Is HRT Safe? 10 Questions Women Ask Most — Answered by a Functional MD

Why Your Cholesterol Is High—and How to Start Fixing It in 10 Days

High cholesterol is one of the most common reasons people are told they’re at risk for heart disease. But what if cholesterol isn’t the root problem? What if it’s actually a signal of deeper metabolic dysfunction—and focusing on the number alone causes us to miss what’s really driving cardiovascular risk? In today’s episode, we explore a functional medicine approach to cholesterol and heart health, including: * Why high cholesterol is often a downstream effect of insulin resistance, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction * The surprising role sugar, refined carbohydrates, and ultra-processed foods play in driving unhealthy cholesterol patterns * How healthy fats, protein, fiber, and gut health influence cholesterol regulation and cardiovascular risk * The nutrition and lifestyle changes that can improve metabolic health—and begin shifting key biomarkers in as little as 10 days When it comes to cholesterol, the better question isn’t always, "How do I lower this number?" It’s, "Why is it elevated in the first place?" By addressing the root causes—from blood sugar imbalance and inflammation to diet, movement, sleep, and stress—you can improve not just your cholesterol, but the underlying metabolic health that drives long-term cardiovascular risk. Resources Mentioned: * Learn more about the 10-Day Detox: https://bit.ly/3PIUoxf [https://bit.ly/3PIUoxf] * Listen to my full conversation with Dr. Aseem Malhotra: https://bit.ly/4x5wEUR [https://bit.ly/4x5wEUR] * Track your metabolic and cardiovascular health biomarkers: functionhealth.com/mark [http://functionhealth.com/mark] for 160+ lab tests at just $365/year. Use code MARK2026 for $50 off. Have a question you'd love answered on Office Hours? Submit it here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNF2y4lFWEOMLlzVNlFDpJ4xl7oOpH9NlImMoHr5mHggL_Ww/viewform?usp=header] (0:25) Introduction (1:11) Understanding and Addressing Cholesterol with Functional Medicine (2:20) Metabolic Dysfunction, Health Reset, and Dietary Recommendations (8:07) Example Daily Meal Plan and Importance of Movement (12:46) Sleep, Stress, and Supplements for Cholesterol (14:27) Cardiovascular Risk Insights and Dr. Asim Malhotra Clip (20:30) Closing Remarks, Listener Engagement, and Social Media (21:57) Disclaimer, Medical Guidance, and Gratitude to Sponsors

Antidepressants Explained: Benefits, Risks, and Alternatives for Depression | Dr. James Greenblatt

Depression is often treated as a single condition. But two people with the same diagnosis can have completely different underlying causes. On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I’m rejoined by Dr. James Greenblatt to explore why depression may be less of a disease and more of a signal that something deeper is going on. We discuss how a root-cause approach can uncover what’s driving symptoms and why finding what’s beneath them matters. Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. We discuss: * Could nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, or gut issues be contributing to symptoms of depression * What tests can help uncover the biological factors that may be affecting mood and mental health * Why can two people with depression have different root causes—and require different solutions * How do blood sugar imbalances, hormone changes, and metabolic health influence the brain * What should you know about antidepressants, tapering, and addressing the factors that may affect recovery Hope doesn't come from ignoring symptoms—it comes from understanding them. Sometimes the most important question isn't "What's wrong with me?" but "What might my body be trying to tell me?" One of the key themes in this conversation is that mental health is deeply connected to what's happening throughout the body. In my Brainshaping Academy [https://drhyman.com/products/brainshaping], you'll learn how to support the biological systems that shape cognitive, emotional, and mental well-being. View Show Notes From This Episode [https://drhyman.com/blogs/content/podcast-ep1147] Depression symptoms aren’t always just “in your head.” Dr. Hyman’s Brainshaping Academy shows how your gut, immune system, and nutrient levels may be responsible—and what you can do about it. → https://drhyman.com/products/brainshaping?utm_source=dr_hyman_show&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=may_27&utm_content=link [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/picks/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=shownotes] https://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast [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/longevity/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=shownotes] https://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast [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] https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox [https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox] Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Results [https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive] https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive [https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive] This episode is brought to you by Seed, Made In Cookware, Perfect Amino, BON CHARGE, and Big Bold Health. Go to seed.com/hyman [http://seed.com/hyman] and use code 20HYMAN to get 20% off your first month. Visit madeincookware.com [http://madeincookware.com] and use code HYMAN10 for 10% off your order. Go to bodyhealth.com [http://bodyhealth.com] and use code HYMAN20 to get 20% off your first order. Head to boncharge.com/hyman [http://boncharge.com/hyman] and use code HYMAN for 15% off. Go to bigboldhealth.com/drhyman [http://bigboldhealth.com/drhyman] and use code HYMAN15 to save 15% on your first order. (0:00) Antidepressants, Cooking at Home, and Introducing the Brain Shaping Academy (3:14) Prevalence of Depression and Personal Stories (4:27) Exploring Root Causes of Depression (5:07) Influential Figures and Orthomolecular Psychiatry (12:29) Gut Health, Gluten Sensitivity, and Brain Inflammation (20:22) Neuroinflammation and Root Causes of Depression (22:10) Biomarkers, Hormonal Imbalances, and Insulin Resistance (25:34) The Role of Toxins and Diagnostic Testing (31:15) Case Studies and Patient Stories (34:29) Challenges in the Mental Health System (37:05) Effectiveness of Antidepressants and Patient Resistance (43:17) Role and Need for Nutritional Lithium (45:00) Sponsor: Big Bold Health (46:00) Identifying Nutritional Lithium Need (47:13) Integrating Modalities and Supplements vs. Medications (48:04) Psychotherapy Methods and Addressing Root Causes (49:34) Dr. Greenblatt's Book and the Finding a Living Platform (51:03) Systematic Approach and Global Impact of Depression (52:39) Sharing, Disclaimer, and Closing Remarks

