Casey Means, MD

Casey Means, MD is a metabolic health expert who utilizes the animal-based lifestyle to optimize mitochondrial function and glucose. By sharing medical insights and nutrient-dense food strategies, she inspires others. Designed for those seeking a scientific route to health.

18drcaseyskitchen844,544 followersLos Angeles, CA

Interests

  • Functional Medicine

Diet

  • Animal-Based
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THOUGHT LEADER DIRECTORY

Casey Means, MD

Dr. Casey Means is an American physician, entrepreneur, and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Good Energy. Originally trained as an ear, nose, and throat surgeon, she resigned from her residency in 2018 to focus on reforming the "sick care" paradigm through a systems-thinking approach to metabolic health. In 2019, she co-founded Levels, a health technology company aimed at reversing the metabolic disease epidemic by empowering individuals to monitor key biomarkers. On May 7, 2025, she was nominated to serve as the Surgeon General of the United States.

Casey’s mission is to address the interconnected physiological root causes of chronic Western diseases by scaling functional medicine principles and nutritional awareness. She advocates for total ingredient transparency and the "MAHA" (Make America Healthy Again) framework, focusing on how metabolic dysfunction serves as the foundation for the most common preventable diseases in the United States. Her work integrates the "Medical Humanities" to promote a more holistic understanding of human health, earning her induction into the Gold Humanism Honors Society at Stanford.

Professional Milestones & Research:

  • Academic Teaching: Served as a faculty lecturer and course director at Stanford University, specializing in food design, technology, and healthspan enhancement.
  • Policy Advocacy: Published influential op-eds in The Hill and MedPage Today calling for national nutrition wars and reforming USDA guidelines.
  • Biomedical Research: Published extensive peer-reviewed studies in journals such as Developmental Cell, Stem Cells, Metabolism, and The Laryngoscope covering topics from angiogenic potential to the impact of glucose patterns.
  • Author: Her book Good Energy became an instant #1 NYT bestseller and has sold over 1 million copies.
  • Award-Winning Researcher – Recipient of the Stanford Undergraduate Research Major Grant (2008), Stanford MedScholars Research Grant (2012), and First Place Award for Excellence in Basic Science from OHSU (2017)

Awards:

  • Excellence in Human Biology Honors Research Award – Stanford University (2009)
  • Young Alumnae Achievement Award – The Madeira School (2020)
  • Gold Humanism Honors Society – Stanford University School of Medicine (2013)

Education: Bachelor of Arts (with honors) at Stanford University ('09) and Doctor of Medicine (MD) at Stanford University School of Medicine ('14).

Related Articles

The "Healthy" Sweetener in Your Gum Is Raising Your Heart Attack Risk by 57%

The "Healthy" Sweetener in Your Gum Is Raising Your Heart Attack Risk by 57%

A major new study found that people with the highest blood levels of xylitol had a 57% higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death compared to those with the lowest levels, raising serious questions about a sweetener long marketed as a safe alternative to sugar.

89% of Snacks and Dressings Labeled "Avocado Oil" Don't Actually Contain Authentic Avocado Oil, UC Davis Study Finds

89% of Snacks and Dressings Labeled "Avocado Oil" Don't Actually Contain Authentic Avocado Oil, UC Davis Study Finds

From the study: "Authenticity of avocado and olive oils used as ingredients in commercially processed foods"

Your "Avocado Oil" Chips Are Almost Certainly Made With Seed Oils. A UC Davis Study Just Proved It.

Your "Avocado Oil" Chips Are Almost Certainly Made With Seed Oils. A UC Davis Study Just Proved It.

UC Davis tested 54 avocado oil-labeled chips, mayonnaises, and dressings. 89% were adulterated with cheaper oils. Every single salad dressing failed. You are paying a premium for a label, not the product.

Is Low-Fat Dairy Actually Healthier? A New Study Says Full-Fat Wins

Is Low-Fat Dairy Actually Healthier? A New Study Says Full-Fat Wins

A 12-week randomized study of 74 adults found that three daily servings of full-fat dairy did not raise cholesterol, body fat, or insulin resistance, and improved blood pressure while delivering more calcium, protein, and vitamin D.

Xanthan Gum Is in Almost Everything "Healthy." A New Study Links Daily Exposure to Colon Inflammation and a Leaky Gut.

Xanthan Gum Is in Almost Everything "Healthy." A New Study Links Daily Exposure to Colon Inflammation and a Leaky Gut.

A 10-week rat study from UNIFESP found that chronic xanthan gum intake caused colon inflammation, disrupted gut bacteria, and damaged the intestinal barrier. The concern isn't one serving, it's the cumulative dose hiding across your whole day.

The "Zero-Calorie" Trade-Off: Two New Studies Link Popular Sweeteners to Brain Aging and Stroke Risk

The "Zero-Calorie" Trade-Off: Two New Studies Link Popular Sweeteners to Brain Aging and Stroke Risk

A study following nearly 13,000 adults found that high sweetener consumption accelerated cognitive decline by the equivalent of 1.6 years of brain aging. A separate study found erythritol specifically damages the brain's protective barrier.

A Bacteria Found in Kimchi Can Bind to Nanoplastics in the Gut and Help the Body Excrete Them

A Bacteria Found in Kimchi Can Bind to Nanoplastics in the Gut and Help the Body Excrete Them

From the study: "Efficient Biosorption of Nanoplastics by Food-Derived Lactic Acid Bacterium"

New Cholesterol Guidelines Expand Statins: But Diet Beats Drugs

New Cholesterol Guidelines Expand Statins: But Diet Beats Drugs

87 million Americans now qualify for statins under new cholesterol guidelines. The doctor who helped write them says a pill isn't the only answer.

Bone Broth Contains Far Less Collagen-Building Amino Acids Than Collagen Supplements

Bone Broth Contains Far Less Collagen-Building Amino Acids Than Collagen Supplements

From the study: "Bone Broth Unlikely to Provide Reliable Concentrations of Collagen Precursors Compared With Supplemental Sources of Collagen Used in Collagen Research"

Eating Two Kiwifruits Daily for 8 Weeks Raises Skin Vitamin C Levels and Boosts Collagen Production

Eating Two Kiwifruits Daily for 8 Weeks Raises Skin Vitamin C Levels and Boosts Collagen Production

From the study: "Improved Human Skin Vitamin C Levels and Skin Function after Dietary Intake of Kiwifruit: A High-Vitamin-C Food"

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