Dr. Casey Means is a physician, author, and advocate whose work focuses on transforming healthcare by addressing the root causes of chronic disease, particularly through the lens of metabolic health. Her journey from conventional medicine to a holistic, patient-empowered approach resonates with millions of people who are seeking answers to the growing chronic disease epidemic. Means’ core message is that metabolic dysfunction — fueled by poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and environmental toxins — is the basis of many modern health crises, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even mental health disorders.
She argues that the healthcare system, with its focus on symptom management more than prevention, is not equipped to address these issues. Instead, she advocates for lifestyle interventions such as whole-food nutrition, regular activity, stress management, and sleep optimization. Her book, Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health, co-written with her brother Kelly Means, turns these ideas into actionable steps, emphasizing how small, intentional changes can yield big health benefits.
Her platform goes beyond writing. Means is a frequent guest on podcasts, including The Joe Rogan Experience and the Huberman Lab, where she discusses the science of metabolic health and critiques the pharmaceutical and food industries. She highlights how ultra-processed foods loaded with sugar and additives disrupt metabolic pathways, leading to insulin resistance and inflammation.
She also points to conflicts of interest in healthcare, such as industry-funded research and lobbying, which she believes perpetuates the cycle of disease. His outspokenness has sparked both praise and debate, with supporters praising his evidence-based approach and critics questioning his sweeping indictments of established systems. Means’ turn to functional medicine was inspired by personal and professional disillusionment.
During his surgical residency, he saw patients go through cycles of treatment without addressing underlying lifestyle factors. His own health struggles, including chronic sinus infections and fatigue, further exposed the limitations of conventional care. After discovering nutrition and integrative medicine, he experienced a personal transformation that reshaped his career. He co-founded Levels, a company that provides continuous glucose monitoring to help users optimize metabolic health by tracking blood sugar responses in real time to food and lifestyle choices His advocacy also intersects with policy and culture.
Means has called for reform of food subsidies that prioritize cheap, processed crops like corn and soy, advocating instead for support of regenerative agriculture and access to nutrient-rich foods. She connects metabolic health to broader societal issues, arguing that a healthier population can reduce health care costs and improve productivity.
Her approach aligns with a growing movement of health professionals pushing for prevention over prescription While Means’ message empowers individuals, it also challenges them to take responsibility for their own health in a world that is stacked against them.She acknowledges obstacles — time constraints, economic pressures, and widespread misinformation — but insists that incremental changes like cooking more meals at home or prioritizing sleep are within reach.
Her approach combines pragmatism with optimism, grounded in data yet accessible to laypeople. Her work pushes us to understand how we define health, urging us to rethink food, medicine, and the systems that shape both. As rates of chronic diseases rise, his call for metabolic awareness and systemic change seems not only timely but urgent.