One must be able to move. No one wants to be the frail grandparent that no one can trust with a baby. That is why we are so big on maintaining our strength and stability. We want to hold our own in this world and we don’t want to get injured. Dedicated activity towards maintaining strength and stability are critical.
The term Blue Zones has been used to describe places where people live long and healthy lives. What exactly does it take to live a long and healthy life? What is the science and the secret behind longevity and life extension? In this series, we are talking to medical experts, wellness experts, and longevity experts to share “5 Things You Need To Live A Long, Healthy, & Happy Life”. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Jesse Greer.
Dr. Jesse Greer is a former Green Beret and Special Forces medic whose career has taken him from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to the front lines as a Battalion Surgeon in Afghanistan. Focused on Medicine 3.0, Dr. Jesse is now focused on treating patients before they get sick — specializing in prevention rather than the cure — and just celebrated the grand opening of his healthspan clinic in Old Town Scottsdale. His new clinic allows patients to see into their future, discover potential risks and learn how to get ahead of the problems they may cause through his high-touch program. He helps patients take back control of their health by using cutting-edge technology that delivers personalized results and insights supported by bespoke medical guidance. Overall, he is discarding the one-size-fits-all approach in favor of better health using next-generation medicine.
Thank you so much for joining us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’?
I was born and raised in Arizona where I eventually headed off to the military’s medical school in Bethesda, MD. After my residency at Walter Reed hospital, I was a flight surgeon for a small eight-man trauma team working under the Special Operations command. Our medical unit was often attached to 12-man Special Forces teams for up-close medical support in combat. Afterwards, I was fortunate enough to pass Special Forces Assessment & Selection, attend the Special Forces Qualification course and eventually became a green beret (18A). I then served as a battalion surgeon at 7th Special forces group for four years. It was at that time that I developed and began practicing the model of medicine I use today with my civilian clients.
Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?
When I left my job as a Battalion Surgeon, I took a job as a hospitalist at a large corporate hospital in downtown Phoenix. This was my first real look into healthcare for the masses of the American population. We had many “regular” patients who were constantly in and out of the hospital due to chronic conditions. I immediately became discouraged because I was quite convinced that I was not making any real difference; the patients lacked interest in getting better and the system wasn’t designed to facilitate their progress. I felt as though my job in medicine was nothing more than rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. It was then that I realized that the system began failing these regular patients, in addition to everyone else, decades before they developed their chronic issues. It became clear to me that real preventative care is done in the 50 to 60 years before we start getting sick. I realized I had to share the knowledge and insight I had gained in my small military unit with the world.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Bryan Fisk. While I was in my residency, I was having second thoughts about my decision to go into medicine. Dr. Fisk had just returned to our hospital after spending several years as a doctor attached to the Special Forces. He was also volunteering as a tactical medic for local FBI & police teams in the Washington D.C. area. He convinced me to come and help on a few (very) exciting high-risk warrants and apprehensions. I was hooked. I will always be grateful to him for that.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
I can’t recall witnessing a truly exceptional leader openly labeling themselves as such. That said, I believe humility is essential. Humble individuals are open to new ideas and perspectives. They are willing to listen and learn from others.
Genuine interest in what you are doing is the second. Without genuine interest in a subject, it is impossible to develop the authentic curiosity and energy to master it. There are many things I am not genuinely interested in; most, in fact. That is why I stick to the few things that interest me in this way.
Last, you must be interested in seeking the truth. You must be so interested in truth that you are willing to identify the egoic threads in your mind that may be influencing your decisions. This one is the hardest for most.
Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of our interview about health and longevity. To begin, can you share with our readers a bit about why you are an authority in the fields of health, wellness, and longevity? In your opinion, what is your unique contribution to the world of wellness?
I wouldn’t say I am an authority. In fact, I would actually discourage any of my potential patients from that type of thinking. When we haphazardly recognize one another as an “authority,” we have a natural tendency to abdicate our own critical thinking. We shouldn’t do this. I have been deeply entwined in this field for years and I think there is a lot of cool stuff that the average American would find useful in managing their health. I love showing that to people. But I want them to look at all the evidence and discussion and decide on their own. I like the science and technical stuff involved in this type of medicine, but I really love the philosophy of it all. I would say that is my unique contribution: marrying the wisdom from millenia of humanity with cutting edge technology.
Seekers throughout history have traveled great distances and embarked on mythical quests in search of the “elixir of life,” a mythical potion said to cure all diseases and give eternal youth. Has your search for health, vitality, and longevity taken you on any interesting paths or journeys? We’d love to hear the story.
Experience in the military is capable of producing very vivid reminders about the ephemeral nature of one’s mortality. And to be sure, this is almost, without exception, quite jarring. How much this affects someone varies from person to person, but it affects all who see it. I’d say a common side effect from this type of experience is a type of mindshift scramble. The world doesn’t make sense anymore when you try to look at it through the old lens you once did. This often serves as a strong source of issues in those who return home for war. I also know that most who experience this choose not to inquire deeper and within. They withdraw. But as it turns out, going straight into it is actually the only way one can successfully approach it. I was fortunate enough to have folks along the way to open my mind to this type of thinking and others to help show me the way once I was ready.
