The Thursday Take – Cancer Doesn’t Start in Your DNA—It Starts in Your Mitochondria

Why Biden’s diagnosis should be a wake-up call for all of us—and how to prevent cancer at the root.

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BREAKING: Former President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with a very aggressive form of prostate cancer.

And, while this news is deeply saddening, it should not be surprising.

Because cancer is no longer rare.

• 1 in 2 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

• 17+ types of cancer are skyrocketing globally—especially among younger adults.

• About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime – with about 60% of cases detected in men over age 65. It is the second-leading cause of cancer death among men, after lung cancer.

• And, most of us still think it’s all just bad luck or “in our genes".

But, that’s a myth.

So, what really causes cancer?

Cancer doesn’t start in your DNA.

It starts in your mitochondria—the tiny engines inside your cells that regulate energy, metabolism, detoxification, and immune defense.

When mitochondria are damaged, your cells switch from clean energy (oxygen) to emergency backup mode—fermenting sugar for fuel. This shift, called the Warburg Effect, is a hallmark of cancer.

What damages your mitochondria?

Your mitochondria can become damaged and compromised by:

• Chronic high blood sugar and insulin resistance

• Refined seed oils, refined sugars, refined grains, and processed and refined foods

• A massive toxic load (from food, water, air, supplements, products, and more)

• Sedentary living

• Chronic stress and poor sleep

When your mitochondria are compromised, your cells can’t function—or defend themselves.

And, that’s when cancer begins.

So, instead of waiting for an advanced diagnosis, we need to get proactive.

Want to prevent cancer?

Focus on the basics:

• Eat an anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense, low-toxin, whole-food diet.

• Support your detox pathways (colon, liver, lymphatic system).

• Reduce your toxic burden (plastics, pesticides, mold, EMFs, heavy metals, and more).

• Prioritize circadian rhythm, sunlight, and sleep.

• Address chronic stress and regulate your nervous system.

• Move daily.

• Sweat often.

Want to test for early cancer markers?

• PSA Test from Function Health: Simple blood test for prostate, included in membership.

• Galleri Test from Function Health: Screens for 50+ different types of cancer using a simple blood draw for $899.

• Ezra Full Body MRI through Function Health: Screens your entire body for abnormalities, without radiation, using the first FDA cleared AI scan for as low as $499.

Use this link and code MSWIDLER10 to skip Function’s waitlist.

Cancer is a modern disease—driven by modern exposures and lifestyles.

It’s time we stop normalizing it and start actually doing something about it.

What root-cause habits do you wish more people talked about when it comes to cancer prevention? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

And, if you have any other questions or comments, don’t hesitate to ask me any time in my weekly Q&A in my paid subscriber channel. If you’re not a paid subscriber, sign up below.

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