The Dr. Hyman Show

Most of us have been there. I know I have. You want to make a change, but somehow it keeps getting pushed to tomorrow. Why does getting started so often feel like the hardest part?

Today, I’m joined by Mel Robbins, bestselling author of The Let Them Theory and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast. We talk about what helps us follow through, how our surroundings shape our habits, and how to support the people we love without trying to control their choices.

Here’s what we get into:

I know firsthand how hard it can be to start again. During my recovery from back surgery, even the smallest movements took effort. Having something I wanted to get back to helped me keep going. Being able to play with my grandson gives me a reason to keep building strength today. Whatever your reason is, it deserves a place in the everyday decisions you make about your health.

Thank you to everyone who voted for The Dr. Hyman Show in this year’s Signal Awards. We won four awards, including two Listener’s Choice honors made possible by your votes. Your support means a great deal to me, and I look forward to bringing you more conversations that help you better understand your health and put what you learn into practice.

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 Rho, Pique, Timeline, Sunlighten, Cozy Earth, and Made In.

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

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

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.

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

Upgrade your sleep setup with cozyearth.com and enjoy 23% off  with code HYMAN.

Explore kitchen essentials at madeincookware.com and save 10% off your first order with code DRHYMAN10.

0:00 Ready Before You Feel It

3:05 Getting Better with Age

8:48 Intention over Motivation

18:38 Building Healthier Defaults

33:53 Outsmarting Resistance

45:18 Small Choices, Big Upward Spirals

52:57 The Let Them Theory

1:08:33 Influence without Control

1:13:35 What the Next Years Hold

1:19:20 A Better Life at Any Age

1:22:15 Pure Genius Protein and Closing

1:24:35 A Hundred Healthy Years

Your doctor says your blood sugar is normal, so you assume everything is fine. But what if your body is already showing signs of insulin resistance and your routine blood tests aren't catching it? Today, I break down what your blood sugar numbers actually reveal, the critical markers most doctors aren't testing, and how to spot metabolic dysfunction before it develops into something more serious.

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

Insulin resistance can develop silently for years before showing up on a standard blood test. The sooner you understand what's happening in your body, the sooner you can take action. And the good news is that many of the most powerful ways to improve your metabolic health start with simple, everyday habits.

Our Award-Winning EpisodesThe Dr. Hyman Show just won four Signal Awards! Thank you to our listeners for your incredible support.

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 Blood Sugar and Insulin Resistance

3:09 How Glucose and Insulin Work

8:13 Why Normal Glucose Can Mislead

19:24 Meals, Spikes, and Metabolism

29:03 Skinny Fat and Hidden Risk

38:14 Rapid Fire Blood Sugar Questions

How well is your brain aging? Your birthday tells you one thing, but your brain may tell a different story.

Today, I’m talking with neuroscientist Paul Thompson, PhD, whose work with the global ENIGMA Consortium is revealing how brain health connects to what’s happening throughout your body. We get into what brain scans can tell us and why those findings matter to you.

We discuss:

It’s so exciting to see researchers like Paul looking across thousands of brain scans and uncovering connections between the health of the body and the brain. For me, it opens up a bigger conversation about how we care for ourselves and how our everyday habits can help protect our memory and support our mood as we age.

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 BON CHARGE, Paleovalley, Timeline, Seed, BIOptimizers, and Fatty15.

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

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.

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

Use bioptimizers.com/hyman and code HYMAN for 15% off, special bonuses, and a 365-day money-back guarantee.

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

0:00 Paleo Valley Superfood Bars

2:50 Enigma and Brain Mapping

10:30 Psychiatry Meets Brain Biology

18:35 The Brain-Body Connection

24:30 Mapping Mental Health Patterns

31:30 Brain Age and Biomarkers

36:59 Sleep, Nutrition, and Recovery

47:38 A Case of Brain Repair

52:50 Genes, Risk, and Protection

59:15 Brain Charts and Diagnostics

1:12:26 AI for Alzheimer’s Disease

1:20:06 Imaging and Prevention

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Boham, Medical Director of the UltraWellness Center, to explore why breast cancer develops, the hidden factors that may influence your risk, and what you can do to be proactive about prevention—not just early detection.

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

While we can't prevent every case of breast cancer, there are meaningful steps we can take to influence our health. Understanding your individual risk and addressing the factors within your control can help you make more informed decisions about prevention and long-term wellness.

Resources Mentioned

Upcoming Free Webinar: A Functional Medicine Approach to Cancer

Work with the UltraWellness Center

What if the fatigue, brain fog, bloating, and cravings you've accepted as normal are actually signs that something you're eating isn't working for your body? You may not realize how much your food is affecting you until you change it. In this episode, I break down why I created the 10-Day Detox, what happens inside your body when you remove common dietary triggers, and how just 10 days can reveal important clues about your health.

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

The goal isn't another restrictive diet or a quick fix for weight loss. It's to understand how food affects your body. When you start connecting what you eat with how you feel, you gain the information you need to make better decisions for your long-term health.

Resources Mentioned:

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

Help Us Win a Listener’s Choice Award

A normal mammogram can bring a real sense of relief. But when it comes to understanding your breast cancer risk, what else should you know?

