The Pyramid of Health: A Simple, Scientifically Proven Approach to Healthcare

Everything in my healthcare and business universe is based on the Pyramid of Health.

Every patient interaction, every treatment, every speaking engagement, every blog, every video, every social media post, every page on our website, every service we provide at Natural Healthcare Center – the Pyramid of Health forms the foundation for every single thing I say and do.

For example, if you go to the home page of the Natural Healthcare Center website, you’ll see “Feel Better, Function Better, Live Longer” at the very top in bold letters.

That’s not a slogan. It’s the desired outcome at the top of the Pyramid of Health. However, we start with a strong foundation, educating patients layer by layer to help them reach their health goals. 

Every line of our philosophy and core values, from health care vs. sick care and functional medicine to “health literacy is the key to longevity,” drives me every day in clinical practice. This is how I live my life.

Before I created the visual representation of the Pyramid of Health about 15 years ago – even before I opened the doors of Natural Healthcare Center in 2003 – this science-based approach to healthcare fueled my mission.

The Pyramid of Health is designed to provide you with a better understanding of what affects your health. You can then apply this knowledge to make better lifestyle choices that help you restore and maintain an optimal state of health and, ideally, prevent disease in the first place.

The Pyramid of Health is prominently displayed at Natural Healthcare Center as a constant reminder of our approach to health. This is how I treat patients. This is how I think and teach. 

In fact, patients discuss different parts of the Pyramid of Health without even realizing it. 

When they ask about whether they should pack their kids’ lunch in glass or plastic, that’s environmental xenobiotics. When we talk about chronic headaches after stressful days at work, that could be a combination of several components that involve stress. When they talk about not having enough energy, that’s a foundational component.

As healthcare consumers, we get bombarded with information every minute of every day. Some information is scientifically accurate and helpful. Most of what we see and hear is not.

When you find yourself getting overwhelmed or confused, look at the Pyramid of Health. I could speak for an entire day about each component from each layer, but this model provides a simple structure and guide that makes health more understandable.

The Pyramid of Health has never been more important, especially now that chronic illness is finally part of the national conversation. The science supporting this model hasn’t changed. The mountains of evidence supporting this model and approach to healthcare have actually grown.

Moving forward, you can expect every new blog to have a direct, obvious connection to the Pyramid of Health. It’s time for all of us as individuals, parents, families, professionals, and business leaders to focus on the basic science of what it means to be truly healthy, and what it takes to get there. 

The answers you need are spelled out in the Pyramid of Health.