The Dr. Hyman Show

What if one of the most powerful anti-aging tools wasn't a supplement, medication, or expensive biohack—but the way you exercise? While many people think of exercise as a way to lose weight or burn calories, its greatest benefits happen deep inside your cells.

In today's episode, I discuss:

The two most effective forms of exercise for healthy aging and longevity

What happens inside your cells when you challenge your muscles and cardiovascular system

The often-overlooked factor that can determine whether you stay strong and independent as you age

The minimum amount of exercise needed to support your muscles, metabolism, heart, and brain

How and why you should measure your VO2 max

Healthy aging isn't about finding the latest longevity hack—it's about consistently giving your body the signals it needs to adapt, grow stronger, and stay resilient.

Resources Mentioned:

Track your metabolic health with Function Health: https://functionhealth.com/mark (Use code MARK2026 for $50 off your membership.)

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

(0:00) The role of exercise, types of exercise, and debunking strength training and HIIT myths

(2:05) Mitochondria, aging, and chronic disease

(4:24) Movement, mitochondrial health, and essential types of movement for longevity

(5:54) Prioritizing strength training and muscle as a longevity organ after age 40

(8:17) Building a resilient immune system

(10:27) HIIT, VO2 max, and interval training routines

(13:24) Combining strength training and HIIT; starting from scratch and common questions

(15:17) Movement as medicine and closing remarks

Living with chronic illness can feel like collecting diagnoses without getting real answers. Symptoms are treated one at a time, but the underlying causes can easily be missed. What if asking a different question is the first step toward feeling better?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Richard Horowitz, an internationally recognized Lyme disease expert and author of the new book Ending Chronic Illness. After caring for thousands of patients over more than four decades, he explains why many seemingly unrelated conditions share common underlying drivers—and why thinking like a medical detective may help uncover them.

We discuss:

Why treating the diagnosis isn't always the same as treating the problem—and how to start looking deeper

How hidden infections, environmental toxins, gut health, and other overlooked factors can quietly drive chronic illness

What new research may reveal about the links between infection, inflammation, and brain health

How to begin uncovering what's really driving persistent symptoms

Our bodies are constantly communicating with us. The challenge isn't that they're silent—it's that we haven't always known how to listen. Sometimes finding better answers begins with asking different questions.

Continue Exploring

If you'd like to explore Dr. Horowitz's work further, here are two great places to start:

Take his Symptom Assessment Quiz to better understand what may be contributing to your symptoms.

Subscribe to his Medical Detective Substack ****for ongoing insights into chronic illness, Lyme disease, and root-cause medicine.

Interested in getting tested?

Many of the lab tests discussed in this episode are available through Function, making it easier to get a more comprehensive picture of your health.

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

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(0:00) Infections and toxins as root causes of chronic illness; Dr. Horowitz's background and journey to functional medicine

(5:37) Discovering and treating various infections, toxins, and Dr. Hyman's personal health story

(9:16) Root causes of chronic disease, inflammation, and testing for infections and toxins

(15:11) Sponsor: Seatopia and PerfectAmino

(16:42) Importance of diet, addressing multiple health factors, and autoimmune misdiagnosis

(19:26) Role of infections, toxins, microbiome, and leaky gut in autoimmune diseases and inflammation

(21:06) Treating underlying causes and neuroinflammation in chronic diseases

(24:37) Nutritional deficiencies, COVID-19, and the importance of sleep in chronic illness management

(30:19) Plant medicines, supplements, and dapsone in treating neuroinflammation, Lyme, and Alzheimer's

(41:30) Use of methylene blue in treatment protocols

(44:56) Sponsor: Bon Charge

(45:58) Sponsor: Made In

(46:43) Evolution of treatment protocols and six principal causes of inflammation

(50:18) Importance of adrenal function and hormone treatment in chronic illness

(52:17) Differential diagnosis vs. root cause analysis and root cause testing

(56:38) Horowitz's questionnaire and protocols for treating chronic infections

(58:39) Addressing mold-related health issues and Dr. Hyman's personal experience

(1:01:01) Mold testing, detoxification, and controversies in treatment

(1:07:47) Insurance challenges and HHS innovation grant for chronic illness research

(1:09:04) Importance of root cause medicine and Mark Hyman's upcoming book on longevity

(1:11:56) Personalized medicine, reversing Alzheimer's biomarkers, and research funding priorities

(1:15:02) Influence of Buddhist principles and personal experiences with chronic illness

(1:16:01) Hope for patients, resources for learning, and closing remarks

What if the fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, or mysterious symptoms you've been chasing for years weren't caused by stress, aging, or burnout—but by a tick bite you never even noticed? Lyme disease is one of the most misunderstood illnesses in medicine. But Lyme is rarely just one infection—it's often part of a much bigger picture involving co-infections, immune dysfunction, inflammation, gut health, and environmental triggers.

