If you want to get healthy, you may not need to go to a doctor. You might instead, dive into a community of like-minded individuals and watch your health soar! The power of community to create health is far greater than any physician, clinic or hospital.

According to Dr. Mark Hyman, “You are more likely to be overweight if your friend’s, friend’s friend is overweight than if your parents are overweight. Your social networks may matter more than your genetic networks. If your friends have healthy habits you are more likely to as well.  So, get healthy friends!”

Community: The Best Medicine for Change

Group models of intensive lifestyle change like the one modeled by Dr. Dean Ornish for heart disease and prostate cancer, are more effective and will save more lives and more money than using medication and surgery for diseases caused by lifestyle and environmental factors.

In my personal experience directing The Daniel Plan, a roadmap for physical and...