How it is

1. An empty hospital bed represents revenue lost by the hospital.
2. Mainstream media and society promote lifestyles and serve foods that don’t support health, and certainly not those with diseases. This sometimes includes elite coaches, athletes, nutritionists and doctors.
3. We aren’t taught by the mainstream how to consume macronutrients in a way that supports our physiology, healthy blood sugar levels, and overall well-being.
4. There are as many toxic ingredients in ultra-processed foods as there are in tobacco.
5. Food intolerances are often mistaken for allergies, leading to treatments that may exacerbate them.   
6. Mainstream approaches wait until allergies trigger diseases before advising individuals to avoid foods that exacerbate their conditions.
7. Symptoms serve as signals from your body, mind, and brain that something is wrong; begging you to identify the cause. Masking symptoms without addressing their root causes can exacerbate issues over time.
8. Symptoms can appear in various forms, including an unhealthy body mass Index (BMI), headaches, sinus congestion, brain fog, fever, skin irritations, irregular heartbeats, stress, anxiety, depression, gut discomfort, stomach issues, fibromyalgia, tinnitus, muscle and joint pains, chronic fatigue, and impatience, among others.
9. Balancing pharmaceutical use with lifestyle, nutrition, and movement can help stabilize symptoms and often reduce the need for medication, as well as the frequency and severity of symptoms.
10. Addressing long-standing symptoms may require time and patience.

Reflection: Questions to ask yourself

1. Who is Dr. Ray Peat?
2. Do I have a healthy microbiome?
3. What is gut dysbiosis?
4. What exactly are endotoxins, and what steps can I take to minimize or eliminate their presence within myself?
5. If stomach acid contributes to a balanced microbiome by eliminating dysbiotic viruses, bacteria, and fungi before they reach our bloodstream and impact cellular health, why would antacids, which significantly reduce stomach acid levels by 60 to 99 percent, be recommended instead of dietary and lifestyle changes?
6. If individuals with autoimmune diseases and various other conditions can effectively collaborate with Functional Medicine practitioners to complement their insurance-covered healthcare providers and often experience alleviation or mitigation of symptoms, why aren’t Functional Medicine doctors and the associated laboratory tests they prescribe typically covered by insurance?
7. Given that ultra-processed foods contain a similar amount of toxins as tobacco, why do we continue to include them in our children’s diets?
8. Are the youth really handling this lifestyle better than adults?
9. Is the issue primarily related to our children’s ability to burn off empty calories, or is it more concerning the harm these foods are causing to their gastrointestinal health and metabolism?
10. Which is ultimately more costly: investing in whole, nutritious foods, or dealing with the medical expenses and hardship that arise when symptoms become overwhelming?
11. Why postpone prioritizing a balanced lifestyle that supports, reduces, and sometimes even eliminates symptoms associated with disease until one is already in a diseased state? 
12. Where can I find guidance on integrating these principles into a practical lifestyle that fosters my overall well-being, happiness, and optimal performance in physical, cognitive, and emotional aspects throughout my lifespan?

Where to start: Strategies

1. Starting early, whether with our youth or later in life on ourselves, it’s never too late to make a change. Embracing a healthy lifestyle from a young age can inspire future generations to follow suit, rather than modeling unhealthy habits. Waiting until symptoms of disease become overwhelming only makes it harder to transition to a healthier lifestyle.
2. Transitioning from ultra-processed foods to whole foods and natural ingredients is a crucial step.
3. Next, progress from conventionally grown whole foods to organic produce, and opt for pasture-raised and wild-caught meats.
4. If you consume a significant amount of ultra-processed foods, consider it as a ratio between whole foods and ultra-processed foods. Gradually adjust this ratio to aim for 80-100% whole foods and 0-20% processed foods, with the goal of eventually eliminating ultra-processed foods entirely over time.
5. Then, acquire knowledge on combining nutrient-dense macronutrients that promote digestion, absorption, and utilization. 
6. Our gastrointestinal tract is akin to a muscle. It may require additional care and support before it can be strengthened to effectively handle the nutritional model I’m describing.
7. Following a health coach, nutritionist, or trainer who recognizes the significance of balancing macronutrients and removing toxic ingredients from one’s lifestyle and diet is beneficial. They can assist in rebuilding gut health which supports health in general. Numerous resources are available online to help in this search.
8. If necessary, seek out a functional medicine doctor, MD, PhD, or integrative medicine doctor online who comprehends and addresses the inquiries I’ve outlined. They can provide valuable insights and guidance on your health journey.
9. If you require further assistance, consider working individually with a health coach, nutritionist, and trainer who grasp this approach. For additional support, collaborate with a functional or integrative medicine doctor, along with a health coach, nutritionist, and trainer.
10. It will require experimentation with the concepts you learn. Pay close attention to how you feel as you experiment with ideas. Adopt the practices that resonate with you and integrate them to cultivate your health with longevity as a priority.
11. Whether you’re currently healthy or dealing with symptoms, the changes I’m discussing might be challenging to implement all at once. In such cases, the expertise of one or more professionals in these fields can be invaluable. They can assist in devising and gradually implementing a plan that fosters these changes without overwhelming you, reducing the risk of adopting unhealthy lifestyle habits that don’t support optimal metabolic health.
12. Keep in mind, that incorporating a rotation of foods especially foods like bread, PUFA’s, oats, alcohol, nuts, seeds, and ultra-processed foods in and out of your diet until they are completely eliminated can allow your gastrointestinal tract to repair itself from any intolerances caused by them, until you no longer crave them.

Disclaimer: Any information communicated is intended strictly for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice nor should it be considered a substitute for consulting with your qualified medical practitioner.