In today's episode, I walk through a functional medicine approach to Lyme disease and tick-borne illness, including:

Why Lyme disease is so often missed—and the hidden role of co-infections like Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma

The limitations of conventional testing and treatment, and how functional medicine looks beyond the infection to understand why some people recover while others remain chronically ill

The role of herbs, antibiotics, gut repair, detoxification, immune support, and mitochondrial health in a comprehensive recovery plan

What the latest evidence says about emerging therapies like ozone, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and hyperthermia—as well as practical strategies to prevent tick-borne illness in the first place

Lyme disease isn't always just an infection—it's often a whole-body disruption. By addressing the underlying drivers of inflammation, immune dysfunction, gut health, and cellular resilience alongside the infection itself, you give your body the best chance to heal and recover.

Resources Mentioned:

Track your metabolic health with Function Health: https://functionhealth.com/mark (Use code MARK2026 for $50 off your membership.)

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

(0:00) Introduction to Lyme disease, overview, and Dr. Hyman's experience

(4:13) Functional medicine's approach and comprehensive treatment strategies

(10:51) Innovative therapies for Lyme disease

(14:08) Managing die-off reactions and restoring gut health

(17:18) Supporting the immune and nervous systems; prevention strategies

(19:29) Future research, persistent symptoms, and conclusion

(21:15) Alzheimer's disease, neuroinflammation, and call to action

For decades, depression has often been described as the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. But how strong is the evidence behind that idea? This episode explores one perspective on an area of medicine that continues to be actively debated and is intended to encourage thoughtful discussion—not to provide individualized medical advice.

Today on The Dr. Hyman Show, I'm joined by psychiatrist and researcher Dr. Joanna Moncrieff to examine the science behind the serotonin theory and explore how it shaped modern mental health care. Together, we consider why rethinking our assumptions may open the door to a more complete understanding of depression and recovery.

We discuss:

• Whether depression is best understood through the lens of a chemical imbalance—or something far more complex

• How the serotonin theory shaped modern psychiatry and why it's increasingly being questioned

• What current research says about antidepressants, emotional numbing, and informed consent

• Why lifestyle, nutrition, trauma, and social connection deserve a larger role in supporting mental health

• How a more individualized, whole-person approach could change the way we think about depression and recovery

Mental health treatment is deeply personal, and this episode explores one perspective on an area of medicine that continues to evolve. If you're currently taking antidepressants or other prescription medications, don't stop or change your treatment based on this discussion alone. Instead, use it as a starting point for an informed conversation with your healthcare provider.

Learn More: Dr. Moncrieff recently participated in an FDA Expert Panel on SSRIs and Pregnancy. If you'd like to explore another perspective on the evidence discussed in this episode, you can watch the panel 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 BIOptimizers, fatty15, Rho, Paleovalley, Pique, and Big Bold Health.

Go to bioptimizers.com/hyman and use code HYMAN to save 15% off your order, plus get a free gift.

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(0:00) The impact of the chemical imbalance theory and myths of mental illness

(2:02) Disclaimers and introduction of Joanna Moncrieff

(3:00) The serotonin myth, antidepressant use, and marketing of SSRIs

(16:12) Risks, side effects, and wrong-headed approaches to mental health

(21:00) Societal, biological, and lifestyle factors in mental health

(27:13) Commercial determinants of health

(30:49) The rise and implications of psychedelic treatments in psychiatry

(43:21) Drug-centered vs. disease-centered models in mental health

(45:40) The role of the brain and alternative approaches to treating depression

(50:00) Addressing severe depression and strategies for deprescribing antidepressants

(54:41) Reframing mental health narratives and future outlook

(57:09) Encouraging self-education, debate, and discussion in medicine

(59:23) Closing remarks, disclaimers, and gratitude to sponsors

Do you hit a wall every afternoon around 2 or 3 p.m.? If your energy disappears, your brain gets foggy, and you need caffeine or sugar just to finish the day, it isn't a lack of willpower—it's a sign that something deeper is driving your energy crash. In this episode, I explain the three biggest drivers of the afternoon slump and the simple changes that can help you maintain steady energy all day long.

In today's episode, I discuss:

The three hidden causes of the afternoon energy crash

Why skipping breakfast, relying on coffee, sugary smoothies, or carb-heavy meals sets you up for an inevitable drop in energy later in the day

How to build meals with protein, healthy fats, and fiber to stabilize blood sugar and create lasting energy instead of quick spikes and crashes

Simple daily habits that can dramatically improve your energy and focus

That afternoon crash isn't something you have to accept as part of modern life. When you stabilize your blood sugar, support your body's natural rhythms, and reduce chronic stress, your energy becomes more consistent, your focus improves, and you stop relying on caffeine and willpower just to make it through the day.

Resources Mentioned:

Track your metabolic health with Function Health: https://functionhealth.com/mark (Use code MARK2026 for $50 off your membership.)

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

(0:00) Understanding the afternoon crash and blood sugar's role in energy

(4:36) Importance of circadian rhythm

(8:06) Environmental toxins and health

(9:36) Impact of stress on energy and caffeine use

(12:55) Rapid fire Q&A

(15:08) Key takeaways for steady energy