The Dr. Hyman Show

Why do some people catch every cold going around while others rarely get sick? Your immune system isn’t something you simply “boost” with one supplement—it’s shaped every day by your sleep, diet, stress, gut health, nutrient status, and metabolic health. In this episode, I’m joined by one of my producers, Emma, to break down what actually helps you build a more resilient immune system before cold and flu season hits.

Here’s what we discuss in today’s episode:

You don’t need a complicated immune protocol. The goal is to strengthen the systems that help your body respond well when you’re exposed—so you’re less fragile when cold and flu season arrives.

Visit ⁠functionhealth.com for 160+ lab tests at just $365 a year.

Have a question you’d love answered on Office Hours? Submit it here.

(0:00) Preparing for cold and flu season: diet, nutrients, sleep, stress, and gut health

(2:07) Building immune resilience: whole foods, sleep, stress management, and nutrient checks

(3:03) Key nutrients and remedies: vitamin D, herbal formulas, mushrooms, colostrum, and hygiene

(5:18) Understanding the immune system, resilience, and why some people rarely get sick

(9:33) Metabolic health, sugar, insulin resistance, and their impact on immunity

(11:56) Immune-supportive grocery shopping and important supplements

(16:26) Sleep, stress, exercise, and protocols for when symptoms start

(21:59) Vaccines and Dr. Hyman’s perspective on flu shots

(24:12) Sleep, vitamin D, and myths like "starve a fever"

Nutrition advice often reduces food to calories, nutrients, and a list of rules to follow. But the more we learn about how the body responds to different foods, the clearer it becomes that this way of thinking tells only part of the story.

Today, I’m joined by cardiologist and public health expert Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University and author of the new book Food Is Medicine. We explore what we still get wrong about food and what changes when we begin treating it more like medicine.

Here’s what we discuss:

Over the years, I’ve learned to focus less on counting calories or chasing a single nutrient and more on the quality of the food itself. When you eat real, whole foods, the signals that regulate hunger and energy can begin to work with you instead of against you. Eating well should be less about following rules and more about understanding what helps your body function at its best.

View Show Notes From This Episode

Sign up for Dr. Hyman’s Brainshaping Academy to learn how to nourish the biological systems that support your mental, emotional, and cognitive health https://drhyman.com/products/brainshaping?utm_source=dr_hyman_show&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=may_27&utm_content=link

Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hymanhttps://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast

Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journalhttps://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast

Join the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Healthhttps://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox

Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Resultshttps://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive

This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth, Made In, Fatty15, Pique, Paleovalley, and BIOptimizers.

Upgrade your sleep setup with cozyearth.com and enjoy 20% off with code HYMAN.

Explore kitchen essentials at madeincookware.com and save 10% off your first order with code HYMAN-HIVE.

Head to fatty15.com/HYMAN today and use code HYMAN for 15% off your 90-day subscription Starter Kit.

Elevate your daily wellness ritual at piquelife.com/hyman and enjoy 20% off plus free gifts.

Shop nutrient-rich foods and supplements at paleovalley.com/hyman and save 15% off your first order.

Shop Magnesium Breakthrough at bioptimizers.com/hyman and save 15% with code HYMAN.

0:00 The paradox of rising obesity, calorie intake, and the importance of food quality over willpower

2:00 Introduction to Food is Medicine and Dr. Hyman’s mission

4:25 How medical training ignored nutrition and early challenges to low-fat dogma

7:48 Cardiac diets, processed carbs, and failures in nutrition science translation

10:54 The food system’s role in chronic disease and its national impact

12:15 Food as a health, economic, environmental, and equity issue

15:05 How science, policy, and business shaped the modern food system

18:14 Fixing the food system using the same forces that created it

19:04 The birth of modern nutrition science and discovery of vitamins

20:15 Deficiency diseases, vitamin fortification, and enriched grains

23:16 The green revolution, famine fears, and calorie-focused agriculture

27:04 Low-fat advice, tobacco-era marketing, and the rise of ultra-processed food

31:29 Misapplied nutrient thinking: fat vilification and chronic disease

33:30 Why calories in, calories out fails for obesity and weight control

36:53 Thermogenesis, brown fat, and food quality’s impact on metabolism

39:25 The microbiome’s role in calorie harvesting and weight regulation

41:03 Real food vs. calorie counting for long-term weight control

43:09 GLP-1, the microbiome, and how the food system hijacks appetite

48:27 Feeding your inner garden: microbiome foods, prebiotics, and protective foods

50:47 Food as medicine: adding good foods vs. deprivation

52:36 Food as a fast, personalized therapy for chronic disease

54:11 What ultra-processed food is and why it’s harmful

59:59 Why junk food isn’t food, and the protein craze explained

1:00:44 How much protein you need and why the source matters

1:03:55 Best protein sources and the dangers of processed meats

1:05:58 Seed oils, trans fats, omega-6s, and omega-3 deficiency

1:13:57 Why food system change is needed, not just individual willpower

1:15:20 Policy levers for fixing agriculture, labeling, regulation, and nutrition science

1:17:29 How health care can drive food as medicine

1:21:58 How investing in healthy food can reshape markets and outcomes

1:22:44 Food industry lobbying, misinformation, and policy challenges

1:25:07 Business innovation to shift toward healthier food products

1:26:03 Ultra-processed foods as “coal” and replacing them with clean food

1:26:25 What listeners can do in their communities and with officials

In this episode, I break down five popular longevity myths that may be distracting you from the things that actually have the biggest impact on how long and how well you live.

