Good Energy

Means discusses Emily, a pregnant woman who received negative test results on her gestational diabetes test; however, when Emily started using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), she discovered she had high glucose levels. Gestational diabetes—of which twenty percent of cases go undiagnosed—can cause insulin resistance and metabolic issues for a fetus.

Means argues people, in general, know relatively little about how human bodies work. Even doctors, she states, “don’t understand” lab results. However, modern technology is making human biology and health more accessible by providing real-time health metrics. Means also discusses how many symptoms, like pain, bloating, or acne, provide information about our bodies; they should be seen as warning signs rather than interpreted as a normal part of life: “None of this is normal. You can and should feel incredible—mentally and physically—most of the time” (78). She directs people to visit her website to take a “symptom questionnaire.”

Next, means instructs readers on how to read standard and specialized blood tests and other metrics related to metabolic health. She covers the ideal levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, fasting glucose, blood pressure, waist circumference, triglyceride-to-HDL, fasting insulin, high-sensitivity CRP, hemoglobin A1c, uric acid, liver enzyme, and vitamin D tests. Means also explains the relevance of each test.