The Dr. Hyman Show

The way we grow food now is destroying our ability to grow it in the future. And the way we’re growing it now is making us sicker and more broke than ever before. Food is our #1 killer, even more so than smoking and guns.Our government supports the overproduction of the top crops for processed foods—corn, soy, and wheat—and Big Food reaps the benefits by turning them into sugary, starchy, highly addictive foods that cause chronic diseases. Diseases that are killing us and could be prevented.

This all comes down to our food system. The way food is grown, transported, processed, consumed, and wasted in our country is contributing to these problems and so much more—especially some of our most urgent ones like climate change. That’s why I wrote my new book Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities, and Our Planet—One Bite at a Time. And today on The Doctor’s Farmacy I’m excited to trade places and be the interviewee with my good friend, business partner, and host of The Broken Brain Podcast, Dhru Purohit. When I got very sick decades ago, I took on the mission to use Functional Medicine to help myself and my patients get over needless suffering. There are so many things we can do to prevent unnecessary health struggles and related deaths, and food is one of the most powerful.

This episode is brought to you by Thrive Market. Thrive Market has made it so easy for me to stay healthy, even with my intense travel schedule. Not only does Thrive offer 25 to 50% off all of my favorite brands, but they also give back. For every membership purchased, they give a membership to a family in need, and they make it easy to find the right membership for you and your family. You can choose from 1-month, 3-month, or 12-month plans. And right now, Thrive is offering all Doctor's Farmacy listeners a great deal, you’ll get up to $20 in shopping credit when you sign up, to spend on all your own favorite natural food, body, and household items. And any time you spend more than $49 you’ll get free carbon-neutral shipping. All you have to do is head over to thrivemarket.com/Hyman.

Here are more of the details from our interview: 

• When I realized I had to get out of the doctor’s office to get my patients healthy (11:12)

• Who is most affected by our food system? (14:06)

• The lack of nutrition guidelines in our Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps (23:21)

• How the way we grow food is destroying our ability to grow food in the future (30:54)

• The connection between our food system and climate change, as both a cause and a solution (35:21)

• The solution to food waste (47:53)

• Why your participation is needed to bring about global food policy shifts (52:49)

• How my early life experiences and education led to my advocacy energy and interest in social justice and spirituality (58:18)

• The biggest threat to global economic development (1:08:12

• How starting at the seed level solves all of our global crises (1:12:09)

Visit foodfixbook.com for more information about my new book, Food Fix, and for bonus material including the Food Fix Action Guide and my Longevity Masterclass.

Money is corrupting science, our government’s food policies, and the media. So where is this money coming from? There is a multi-trillion dollar global food industry that is growing, processing, manufacturing, marketing, and serving food like substances that are making us sick and fat. They are cheap to make and rake in big profits for ”Big Food” which is furiously promoting false science. And many of the nutrition myths that are prevalent today were spread like propaganda by the food industry.

Taxpayers are footing the bill for the growing of processed foods (through agricultural subsidies for the raw materials of processed food—namely wheat, corn, and soy), and for providing the poor quality processed food and soda to the poor (through our food stamps program). Then, we also pay for the costs of obesity and chronic disease caused by that food through Medicaid and Medicare. Not to mention the costs of soil degradation, depletion of our water supplies, climate change, and the widespread damage to humans and ecosystems from pesticides. This is because the food industry lobbyists push policies that use our tax dollars against us.  

Dr. Hyman talks about all this and more in this mini-episode. Learn more about these topics and the actions we can take for more transparency from the government and corporations in Dr. Hyman's new book, Food Fix. FoodFixBook.com

Tapping into our own intuition can be extremely powerful when it comes to creating our optimal health. It is a tool available to each of us, any time of day, any day of the week—we just have to take the time to listen and be willing to dig deeper. We are all unique when it comes to the precise ingredients we need to create health and at the end of the day, your body is the smartest doctor in the room—it will tell you what works and what doesn’t—if you simply observe and listen. Dr. Hyman explored this topic in interviews with Dr. Cynthia Li and Dr. Andrea Pennington.

Dr. Cynthia Li received her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. She’s practiced as an internist in many settings, including Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, San Francisco General Hospital, and St. Anthony Medical Clinic serving the homeless. She currently has a private practice in Berkeley, CA and recently published her first book, Brave New Medicine: A Doctor’s Unconventional Path to Healing Her Autoimmune Illness.

