On the latest episode of “A Healthy Point of View” podcast, Sam Tejada, CEO and Founder of Liquivida®, sat down with Dr. Austin Lake, a functional medicine expert, faith-driven healer, and founder of Wholly Health, to explore what he calls the greatest threat to humanity.
But before that revelation came a powerful story, one that traced Dr. Lake’s journey from small-town Iowa to the world of functional medicine, shaped by faith, family, and a relentless pursuit of healing.
Why Humans May Stop Existing in 50 Years (Nobody’s Talking About This). | Dr. Austin Lake | Ep. 103
From Struggle to Purpose
Dr. Lake grew up in a close-knit Iowa town, where life was simple and safe until tragedy struck. His brother’s leukemia diagnosis and his parents’ own battles with heart disease and autoimmune conditions changed everything.
“I saw firsthand what poor health does to a family,” he told Sam. “I watched my dad work 80- or 90-hour weeks just to keep us afloat, and my mom struggled with her own autoimmune issues from chronic stress and survival mode.”
By his early twenties, Dr. Lake found himself battling the same fate: chronic pain, fatigue, ulcers, and inflammation. Traditional medicine offered temporary relief at best, more prescriptions at worst. “I realized the system wasn’t built to heal,” he said. “It was built to manage symptoms.”
That realization led him to discover functional medicine, a field that looks beyond symptoms to address root causes through nutrition, lifestyle, and spiritual well-being.
Rewiring the Way We Heal
Dr. Lake admits the transition from conventional to functional medicine wasn’t easy. “It required me to unlearn almost everything,” he said. “We’re taught in the traditional system that if we don’t know something, it must not exist. But that’s arrogance disguised as science.”
Through faith, study, and self-experimentation, he learned how food, environment, and mindset influence the body’s healing capacity. “I started by simply eating real food,” he laughed. “That alone changed everything.”
He discovered gut health was at the center of it all. “Your gut is your first brain. It affects dopamine, serotonin, your immune system, and even your mental health,” he explained. “When your gut heals, your whole body follows.”
Simple yet often overlooked habits, such as eating in calm environments, chewing slowly, staying hydrated, and avoiding processed foods, became the foundation of his practice.
“People think healing is complicated,” Dr. Lake said. “But most of it is free—sleep well, eat clean, breathe fresh air, and live simply.”
Faith as Medicine
For Dr. Lake, healing isn’t just biological, it’s spiritual. “The Bible says your body is the temple of God,” he reminded. “So if we neglect our health, we’re neglecting something that isn’t even ours. This body is a vessel we’ve been entrusted with.”
He believes true healing requires both faith and function: faith to believe healing is possible, and function to take aligned action. “God can heal anyone, anywhere,” he said. “But taking care of your temple allows you to live out His purpose more effectively.”
Sam, who has often spoken about the spiritual side of health, agreed wholeheartedly. “Without faith,” he added, “you’ll feel lonely even when you’re surrounded by people.”
The Greatest Threat to Humanity
When asked what he believes is the true threat to humanity, Dr. Lake didn’t hesitate: “We’re not making enough babies.”
Infertility rates are soaring, he explained, not just because of biology, but because of lifestyle, culture, and disconnection. “We’re in a crisis where people don’t even desire children anymore,” he said. “We’ve traded legacy for convenience.”
Between endocrine-disrupting chemicals, chronic stress, and a culture that glorifies individualism over family, Dr. Lake sees a silent epidemic eroding the fabric of society.
“Our population replacement rate is below sustainable levels,” he warned. “We’re becoming too comfortable, too distracted, and too detached from the purpose of family and creation.”
He spoke candidly about the beauty of family life, reflecting on his own four children. “I was golfing in paradise recently,” he said, “but it wasn’t fulfilling. What I really wanted was to be home with my wife and kids. That’s the true richness of life; people, not possessions.”
The Simplicity of Health
When the conversation turned to the misconception that wellness is expensive, both Sam and Dr. Lake agreed: the essentials are free.
“It’s more expensive to be unhealthy,” Dr. Lake said plainly. “You don’t need fancy supplements or treatments to start healing. You need clean water, consistent sleep, sunlight, and discipline.”
He encourages people to set an alarm to go to bed, not just to wake up. “That’s one of the most powerful things you can do for your health,” he said. “Your body’s rhythm is sacred. Protect it.”
His advice is simple but profound:
- Eat real, whole foods.
- Sleep consistently.
- Move your body daily.
- Breathe clean air.
- Disconnect from chaos.
- Reconnect with faith.
Healing the Body, Mind, and Spirit
In the end, what Dr. Lake and Sam discussed wasn’t just functional medicine; it was functional living.
It was about slowing down, remembering that health is not a product to buy but a relationship to build with your body, your faith, your family, and your purpose.
As Dr. Lake put it, “You can make all the money in the world, but if you don’t have people, it’s meaningless. Health, like faith, starts when you choose to live simply and intentionally.”