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The MAHA Movement & Your Healthspan: A New Era of Wellness

The United States is facing a chronic disease crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), six in ten adults have a chronic disease, and four in ten have two or more (2024). This isn't just a personal problem; it's a national one. For too long, our healthcare system has operated as a "disease-care" model, waiting for people to get sick before acting.


But a new movement, "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA as you may have heard in the news), is changing that. This isn't a partisan issue either; it's a shared mission to empower everyone to become the healthiest version of themselves (The White House, 2024). It's about shifting our focus from lifespan (how long we live) to healthspan (how long we live well). To do this, we need to understand the roots of our health problems and learn how to advocate for ourselves.



The MAHA Movement & Your Healthspan: A New Era of Wellness
You could be having fun like this too well into old age!

The Foundations of a Long and Healthy Life


Dr. Vonda Wright and Dr. Mark Hyman, two leaders in the fields of active aging and functional medicine (I highly recommend following if this blog post interests you!), show us that we have more control over our health than we think. Dr. Wright notes that we can control up to 70% of our health and aging (Wright, 2024). It's not about being a marathon runner; it's about being strong and mobile enough to enjoy life--think carrying your kids and groceries. Dr. Hyman emphasizes that food is a powerful tool. He's not telling you to stop taking necessary medications for conditions like bipolar disorder or cancer. Instead, he highlights that what we put in our bodies matters immensely (Hyman, 2024). A proper diet can help our bodies function better, and it may even help us pinpoint the root cause of a problem.


For example, imagine a woman named Sarah who has been battling chronic fatigue, and generalized anxiety. Instead of just treating the symptom with caffeine and anxiolytics, her doctor—using a functional medicine approach—might look at her diet and discover she has a hidden food sensitivity that's causing inflammation, decrease in sleep which in turn can cause anxiety. By removing that food, her energy returns, and the underlying problem is addressed, rather than just managed. This is an extremely simplified version but it shows the connection between physical health and mental symptoms--our minds are part of our bodies so we cannot separate them either.


Decoding Health Information and Becoming Your Own Advocate


In a world full of conflicting information, it's hard to know who to trust. This is where critical thinking comes in. When you read a health article, the first thing you should do is check for a references section. If there isn't one, proceed with caution. If there is, go straight to the original study, not the article's interpretation.


A classic example of this is the Women's Health Initiative study on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and breast cancer risk. The initial takeaway was that HRT increases breast cancer risk, leading many doctors to stop prescribing it (The Women's Health Initiative, 2002). However, a deeper look reveals a more nuanced picture. The study grouped all women together, regardless of their individual risk factors. A woman with a family history of breast cancer may have a different risk profile than a woman with no such history. This shows that no two people are the same, and a one-size-fits-all approach to medicine and health information is a mistake. By looking at the information yourself, you can get a more realistic view of what's going on. When people and sources report on new studies they almost always have an angle they are trying to sell you--and that's not always a bad thing, the more important aspect is that you YOU know that when you're reading these articles and studies to know what's best for you.


For example you might read a bunch of articles that intermittent fasting is good for you and healthy; but when you try it you feels worse. f you have POTS and rely heavily on increased fluid, and sodium intake and cut that off; you probably won't feel better. Article generalize, even this one, you cannot take everything at face value because no article could ever include ever specific or nuanced outlier, it's too much.


The Truth About "Biohacking"


The term "biohacking" has become a buzzword, often associated with expensive tech and gadgets. It's easy to get "bamboozled" into buying a product that promises to fix all your problems. While tools like the Oura Ring or Apple Watch can be useful, they aren't "fix-it" solutions. They are just that: tools.


Instead of asking, "What can this technology do for me?" ask, "What does this technology do, and how can I use it properly to support my health goals?" For example, an Oura Ring can tell you your readiness score, but it can't force you to get a good night's sleep. It's up to you to use that information to make better decisions, like going to bed earlier or skipping that late-night snack.


Even at Eos Health Center, we emphasize that our technology has benefits and limitations. We work hard to understand how it works so we can know how it might help each person individually. If your interested in seeing how Light Therapy may benefit you click here!


Conclusion: A United Path to Vitality


Focusing on healthspan—the quality of our years—is a transformative idea. By adopting principles from functional medicine and active aging, we can take control of our health and transform not just our own lives but the health of our communities. It's about eating better, moving more, and learning how to think critically about health information.


The journey to a healthier America begins with each of us. By making small, daily choices, we can build a foundation of vitality. This isn't a political issue; it's a shared human goal to live with greater energy, independence, and well-being!


Disclaimer

This article is a very short, bite-sized piece to introduce a massive topic. People spend their entire careers researching, understanding, and helping people with these concepts, so this is just the beginning of a conversation about how we can take charge of our own health.


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