◦ Improve resilience against a wide range of health issues
• You’ll be amazed by revelations such as
◦ Why certain simple carbs might be better for you than complex ones in some situations
◦ How to strategically reset your body’s metabolic processes
◦ The intricate connection between your gut health, energy production, and overall wellness
◦ A revolutionary approach to nutrition based on your unique biology and energy needs
Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your health at the cellular level. Whether you’re battling chronic issues, looking to optimize your wellness, or simply curious about the latest in health science, this book is your roadmap to a more energetic, resilient you. Join the health revolution now. Your cells — and your future self — will thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Akkermansia
Q: Does Akkermansia help with weight loss?
A: Yes, Akkermansia plays a role in weight management by influencing metabolism, appetite and gut health. Higher levels of it have been associated with a lower risk of obesity, as discovered by Dr. Kaplan in 2004.
Q: Is Akkermansia safe?
A: Akkermansia is naturally present in a healthy microbiome, indicating its safety as part of normal physiology. Studies have not reported serious side effects from Akkermansia supplementation.14
Q: Does Akkermansia cause diarrhea?
A: Akkermansia has not been linked to diarrhea. On the contrary, one study showed that its presence in the gut helped reduce the occurrence of diarrhea in children.15 However, keep in mind that sudden increases in any beneficial bacteria, including Akkermansia, may cause temporary digestive discomfort, so it’s ideal to introduce Akkermansia gradually, whether through diet or supplements.
Q: What causes low Akkermansia levels?
A: Low levels of Akkermansia can be caused by a diet low in polyphenols and soluble fiber, but high in processed foods, added sugar and harmful fats like linoleic acid. Aging, antibiotic use, chronic stress, sedentary lifestyle16 and metabolic disorders can also impact the gut microbiota composition,17 including Akkermansia levels.
–>
