Power Up Your Energy!
First for Women|September 09, 2024
Stanford M.D.: Fat trapped in non-fat cells stalls slimming. Her plan to stoke metabolism, drop weight and treat 'the biggest blind spot in healthcare'
LISA MAXBAUER
Power Up Your Energy!

When we have a problem with our foot, we see a foot doctor... our eye, an eye doctor... "We play very reactive 'Whac-a-Mole' medicine," says Stanford-trained surgeon Casey Means, M.D., who believes this approach has led us (and our waistlines) astray. "The more specialized healthcare becomes, the more chronic illness we're getting." Plus, there's no specialty for metabolism, even though it connects to every aspect of our life and health.

That's why Dr. Means, who graduated with honors from Stanford, is proposing a radical shift: Instead of treating individual body parts, let's focus on improving the health of the most fundamental and universal element of our body: our mitochondria. It's the part of every cell that makes energy so all our cells can function optimally.

Dr. Means calls this state "Good Energy," but you may have heard it referred to as being "metabolically healthy." And we're desperate to get there. Currently, 93.2% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy. Dr. Means says, "The ability to make 'good energy' is the most important and least understood factor in our overall health. Metabolic health is the biggest blind spot in healthcare."

This blind spot is painfully personal to Dr. Means. She witnessed her mother struggle for decades with seemingly unrelated metabolic issues: an inability to lose the baby weight, severe menopausal symptoms, high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar and then pancreatic cancer. "My mom did not know-nor did her doctors help her understand-that the extra fat on her body was a sign of cells that were overwhelmed and under-supported."

Dr. Means reveals, "What's particularly devastating to me is she was working so hard to try to be healthy, but she was putting her arrow in sort of a scattershot way. If she had focused directly on the mitochondria, she would have had so much more improvement."

Esta historia es de la edición September 09, 2024 de First for Women.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición September 09, 2024 de First for Women.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE FIRST FOR WOMENVer todo
JESSICA SEINFELD'S NEW Cookbook
First for Women

JESSICA SEINFELD'S NEW Cookbook

Satisfy your sweet tooth the healthy way with this collection of delicious dessert recipes that are sure to delight

time-read
1 min  |
December 02, 2024
SWEET TREATS
First for Women

SWEET TREATS

Deliciously easy indulgences, guaranteed to please

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 02, 2024
8 BOOKS WE'RE LOVING NOW
First for Women

8 BOOKS WE'RE LOVING NOW

BOOK REVIEW

time-read
4 minutos  |
December 02, 2024
HELP FOR HOLIDAY HEALTH BOTHERS
First for Women

HELP FOR HOLIDAY HEALTH BOTHERS

Outsmart'tis-the-season symptoms with these easy tips

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 02, 2024
PRO TRICKS FOR Holiday Nails That Shine
First for Women

PRO TRICKS FOR Holiday Nails That Shine

3 DIY tips to help your manicure last all season

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 02, 2024
SIMPLE PET SOLUTIONS
First for Women

SIMPLE PET SOLUTIONS

Some aquarium critters like betta fish can benefit from a bit of enrichment to help them thrive.

time-read
1 min  |
December 02, 2024
FA-LA-LA-LA...LOOK AT THESE Holiday Savings!
First for Women

FA-LA-LA-LA...LOOK AT THESE Holiday Savings!

Santa would be the first to say that making holiday memories shouldn't break the bank. We asked pros to reveal simple ways to save on holiday expenses—and they delivered!

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 02, 2024
SIMPLE LIFE SOLUTIONS
First for Women

SIMPLE LIFE SOLUTIONS

162% BOOST IN SUBJECTS' MOOD AFTER TAKING A 12-MINUTE WALK

time-read
1 min  |
December 02, 2024
6 POWER POSES TO BOOST CONFIDENCE
First for Women

6 POWER POSES TO BOOST CONFIDENCE

Top experts share how your body language can help you foster connections, lift your spirits, pinpoint deception-and much more!

time-read
4 minutos  |
December 02, 2024
FAITH, LAUGHTER & Believing In Love
First for Women

FAITH, LAUGHTER & Believing In Love

with country music superstar, actress and icon REBA MCENTIRE

time-read
4 minutos  |
December 02, 2024