Welcome to the inaugural issue of Biology Reclaimed.
Let me lay the foundation for what this newsletter is about and, just as importantly, what it is not about.
Biology Reclaimed is...
Always grounded in science and experience.
Based on the understanding that science is never settled.
Rooted in the fact that the longstanding and ever increasing trend in human health is reflected by the rise in the incidence of what has been termed "Neolithic Disease".
Despite the widespread popular belief that this declining trend in human health is rooted in genetics, the evidence is overwhelming that these are environmental and lifestyle based trends.
My intention for Biology Reclaimed is to challenge the existing dogma and paradigm where it is wrong or incomplete, and to offer both scientific evidence and a contrarian view that supports a more empowering approach to health.
A Few Long-Term Trends
- Globally, Non-Communicable Diseases (heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes) now account for ~80% of all premature NCD deaths.
- Among U.S. adults, about 129 million (nearly 60%) have at least one major chronic disease — heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and more.
Unless you are doing something different than the vast majority of people, why would you think you are going to escape this?
We might be living in a time of rising lifespan, but those statistics and numbers can be misleading at best and in many ways deceptive.
Lifespan vs. Healthspan
For much of the 20th and 21st century our gains in lifespan have been driven by reductions in infectious disease, childbirth deaths, infant mortality, and deaths in midlife. This has been the area in which modern medicine has excelled.
But these statistics completely ignore the abject failures of modern healthcare to improve health and wellbeing. Lifespan has increased while healthspan has diminished.
That, and how to reclaim your health, is what this newsletter will explore.
The Diseases of Modern Life
These are the most common and increasing health challenges of our modern society. The incidence of these diseases has risen dramatically over the past century, and many of them were practically non-existent a little more than 100 years ago:
- Obesity
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Many cancers
- Autoimmune and Inflammatory Conditions
It’s clear that core elements of how we live — and not genetics — are driving the rise of these ailments. While medicine might be successful in keeping you alive (lifespan), they are failing miserably in optimizing health (healthspan).
My Own Markers at 68
In the past year my health has and continues to improve in many areas:
- Fitness
- Body composition
- Metabolic health
- Inflammation
- Visceral fat
- Hormonal health
I take no regular prescription medications and do not rely on a boatload of supplements.
Testosterone Without Hormones or Medication
Here is the impact of my improving metabolic health on my testosterone — no hormones, no medications, no herbs targeting testosterone. Just metabolic health:
- October 2022 — Total 377 / Free 50.3
- June 2023 — Total 519 / Free 83.8
- August 2025 — Total 662 / Free 103
- December 2025 — Total 718 / Free 115
Guiding Principles
We have to be willing to look beyond commonly accepted "truths" and assumptions.
The rise of chronic degenerative diseases (cardiovascular, autoimmune, neurodegenerative) is undeniable. Something we are doing or not doing is driving this trend.
Only by delving deeper into hidden truths will we uncover the key drivers of this trend and the most impactful actions we can take to regain agency over our health.
"Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t." — Mark Twain
When it comes to the science of health, these "lies" are rarely intentional. Many of the current healthcare half-truths are based on wonderful intentions. But when it comes to your health…
"Intent doesn’t matter. Impact does."
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
Nowhere is this more apropos than in human health. We have observed alarming negative trends with the ever-growing incidence of Neolithic disease. Yet the therapeutic approach has not changed.
Medications Cannot Give You Health
Other than a few hormonal deficiencies like insulin and thyroid hormone, no medication can improve or restore health. Reducing illness and disease is a move in the right direction, but a reduction in disease is not equivalent to an improvement in health.
They can help you survive an emergency. But they can’t offer you health.
My Experience
I first encountered this model of human health more than 10 years ago. While I found it fascinating, I only minimally adopted this framework. The science supporting it is rooted in disciplines like quantum physics, solid state physics, and non-linear optics. It was dense and overwhelming at the time.
Fast forward 10 years. I was teaching physicians how to implement a ketogenic diet to address obesity and metabolic syndrome. A client convinced me to try TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy). I’ll admit it was transformative — energy soared, focus improved, libido rose, I leaned out and got stronger. But whenever you replace a hormone, the body stops making it endogenously. My testicles shrank to the size of grapes.
My Cancer Diagnosis
Then I had an abnormal PSA. An MRI and biopsy came back for early stage non-aggressive prostate cancer. I eventually decided not to travel the path of repeated MRIs and biopsies. I chose to focus on optimizing my metabolic health.
It was during this time that I once again came across this discipline merging multiple branches of science with what I will call Evolutionary Health. This time I embraced the synchronicity and took a deep dive.
First Principles Thinking
As I share this journey, we are going to embrace first principles thinking. We will break down complex systems and the problems of our current health challenges into the most basic fundamental truths, then use those truths to create innovative solutions.
- Identify and question assumptions
- Break the science down to fundamentals
- Rebuild those fundamentals into actionable practices that have the potential to transform health
In coming issues I will share the cutting-edge science at odds with typical healthcare delivery, the application of evolutionary practices, how I’ve implemented them in my daily life, and the changes I’ve experienced.
Growth is about embracing concepts outside of our current framework. One of my goals is to challenge you to think outside the dominant paradigm. It’s clear it really isn’t delivering on its intent — and what do you have to lose? Perhaps some extra weight, inflammation, fatigue, brain fog, or some Latin-named condition.
More importantly, what might you have to gain since our current paradigm is focused on disease and not health?
Until next issue,
Bill