Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health

I don't know about you, but I'm headed towards 60 and I am finding out there is a ton to learn so I don't feel my age. Right now I have high energy because according to this book I'm doing a lot of things right. I tend to keep fairly active and eat pretty healthy except for a few treats and I try to implement the healthy lifestyle choices in this book whenever I can.

The section on the importance of sleep could be lifesaving for a lot of people who struggle with insomnia. I know one person in my life who nearly died because of lack of sleep and so I think he needs to read this book! I was sleeping for 12 hours but now I'm sleeping for around 8. That is healthier!

While reading you may ask yourself: "Does one person really know the root cause of our obesity epidemic?" Casey Means believes your health is under your control and this is a very empowering message.

Some of the questions this book answers include:

What is metabolic dysfunction?

Why is there so much chronic disease?

What is the real cause of depression?

Why do we need to treat disease at the cellular level?

What is the difference between good and bad energy?

How can you get more good energy?

What I found in this book was a fascinating cellular biology lesson. This helped me understand the mechanisms of insulin resistance and more...

What I admire about Casey Means is how inquisitive she is and how she is solution focused in curing the underlying condition of most diseases she discusses. Basically she teaches more sunlight, less sugar and more vegetables. I see nothing wrong with that!

As I read this book I realized it will probably be the most important book I read this year! The Pros are that it is well organized, super informative and easy to understand. The Cons are that a lot of people can't afford to go the totally organic way but I suggest starting small and expanding into organic as you can. Often I've found organic food makes up for the cost by giving you superior taste. Like organic bananas and organic green beans really are so much more flavorful. As this book implies as the old adage goes: "You get what you pay for. AND...You either pay now or you pay later." Is your health not worth the cost? Too many people find out too late that illness is very expensive and time consuming!!

While reading this book I realized I'm eating most of the food that are recommended for getting your key nutrients. I'm also doing well with foods with the highest polyphenol count. My count on what I'm eating as far as antioxidant sources go is 23! And I'm on a budget! So a lot of common foods are discussed.

The section on the benefits of sunlight made me think I should eat breakfast outside in the morning! That has inspired me to look for an outdoor table. The section on cold and heat exposure makes me think I'm doing the right thing keeping the heat low during this winter and I feel more energetic because of it. Just wait until you hear how you can increase dopamine!

Casey Means lives what she believes and gives lot of tips that prove she's a genius and that is not an exaggeration. Her understanding of mitochondria has helped me understand why I have more energy now than I did a year ago!

How to Use this Book!

1. Read it from cover to cover with a highlighter in hand!

2. Read all the highlighted portions again.

3. Write down the foods you want to eat more of to get healthy. Write down the lifestyle changes you want to implement.

4. Go shopping!

5. Prepare healthier meals!

That is about it! I personally put turmeric capsules in my shopping cart and looked at cookbooks that were recommended.

I can see how this book will help me improve my life right away and in the future too. Sometimes you just need a little motivation and encouragement to do the right things, eat the right foods and leave the house to be in the sun for a few minutes! I feel inspired after reading this book and I think you will be too! I knew nothing about the author before reading this book. I know nothing additional about her except what I've read in this book. I think her book speaks for itself and is all you need to make some great New Year's resolutions!

~The Rebecca Review

P.S. On page 257 and 258 there is a description of the author's personal experience with mushrooms. I know nothing about such things so I think read with caution and if you want to feel unconditional love you can will it or get the experience from God, no substances are needed. A decision to love unconditionally and falling in love with God was all I have needed for consciousness expansion. ;)

As someone who has spent years studying health, nutrition, and longevity, I can confidently say that Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means is the most profound and transformative books on health I have ever read. This book is not just another wellness guide, it’s a paradigm shift in how we understand the root causes of disease, the power of metabolic health, and what it truly means to thrive. Even more so, her insight into regenerative agriculture, spirituality and environmentalism is profound.

Dr. Means masterfully weaves together cutting-edge science, ancestral wisdom, and practical strategies to help readers reclaim their health at the cellular level. Her insights on mitochondrial function, inflammation, and how our modern lifestyle is hijacking our well-being are eye-opening. Unlike many health books that focus on quick fixes, Good Energy provides a holistic framework for sustainable vitality, one that is empowering, deeply researched, and actionable.

What sets this book apart is Dr. Means' ability to break down complex concepts in a way that is both accessible and inspiring. She doesn't just tell you what to do, she explains why it matters, making it impossible to ignore the profound impact our daily choices have on our long-term health. Whether you're a seasoned health enthusiast or just starting your wellness journey, this book will change the way you think about food, movement, stress, and sleep.

I’ve read countless books on health, but Good Energy stands out as the best. It’s not just a book, it’s a blueprint for a life filled with energy, clarity, and true well-being. If you care about your health, this is a must-read.

On the recommendation from a very healthy friend, I bought this book. I read it once, then a second time with highlighter and penned notes. Since then, I've purchased 4 more copies to send to friends and family. This book makes it all make sense. I now understand so much more about human metabolism, how to build health and maintain it. My highest recommendation for not just a good read, but a valuable resource book to keep on your shelf.

