475. Prediabetes, Metabolic Health, and Insulin Resistance with Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Casey Means, and Dr. Robert Lustig

Food Subsidies

The current food subsidy system significantly impacts our health by making unhealthy food cheaper and more accessible. Robert Lustig explains that subsidies for corn, wheat, soy, and sugar distort the market, making real food more expensive and less accessible 1. He argues that eliminating these subsidies would not increase the overall cost of food but would raise the prices of unhealthy items like corn and sugar, which is beneficial for public health. Jeff Krasno dreams of a future where doctors can prescribe real food, covered by insurance, to promote better health outcomes 1.

   

Cultural Shifts

Achieving better health requires a cultural shift similar to past public health successes. Robert Lustig highlights four major cultural changes in the past 30 years: bicycle helmets, smoking bans, drunk driving laws, and condom use in bathrooms 2. He believes that teaching the next generation is key to effectuating such shifts, as they grow up and vote for change 3.

   

Education and Advocacy

Education and advocacy play crucial roles in driving policy changes for better metabolic health. Robert Lustig notes that children are now demanding healthier options because they are more informed 4. He emphasizes the importance of educating the public to cultivate change, likening it to plowing the ground, planting seeds, and watering them 5. Knowledge empowers people to demand and support necessary policy changes 6.