I have good news and bad news. The good news is that the longevity movement – the desire and ability to live longer in good health is catching on. Even my 30-year-old grandson, Michael, is into longevity. He understands the importance of a superior, non-traditional diet, exercise, and a mindset that is leading him in the right direction. He is sharp as a tack, business-oriented, and has his mind set on 
developing a business model that will advance the longevity mindset and lifestyle. (This is his photo. Isn’t he handsome? I’m looking for a very special girlfriend for him.)
Here’s the bad news
— Big Medicine sees the writing on the wall and wants a piece of the action. Two articles written by Jeffrey Benabio, MD. expose the desire (necessity?) of Big Medicine to jump onto the longevity bandwagon. In one article, “How Old Are You? Pay $799 Here to Answer,” the doctor sneers at a professional athlete who plans to live to 120, noting that the odds of even living to 100 remain slim. Really? Statistics show that humans are living longer overall, and the number of centenarians is rising rapidly. Dr. Benabio agrees that strategies for living longer are well known – diet, exercise, and limiting alcohol are the key- and adds that “Most other protocols are unproven.” He doesn’t explain and probably does not know what” those other protocols” are.
Not surprisingly, he admits, “…we should acknowledge the importance of the longevity movement. Prevention is indeed better than cure.” However, he suggests that many longevity protocols are expensive to follow. He says, “Should we allow longevity to become another domain where privilege determines outcomes? Or could we build a system where the benefits of an extended healthy life are available to all?”
The longevity movement is not about privilege. It’s available to anyone. It’s about common sense, making intelligent choices, and avoiding activities that require the assistance of Big Medicine. Yes, Big Medicine has a lot to worry about as more people figure out that the manufactured high-calorie, nutritionally crappy “food” most of us and Big Medicine approve, and eat over a lifetime, results in health breakdown even before retirement age.
Realistically, Big Medicine cannot muscle into the longevity movement. They exist in two different worlds. If you have a medical problem, a traditional doctor (or physician assistant) will listen to a recitation of your aches and pains. Then, based on his knowledge and training, he will likely give some advice that goes in one ear and out the other, and write a prescription for Big Pharma medicine.
If a natural medical doctor (Naturopath) is consulted for whatever is bothering the patient, before any diagnosis is made, before any recitation of aches and pains is given, the doctor will order a comprehensive blood test. Based on test results, the doctor will have a good idea of what’s really going on in the body. I get a comprehensive blood test twice a year, and its pages of results are extremely revealing. I know what’s happening in my body, and I know what I have to do if something isn’t right. Everything is revealed – my hormones, cholesterol, blood sugar, — nothing escapes notice. My ordinary insurance pays for the tests. Yours probably would pay as well.
Sadly, if you asked a traditional doctor to order such an extensive blood test, chances are he would not know which tests to order or how to interpret test results.
Why Big Medicine Will Fail To Take Over The Longevity Movement
Big medicine talks about “cures,” but is primarily oriented toward symptom relief. Naturopathy, the heart of longevity, emphasizes the role of diet in resolving health problems. Diet is generally the last thing a traditional medical doctor considers when treating a health problem. A good diet is probably the last thing he knows about.
A 2018 assessment found that 75% of U.S. medical schools had no required clinical nutrition courses, even when basic nutrition science was included. A standalone required nutrition course is substantially rarer.
Big Medicine is wealthy. If it decides to grab a share of the longevity movement, for sure, it will try, and the government (our taxes) will likely help finance it. On the other hand, natural medicine focused on diet to address health issues will continue to flourish, driven by individuals who have done their homework and are willing to spend their dollars on help that really helps.
Big Medicine may try to repackage, regulate, or monetize the longevity movement. But longevity doesn’t begin in a doctor’s office or a hospital. It begins in the kitchen. In the gym. In daily habits repeated over decades.
You cannot outsource self-control. You cannot make Big Pharma meds your way to vitality. And you cannot medicate away 40 years of malnutrition and neglect. Longevity belongs to the prepared. It’s never too late. Go for it now! You don’t know where to start? Throw out your box of Fruit Loops or other worthless junk, and you’ve taken a giant first step. Your body will thank you.
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