Here’s what I discuss in today’s episode:

Longevity isn’t about building the world’s most complicated routine. It’s about protecting your strength, energy, brain function, and independence for decades to come. Get the fundamentals right first—then layer in the extras.

Visit ⁠functionhealth.com for 160+ lab tests at just $365 a year.

Have a question you’d love answered on Office Hours? Submit it here.

0:00 Longevity industry hype, fundamentals, and common myths
1:11 Myth 1 - The Thinner You Are The Healthier YouWill Age
2:40 Myth 2 - Supplements, repair mode, and other longevity myths
4:11 Myth 3 - Keeping Your Body In Repair Mode
7:54 Myth 4 - Wine is good for you
9:24 Myth 5 - Longevity Is Mostly Genetic
10:34 The longevity reality check and what you can change
11:13 The real path to healthspan, strength, and independence

You can know exactly how you want to eat and still find yourself reaching for something else when you’re stressed or exhausted. I’ve been there. Our relationship with food is influenced by far more than nutrition knowledge, and blaming ourselves for struggling doesn’t help us understand what’s actually happening.

Today, I’m joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Rachel Goldman, author of When Life Happens, to talk about the biology and psychology behind cravings, emotional eating, and food noise. We also explore how to care about nutrition without letting food rules take over your life.

Here’s what we get into:

I know what it’s like to want the cookie even when I know it isn’t what I really need. Knowing better doesn’t make us immune to being human. My hope is that this conversation helps you meet those moments with more curiosity and less blame, so your relationship with food can become a source of nourishment rather than stress.

View Show Notes From This Episode

Sign up for Dr. Hyman’s Brainshaping Academy to learn how to nourish the biological systems that support your mental, emotional, and cognitive health https://drhyman.com/products/brainshaping?utm_source=dr_hyman_show&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=may_27&utm_content=link

Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hymanhttps://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast

Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journalhttps://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast

Join the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Healthhttps://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox

Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Resultshttps://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive

This episode is brought to you by Seed, Paleovalley, Timeline, Rho, Sunlighten, and Seatopia.

Make your microbiome part of your daily routine with seed.com/hyman and save 25% with code 25HYMAN.

Shop nutrient-rich foods and supplements at paleovalley.com/hyman and save 15% off your first order.

Support healthy aging and get up to 20% off when you subscribe on top of the new starting price of $79 at timeline.com/drhyman.

Explore science-backed products at rhonutrition.com and use code HYMAN for 20% off the entire site.

Discover why so many people are using sunlighten.com. Use code HYMAN to save up to $2,100 today and free shipping.

Find a cleaner source of seafood. Check out seatopia.fish and use code HYMAN for free shipping on your first order.

0:00 Introduction: Food industry, brain/microbiome hijack, and Dr. Rachel Goldman

1:17 Challenges in our relationship with food and emotional eating

4:25 Societal messages, body image, and the problem with body comments

6:17 Cognitive behavioral therapy for eating behaviors

9:54 The power of pausing and mindful eating

16:20 Emotional vs. physical hunger and mindful eating

22:17 Stress, sleep, and their impact on hunger and food choices

25:21 The myth of willpower, cravings, and brain studies

31:39 Food addiction, biology, and focusing on controllable actions

35:15 Coping tools and stress management

38:32 Diaphragmatic breathing and managing stress

40:36 Orthorexia, restrictive eating, and seeking professional help

45:19 The restriction-binge cycle and building a healthy relationship with food

49:29 Creating and sustaining a healthy relationship with food

56:08 Critiques of psychiatric practice and the GLP-1 phenomenon

1:00:30 Psychological aspects of weight loss and GLP-1 medications

1:02:58 Fixing biology vs. addressing psychology in eating

1:03:44 Long-term strategies and resources for eating disorders

1:07:00 The psychology of eating, self-talk, and episode conclusion

Trying to eat healthy has gotten surprisingly complicated. You pick up salmon and wonder about mercury, grab strawberries and think about pesticides, or drink from a plastic bottle and start worrying about microplastics. But not every food-safety risk deserves the same level of concern. In this episode, I break down what actually matters, what’s worth paying extra for, and the simple changes that can reduce your exposure without making you afraid of everything you eat.