Based on your research or experience, can you please share your “5 Things You Need To Live A Long & Healthy Life”?
- One must be able to move. No one wants to be the frail grandparent that no one can trust with a baby. That is why we are so big on maintaining our strength and stability. We want to hold our own in this world and we don’t want to get injured. Dedicated activity towards maintaining strength and stability are critical.
- We must also exhibit temperance in our food intake. If science shows us anything regarding nutrition, it shows that the less we eat, the longer we live. The Japanese have a term: “Hara Hachi Bu.” This is a saying to remind people to stop eating when they are 80% full. The better we can temper our desire to overeat and stay away from over-processed foods, the healthier we remain with a well functioning metabolic system
- We also need our cognition. Without the brain working properly, there can be no true joy. Remember, the brain is influenced strongly by one’s physical health (exercise and blood work) but also our mental health. Regular exercise and a personal mission are the strongest tools we have here.
- Stress Tolerance: The mind and body are connected. The more easily we are overwhelmed, the less happy we are. A calm mind is paramount for health and wellbeing. Easier said than done. The answer here is unique for everyone but I feel it is usually made much more complex than it needs to be. This is an ancient problem and I find the best answers are usually just as old.
- Healthspan Strategy: Some folks have long and healthy lives without trying much. The rest of us need a strategy. I think everyone needs an honest assessment of key lifespan-related health systems (blood sugar control, cholesterol, inflammation, etc). We must understand our unique problems and know if any personal high-risk issues are present. These risks should drive our overall strategy for nutrition, exercise, medications, sleep, etc.
Can you suggest a few things needed to live a life filled with happiness, joy, and meaning?
A genuine sense of purpose is what I see missing from most folks who lack happiness, joy and meaning. This sense of purpose derives from extreme clarity on what is important to you. Most people never take the time to truly figure this out. Most folks default to what society or their parents have convinced them is important and never give it too much thought. The problem is, your authentic desires and those of society rarely, if ever, intersect. This is where our internal conflicts stem from. Once we understand our purpose, the trick is to prioritize that and ignore everything else as much as possible. Healthy relationships and genuine purpose are not only the goal, they are the prevention.
Some argue that longevity is genetic, while others say that living a long life is simply a choice. What are your thoughts on this nature vs. nurture debate? Which is more important?
Nature plays a strong role to be sure. Some folks get all the good genes and are set up on an easier road to live to a healthy age of 95. Others have the deck stacked against them and get all the bad luck. Most folks fall somewhere in the middle. And the ones that fall in the middle have A LOT of influence in how their healthspan plays out. Nurture is far more important in almost all cases (except the unlucky genetic ones). The way we consistently treat our bodies produces a sum effect on how our health turns out.
Life sometimes takes us on paths that are challenging. How have you managed to bounce back from setbacks in order to cultivate physical, mental, and emotional health?
Setbacks and losses are inevitable but they aren’t failures as long as we learn from them. If we adjust our course and keep moving with purpose, we have not failed. This requires us to be a bit easier on ourselves than we usually are. We can’t learn the critical lessons from a recent setback if we are busy stewing in our bad fortune. This is easier to write than to practice.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life?
“Via Negativa.” A concept from the great author and philosopher Nassim Taleb. This heuristic serves as a reminder that opting for subtraction is typically the preferable choice over adding something. For example, if everyone were to quit smoking right now, more years of life would be saved than the sum of all of the other medical innovations to date. In most cases, it is wiser to eliminate rather than add. This goes for food (removing calories or sugar), inactivity, overstimulating screens/social media, etc. “Via negativa” is especially true for mental health. The optimal approach involves recognizing and removing troublesome concepts and personal identities from one’s own mind rather than incorporating numerous mantras and concepts promoted by multiple gurus vying for attention. In most cases, you’re not lacking any critical components for mental or physical well-being; there’s just extra baggage you carry with you.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would say people need to write the preamble of what they want out of their health. Traditionally, the preamble sets the stage, laying down the philosophy and intentions that guide the narrative. Our practice believes in setting the foundation. True preventative health — an art as ancient as humankind — is that very foundation upon which all other facets of our well-being are built. Your preamble should be centered around key pillars: thoughtful strategy for nutrition, exercise, and sleep. Implement cutting edge science and medications/supplements as needed. Don’t be afraid to leverage useful new technology to better comprehend your unique story and risk profile. With this approach to health, you’re not merely addressing symptoms; you’re genuinely enhancing your well-being and preventing chronic illnesses.
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
At the moment, you can check out my website and see what we’re doing in Scottsdale, AZ at www.jessegreermd.com. You can also follow me on Instagram @jessegreermd or TikTok at @jessegreermd.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.