Two Conferences, One Week, Two Continents. What did I learn?

Let’s start at the very beginning because it is a very good place to start.

Some thirty two years ago, Dr. Robert Goldman, Dr. Ron Klatz, and their nine physician colleagues, who were each dedicated to optimising their athlete patients' performance through best-practice Preventive Medicine protocols, had a ground breaking realisation. They realised that the integrated health and medical protocols initially designed to enhance sports performance could be applied to everyday patients. This epiphany led to the innovative idea that early detection and prevention of ageing and lifestyle-related diseases could significantly improve health outcomes.

Their vision was to take the principles of Sports Medicine and translate them into everyday patient care. By focusing on prevention and optimising health rather than merely treating symptoms and curing illness, they believed they could achieve better results. This approach laid the foundation for a new paradigm in healthcare, now an unstoppable 'Wellbeing Revolution', one that prioritises wellness over sickness and aims for the early detection and prevention of ageing and lifestyle-related diseases.

In layman’s terms they identified the need to switch from a ‘sickness-oriented’ model of healthcare to a ‘wellness-oriented’ model of healthcare. That they need to look at the three main underlying causes of disease – inflammation, oxidative stress and immune dysfunction, by reframing the notion that cancer, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease and more, are all ‘symptoms’ of an underlying cause.

?Early detection and prevention of ageing and lifestyle-related diseases could significantly improve health outcomes.

Dr Robert Goldman MD Phd, Chairman of the Board of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and Chairman of the World Anti-Aging Academy of Medicine.

And so, they joined hands to launch the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, within the World Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, laying the foundations for a new approach to HCP education focusing on all aspects of healthcare ie whole-body healthcare, to support the early detection and prevention of ageing-related diseases.

The fundamental pillars of health care protocols that could be realigned were diet, lifestyle, exercise, nutrition, hormones and nutraceutical supplementation as well as investigation of endogenous and exogenous toxins, to support improved, better or optimal wellbeing through all lifestages, across cardiovascular, neuro and brain health, musculo-skeletal, mental, gut, hormonal, women’s health, sleep and more.

These visionary pioneers identified and triggered the ‘Wellbeing Revolution’ as we know it today, bringing hope to millions for a longer but healthier life, saving Governments millions in healthcare by reducing the burden of disease on economies, ?and triggering a new Wellbeing Economy, that is worth billions today.

I was deeply fortunate to spend much time learning from many of these leaders, some twenty years ago, over a period of time, attending the A4M Conferences in Las Vegas as a media writer, together with 5000+ medical and healthcare practitioners at each conference, over a period of several years. I was able to bring home these learnings and collaborate with our 6AM clients, setting the foundations early for a specialist healthcare agency focused on evidence-based wellbeing. An agency with real purpose that was able to make an impact, beyond marketing, but for millions of our clients' patients far and wide. For this, I am forever grateful.

?THE WEEK GONE BY

?Whilst contemplating learnings from the week gone by at #GrowthAsiaSummit in Singapore hosted by NutraIngredients and ACNEM Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine , I was reminded how visionary Robert Goldman MD, DO, PhD and his colleagues were and how the very words they shared back 30+ years ago have rung so true. I recall Dr Goldman sharing on stage in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2004, that then we had just experienced the ability to send a message to 1,000,000 people with the push of one button, enabled by the internet, and that we should look into the future and imagine that there absolutely would be a new model of healthcare, firmly on the map – and how true those words are. The pace of change keeps moving....

?WHEN THE BIG BRANDS LEAN IN

When one hears at GrowthAsia the likes of global giants Nestle, Danone, Amway and other leading brands share their belief in Healthspan vs Lifespan and the rapid shift in their business focus to prevention vs cure, one knows that the Wellbeing Movement is touching on democratisation, albeit a long way to go with basic healthcare service. At ACNEM we learned about a balanced approach to lifestyle, nutrition, exercise, supplementation with icebaths, hormesis and mind mapping now deeply on the agenda - gone are the days of masking the cause by only looking at the symptom if we are to be successful in patient care. The teachings were all about understanding the underlying causes.

These two conferences, in one week, across two continents, showed me that the visionary words of Goldman et al have surely come true, ensuring that for those who focus on self-care, reduction in toxins, stress and a focus on an integrative preventive approach to healthcare, the future looks promising, albeit still a long way to go for many populations struggling just to survive day to day.