Food safety isn’t about eliminating every possible risk. It’s about knowing which risks matter, understanding where small changes can make a meaningful difference, and having enough good information to separate a real concern from a scary headline.

Resources Mentioned:

Have a question you’d love answered on Office Hours? Submit it here.

0:00 Food safety concerns and grocery shopping tips

2:34 Organic produce, washing, and handling recalls

7:40 Frozen produce, meat, and seafood label guidance

13:17 Seafood safety: mercury, wild vs. farm raised

16:45 Processed and ultra-processed foods explained

21:10 Food packaging chemicals and plastic safety

23:08 Kitchen safety and cross contamination

25:26 Key food safety takeaways and conclusion

Chronic illness rarely fits neatly into a single diagnosis. Symptoms can span multiple systems, leaving people profoundly unwell even when standard testing appears normal. I understand this experience from the inside out because I’ve lived it myself.

Today, I sit down with Dr. Neil Nathan, a leading expert in complex chronic illness and author of Toxic, now in its second edition. We explore why these conditions are so often misunderstood and how identifying what is driving them can create a path toward recovery.

We discuss:

I’ve been sick enough to know how quickly chronic illness can narrow your world—and how discouraging it is when no one can explain why. But I’m also living proof that the body can recover. The answer is not always more treatment. Often, it begins with finding the root cause, respecting what the body can tolerate, and addressing each layer in the right order.

View Show Notes From This Episode

Sign up for Dr. Hyman’s Brainshaping Academy to learn how to nourish the biological systems that support your mental, emotional, and cognitive health

https://drhyman.com/products/brainshaping?utm_source=dr_hyman_show&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=may_27&utm_content=link

Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman

https://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast

Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal

https://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast

Join the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Health

https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox

Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Results

https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive

This episode is brought to you by BIOptimizers, Cozy Earth, Perfect Amino, Seatopia, Made In, and BON CHARGE.

Shop Magnesium Breakthrough at bioptimizers.com/hyman and save 15% with code HYMAN.

Upgrade your sleep setup with cozyearth.com and enjoy 20% off  with code HYMAN.

Help fill protein gaps at bodyhealth.com and use code HYMAN20 for 20% off.

Find a cleaner source of seafood. Check out seatopia.fish and use code HYMAN for free shipping on your first order.

Shop for kitchen essentials at madeincookware.com and save 10% off your first order with code HYMAN-HIVE.

Explore red light products at boncharge.com/hyman and enjoy 15% off with code HYMAN.

(0:00) Introduction and Dr. Hyman's health journey

(3:11) Challenges and limitations of conventional medicine

(5:03) Environmental toxins and chronic illness

(7:21) Identifying root causes and treatment order

(16:14) Dr. Hyman’s mold struggle, toxicity vs. sensitivity

(21:01) Dr. Nathan’s books and diagnosing chronic illnesses

(28:53) Treatment strategies: primary cause, gut health, and mold

(34:22) Addressing limbic, vagal, and mast cell issues first

(39:52) Complexities of treating tick-borne infections

(44:46) Emotional and psychological aspects of recovery

(45:04) Encouragement and hope for chronic illness sufferers

(46:36) Closing remarks and podcast info

Brain fog isn’t just a normal part of getting older—and it may not be a brain problem at all. If you struggle to focus, lose your train of thought, forget why you walked into a room, or feel mentally exhausted after eating, your body may be trying to tell you something.

Here’s what I discuss in today’s episode:

Brain fog is a messenger, not the root problem. When you start looking at what’s happening throughout your body—especially your gut, blood sugar, inflammation, and microbiome—you can begin uncovering what’s getting in the way of a clearer, healthier brain.

Resources Mentioned:

Have a question you’d love answered on Office Hours? Submit it here.

0:00 Introduction, Dr. Hyman's experience, and foods contributing to brain fog

1:31 Functional medicine and the gut-brain connection

2:30 Vagus nerve, gut microbiome, and inflammation

4:21 Long COVID, gut damage, and ultra-processed foods

6:51 Alcohol, artificial sweeteners, and their effects on the brain

9:51 Dairy, gluten, and elimination diets

15:41 Ten Day Detox Diet, food journaling, and reintroducing foods

18:23 Personalized nutrition, functional medicine, and conclusion

This week, I’m the one answering the questions in a deeply personal conversation about my health journey. I speak openly about some of the hardest parts of that journey, the treatments I’ve tried, the beliefs I’ve reconsidered, and what a lifetime devoted to health has taught me about what matters most.

Here’s some of what I share:

I’ve spent much of my life trying to understand how we can live longer and feel better. But nearly losing my own life reminded me that health isn’t the destination. It’s what allows us to be present for the people we love, remain curious, and experience our lives more fully. I hope this conversation encourages you to ask yourself what you want your health to make possible.

