Good Energy

At the heart of Good Energy lies a simple but profound assertion: metabolic dysfunction—poor cellular energy production—is the unifying cause behind most chronic illnesses. Whether it’s type 2 diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, depression, or even autoimmune conditions, Dr. Means contends that these seemingly unrelated conditions are symptoms of the same underlying issue: damaged, energy-starved cells.

The book begins with the personal story of Dr. Means’ mother, who experienced a cascade of “normal” age-related diagnoses—hypertension, high cholesterol, prediabetes—until she suddenly died from pancreatic cancer. Her medical trajectory followed the standard path: symptom, prescription, repeat. No one asked why her cells were breaking down. This experience catalyzed Dr. Means’ departure from conventional surgery and led to her mission: to address the root causes of illness rather than manage downstream symptoms.

Means explains that healthy mitochondria—our cells’ energy factories—are crucial for everything from immunity to cognition. When mitochondria are damaged by poor nutrition, stress, toxins, or sedentary lifestyles, energy production plummets. The result? Cells malfunction. And when cells malfunction, disease emerges.

This framework—what she calls the “Energy-Centric Health Model”—challenges the traditional siloed view of medicine. Instead of separate experts for cardiology, endocrinology, psychiatry, and oncology, she argues for a unified model that sees cellular energy as the foundation of all health. The book urges readers to ask a different question than “What drug should I take?”—instead, ask “Why are my cells struggling to function?”

The implications are massive. This model not only demystifies the rise of chronic illness, but also gives people a tangible path toward healing. Dr. Means’s argument flips the dominant health narrative on its head: It’s not just about preventing disease, but optimizing energy so we can live our most vibrant, purposeful lives.

“Bad energy is the soil in which all modern diseases grow.”

A core critique in Good Energy is that the healthcare system has become an industry of downstream symptom management rather than upstream prevention. Dr. Means pulls back the curtain on a medical-industrial complex driven more by profit than healing.

She outlines how medical training primes doctors to specialize in specific organs or symptoms—heart disease, skin rashes, mood disorders—while rarely teaching about metabolism, mitochondria, or nutrition. Even worse, physicians are financially incentivized to prescribe pills and perform procedures, not to teach lifestyle transformation or address root causes.

“There are financial incentives for sickness, and few for sustained health.”

This reductionist model fragments care and ignores the interconnectedness of the human body. For example, high blood pressure and insulin resistance are often treated separately, despite their common root in metabolic dysfunction. Patients may leave a doctor’s office with prescriptions for statins, ACE inhibitors, and SSRIs—each for different symptoms, none addressing the cause.

Means also exposes how corporate food, pharmaceutical, and insurance industries perpetuate this dysfunction. Junk food companies profit from ultra-processed, mitochondria-damaging products. Pharmaceutical companies then profit from treating the diseases this food causes. And insurers profit from a high-cost, chronic care system. It’s a vicious loop.

But Dr. Means insists this is not a conspiracy—it’s a consequence of misaligned incentives and a deeply entrenched system. Her call to action is for patients to become empowered participants, not passive recipients of care.

Importantly, Good Energy isn’t anti-doctor or anti-medicine—it’s a rallying cry for re-centering healthcare around prevention, education, and energy optimization. By seeing the body as an energy system instead of a collection of parts, we unlock new possibilities for healing, resilience, and vitality.

In a world of chronic stress and fatigue, it’s easy to believe that low energy is just part of modern life. But Dr. Means argues that our natural state is vitality. If we support our biology—especially our mitochondria—we can unlock boundless, sustainable energy.

What derails us is modern life: processed food, artificial light, disrupted sleep, chronic stress, environmental toxins, and too little movement. These factors overload our cells and impair mitochondrial function, reducing energy output. The result? Brain fog, weight gain, mood disorders, inflammation, and accelerated aging.

The book reclaims a powerful truth: our bodies are not broken—they’re confused. And they’re incredibly responsive to change. By aligning with the biological inputs we evolved for—nutrient-dense food, natural light-dark cycles, movement, and emotional safety—we can regain metabolic flexibility and vibrant energy.

Means emphasizes that “energy” isn’t just about physical stamina; it’s the foundation of every system in the body. When cells produce energy efficiently, immunity improves, mood stabilizes, cognition sharpens, and hormones balance. Conversely, low energy manifests as disease.

The good news? Our bodies are remarkably resilient. Even small shifts in daily habits—like walking after meals, reducing sugar, prioritizing sleep, or eating whole foods—can have outsized effects on mitochondrial function.

Ultimately, Means reframes energy as more than a health metric—it’s a spiritual and emotional resource. Good Energy isn’t just about feeling good; it’s about fully engaging with life.