You may not have expected this from a practicing heart surgeon, but medications are major contributors to poor metabolic health.
Of course, there are situations when people need to take medications, but in a lot of cases they’re simply symptom managers. And some of the pills supposed to make you ‘healthier’ are likely making you sicker.
And in a worst case scenario, they can even contribute to worse health outcomes.
Why medications often hurt rather than help
At least 50% of the US population took a prescription medication in the past 30 days. Men start taking prescription drugs around the age of 40, while women start around 15 years old. This means we’re on medications for more than half our lives, and in some cases, even longer.
But although more of us are taking medications, we’re also not getting any healthier. Americans still die younger and suffer from more adverse health conditions than people in similar countries.
We also know that many medications often cause the diseases they’re supposed to prevent:
- Statins may actually induce heart failure, as well as metabolic dysfunctions such as insulin resistance. This, over time, can lead to type 2 diabetes, as it slowly raises insulin levels.
- Injections like Ozempic rarely make weight ‘go away’ permanently, as most people regain two-thirds of it in a year. Plus, studies show Ozempic leads to profound muscle loss in humans, including an alarming amount of heart shrinkage, which could lead to higher cases of heart disease.
- Insulin injections for a type 2 diabetic may ultimately fuel the progression of disease. This is because exogenous insulin will raise peptide levels in your blood, heighten hyperinsulinemia, and worsen insulin resistance.
Of course, we also have to consider the other side effect of medication: providing a ‘quick fix’ rather than lifestyle changes. Your doctor probably read your labs, provided a diagnosis, and prescribed medications to offset your symptoms. But what they probably didn’t do is explain why you developed a metabolic disorder in the first place — or how to reverse it with lifestyle changes.
Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of metabolic disorders can be treated or reversed given time, care, and lifestyle adjustments. And yet, that’s rarely the narrative we hear.
If that sounds like where you’re at right now, I want you to know it’s not your fault. Between terrible advice from the AHA and dubious guidelines from the ADA and food pyramid, you’re just following instructions and trying hard to ‘be healthy.’
But at best, you’re treading water. At worst, you’re getting sicker.
And there’s no pill, drug, or prescription medication that can save your metabolic health.
Making the leap to true metabolic health
I realize this is a sobering message, and maybe a little depressing if you’re currently on medications. The good news is, it’s not the end of the story. You can start improving your metabolic health as soon as today.
This will be simple, but not necessarily easy. It will also require major lifestyle shifts.
First, take my free quiz to get a baseline of where you’re at. Then, start putting these three things into practice:
Change your eating habits
This single action will account for 80% of your progress. Because your metabolic health is intrinsically tied to your food — and if you want to get off unnecessary medications, you’re going to need whole, real food.
Your diet should include things that come from the ground or eat what grows on the ground, like:
- Animal protein
- Animal byproducts (eggs, milk, organs)
- Select vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds
The ultimate goal is to ditch processed foods with unhealthy additives and empty calories. Regardless of your thoughts on oxalates, carbohydrates, and seed oils, you should strive to follow a proper human diet and cook your food at home so you know exactly what’s in it.
Cut added sugar
Once you start eating whole, real food, you’ll naturally eat less sugar. This is important for your metabolic health because too much sugar is a major root cause for chronic disease, autoimmune conditions, and mental health disorders.
You can imagine what happens when you start eating less sugar. Your body has time to combat insulin resistance and high blood sugar, which means you’re less likely to need medications to treat it (or worsen it over time). That’s how type 2 diabetics, those with depression or anxiety, and those suffering from IBS are able to manage or reverse their symptoms.
Note that I’m mostly talking about added sugar here, which is typically associated with processed food. However, natural sweeteners and high-sugar fruit might also be problematic depending on your health.
How much sugar you eat is up to you. Be sure to consider how healthy you are, the medications you’re on, and what goals you have. You could also use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to track how different sweeteners affect your body.
Get a health team on your side
Medications aren’t likely to make your metabolic health better, but you might not want to go cold turkey until you’ve spoken with an expert. Even if you don’t have any withdrawal symptoms, you’ll still have to worry about possible complications.
This is where your healthcare team comes into play. They can look over your blood tests, review your medication history, and create a step-by-step plan to help you slowly wean off medications.
I recommend building a multi-functional team to navigate the complexity and avoid other medical problems. A metabolic health coach is a key piece of this, as well as your primary care physician and a specialist if necessary.
Of course, not all doctors take the same position on medications — and some might stand between you and your goals. It’s a good idea to vet your options and fire your doctor if they don’t meet your expectations.
So what now?
Now that you know the road ahead, your next course of action should be starting your journey. You might be surprised by how quickly you see changes — some people get off medications in as little as 12 weeks.
Your mileage may vary depending on your health. But if you work with a support team, your outcomes may be improved.
If that sounds like something you want for yourself, get in touch with my team today.
