Jay Shetty Podcast

Mark Hyman: THIS Hidden Toxin Is in 73% of Foods on Grocery Store Shelves!

Do you struggle to focus on simple tasks? Do you feel mentally “slowed down” during the day? Today, Jay welcomes back his dear friend and trailblazer in functional medicine, Dr. Mark Hyman. Mark Hyman, MD is the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Function Health, the fastest growing health company in the U.S. In this extremely vulnerable conversation, Mark recounts his near-death experience after a severe spinal infection left him unable to walk and fighting for his life. Despite decades of living and teaching optimal health, he suddenly found himself dependent on others for even the simplest tasks. Over the course of five determined months, Mark applied the very principles he has championed for years: nutritional excellence, disciplined daily movement, and an unshakable mindset. Not only did he make a full recovery, but came back stronger than ever at the age of 65, proving that the body’s innate healing capacity can be reignited at any stage of life. The conversation explores the critical role mindset plays in recovery and underscores the often-overlooked connection between diet, lifestyle, and overall well-being. Mark explains how chronic illness is frequently driven by hidden inflammation, fueled by ultra-processed foods, sugar, and environmental toxins. He breaks down the science behind his 10-Day Detox, a simple yet powerful reset proven to dramatically reduce symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and digestive distress. The discussion also delves into the growing prevalence of autoimmune conditions, the hidden epidemic of nutrient deficiencies, and why personalized health data is essential for identifying risks before they become life-threatening. In this interview, you'll learn: How to Rebuild Your Health After a Major Setback How to Use Mindset as Your Greatest Healing Tool How to Reduce Inflammation Through Diet How to Spot the Early Signs of Autoimmune Disease How to Use Food as Medicine Every Day How to Take Small Daily Steps Toward Lifelong Wellness Healing isn’t instant, but each intentional choice, a nourishing meal, a mindful moment, a restful night, builds momentum toward changes far greater than expected. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here. What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 01:33 Overcoming a Life-Threatening Health Crisis 05:39 What is the Key to Healing? 08:15 Breaking Free from Chronic Pain 09:52 The Powerful Tool That Can Reprogram Your Body 15:03 How Inflammation Silently Damages Your Health 18:51 The Hidden Dangers of Sugar Addiction 23:59 Transforming Health Through Functional Medicine 30:34 Why Autoimmune Diseases Are on the Rise 37:04 Signs Your Immune System Needs Help 40:51 Do You Have an Undiagnosed Autoimmune Condition? 42:41 A Simple 10-Day Reset for Your Body 48:06 The Secret to Healing: Treat the Root Cause 52:44 How AI Is Revolutionizing Healthcare 56:32 The Truth About the Chronic Disease Epidemic 57:55 Understanding How Your Body Really Works 59:02 Expanding Access to Quality Healthcare 01:00:56 The Case for Regulating Ultra-Processed Foods Episode Resources: https://drhyman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drmarkhyman/ https://www.facebook.com/drmarkhyman https://www.youtube.com/user/ultrawellness https://x.com/drmarkhyman https://www.pinterest.com/markhymanmd/ https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0045ARF5O https://www.functionhealth.com/a/jay-shetty https://www.instagram.com/jayshetty https://www.facebook.com/jayshetty/ https://x.com/jayshetty https://www.linkedin.com/in/shettyjay/ https://www.youtube.com/@JayShettyPodcast http://jayshetty.me

MHDr. Mark HymanguestJSJay Shettyhost

Aug 18, 2025·1h 12m·Watch on YouTube ↗

📖 CHAPTERS

1. 1

   Hidden toxic burden from birth: why modern health feels worse

   Mark Hyman opens with a startling claim about toxins found in newborns, setting up the episode’s theme: chronic illness is driven more by modern exposures than bad luck. Jay frames Hyman’s work around root-cause, food-as-medicine thinking and why it matters now.

2. 2

   Near-death spine infection and the long road back

   Hyman recounts a decades-long back injury that escalated into a spinal infection after a common pain-relief injection. A failed initial surgery and sepsis nearly killed him, until an emergency second opinion and high-risk surgery saved his life.

3. 3

   Rebuilding at 65: the practical recovery playbook

   After surgery, Hyman describes being unable to perform basic tasks and then rebuilding strength through disciplined daily actions. He emphasizes the compounding effect of consistent training, nutrition, and recovery practices over months.

4. 4

   The real “key to healing”: mindset, agency, and small steps

   Hyman argues that mindset is the most important driver of recovery—separating discouraging thoughts from reality and acting anyway. He connects this to the widespread experience of low-grade suffering (his “feel like crap” syndrome) and how people can climb out of it.

5. 5

   Food as biological code: the 10-day reset that changes symptoms fast

   Hyman presents food as the quickest tool to alter biology—gene expression, hormones, brain chemistry, immune function, and the microbiome. He outlines his “10-Day Detox” approach as an elimination-plus-addition reset that often yields rapid symptom reduction.

6. 6

   Ultra-processed foods (73% of shelves) and the most inflammatory ingredients

   This segment details what Hyman believes drives inflammation most: ultra-processed foods and high sugar/starch intake. He explains why additives are problematic and why grains/dairy can be reactive for some, especially when gut health is compromised.

7. 7

   Inflammation: the silent fire behind chronic disease and visceral fat

   Hyman distinguishes obvious inflammation (injury, infection) from chronic low-grade inflammation measurable via labs like CRP. He links visceral belly fat to inflammatory signaling and increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and accelerated aging.

8. 8

   Sugar addiction and metabolic dysfunction: why willpower isn’t enough

   Jay and Hyman discuss how sugar and starch can be addictive and culturally normalized, especially in sports and “hydration” products. Hyman contrasts ancestral exposure to modern intake and explains why refined carbs promote visceral fat and metabolic disease.

9. 9

   Testing over guessing: Function Health, biomarkers, and early detection

   Hyman and Jay pivot to the value of comprehensive lab testing and dashboards to spot disease earlier than symptoms. They argue most conventional care lacks key markers (insulin, ApoB) and that scalable testing can enable personalized prevention—including earlier cancer signals.

10. 10

    Why autoimmune disease is rising: gut disruption + modern exposures

    Hyman explains autoimmune disease growth as a multi-factor problem: changes in food production, microbiome disruption, chemicals, infections, stress, and gut permeability. He emphasizes ‘leaky gut’ and how additives like emulsifiers can contribute to immune confusion.

11. 11

    Immune resilience, nutrient gaps, and why supplements are often necessary

    Hyman outlines signs of weakened immunity and argues that modern diets and depleted soils create widespread nutrient insufficiency. He reframes supplements as “needed inputs” in today’s environment, citing common deficiencies like vitamin D and magnesium.

12. 12

    Spotting pre-autoimmune signals and preventing ‘sudden’ crises

    This chapter focuses on subtle symptoms that can hint at thyroid autoimmunity and other pre-autoimmune states. Hyman stresses that many major events (like heart attacks) are preceded by years of detectable changes, so early measurement and action are crucial.

13. 13

    Root-cause medicine in action: a psoriatic arthritis turnaround

    Hyman shares a case where a patient seeing multiple specialists improved dramatically after addressing gut dysbiosis and dietary triggers. The story illustrates his central claim: treating the underlying system dysfunction can resolve multiple diagnoses at once.

14. 14

    AI, medical education gaps, and the policy fight to regulate ultra-processed food

    Hyman argues the body’s complexity requires AI to synthesize science and personalize care, while medical training still under-teaches nutrition, microbiome, toxins, and systems thinking. He closes with policy momentum: reducing dyes/additives, improving labels, SNAP reforms, and shifting incentives for food companies.