Why Weight Training Is Key to Longevity & Fighting Chronic Disease | Dr. Mark Hyman

Autoimmune disease is explored as a complex and rising health challenge driven largely by lifestyle and environmental factors rather than genetics alone. Conventional treatments often rely on immune-suppressing medications that manage symptoms but fail to address underlying causes like gut dysfunction, chronic infections, toxins, and stress. A functional medicine approach instead emphasizes identifying and treating these root causes—such as gluten sensitivity, dysbiosis, and nutrient deficiencies—through personalized diagnostics and anti-inflammatory diets. Case studies illustrate dramatic improvements in patients' symptoms and lab results when switching from conventional to root-cause-based care. Ultimately, this integrative model empowers individuals to reclaim health by addressing what triggers immune system dysfunction in the first place. In this episode, I discuss, along with Dr. Sunjya Schweig, Dr. Cindy Geyer, and Dr. Todd LePine the root cause approach to healing autoimmune conditions. Dr. Sunjya K. Schweig is dedicated to advancing data-driven approaches to prevent and reverse chronic illness. He is the Founder and President of the California Center for Functional Medicine (CCFM), where he and his team deliver personalized, precision care using innovative technology and a comprehensive team-based model. Since 2016, CCFM has also supported first responders through specialized wellness programs. In 2021, Dr. Schweig launched the Functional Medicine Research and Technology Center to further research, education, and innovation in chronic disease prevention. A graduate of UC Berkeley, he earned his MD from UC Irvine and completed his residency at UCSF Santa Rosa. He is board-certified in family practice and integrative and holistic medicine. Dr. Cindy Geyer received her bachelor of science and her doctor of medicine degrees, with honors, from the Ohio State University. She completed residency in internal medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. and is triple board certified in internal medicine, integrative medicine and lifestyle medicine. Dr. Todd LePine graduated from Dartmouth Medical School and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, specializing in Integrative Functional Medicine. He is an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner. Prior to joining The UltraWellness Center, he worked as a physician at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA, for 10 years. Dr. LePine’s focus at The UltraWellness Center is to help his patients achieve optimal health and vitality by restoring the natural balance to both the mind and the body. His areas of interest include optimal aging, bio-detoxification, functional gastrointestinal health, systemic inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and the neurobiology of mood and cognitive disorders. Dr. LePine enjoys skiing, kayaking, hiking, camping, and golfing in the beautiful Berkshires, and is a fitness enthusiast. 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: Healing Autoimmune Disease Using A Functional Medicine ApproachIs An Autoimmune Condition Driving Your Raynaud's Syndrome?What Really Causes Autoimmune Disease

This special bonus episode features Dr. George Papanicolaou from the UltraWellness Center, diving into how functional medicine approaches ADHD — and why the root cause is rarely just in the brain. In this conversation, Dr. Papanicolaou shares the story of a young woman struggling with ADHD symptoms that conventional medicine failed to resolve. Through a deeper investigation into gut health, nutrient deficiencies, mitochondrial dysfunction, and even genetics, Dr. Papanicolaou explains how addressing the body’s imbalances can dramatically improve focus, energy, and emotional regulation. You’ll learn: • Why ADHD is being diagnosed more than ever—and what you might be missing • How your gut health affects your brain, inflammation, and attention • Why nutrients like omega-3s, vitamin D, and magnesium are essential for cognitive health • How your genes and lifestyle work together to shape your brain health • What you can do—without medication—to support mental clarity and better focusThis is part of a limited bonus series spotlighting the work of the UltraWellness Center team, with new episodes dropping monthly on select Fridays. To learn more about the UltraWellness Center or inquire about becoming a patient, visit: https://ultrawellnesscenter.com

