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Dr. Michael Guadagnino holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the NY Institute of Technology and earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from NY Chiropractic College. He served as VP of Public Relations for the New Jersey Libertarian Party from 2017 to 2022. Dr. Guadagnino is the author of the best-selling book Fitness Over 50, 60, 70 and Beyond, available on Amazon and other major platforms. He also shares health and wellness insights on Instagram at @Dr._Guadagnino. As a regular guest contributor, Dr. Guadagnino writes on health care topics through the lens of personal freedom and individual liberty. |
By 2026 one truth should be impossible to ignore no institution is coming to save your health. Not the government, not Big Pharma, not the latest app wearable or headline grabbing guideline. Health has always been and will remain a profoundly personal responsibility. A libertarian view of wellness does not reject science or community; it rejects the illusion that freedom can be outsourced.
Being healthy in 2026 means reclaiming ownership of your body in a world that profits from your dependency.
The modern health system is excellent at crisis management and terrible at cultivating resilience. It treats symptoms well but incentives rarely reward prevention strength or long-term vitality. If you want to thrive not merely survive you must opt out of passive consumption and opt into active participation. That starts with movement. Humans were designed to move daily not occasionally. Strength training walking sprinting mobility work these are not fitness trends they are biological necessities. You do not need permission to lift weights take the stairs or challenge your comfort zone. You need discipline.
Nutrition in 2026 should be guided less by food pyramids and more by personal experimentation. Centralized dietary dogma has failed repeatedly because people are not averages. Real health comes from eating whole unprocessed foods prioritizing protein healthy fats and vegetables and paying attention to how your body responds. Read labels. Question marketing. If a product needs a government subsidy or a cartoon mascot to survive it probably does not belong in your body. Food is information not entertainment.
Sleep may be the most underrated act of rebellion. In a culture that glorifies hustle while selling stimulants by day and sedatives by night choosing consistent quality sleep is a declaration of independence. Seven to eight hours in a dark cool room with screens shut down and caffeine respected does more for metabolic health hormone balance and mental clarity than most prescriptions ever will. No mandate required just personal standards.
Stress management in 2026 demands boundaries. Constant outrage fear-based media and algorithm driven addiction are not harmless. They elevate cortisol inflame the nervous system and quietly erode health. You are not obligated to consume every headline or participate in every manufactured emergency. Silence breathwork time outdoors and real human connection are powerful low cost tools that do not require approval from any authority.
A libertarian approach to health also values informed consent and skepticism. Ask questions. Seek second opinions. Understand risks and benefits. Whether it is a supplement procedure or protocol blind trust is no virtue. At the same time blind rejection of all modern medicine is equally foolish. Freedom thrives on discernment not extremism.
Finally, health in 2026 means playing the long game. Quick fixes create lifelong customers. Sustainable habits create sovereign individuals. Build muscle. Protect your spine. Maintain metabolic health. Keep inflammation low. Invest in your future body the way you would invest in your finances consistently patiently and with a clear understanding that compounding works both ways.
True health is not compliance. It is competence. It is the confidence that comes from knowing your body respecting its limits and pushing its potential. In 2026 the healthiest people will not be the most medicated or monitored they will be the most engaged. Freedom after all starts at the cellular level.