What if your immune system, not your genetics, is the key to unlocking longevity and vitality?

In this powerful episode, Darin sits down with the legendary Dr. Jeffrey Bland, the father of functional medicine, to explore how environmental toxins, ultra-processed foods, and chronic inflammation are silently robbing us of our health—and what we can actually do about it. From angry fat to immuno-rejuvenation, this episode reveals the science and solutions behind healing from the inside out.

 

 

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• (00:00:00) Opening – Why functional medicine matters more than ever

• (00:04:44) A legal war against toxic corporations & the real cost of chemical exposure

• (00:06:09) What functional medicine actually means—explained by its founder

• (00:08:00) The 4 core pillars of health: physical, metabolic, cognitive, and spiritual

• (00:09:17) 300,000+ chemicals: how environmental signals hijack your genes

• (00:10:34) Why chronic exposure to everyday toxins is worse than we think

• (00:12:00) Neurotoxicology & immunotoxicology: the hidden fields shaping your future

• (00:13:00) How low-level chemical exposure impacts mood, energy, and brain clarity

• (00:14:56) Scaling solutions: where we start, and why Himalayan buckwheat matters

• (00:17:23) New study: reversing immune aging by 47% in 90 days with food

• (00:20:37) Why nature’s orchestration is more powerful than any isolated nutrient

• (00:22:20) Bitter foods, GLP-1, and the natural way to stimulate weight loss

• (00:27:23) Adaptogens explained: how plants adapt to stress—and help you do the same

• (00:31:19) The danger of long-term GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic: what we don’t know yet

• (00:34:07) Angry fat vs. friendly fat—how inflammation starts in your gut and spreads

• (00:40:01) Santa Claus vs. Mars: the science of fat as a signaling organ

• (00:41:18) The Pima vs. Tarahumara paradox: genetics, food, and diabetes

• (00:44:32) The 70% processed food problem: how we’re feeding chronic disease

• (00:46:14) Are we floating off the planet? A metaphor for today’s health crisis

• (00:48:13) Changing the economic system through farming, soil health & food quality

• (00:52:04) What ancient crops like Himalayan buckwheat can teach us about immunity

• (00:56:00) Why paying farmers fairly can actually reverse public health decline

• (01:00:01) Agrochemicals, glyphosate, and the broken agricultural model

• (01:02:27) How do we scale food as medicine? Practical steps to reboot the system

• (01:05:24) Why we must shift from quantity to quality in food and farming

• (01:07:28) Are we growing potatoes from oil? Redefining sustainability

• (01:10:01) What gives Dr. Bland hope—and how the next generation is already leading

 

 

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

• Therasage: Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off

• Bite Toothpaste: Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 for 20% off your first order.

• Our Place: Toxic-free, durable cookware that supports healthy cooking. Use code DARIN for 10% off at fromourplace.com.

 

Find More From Dr. Jeffrey Bland:

• Website: jeffreybland.com

• Instagram: @drjeffreybland

• Book: The Disease Delusion

• Organization: Big Bold Health

 

 

Follow Darin Olien:

• Website: darinolien.com

• Instagram: @darinolien

• Book: Fatal Conveniences

 

 

Key Takeaway:

"Our genes are not our destiny—our environment, our food, and our choices are the true architects of health." – Dr. Jeffrey Bland