Dr. Andrea Pennington is an integrative physician, acupuncturist, meditation teacher, and #1 international bestselling author. She received her Doctor of Medicine from Washington University School of Medicine, trained at Georgetown University Hospital, and received certification in Age Management Medicine with the Cenegenics Medical Institute. She created a holistic media platform, In8Vitality, to teach people how to blend ancient wisdom and modern science for enhanced vitality and life mastery. In her latest book, The Real Self Love Handbook, she explores her personal journey from depression to real self-love and how The Cornerstone Process, a 5-step self-discovery framework, is setting people free from the drama of past trauma.

Tune into Dr. Hyman’s full-length conversation with Dr. Cynthia Li: https://DrMarkHyman.lnk.to/CynthiaLi

Tune into Dr. Hyman’s full-length conversation with Dr. Andrea Pennington: https://DrMarkHyman.lnk.to/DrAndreaPennington

Fish is one of the most nutritious food sources on the planet, especially when it comes to protein. But I’m usually scared to eat it. That’s because some seafood is at risk for toxicity that can harm our health, not to mention certain aquaculture methods are contributing to declining populations and even the acidification of our oceans. It’s not all bad, but it is complex. There are several important things we should think about in order to reap the health benefits from fish and act as environmental stewards at the same time. 

To better understand seafood I sat down to talk with Paul Greenberg for this week’s episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy. Paul is the bestselling author of Four Fish, American Catch, and The Omega Principle. A regular contributor to the New York Times and many other publications, Mr. Greenberg is the writer-in-residence at the Safina Center, a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation and the recipient of a James Beard Award for Writing and Literature. He appears frequently on American and international radio and television programs and is the featured correspondent and co-writer of the 2017 PBS Frontline documentary The Fish On My Plate which, along with his TED talk, has reached millions of viewers.

This episode is brought to you by ButcherBox. ButcherBox is committed to humanely raised animals that are never given antibiotics or added hormones and since they take out the middleman you get extra savings. Right now ButcherBox has a special offer, get 2lbs of wild-caught Alaskan sockeye salmon and 2 grass-fed filet mignon steaks for free in your first order PLUS $20 off your first box - just go to ButcherBox.com/farmacy. Make sure you order before February 25, 2020 to take advantage of this great deal.

Here are more of the details from our interview: 

• Why I’m scared to eat fish and why Paul is optimistic about our oceans (6:55)

• Overfishing and the declining fish population around the world (17:57)

• How our monoculture is leading to the creation of dead zones in our waters (25:48)

• Pros and cons of aquaculture (27:26)

• The nutritional value and toxin levels of farmed salmon (31:37)

• The decline of our oceans from an environmental point of view and the death of phytoplankton (38:36)

• The most effective way to test for mercury exposure (44:10)

• The best types of fish for you to eat (53:13)

• Fish oil, omega-3 deficiency, and veganism (1:00:47)

• The issue of microplastics in the ocean (1:15:44)

• Learn more about Paul Greenberg at www.paulgreenberg.org and watch his TED talk at https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_greenberg_the_four_fish_we_re_overeating_and_what_to_eat_instead.

• Follow him on Facebook @fourfish, on Instagram @4fishgreenberg, and on Twitter @4fishgreenberg.  

• Resources:

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) https://www.msc.org/home 

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) https://www.asc-aqua.org/ 

Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) https://www.bapcertification.org/ 

Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch https://www.seafoodwatch.org/

Greenpeace’s Carting Away the Oceans Report: 2018 Supermarket Seafood Ranking https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/research/carting-away-the-oceans-10/

Seek out a “Community Supporting Fishery” or CSF through www.localcatch.org 

What is the true cost of what we’re eating to society, humans, to our natural resources, our natural capital and economies?
 Looking past sticker price, what is the cost when we consider the benefit or burden that food has on your health, our environment, our climate, our farmworkers, the economy, and so much more. ⁣

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Our food system drives the production of processed food which is the biggest killer on the planet, killing 11 million people a year. The biggest expenditure of the U.S. government is Medicare, and the Medicare trust fund is projected to run out of money by 2025 from dealing with the chronic illnesses caused by our food. ⁣

