Why Ultra-Processed Foods Are So Addictive

We often think that better health is just a matter of trying harder, but science tells a different story. On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I sit down with Arianna Huffington to explore why willpower isn’t enough—and what actually drives meaningful, lasting change. Arianna shares how her work with Thrive AI Health is helping people build better habits through microsteps, personalization, and community. Catch the full conversation on YouTube for a hopeful, science-backed look at behavior change. We cover: • How “too small to fail” microsteps can help you make real, lasting change • Smart strategies you can use to protect your energy and avoid burnout • Why feeling good might just start with sixty seconds and a reset • Ways to use tech as a supportive tool, not a source of stress If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to get healthier, this conversation is a reminder that feeling good is often closer than you think. 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, Timeline, Sunlighten, Pique and Paleovalley. Visit seed.com/hyman and use code 25HYMAN for 25% off your first month of Seed's DS-01® Daily Synbiotic. Support essential mitochondrial health and save 10% on Mitopure. Visit timeline.com/drhyman to get 10% off today. Visit sunlighten.com and save up to $1400 on your purchase with code HYMAN. Receive 20% off FOR LIFE + a free Starter Kit with a rechargeable frother and glass beaker at Piquelife.com/Hyman. Get nutrient-dense, whole foods. Head to paleovalley.com/hyman for 15% off your first purchase.

Not long ago, conditions like Alzheimer’s were rare, but today, nearly one in two people over 80 are diagnosed with it. In contrast, in places like the Amazon, dementia affects only about one in a hundred—highlighting how modern lifestyle plays a major role in brain health. The brain isn’t an isolated organ; it’s deeply influenced by diet, sleep, movement, stress, toxins, and emotional well-being. Many people who once struggled with brain fog, depression, or memory loss have experienced dramatic improvements by healing their bodies—addressing gut health, detoxifying harmful substances, optimizing nutrition, and supporting the brain’s energy systems. With the right tools, including targeted nutrients, lifestyle changes, and even therapies like breathwork or plant medicines, it’s now possible not only to protect the brain from decline but also to enhance clarity, focus, and resilience at any age. In this episode, I discuss, along with Dr. Daniel Amen and Alberto Villoldo, how the body and brain are intimately connected and how we can think and feel better when we address our overall health first. Dr. Daniel Amen is a physician, double board-certified psychiatrist, twelve-time NY Times bestselling author, and founder and CEO of Amen Clinics, with 10 US locations. Dr. Amen is the author of many books including the mega-bestseller Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, as well as The End of Mental Illness, Memory Rescue, Healing ADD, and Your Brain Is Always Listening. In March 2022, Tyndale will publish his new book, You, Happier: The 7 Neuroscience Secrets of Feeling Good Based on Your Brain Type.   Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D., is a medical anthropologist, psychologist and shaman, who studied the spiritual practices of the Amazon and the Andes for more than 30 years. While at San Francisco State University, he founded the Biological Self-Regulation Laboratory to study how the mind creates psychosomatic health and disease.  Founder of The Four Winds Society, he instructs individuals throughout the world in the practice of energy medicine. Dr. Villoldo has written numerous bestselling books, including Power Up Your Brain: The Neuroscience of Enlightenment (with David Perlmutter MD), Shaman, Healer, Sage; and WSJ bestseller One Spirit Medicine.   This episode is brought to you by BIOptimizers. Head to bioptimizers.com/hyman and use code HYMAN10 to save 10%. Full-length episodes can be found here: What Damages Your Brain And How To Reverse ItHow Creating A Healthy Brain Creates A Happy MindHow to “Grow a New Brain” for Lifelong Health

This is the full, unedited version of Dr. Hyman’s conversation with Daniel Schmachtenberger. The original episode was edited for pacing and clarity. This extended cut includes the entire four-hour dialogue as it happened — a deep dive into the systemic roots of chronic disease and the future of real prevention.

I recently sat down with Daniel Schmachtenberger, a strategist and founding voice behind The Consilience Project, to explore the deeper systems fueling today’s chronic disease epidemic. On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, Daniel shares a powerful perspective on how modern life impacts our health and what it will take to create lasting change. Here’s what we cover: • Why chronic disease today is largely “man-made” and what that actually means • How pollution, industrial systems, and healthcare itself are quietly driving illness • Why medical stats can be misleading and how to think beyond symptom management • What it will take to build a system that prioritizes prevention and real well-being This episode offers a rare lens on the systems shaping our well-being. I hope it sparks new insights and inspires action. 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 BON CHARGE, Big Bold Health, Paleovalley and AirDoctor. Head to boncharge.com and use code DRMARK for 15% off your order. Get 30% off HTB Immune Energy Chews at bigboldhealth.com and use code DRMARK30. Get nutrient-dense, whole foods. Head to paleovalley.com/hyman for 15% off your first purchase. Get cleaner air. Right now, you can get up to $300 off at airdoctorpro.com/drhyman.

Muscle plays a powerful role in keeping us healthy and living longer, but most people start losing it after age 30—and that loss can drive chronic disease and early aging. The good news is that strength training and eating enough protein can help prevent this decline, improve blood sugar control, and reduce the risk of issues like diabetes, dementia, heart disease, and depression. Muscle isn’t just for movement—it acts like an organ, releasing special compounds called myokines that fight inflammation and support everything from brain function to hormone balance. Resistance training also boosts mood, sharpens memory, strengthens immunity, and supports better sex hormone levels as we age. To get the most out of it, aim for strength training two to four times a week, and make sure you're getting enough high-quality protein—especially at your first and last meals of the day. In this episode, I discuss, along with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, why strength training, muscle, and protein intake are vital for a healthy metabolism, hormones, longevity, and much more. Dr. Gabrielle Lyon is board certified in family medicine and completed a combined research and clinical fellowship in geriatrics and nutritional sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.  She completed her undergraduate training in nutritional sciences at the University of Illinois. Dr. Lyon is a subject-matter expert and educator in the practical application of protein types and levels for health, performance, aging, and disease prevention. She has continued to receive mentorship from Dr. Donald Layman, Ph.D., over the course of two decades to help bring protein metabolism and nutrition from the bench to the bedside.  This episode is brought to you by BIOptimizers. Head to bioptimizers.com/hyman and use code HYMAN10 to save 10%. Full-length episodes can be found here: Why Weight Training Is Key to Longevity & Fighting Chronic Disease Top Muscle Health Secrets to Boost Longevity and Reverse Aging How To Get More Protein In Your Diet