The Dr. Hyman Show

Latest Episodes:

The New Science of Brain Aging: What 200,000 scans reveal | Paul Thompson, PhD Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

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:

What your “brain age” means and how it can differ from your actual age
Why your metabolic health deserves attention when you’re struggling with mood or memory
How sleep and nutrition support your brain’s ability to function and recover
What having an Alzheimer’s risk gene does, and doesn’t, tell you about your future
How brain scans, blood tests, and AI could help identify the right treatment for you

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

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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 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

Do NOT Rely on Mammograms Alone — A Breast Cancer Survivor Doctor Explains What to Do Instead Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

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:

Why breast cancer is increasingly being diagnosed in younger women
The overlooked factors that may influence breast cancer risk beyond genetics and family history
How your gut health, hormones, and environmental exposures may be connected to breast cancer
What women should know about hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer risk
The screenings, tests, and everyday habits that can help you take a more proactive approach to breast health

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

Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (National Cancer Institute)
Dr. Boham's book, Breast Wellness: Tools to Prevent and Heal from Breast Cancer
Visit Dr. Boham's website and access her free guide, 15 Tips to Decrease Your Risk of Breast Cancer: DrBoham.com

Upcoming Free Webinar: A Functional Medicine Approach to Cancer Join the UltraWellness Center's upcoming UltraLearning Series webinar on Friday, October 23, at 12:00 PM ET. Dr. Elizabeth Boham, MD, FMCP-M, MS, RD, and licensed nutritionist Carly Leusner, MS, CNS, LDN, will explore how inflammation, insulin resistance, gut and immune health, environmental exposures, and other factors may influence cancer risk. They'll also share personalized nutrition and lifestyle strategies to support prevention, treatment, and recovery. This complimentary event includes a free guide to lowering cancer risk for every attendee. Register for the Free Webinar.

Work with the UltraWellness Center Interested in exploring a Functional Medicine approach to your health?

Submit a New Patient Inquiry to learn more about becoming a patient.
Schedule a Discovery Call directly with a New Patient Engagement Coordinator to book your Functional Medicine consultation.

Why Younger Women Are Getting Breast Cancer at Record Rates (And How to Reduce Your Risk) Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

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:

How to understand your breast cancer risk, even without a family history
What to ask about your breast density and screening options
Why irregular cycles, acne, and weight changes may be connected
Why painful periods shouldn’t be something you simply learn to live with
How to approach hormone replacement therapy with your personal risks and needs in mind

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

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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 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

How Do I Know If I Actually Need a Detox? The Signs Your Body Is Telling You Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

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:

Why you might feel tired, bloated, or foggy even when you think you're eating healthy
The surprising changes that can happen inside your body in just 10 days
Why the first few days of a dietary reset can be the hardest—and what happens next
The common foods that may be quietly contributing to inflammation, cravings, and metabolic dysfunction
What to eat during the 10-Day Detox and how to reintroduce foods afterward to identify your personal triggers

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:

Explore my 10-Day Detox, including recipes and meal plan, group coaching, and a supportive community: https://10daydetox.com Start your detox anytime! Complete Program members can also join our next group detox in January 2027.
The Blood Sugar Solution 10-Day Detox Diet by Dr. Mark Hyman

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

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. Vote Here

Why Your Skin Isn’t Healing: The Gut, Hormone & Inflammation Connection Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

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:

How damaged mitochondria contribute to skin aging, and how urolithin A may support healthier skin through mitochondrial renewal
How your gut health, hormones, and insulin resistance may be contributing to recurring acne and other skin concerns
How menopause changes your skin, and what to consider if it becomes drier, thinner, or less resilient
How strength training may benefit your skin alongside your muscles
Which skincare basics to prioritize before investing in newer treatments and supplements

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

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 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

The Supplements, Foods, and Habits I Use to Stop a Cold Before It Starts Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

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:

Why some people get sick constantly while others seem far more resilient
What actually weakens your immune system long before symptoms show up
What I personally do at the first sign of a cold or flu
The most important habits and nutrients for supporting immune function through the winter

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 Expert: This Is Why Eat Less, Exercise More Never Works Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

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:

Why eating less and exercising more may not lead to lasting weight loss, and what to focus on instead
How to choose foods that work with your appetite, metabolism, and microbiome rather than relying on calorie counting
What GLP-1 medications can teach all of us about hunger, cravings, and why weight isn’t simply about willpower
How much protein you actually need and why the source matters
What the science says about seed oils and which processed foods are worth avoiding

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

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 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

The 5 Biggest Longevity Myths—and What to Do Instead Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

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:

The common longevity goal that may actually work against you as you get older
Why the “perfect” supplement stack can’t replace the habits that matter most
The mistake people make when they try to keep their body in constant repair mode
What the science really says about red wine, genetics, and the factors that shape how you age

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

Why Willpower Fails: The Psychology of Food, Cravings, and Weight Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

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:

Why you may reach for food when what you really need is rest, comfort, or a break
How to pause before an automatic food choice and figure out what’s driving it
How rigid food rules can turn one choice into a cycle of guilt and overeating
How GLP-1s can quiet food noise, and what they can’t change about your relationship with food
How to build other ways to cope when food has become your go-to response to stress

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

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, 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

A Doctor's Honest Guide to The Grocery Store (What's Worth Worrying About) Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

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

Which food-safety risks actually deserve your attention—and which ones may be creating more fear than necessary
How to think about organic produce, pesticides, recalls, and foodborne outbreaks without avoiding healthy foods altogether
What labels like grass-fed, organic, pasture-raised, wild-caught, and farm-raised really tell you—and what they don’t
The hidden exposures that can come from packaged foods, plastics, cookware, and even common mistakes in your own kitchen

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:

Check current food recalls and outbreak updates from the FDA and CDC
Explore the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen™ to help decide where buying organic may be most worthwhile: https://www.ewg.org
Learn more about lower-mercury seafood choices through the FDA and EPA guidance
Listen to my conversation with Autumn Smith of Paleovalley for a deeper dive into meat labels, sourcing, and food quality

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