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Our food system is also causing a loss of biodiversity, which is essential to growing nutritious food. Conventional farming practices that rely on agricultural chemical inputs, over-tilling, nitrogen fertilizers, monoculture, deforestation, and more, contribute to a massive loss of biological diversity on the planet.⁣ In fact, we’re currently experiencing the most extreme loss of life on Earth since the extinction of the dinosaurs. This has major consequences for our food security, as we have less fertile soil, a decline in pollinators essential for food production, and other direct food losses like fish from polluted waterways. ⁣

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The good news is we can solve this issue together. ⁣

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Dr. Hyman speaks to all of these topics in this episode featuring topics from his new book, Food Fix, which is out on February 25th. Visit FoodFixBook.com⁣ to learn more.

Regenerative farming takes a clear approach to agriculture, in that it’s not just about sustaining the land in its current state, it’s about bringing it back to its original, vibrant state. This creates greater biodiversity, more nutrients, stronger soils, and healthier food. Regenerative farming encompasses numerous practices that benefit the soil in which crops are being farmed. It is about being minimally invasive and supporting natural symbiotic relationships, so that bacteria in the soil, grazing cattle, and everything in between, are working together. In this mini-episode, Dr. Hyman sits down with Miriam Horn as she shares the story of a midwest soil farmer who is using regenerative practices to restore his land back to its original Prairie state.

Miriam Horn works at the Environmental Defense Fund and is a New York Times best-selling author. Her books include, Rebels in White Gloves, Coming of Age with Hillary's Class, Wellesley '69, Earth: The Sequel, The Race to Reinvent Energy Stop Global Warming, which was co-authored with the Environmental Defense Fund president Fred Krupp, and Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman: Conservation Heroes of the American Heartland.

Tune into Dr. Hyman’s full-length conversation with Miriam Horn: https://DrMarkHyman.lnk.to/MiriamHorn

You are the creator of your mind, body, and universe. Our experience of the world, our identity, and our physical reality are based on our learned perceptions. But when we get aware of our own awareness and ask ourselves some important questions, we can break down false beliefs of our own experience in this life to end suffering and find infinite joy and possibility. If this sounds pretty deep, it is. But as my guest on this week’s episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy explains it can actually be quite simple. 

Dr. Deepak Chopra is the founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on wellbeing and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego. He is the author of over 89 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. His 90th book and national bestseller, Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential, unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. 

This episode is brought to you by Nutpods. Nutpods is a really tasty dairy-free, unsweetened, plant-based creamer. They have an original blend to replace your classic creamer, or other great flavors like hazelnut, french vanilla, and caramel. Head over to nutpods.com/hyman for a chance to win a free Variety 4 pack from Nutpods, and be sure to keep an eye on your email after entering, as Nutpods is offering a special discount only for my listeners. 

Here are more of the details from our interview: 

• What is the universe made of and how do we know? (6:51)

• The basis of conscious experience, how we know that anything exists, and the effects of this on our identity (12:57)

• How our learned perceptions create our reality (17:41)

• The five reasons humans suffer according to the great wisdom traditions of the world (20:44)

• The four things that create all experiences (24:32)

• The questions you can ask yourself to break out of your conditioned mind and contribute to a collective awakening (27:55)

• The phenomenon of synchronicity (33:25)

• Applying consciousness to the understanding that we are never actually alone (43:35)

• The question to ask yourself next time you’re stressed (57:22)

• Learn more about Deepak Chopra’s book Metahuman at http://www.deepakchopra.com/metahuman and follow him on Facebook @DeepakChopra, on Instagram @DeepakChopra, and on Twitter @DeepakChopra.

Our children’s future is threatened by an achievement gap caused in large part by their inability to learn on a diet of processed foods and sugar served in schools.⁣⁣

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We are feeding our kids a diet that is making them anti-social in their behavior, promoting trouble focusing/ADD, and resulting not only in significant weight gain and health issues, but also in depression and mental health issues. ⁣

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Most schools now only have deep fryers and microwaves and serve up industrial food-like-substances prepared by corporations, not by humans. Food companies also target children and minorities with billions in marketing of the worst “foods”.

