Reflecting on Good Energy
It’s hard for me to contain the enthusiasm I have for this book.
Assuredly, my husband was politely rolling his eyes with each subsequent, “oh my gosh, listen to this one…” as I rattled off yet another statistic or scientific study backing up the basic theme of the book as I see it:
We’ve slowly migrated away from the healthy habits that sustained humanity for tens of thousands of years.
In the blink of an historical eye, we’ve lost touch with the basic needs of being human—so much so that chemicals like sodium sterol lactylate are considered food, and sitting for hours at a time staring at a screen is normal.
Replenishing What Modernity Took Away
We’ve lost touch with the basics:
- Whole foods that come from the earth
- Fresh air
- Natural light during the day and darkness at night
- Regular movement
Dr. Means argues that nearly every health problem we face can be explained by how well the cells in our body create and use energy (ATP).
The key is metabolic health, and at the cellular level, that means the health of our mitochondria—the tiny powerhouses inside each cell responsible for producing the energy (ATP) that powers everything our bodies do.
I especially love the phrase (and chapter):“Replenishing What Modernity Took Away”
An Ancient Truth, Still Relevant
To quote Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine:
“If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.”
Our modern health challenges—from stress to poor sleep to obesity—are largely driven by excess:
- Too much of the wrong food
- Too much time indoors
- Too much stimulation
- Too much attention to fear-based information
All of this interferes with rest and sleep, impairs mitochondrial function, and leaves our cells underpowered.
Highlights from Our Book Club Conversation
Our live discussion brought the ideas in Good Energy into everyday life — what people are experimenting with, questioning, and integrating right now.
Here’s what stood out:
• Wearables as insight tools
We talked about devices like the Oura Ring, Fitbit, and continuous glucose monitors — not as tools for perfection, but as ways to observe patterns around sleep, stress, movement, and blood sugar.
• Food quality over rigid rules
A major takeaway was Dr. Means’ emphasis on eating 30+ different plant foods per week to support metabolic and gut health — diversity over restriction.
• No single perfect diet
There was strong agreement that nutrition isn’t one-size-fits-all. A whole-foods–based approach, adapted to your body, lifestyle, and season of life, matters far more than following a strict plan.
• Labs as useful information
We discussed the value of blood panels for understanding metabolic health — and how to ask your doctor for testing that supports prevention and long-term vitality.
• Access to nourishing food
Farmers’ markets came up as excellent sources of fresh, lower-toxin food — and many offer assistance programs that help make nutrient-dense options more accessible.
What resonated most was how practical the conversation felt — focused on small, informed changes that can build momentum over time.
This is one of those rare books that doesn’t just give you information—it gives you actionable steps.
It invites you to reconnect with what it actually means to be human, and to restore the rhythms and inputs our bodies are asking for.
Dr. Krista