I was drawn to this book after hearing the author on a podcast. I enjoyed the book, liked the content, and overwhelmingly agreed with the author's main premise/argument that our overall health is an interconnected and interrelated web of biological processes largely driven by metabolic health. The reason for the four stars is that I feel her recommendations were too strictly presented as an all-or-nothing proposition that most people will be unable to adhere to in the real world. For example "no bread ever" (her recommendation) is different from "reduce/limit bread". Same with rice and pasta, as two additional examples. Most people will be able to do the latter (reduce/limit) while not many will be able to follow the former (none, ever). And I don't feel that she did a great job of encouraging readers to at least do the best they can, even if they can't do everything. The end result is that this risks readers assuming that, in order to realize ANY benefits, they need to do EVERYTHING exactly as she suggests, realize they can't commit to that, and throw up their hands and say "what's the use?" and continue in their bad habits. I understand what she is saying, and in an ideal world it may be best to do everything to the full extent of her recommendations. But we don't live in the ideal world. We travel and have to eat out. We make dinner not just for ourselves, but for our families as well. Even if I'm good with eating my healthy bean and avocado burrito in a seaweed wrap (her recommendation), my kids just aren't going to be cool with that. I don't see a huge issue wrapping an otherwise very healthy meal in a thin, flour tortilla (which is more of a serving helper than a main staple of the meal).

I think there are many benefits to be achieved by anyone moving in the direction of her recommendations, even if not fully committing to doing them full bore. The author failed to drive that point home, and the fact is the majority of readers are not going to be able to commit fully. I wish she presented a softer stance here.

I also have some skepticism around some of the foods to avoid. The idea is that the Standard American Diet (SAD) is unhealthy and driving our bad energy. But then take bread, rice and pasta as examples. She says to avoid these at all costs, throw them in the trash. But our ancestors had been eating bread for millennia, and didn’t suffer the metabolic issues we do now. In addition, there are cultures that eat a lot of rice (Asia) and pasta (Italy) and don’t seem to suffer the metabolic issues to the extent that we do. So is cutting those foods COMPLETELY out of our diet really necessary? Same for seed oils – many cultures regularly use seed oils in their cooking and yet show much higher personal health than Americans. So while it may be good to limit these foods, is absolute abstention really necessary, based on experience from other cultures?

For my part, I’ve been trying to adhere to the book as best I can, without going full on. For example, I love to cook worldly cuisine and many of the sauces and marinades and such that I use have sugar and seed oils. In my searching, you simply cannot get these products without that (for example, chile crunch and gochujang). So I just don’t make those otherwise very healthy meals anymore? Nonsense. Here’s what I do: If I can get something without added sugar and seed oils, I do it. If I can’t I’m ok with that. If a recipe calls for seed or vegetable oil, I will sub healthier avocado or olive oil. I may substitute a small amount of honey or maple syrup for granulated sugar. And I’ll shoot for brown rice over white rice when I can. These types of actions, I believe, are worthy compromises that still move me in the direction of better metabolic health. Am I perfectly optimizing my metabolic health? Absolutely not. But am I improving my situation and increasing my odds of avoiding disease? Absolutely. And I’m good with that compromise.

In the end, I just could not envision enjoying my life nearly as much if I adhered to everything she suggests, in the exact way she suggests it. Doing so would necessitate an inordinate amount of time trying to find products that fit her criteria, which is not just relegated to food (think fragrance free soaps/shampoo, cleaning supplies, etc.). A strict adherence to the recommendations in the book is not something I can or will sign up for. But I will move in that direction. To those that can, more power to you. But, I believe, most of us are going to fall into the camp of trying our best without perfectly adhering to everything exactly as suggested. And that’s still a good thing. I just wish the author had driven that point harder.

This is well written and a very good guide of what it takes to heal your body via lifestyle.

Highly recommended!

This book opened my eyes and inspired me to make major changes in my lifestyle and diet. It is written well and the science speaks for itself, you almost cannot walk away from this book unchanged.

Dr. Casey Means is a super-nova of good energy! This book is a tour-de-force that takes a first principles approach to create thriving metabolic health conditions through spiritual grounding, healthy food and lifestyles choices, and a clear articulation of the misaligned incentive structures in our sick-care system. Dr Means inspirational story (Stanford trained ENT surgeon; Levels co-founder funded by Andreeson Horowitz; Good Energy author) provides a blueprint for foundational change and personal empowerment with our bodies, our light, and our systems (including food, medicine, pharma, and chronic care). This book is a MUST read. It will change your life, and change the world!

I have experienced profound personal changes as a result of adhering to the Good Energy protocols - painful osteoarthritis in my knee has been nearly eliminated; my gut functioning has improved immeasurably; and my skin is clear and thriving. I was on a path of knee replacement surgery prior to reading this book and making changes to my food decisions, and now with lower inflammation through healthy choices I am able to go on backpacking trips and have delayed or eliminated the need for knee replacement. It was also astonishing to learn that while I thought I was eating healthy, I was making choices that I thought were insignificant that in fact were changing the entire process of converting food into energy in an unhealthy way. By applying Good Energy principles, this changed, and I am shining even more fully into my own light and health and thriving now as a result.

This is a great book! I have been competing in Triathlons since 1983 and I have read many books to aid my training regimen. This is one of the best I have ever read if you really want to understand the science behind your metabolism and what you can do about it. Don't believe the haters as most are politically motivated. Ms. Means exposes the flaws in our healthcare system, the medical care she was trained on and you receive, big pharma, pesticides, etc. And all of them have attacked her for it. Read the book and decide for yourself. It's worth your time and your health!