Continue exploring:

View Show Notes From This Episode

Sign up for Dr. Hyman’s Brainshaping Academy to learn how to nourish the biological systems that support your mental, emotional, and cognitive health https://drhyman.com/products/brainshaping?utm_source=dr_hyman_show&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=may_27&utm_content=link

Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hymanhttps://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast

Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journalhttps://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast

Join the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Healthhttps://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox

Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Resultshttps://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive

This episode is brought to you by Paleovalley, BIOptimizers, Timeline, Rho, Sunlighten, and Pique.

Shop nutrient-rich foods and supplements at paleovalley.com/hyman and save 15% off your first order.

Shop Magnesium Breakthrough at bioptimizers.com/hyman and save 15% with code HYMAN.

Support healthy aging and get up to 20% off when you subscribe on top of the new starting price of $79 at timeline.com/drhyman.

Explore science-backed products at rhonutrition.com and use code HYMAN for 20% off the entire site.

Discover why so many people are using sunlighten.com. Use the code HYMAN to save up to $2,100 today and free shipping.

Elevate your daily wellness ritual at piquelife.com/hyman and enjoy 20% off plus free gifts.

(0:00) Dr. Hyman's health decline, initial back surgery, and introduction to Q&A session

(1:51) Dr. Hyman's early career, first herniated disc, and subsequent back surgeries

(10:55) Mercury poisoning and its impact on health

(17:06) Discovery of functional medicine and Jeffrey Bland's influence

(20:27) Impact of personal health journey on Dr. Hyman's career and recovery from major surgery

(24:04) Reflections on mortality, peace during surgery, and the role of spirituality and psychedelics

(26:21) Changes in perspective on longevity, health, and specific recovery strategies

(30:06) Navigating physiological depression and relationship with body as we age

(33:48) Rapid-fire health tools: cold plunges, sauna, and more

(43:32) IV therapy, red light therapy, and stem cell therapy for recovery

(47:26) Exosomes and critique of wellness industry trends

(50:31) Risks of over-testing, over-supplementation, and underrated treatments in functional medicine

(58:13) Dr. Hyman's personal life, hobbies, and balancing passion with well-being

(1:04:51) The Ultramind Solution, mental health, and root cause analysis in MS

(1:07:06) Focus on strength training, functional health, and shifts in health understanding

(1:09:23) Surprising changes in beliefs and impact of becoming a grandfather

(1:11:42) Career reflections, ongoing curiosity, and closing remarks

(1:14:38) Disclaimer and gratitude to sponsors

With the Labour Day long weekend here, we’re bringing back one of our most popular Office Hours episodes on what really happens to your body when you take a break from alcohol. Whether you’re drinking less this weekend or simply curious about how quickly your body can recover, this conversation is worth revisiting.

Today I discuss:

Your body has an incredible ability to heal and often, it just needs you to take your foot off the gas. Try it for 30 days. You may be amazed by how different you feel.

Helpful Resources:

We hear a lot about improving gut health through food, probiotics, and supplements. But after more than a decade of major advances in microbiome research, the picture has become both more promising and more complex.

In this episode, I’m joined by gastroenterologist and neuroscientist Dr. Emeran Mayer, co-author of the new book The Mayer Model, to explore how our understanding of the gut-brain connection has evolved—and what we may still be getting wrong. We also look at what this growing field could mean for chronic disease and healthy aging.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

The food we eat matters, but so do the ways we move, sleep, manage stress, and connect with others. Supporting gut health isn’t about finding one magic solution. It’s about creating a healthier, more resilient system over time.

Beginning September 1, Dr. Mayer’s team is offering my audience a collection of bonuses to accompany The Mayer Model. To learn more about the book and access the bonuses, click here.

View Show Notes From This Episode

Sign up for Dr. Hyman’s Brainshaping Academy to learn how to nourish the biological systems that support your mental, emotional, and cognitive health

https://drhyman.com/products/brainshaping?utm_source=dr_hyman_show&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=may_27&utm_content=link

Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman

https://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast

Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal

https://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast

Join the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Health

https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox

Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Results

https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive

This episode is brought to you by Seed, Seatopia, Made In, PerfectAmino, BON CHARGE, and BIOptimizers.

Make your microbiome part of your daily routine with seed.com/hyman and save 25% with code 25HYMAN.

Find a cleaner source of seafood. Check out seatopia.fish and use code HYMAN for free shipping on your first order.

Explore kitchen essentials at madeincookware.com and save 10% off your first order with code HYMAN-HIVE.

Explore red light products at boncharge.com/hyman and enjoy 15% off with code HYMAN.

Help fill protein gaps at bodyhealth.com and use code HYMAN20 for 20% off.

Shop Magnesium Breakthrough at bioptimizers.com/hyman and save 15% with code HYMAN.