Dr. Jeff Bland has been a guiding force in my life—and in the world of Functional Medicine. For decades, his work has helped shift medicine away from naming and blaming disease, toward truly understanding and addressing its root causes. In this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, Jeff and I continue our conversation about how to turn the tide on chronic disease—starting with the immune system. We discuss: • How aging quietly weakens your immune system—and why you don’t have to accept it • How phytochemicals act as gene regulators—not just antioxidants • Why your diet might be accelerating immune dysfunction (and how to fix it) • Why Himalayan Tartary Buckwheat may be the most powerful food you’re not eating (yet) • What it means to rejuvenate your immune system—and how to start doing it today This conversation is personal for both of us—and a powerful reminder that when we care for the body, it has an incredible capacity to heal. View Show Notes From This EpisodeGet 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 Healthhttps://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detoxJoin the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Resultshttps://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive This episode is brought to you by BON CHARGE, Big Bold Health, Pique, PerfectAmino and AirDoctor. Go to boncharge.com and use code DRMARK to save 15% on your PEMF mat today. Try Omega-3 Rejuvenate®, visit bigboldhealth.com and use code DRMARK25 at checkout for 25% discount. Head to piquelife.com/hyman to get 20% off + a free beaker and frother today. Get pure essential amino acids today. Go to bodyhealth.com and use HYMAN20 to get 20% off your first order. Get cleaner air. Right now, you can get up to $300 off at airdoctorpro.com/drhyman.

Many chronic health conditions—such as IBS, asthma, and autoimmune disorders—can be traced back to imbalances in the gut. Disruptions to the microbiome caused by antibiotics, poor diet, food sensitivities, and environmental exposures can lead to inflammation, malabsorption, and increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut). Addressing gut health through a structured Functional Medicine approach called the 5R’s of gut repair—removing harmful triggers, replacing missing digestive factors, reinoculating with beneficial bacteria, repairing the gut lining, and rebalancing lifestyle factors—can restore balance and improve systemic health.  In this episode, I discuss, along with Dr. Elizabeth Boham and Raja Dhir, the Functional Medicine approach to healing the gut and why the gut is at the center of imbalances in the body, including many health conditions. Dr. Elizabeth Boham is Board Certified in Family Medicine from Albany Medical School, and she is an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner and the Medical Director of The UltraWellness Center. Dr. Boham lectures on a variety of topics, including Women’s Health and Breast Cancer Prevention, insulin resistance, heart health, weight control and allergies. She is on the faculty for the Institute for Functional Medicine. Raja Dhir is the co-founder and co-CEO of Seed Health, a microbiome science company developing innovative probiotics and living medicines to advance human and planetary health. He specializes in translating cutting-edge microbial research into impactful products and leads Seed Health’s academic collaborations with institutions such as MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, and the NIH. Raja co-chairs Seed’s Scientific Board alongside Dr. Jacques Ravel, guiding research across microbiology, immunology, genetics, and ecology. He also directs LUCA Biologics, a company focused on the vaginal microbiome and women's health, and oversees SeedLabs, which drives environmental initiatives. Through this work, Raja plays a key role in accelerating microbiome-based solutions from discovery to market. 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 Is Leaky Gut And How Can You Treat It?How to Select a Probiotic and the Future of the MicrobiomeHow To Do The 10-Day Detox

Dr. Jeff Bland has been called the father of Functional Medicine—and for good reason. His groundbreaking work helped shift our understanding of chronic disease and inspired a generation of doctors  to look beyond symptoms and toward root causes. On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I sit down with Jeff to talk about what he’s learned from more than 50 years of studying the science of health, aging, and disease prevention. We explore: • Why your biology is not predetermined by your genes—and how to unlock your full potential • What Jeff’s own health journey reveals about inflammation, biomarkers, and aging well • How what you eat can shape everything from inflammation to longevity • Long-term disease risk is shaped by what surrounds you—and how your body responds Tune in for an insightful conversation with one of my greatest mentors—and discover how science, curiosity, and personal agency can help you live a longer, healthier 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=podcastSign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal https://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcastJoin the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Health https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detoxJoin the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Resultshttps://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive This episode is brought to you by Seed, BON CHARGE, Timeline, Paleovalley, and AirDoctor. Visit seed.com/hyman and use code 25HYMAN for 25% off your first month of Seed's DS-01® Daily Synbiotic. Go to boncharge.com and use code DRMARK to save 15% on your PEMF mat today. Support essential mitochondrial health and save 10% on Mitopure. Visit timeline.com/drhyman to get 10% off today. 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.