This episode features a conversation between Carter Williams and Ellen Brown, who discuss their perspectives on the current state of food and health, and how a systems approach might lead to better outcomes. Here is a summary of their discussion:
The Problem:
The current "food is health" conversation is often too narrow, with people focusing on isolated problems instead of the interconnectedness of the entire system from "soil to cell" or "dirt to death".
The current food system as one where it's difficult to make healthy choices, requiring apps or guidance.
The current healthcare system is built around treating sickness rather than promoting health, and there's no economic incentive to evaluate why people are dying.
Society has "crashed and burned metabolically and health wise," requiring an in-depth analysis to understand why.
While system A (healthy, nutritious food) is not scalable, system B (cheap, scalable, but not nutritious food) has led to widespread health issues.
The current system is based on a horizontally integrated supply chain, separating farmers, processors, ingredient companies, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies.
System C and a Systems Approach:
The hosts propose developing System C, which is both as nutritious as System A and as affordable as System B.
They emphasize that achieving this requires a systems view and re-engineering the entire food system.
They emphasize the importance of vertical integration, where the processor is integrated with the ingredients company, as opposed to the current horizontal model.
This approach would optimize food for nutrition rather than just yield.
This also requires a shift in thinking from maximizing for addiction to maximizing for health.
It is necessary to look at all the steps in the system when people die from metabolic disease, similar to how airplane crashes are investigated.
Data is needed to understand how to reengineer the system, and the idea of using an AI model trained on food as health data.
Examples of System C:
Fairlife milk as an example of a product that successfully integrates quality and affordability.
Baystate Milling is another example, which developed a high-fiber, high-protein, and high-taste wheat that is affordable and nutritious.
Other Key Concepts:
The concept of "n of one" is important, as what works for one person may not work for another.
A new diagnostic standard is needed to manage health proactively, instead of waiting until people are sick.
GLP-1 medications may not be sustainable in the long-term given their cost, and the potential for food-based alternatives.
There is a need to consider the emotional aspects of food and how that impacts people's decisions.
The most effective way to change behavior is through price.
Call to Action:
By taking a systems view and re-engineering the food system, it's possible to dramatically reduce the burden of metabolic disease.
There is a need for innovations that make it easier for large companies to produce healthy and affordable food.
A fundamental shift is needed in how we think about food and health, moving from a fragmented approach to a holistic, systems-based one.
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