One thing is for sure, the Wellbeing movement is unstoppable.

?KEY MACRO LEARNINGS

Some of the key takeouts that stood out to me over these past 5 days of learning thanks to the brilliant speakers at both Singapore and Australia:

• ?Healthspan is the New Lifespan: While longevity remains important, the focus has shifted to healthspan—living a healthier life for as long as possible. Futuristic, repair, regenerative, and preventive protocols, from supplements to exercise, hormesis, and mental wellbeing nurturing, are now on the edge of mainstream, and no longer just benefiting the elite. These approaches are being democratized by major brands like Nestlé Health Sciences, Haleon, Danone, and more.
• ?Democratizing of evidence-based Practitioner-Grade Supplementation: Brands such as Melrose Health 's Future Lab are making high-quality, evidence-based health supplements accessible and affordable to everyone, supporting the goal of extending healthspan at the same time as levelling the playing fields, so that all can have access, not just the elite.
• ?·Gut Health Revolution: The understanding of gut health, a movement that started nearly a decade ago, has matured and gone mainstream, infused in every single aspect of nutrition – functional foods, supplements, beverages, and now influencing FMCG industries such as cars, furniture, skincare and more. Beauty from Within is all powerful amongst the younger generations particularly, but now we are also seeing ergonomic seating design that supports Gut Health in motor vehicles, as well as for some home and office furniture brands, making furniture that supports a healthy gut. Of course, these are savvy marketers, who are leveraging this unstoppable trend.
• ?Mitochondrial Health and the power of our cellular system: The new frontier in wellness absolutely will be Mitochondrial Health**, the next 'System' over the 'Gut' system, which affects every single cell in our body. Without mitochondria, and the endogenous fuel to 'power' it - Ubiquinol, ageing is accelerated from as young as 20 years of age. Expect significant education and advancements in this area over the next few years as we grow to understand that it is an all body ‘system’ approach to healthcare that will enable us to deliver on ‘Healthspan’. See Mito-Heart Axis; Mito-Brain Axis; Mito-Skin Axis and more on the horizon.
• Healthtech for All: Integrating health technology into all aspects of wellbeing is crucial. It’s a non-negotiable for the future of wellness empowerment and for younger generations in particular. For brands that don’t embrace tech in one form or another, they will soon become obsolete.
• Addressing Global Disparities: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted stark disparities, with whole countries lagging in essential supplies like PPE. We must focus on levelling the playing fields, empowering healthcare in underprivileged regions, and addressing critical issues – today there are 15 million starving in Ethiopia and that is only one country, out of many with hunger issues. Our nutrition and nutraceuticals industry has a role to play in fostering equity by ensuring the rich give to the poor where it matters most. Similarly, championing GenderEquity to give women a voice, and equal healthcare is absolutely essential. Kudos to Women In Nutraceuticals for all you are doing to rapidly evolve the landscape to level the playing fields by unlocking potential in women across the supply chain in a multitude of ways.
• The Positive Power of The Internet: We can truly use the power of the internet to do what was originally intended – to educate, empower for a better, healthier life; to reach others who are less fortunate than ourselves; to make sustainable choices that care for others and our planet; to halt modern slavery all through the product choices we make.

?HOW CAN WE PLAY A ROLE?

And in their quiet, gentle, humble way, thousands of good folk are championing good health, equality, and connection for those in their universes.?As Dr Ross Walker wisely teaches us, “10% is up to genes, the rest is in our hands.”?It is up to each of us to focus on self-care and then contribute to help others. From our homes, workplace, cities, countries. And across continents.?

I am so grateful for my connections with Dr Goldman, the A4M and other global leaders whom I have had the good fortune of collaborating with through the years - for all the inspiration and learning and for the vision they had to make the change that was needed. It has benefited hundreds of millions already and will only continue to grow.

Thanks to my clients who also showed up in the early 2000s with a vision to do good and evolve healthcare from sickness to wellness. Onwards we march, making gains and changes, impacting one person at a time, with scientific education, around the globe.

For a copy of my books - Good+Well (2017) or Resilience: Body.Mind, Soul (2020), DM me or download the first three chapters for free of each by visiting www.the6amagency.com.au

?Be well.

Gillian

DECLARATION ** Kaneka Ubiquinol is the global supplier of evidence-based Ubiquinol. Kaneka Ubiquinol is a client of The 6AM Agency.

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