This video features serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and TrueMed co-founder Justin Mares sharing vivid insights on health, wellness, and personal investment in preventive medicine. Justin openly shares lessons and practices from his own health journey, proposing how more people can invest in health management and prevention using tax-advantaged accounts (HSA, FSA), the problems in the food industry and health policy, and the direction of future change. His story, both practical and insightful, inspires anyone who wants to take the lead in managing their health.

1. Justin Mares's Health Journey and Startup Story

Justin Mares's health journey began during college, under extreme time pressure. He recalls: "Back then, I was trying to sleep less and do more. I even tried polyphasic sleeping (sleeping two or three short periods a day). But it really didn't work." He then explains the turning point: "Since polyphasic sleeping didn't work, I tried a Paleo diet, and in just 2-3 weeks, my sleep, skin, and overall condition all improved."

This experience deepened his interest in health and nutrition, and he goes on to introduce:

"In 2015, I founded the bone broth company Kettle and Fire, which is now the number one company in its field. After that, I also created the keto product brand Perfect Keto and the non-alcoholic wine brand Surely."

Now he's focused on a new venture called TrueMed. TrueMed is "a service that helps people invest in healthy food, exercise, supplements, and more using their tax-advantaged HSA and FSA accounts." Justin states his intent: "Now I want to get more consumer dollars flowing toward prevention and healthy choices."

2. Health Practices and Daily Routines

Justin shares his tips for maintaining health as a busy entrepreneur without pretension.

"I've followed a nearly Paleo diet for years, and once or twice a year I strictly try keto. What matters most is creating an environment where the healthiest choice is the 'easiest' one at home."

His core practices include:

• Not stocking unhealthy snacks or food at home
• Pre-limiting food quality and choices (ordering from only select restaurants on Uber Eats, etc.)
• Living near healthy restaurants
• Sauna and cold plunge 4-5 times per week
• 8 hours of sleep per day, walking two to three times daily

For his morning routine:

"Recently I've gotten into breathwork meditation with the 'Other Ship' app. Doing sauna and cold plunge with friends while getting sunlight and chatting is really my favorite way to start the day."

He also emphasizes practicality:

"Not overcomplicating things is actually the secret to being able to keep it up long-term."

3. Experimentation, Failure, and Mental Health Management

Justin candidly admits that he tried meditation many times without success.

"No matter how much I try meditation, it still feels like work. It doesn't feel like 'play' (enjoyable fun) yet. You need to do it in a way that's fun, like playing, for it to last, and that's not easy."

The practices he emphasizes for mental health include:

• Consistent journaling
• Regular contact and social time with family and friends
• At least 2 hours of outdoor activity per day
• "Ketamine therapy (legal, using the Mind Bloom app) with my fiancee once a quarter"
• "A weekly date -- 'time together' is really the key."

He reports that psychedelic therapy in particular has been a great help in improving relationships.

"Each person's defensive posture breaks down, and you can deeply discuss difficult topics from a more loving state. I think it's a really powerful tool."

4. Healthcare Innovation and TrueMed's Role

Justin identifies structural problems in the healthcare system and food industry.

"Only 1.5% of total healthcare spending in the US goes to prevention. But go to a supermarket and harmful processed foods are always cheaper, while high-quality organic foods are more expensive."

He emphasizes that over $140 billion in HSA/FSA funds could be better spent on preventive investment.

"If you let people purchase healthy food, exercise, and supplements tax-free with HSA and FSA funds, you can dramatically lower the 'economic barrier' to healthy choices."

He also points out the systemic flaws in US agricultural and nutrition policy.

"Government support (SNAP, EBT, etc.) actually makes it easier for low-income populations to get processed foods and soft drinks. There's virtually no support for healthy food. And as a result, chronic disease and obesity rates rise, and society bears the healthcare costs yet again. The incentive structure is completely absurd."

5. The Food Industry, Regulation, and the Problem of 'Fake Research'

Justin also reveals his concerns about the food industry's profit structure and policy distortions.

"High-quality foods like meat and vegetables have thin margins, but ultra-processed foods like Oreos have much higher margins. Large corporations use these profits to fund government lobbying, expansion of ingredient subsidies, and even fake nutrition research."

He specifically points out credibility issues in food industry research.

"When you look at papers addressing the harmfulness of soft drinks regarding obesity and disease, 82% of studies involving large corporations conclude 'no problem.' Meanwhile, 93% of independent studies conclude 'harmful.'"

He also offers a recent example:

"A food rating system produced by Tufts University using tax dollars concluded that Lucky Charms (a sugary cereal) is healthier than beef. This absurd result influences government policy, with school lunch programs being supplied mainly with processed foods."

6. The Future of Health Management: Prevention, Autonomy, and the Role of Clinicians

Justin emphasizes the following about the future of health:

"The medical system acts as if 'what you eat has no impact on health,' and the food system is the same. Nothing will change unless the structure itself changes."

The core of the future he envisions includes:

• "We need to broadly utilize tax-advantaged accounts like HSA and FSA to drive preventive investment and healthy practices for the 72%+ obese/overweight population and 93% with metabolic syndrome."
• He also feels the need to strengthen the practical role of 'Food is Medicine' for medical professionals.
• Clinical data and incentive structures must connect "prevention and lifestyle improvement to disease prevention to cost reduction."

However, in reality:

"80% of medical students never take a single nutrition class, and the medical field still operates on a paradigm of 'prescribe after illness.' In a system where only 7 minutes per year is spent per patient, taking charge of your own health management may actually be the answer."

Furthermore: "Doctors are overworked, patients are too many, and nutrition education is lacking. The key is creating tools and environments that enable patients to take responsibility for and manage their own health."

7. Advice for Entrepreneurs and Career Choices

At the end of the interview, Justin reflects on his career and offers the following advice to those who want to walk a similar path.

"I wasted a lot of time on career anxiety and worry. Looking back, you just need to follow your interests and curiosity naturally as things unfold. If there's a topic friends often ask you about, that's probably your 'real interest.'"

And:

"I dropped everything and dove into entrepreneurship at age twenty-five, but having cut unnecessary spending and built passive income beforehand to 'prepare for the challenge' was a huge source of strength. Even amid uncertainty, when the time comes, you need to boldly invest in your own life."

Finally, he shares information on TrueMed and channels to follow his updates.

"You can sign up for the waitlist at trumed.com, and find me easily on Twitter (@jwmares) and my Substack newsletter."

In Closing

Justin Mares's interview unpacks complex healthcare, food industry, and health policy issues in an honest and approachable way, delivering the message that 'everyone must become the protagonist of their own health.' From practicing small habits to the need for preventive medical investment and environmental change -- his proposals are realistic and actionable first steps toward health innovation.

"We need to create an environment where healthy choices are natural and easy. For health, 'environment' matters more than 'intention.'"