We must put a stop to this. ⁣⁣

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Dr. Hyman talks about this issue and how how we can change the health of our children, ourselves, and our planet in his new book, Food Fix, out February 25. FoodFixBook.com

We all deal with trauma at some point in life, but the good news is we can address it and come out stronger using the right tools. Since trauma is kept in both the mind and body, it makes sense that modalities that tap into the mind-body connection are successful to produce long-lasting healing. In this mini-episode Dr. Hyman is joined by world-renowned expert in using mind-body medicine to heal depression, anxiety, and psychological trauma, Jim Gordon, to discuss how trauma affects the gut and why nutrition is part of his trauma-healing protocol to help the entire body heal. 

Dr. Jim Gordon is the author of The Transformation: Discovering Wholeness and Healing After Trauma and is a Harvard educated psychiatrist and a world-renowned expert in using mind-body medicine to heal depression, anxiety, and psychological trauma. He has worked with traumatized children and families in Bosnia, Gaza, Haiti, post-9/11 New York, and Parkland, among many other areas across the world facing tragedy and trauma. Dr. Gordon also works with veterans and active-duty military to address PTSD.

Tune into Dr. Hyman’s full-length conversation with Dr. Jim Gordon:

https://DrMarkHyman.lnk.to/DrJimGordon

We’re living in a more divisive time than ever before. I’m not just talking about politics—we’re at aggressive odds over everything from diet (vegan versus Paleo) to sports and we’re even seeing an escalation in road rage. There’s actually a reason this is happening. We’re disconnected. Social media is actually isolating us; we ignore the importance of sleep and nature; stress is at epidemic proportions. These lifestyle disconnects cause structural and functional disconnects in the brain that lead to more divisive and angry behavior. Our ability to make good decisions pretty much goes out the window. But it’s not too late to reverse these negative effects. I was so excited to sit down with my good friends Drs. David and Austin Perlmutter on The Doctor’s Farmacy to talk about these modern challenges and how we can detox the brain to restore better decision making and overall health. 

Dr. David Perlmutter is a Board-Certified Neurologist. His books have been published in 34 languages and include the #1 New York Times bestseller Grain Brain, The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs and Sugar, with over 1 million copies in print. Dr. Perlmutter’s new book Brain Wash, co-written with his son Austin Perlmutter, MD, was just released on January 14, 2020. Dr. Austin Perlmutter is a board-certified internal medicine physician. His academic focus is on understanding the decision-making process, how it is influenced by internal and external factors, and how it changes our health and illness outcomes. 

This episode is brought to you by ButcherBox and Brodo.

I’m always being asked how to source high-quality meat and seafood, so I want to share one of my favorite resources with you that I use to get quality protein in my own diet, ButcherBox. ButcherBox is currently offering listeners 2lbs of wild-caught Alaskan sockeye salmon PLUS $20 off your first box. Just go to ButcherBox.com/farmacy to take advantage of this great deal.

Bone broth has been getting a lot of hype in recent years, and for a good reason, it’s a super-healing food, rich in collagen protein, and it has powerful gut repairing compounds. It truly is food as medicine. You can now get Brodo bone broth delivered right to your door. Brodo is offering my listeners 15% off your first order with the promo code DRHYMAN. Just go to brodo.com and use the code at checkout. And if you subscribe to get bi-weekly or monthly resends you’ll save another 10-15%. 

Here are more of the details from our interview:

-How the prefrontal cortex acts as the adult in your brain (11:56)

-The way in which chronic stress rewires your brain and affects empathy and decision making (14:28)

-Regaining control of the ways in which our brains are being manipulated by media (18:15)

-How making bad food decisions affects the brain, drives inflammation, creates depression, and leads to more unhealthy decision making (27:39)

-How excessive social media use affects the brain (34:44)

-The fundamentally important and underrated role of sleep on the brain (42:57)

-Removing blame from our inability to make healthy decisions (48:27)

-Why healthcare providers need to reframe their perspective and approach to working patients who do not follow through with lifestyle changes (52:27)

-How Inflammatory food perpetuates impulsivity, aggression, and violence (1:01:29)

-Learn more about the book Brain Wash at brainwashbook.com

-Find Dr. David Perlmutter online at https://www.drperlmutter.com/ and follow him on Facebook @DavidPerlmutterMD, on Instagram @davidperlmutter, and on Twitter @DavidPerlmutter

-Follow Dr. Austin Perlmutter on Instagram @austinperlmutter and on Twitter @austinperlmd