Today, I’m joined by OB/GYN and SHE MD podcast co-host Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi. Helping women get answers about their health has been central to her work for decades. Yet when she faced her own breast cancer diagnosis, she experienced the same dismissal so many of her patients had described.

You’ll learn:

Dr. Aliabadi made a point that really stayed with me. Understanding your health is part of advocating for yourself. You don’t need to have every answer. But knowing what to ask and having a doctor who listens to what you’re experiencing can help you make more informed decisions about your care.

Last Chance to Vote in the Signal Awards

This is the final week to help The Dr. Hyman Show win a Signal Awards Listener’s Choice Award. If these conversations have helped you think differently about your health, I’d be grateful for your vote. Just create an account and vote by October 15. If you’ve already voted, thank you. Your support means a lot to me.

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 Perfect Amino, Cozy Earth, Seatopia, BON CHARGE, Made In, and Rho.

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

Upgrade your sleep setup with cozyearth.com and enjoy 30% off  with code HYMAN.

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

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

Explore kitchen essentials at madeincookware.com and save 10% off your first order with code DRHYMAN10.

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

(0:00) Dense Breasts and Missed Cancers

(3:02) Breast Cancer Risk and Dismissal

(8:41) Thaïs Aliabadi’s Diagnosis Story

(14:08) Mammograms, Density, and Better Screening

(20:58) Genetic Testing and Polygenic Risk

(24:17) Metabolic Health and Cancer Risk

(30:01) Dismissed Women and Pelvic Ultrasound

(35:32) PMOS, Insulin Resistance, and Inflammation

(48:08) Lowering Risk Through Lifestyle

(53:48) Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer

(59:03) PMDD, Dismissal, and Women’s Health

Early in my career, I noticed that patients’ skin often improved as we addressed their nutrition and gut health. That changed how I approached skin concerns and taught me to look beneath the surface for contributing factors.

Today, I’m joined by triple board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano, co-author of The Holistic Psoriasis Management and Nutrition Guide and an advocate for Timeline’s approach to skin health. Together, we explore what your skin can reveal about your overall health and how that understanding can help you make more informed choices about caring for it.

You’ll learn:

Like most people, I care about how my skin looks, but I also want to understand what helps it stay healthy and resilient. That’s how I approach aging more broadly: learning what my body needs and making those choices part of everyday life.

Help Us Win a Listener’s Choice Award

The Dr. Hyman Show is a finalist in the Signal Awards, and the Listener’s Choice Award is decided by you. If the show has helped you ask better questions or take better care of your health, I’d be grateful for your vote. Just sign up for an account to vote before October 15. Thank you for making these conversations part of your life.

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 Timeline, Sunlighten, Perfect Amino, Seed, BIOptimizers, and Pique.

Don’t miss Timeline’s lowest prices of the year. Save 30% on a one-time purchase or 35% when you subscribe and save, plus free shipping. Offer ends October 11.

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

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

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

Use bioptimizers.com/hyman and code HYMAN for 15% off, special bonuses, and a 365-day money-back guarantee.

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

0:00 Strength training, skin thickness, and Sponsor: Timeline

1:46 Sunlighten infrared sauna, SIGNAL awards, and integrative dermatology from the inside out

5:53 Transition from conventional to holistic dermatology

9:29 Beyond the skin: diet, sleep, stress, hormones, and environment

10:14 Gut health, insulin resistance, and chronic skin disease drivers

12:23 Testing for SIBO, H. pylori, hormones, and gluten sensitivity

14:23 Sugar, dairy, environmental toxins, stress, caffeine, and inflammation as acne triggers

18:54 Functional treatment case: acne and psoriasis improvement

20:24 Comprehensive psoriasis workup and hidden drivers

22:16 Challenges in nutrition and lifestyle research; clinical observation

23:08 Healthy skin diet: Mediterranean eating, protein, fats, fiber, polyphenols, and processed foods

24:26 Elimination diets and foundational nutrients for skin health

27:50 The impact of hormones on skin health and aging

31:57 Functional medicine case studies: psoriasis, arthritis, and gut-focused treatment

36:25 Skin aging: effects of nutrition, lifestyle, hormones, and topical care

39:52 Alcohol, oxidative stress, and collagen breakdown in aging

41:00 Collagen supplements and UV radiation impact on skin

46:00 Supporting skin mitochondria: mitophagy, sleep, stress, exercise, and supplements

49:52 Urolithin A, polyphenols, carotenoids, and Sponsor: Timeline, Biooptimizers, Peak

54:52 Reversing skin aging and the role of strength training

57:42 Sun protection strategies for skin longevity

59:11 Melanoma risk, sun exposure patterns, and vitamin D

1:00:26 Major drivers of skin aging: sun, smoking, sugar, sleep, stress, exercise, pollution

1:02:26 Retinoids, vitamin C, and advanced therapies for skin repair

1:08:45 Dr. Mamina’s skincare routine and ingredient safety

1:14:55 Chemical vs. mineral sunscreens and rapid-fire takeaways

1:17:28 Where to find Dr. Mamina and learn about DermClick

1:18:15 Dr. Hyman’s new book, health lessons, and daily self-care

1:19:43 Supporting the show, following Dr. Hyman, and podcast disclaimer

1:20:21 Finding practitioners, Ultra Wellness Center, and closing thanks

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