Hey There LifeSync Community!

Imagine being told you have a condition that will change your life forever—a diagnosis that feels like a sentence. But what if that diagnosis isn’t the end of the story? What if it’s not even the whole truth?

Take this example: A man diagnosed with Alzheimer’s was on the brink of being placed in a care facility. His wife, desperate and exhausted, sought help from a functional medicine doctor. What they discovered wasn’t just surprising—it was life-changing. The man didn’t have Alzheimer’s; he had mercury poisoning, a condition mimicking the symptoms but stemming from an entirely different cause.

This story reveals a profound truth about modern medicine. Diagnoses often focus on managing symptoms rather than uncovering root causes. But here’s the critical question: is a diagnosis your destiny, or is it your wake-up call?

In this article, we’ll explore how rethinking the meaning of disease can empower you to take control of your health. Whether it’s heart disease, prediabetes, or any other chronic condition, there’s always more you can do than just accept a prescription. This isn’t about rejecting medicine—it’s about recognizing that health isn’t a pill but a process.

Let’s dive into why every diagnosis is a crossroads—and how to choose the path that leads to true healing.

What is a Disease? Rethinking Diagnosis and Patient Empowerment

What is a disease? When you get diagnosed in Western medicine, what does it really mean? Let me tell you a story that might change your perspective.

A woman was about to commit her husband to a care facility. She couldn't care for him at home anymore. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and it was pretty bad. Unfortunately, there is no cure. She searched for help but couldn't find any. As a last-ditch effort, she took him to see a well-known MD who practices functional medicine.

He told her the bad news. He couldn't do anything for Alzheimer's. But while they were in his office, he happened to notice that the man had silver-colored fillings. He asked about them. They were mercury fillings, but he had them for years. They ran some tests and it turned out he had high levels of mercury. The man didn't have Alzheimer's—he had mercury poisoning.

Were his doctors wrong? No, not completely. He had all the symptoms. What they didn't find was the cause.

When you get a diagnosis in Western medicine, you get a pill to go with it. I am trying not to be too cynical here, but along with a diagnosis comes a treatment protocol. Many people, when they get a diagnosis, they identify with that condition. They tell people "I have xyz." They take pills for it. That's it—but it shouldn't be.

In functional medicine, the list of symptoms does not equal a single point. We look for the cause.

Let's consider a specific scenario. If you go to the doctor and are told you have metabolic syndrome (blood sugar imbalance) or heart disease, the typical response is to give you a pill, or ten. They monitor your progression as you get worse, changing your prescription or the strength of the meds. This is the standard Western medical system.

Here's a different way of looking at things. I've seen this many times with patients diagnosed with heart disease, pre-diabetes, and osteoporosis. The doctor tells you that you are "pre-disease" and should come back when you have the full-blown disease, or they tell you that you have it and put you on meds, monitoring and changing those meds over time.

One critical thing they don't do is work towards correcting the underlying imbalance.

Let's get back to our pre-diabetic heart disease example. The doctor tells the patient they will need surgery and will monitor until that time. They tell the patient to take a pill and continue monitoring. That is a lot like driving your car down the road, hearing your tires hit the rumble strip, and doing nothing but monitor the situation. That's crazy.

A better approach would be to say: "If you keep going the way you are going, your heart or your blood sugar is going to get so bad that you may be hospitalized. Here is what we need to do to change it."

The diagnosis in many cases is the last point where you have control over your health before entering a system of monitoring and prescription management.

I am not saying surgery or prescriptions are not needed. What I am saying is that we should consider the diagnosis as a wake-up call—like rumble strips warning you to change course or you will crash.

There is always more you can do. Some people need medications, and that is okay. Those meds can save your life, but everybody can make changes to improve their health beyond that.

The medications do not restore balance. They take over for you. However, if balance is not restored, the imbalance gets greater over time, and more meds are needed to try to restore that balance.

My analogy has always been that meds are like turning off the fire alarm. Later, the person is surprised that their house burned down. They say it happened "all of a sudden. Everything was fine before…" but it wasn't fine. Only the alarm was turned off; the fire still raged on. Even if you have to take meds, you still need to look for the fire.

Let's take our heart patient again. I am not saying this is the only possibility, but if we accept the diagnosis and just take the meds, things will progress. If we take that diagnosis and make changes, there is a very good chance we can reverse a lot of it.

Blood sugar causes systemic inflammation. That, in turn, causes problems within the vascular system. Cholesterol is used as a repair mechanism, but then that repair becomes the problem. We can handle blood sugar with supplements, dietary changes, and ensuring proper food digestion. We can supplement to support the liver and healthy cholesterol response. We can even use supplements like nattokinase to help break down blockages.

Will it work? Will it work enough? That's hard to say because it depends on the changes made and the body's ability to heal. All tissue in our bodies can heal. Even teeth. You just need to give it support and stop the imbalance that caused the problem in the first place.

I am not suggesting that you ignore your doctor or throw away your prescriptions. I am saying that a diagnosis of a condition is not the end—it's the beginning of needed correction.

What’s going on?

I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for reading my newsletter and sticking with me. I hope you have found it informative and maybe even entertaining at times.

I have not had much time to write lately but I am making some changes so I can get back on track. I also am finally launching my courses. They are a work in progress. Who are the courses for? Men interested in blood sugar balance, or men diagnosed with pre-diabetes and diabetes.

What about women?

It’s not that the information won’t work for women. The information is universal. It is not gender specific. However, I feel that men fall through the cracks in our healthcare system. Women actively seek help when they need it. Men do not. I won’t bore you with the details on why I think that is, but a lot has to do with how the healthcare system is designed. Much like boys in classrooms. It’s just not geared toward men. So while the information is universal, most women may not like the way it is delivered. I am hoping men will.

If anybody wants to check it out, the courses on posted on Skool. It’s a great platform and it not only allows for various classes to be posted, but it also allows for community engagement. If you are interested in checking it out, it’s free, and you can find it here.

Thanks again for reading. I look forward to bringing you more content soon.

Know anybody who may benefit from joining us?

Thank You for Being a Valuable Part of Our Journey

As we reach the end of this edition, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your time and engagement. Our community is the heartbeat of this endeavor, and your involvement is what makes it thrive. If you found value in what you've read today, I encourage you to share it with friends and family who might benefit as well. Your recommendation is more than just a gesture of support; it's a ripple that extends the reach of our community's knowledge and connection. Moreover, sharing on social media helps us grow and welcome more like-minded individuals into our fold. Every share, every conversation you initiate, brings us closer to a collective goal of enlightenment and empowerment. Let's continue to grow together, sharing insights and forging a community that's not just informed but also interconnected. Thank you for being an essential part of this journey, and until next time, stay curious and connected.