This Heroic +1 podcast episode (Brian Johnson) highlights how children’s metabolic health — specifically mitochondrial function and metabolic dysfunction — affects susceptibility to recurrent infections (throat, ear, viral URIs). Dr. Casey Means is quoted asserting that immune-cell function depends on cellular energy production and that kids with metabolic dysfunction or unhealthy weight have higher infection risk. The episode links this to diet: Brian cites that ultra-processed foods account for ~60% of adult calories and ~67% of children’s calories and argues reducing ultra-processed foods can improve kids’ resilience. Brian offers a personal anecdote (his two children have never required antibiotics) and teases an upcoming tip from Dr. Robert Lustig on boosting mitochondria. The episode closes with a Heroic promotional outro from Michael.
Questions this episode answers
60%
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November 26, 2024
Heroic +1 #1,954
Chapters
Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another heroic plus one. In the last several plus ones we've been spending some time with Dr. Casey Means and Dr. Robert Lustig. In our next plus one, we're going to chat about Dr. Lustig's number one tip to create and boost your mitochondria. Can you guess what it is? For now, I want to invite doctor Means back to the party so she can give the parents in the house some powerful wisdom. Let's get to work in good energy. Casey tells us and I quote her again many friends who are parents have complained of having to take off work to take their kids to the doctor for recurrent throat, ear and viral upper respiratory tract infections. Quick check in. That sound like you. Casey continues by saying few if any understood that the way their kids bodies were producing energy had a significant impact on the propensity for illnesses given that just like the function of any other cell type, immune cell function is regulated by how well they can make and utilize energy. And she tells us kids with metabolic dysfunction are at a significantly higher risk for infections such as strep throat and ear infections than kids without metabolic dysfunction or who are at a healthy weight. End quote. Now I repeat, if your kids are getting sick all the time and you're bringing them in to the doctor to deal with those recurrent throat, ear and viral upper respiratory tract infections, we need to address those issues at the root cause level. We need to get their mitochondria optimized. So wonder what might be driving issues for both the parents and the kids. How about this? A quote her again. Ultra processed foods make up 60% of calories consumed by adults and 67% consumed by children. And they drive bad energy diseases like obesity, high blood pressure, dementia, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. Which begs the question what percent of your and your kids and your team's calories are coming from ultra processed foods? And the more important question what's one thing you can do to optimize that today? Get on that it's time to raise the next generation of energized heroes. P.S. at the risk of being a prig, thinking of a plus one from back in the day as I type that Alexandra and I have never taken Emerson who's 12 or Eleanor who's 7 to the doctor for a sickness and neither one of them is has ever taken a single antibiotic. Now we obviously dominate all the fundies we're always talking about with them eating, moving, sleeping, but I think the number one reason for this is the fact that they eat almost no ultra processed food.
What's up? This is Michael, President and Head Coach at Heroic. One quick note before we go. I just think it's so amazing that Brian keeps reading all these books and distilling them into more wisdom in less time. By the way, thank you Brian for continuing to read the books is still them for us. I love not having to read the book, just getting them more wisdom in less time through the plus ones of Philosopher's Notes. And if you're into this kind of thing, expressing the best version of yourself and using your greatest gifts make a positive impact on the world. Make sure you head to Heroic Us to check out all the other resources that we have available to you. You can download a bunch of free goodies including Philosopher's Notes, masterclasses and our scientifically proven Heroic app, and you can also explore advanced resources to help you go next level, including live and virtual workshops, working one on one with a Heroic Performance coach, or even becoming a certified coach yourself as you master Heroic performance, the fundamentals of Coaching Excellence and Heroic Coaching prosperity. Again, head to Heroic Us to get the ancient wisdom, modern science and practical tools you need to activate your heroic potential and change the world together. And please do hit subscribe Appreciate you have a fantastic day and see you again soon.