The Perfect Morning Routine for a Longer, Sharper Life | Dr. Mark Hyman

Morning routines have become one of the most talked-about topics in health and wellness—but it’s not just about productivity or checking boxes. How you start your morning has a direct biological impact on your brain, your energy, your metabolism, and even how well you sleep at night. Yet, so many people inadvertently sabotage their biology first thing in the morning with dopamine hits, sugar, and stress. In today’s episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my morning routine to share the science-backed, foundational habits I use every day, including: * What morning sunlight, hydration, and movement actually do to reset your internal clock and regulate your hormones * A step-by-step breakdown of my personal daily flow, including electrolyte rehydration, full-spectrum light glasses, qigong, and meditation * The exact longevity ingredients I put into my morning "medicine shake" * How to maintain consistency on the road with non-negotiable travel habits A powerful morning routine isn’t about creating a perfect, complicated schedule—it's about doing the right things consistently. The key is starting simple with just one or two small habits that compound over time, giving you the grounded foundation you need to show up as the CEO of your own health. Visit ⁠functionhealth.com/mark [https://www.functionhealth.com/mark] for 160+ lab tests at just $365 a year. Use code mark 2026 for $50 off. Want to learn how healing your body can help heal your mind? Sign up for the Brain Shaping Academy HERE [https://drhyman.com/discount/EARLYBIRD?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fbrainshaping&utm_campaign=d0a17f&utm_source=discount_shareable_link]. Have a question you’d love answered on Office Hours? Submit it here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNF2y4lFWEOMLlzVNlFDpJ4xl7oOpH9NlImMoHr5mHggL_Ww/viewform?usp=header]

Millions of Women Stopped Taking Hormones Because of a Misread Study | Dr. Sharon Malone

For far too long, many women have been told their symptoms were normal, exaggerated, or simply something they had to live with—treated as isolated problems instead of part of a much larger hormonal transition happening inside the body. On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I’m joined by Dr. Sharon Malone, host of The Second Opinion podcast and Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women’s Health. We discuss how menopause and hormone therapy became so misunderstood, the real story behind the Women’s Health Initiative study, and why a more individualized, prevention-focused approach to women’s health is long overdue. Watch the full conversation on YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. We explore: * Why so many women enter perimenopause completely unprepared—and how symptoms can begin years before menopause officially starts * What the Women’s Health Initiative actually found, and how one medical narrative reshaped women’s healthcare for decades * How menopause affects far more than reproduction, including the brain, heart, sleep, metabolism, and bone health * What you should know about hormone therapy today, including timing, individualized treatment, and understanding risk in context * The daily habits that still matter most for healthy aging, whether or not you choose hormone therapy Midlife health should never be reduced to “just deal with it.” The more women understand what’s happening inside their bodies, the earlier they can take steps to protect their long-term health and quality of life. View Show Notes From This Episode [https://drhyman.com/blogs/content/podcast-ep1145] Sign up for Dr. Hyman’s Brainshaping Academy to learn how to nourish the biological systems that support your mental, emotional, and cognitive health - ⁠Click Here⁠ [https://drhyman.com/discount/EARLYBIRD?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fbrainshaping&utm_campaign=d0a17f&utm_source=discount_shareable_link] Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman [https://drhyman.com/picks/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=shownotes] https://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast [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/longevity/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=shownotes] https://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast [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] https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox [https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox] Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Results [https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive] https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive [https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive] This episode is brought to you by Paleovalley, Pique, Perfect Amino, Rho, Sunlighten and BIOptimizers. Head to paleovalley.com/hyman [http://paleovalley.com/hyman] to save 15% off your first order today. Secure 20% off your order plus a free starter kit at piquelife.com/hyman [http://piquelife.com/hyman]. Go to bodyhealth.com [http://bodyhealth.com/] and use code HYMAN20 to get 20% off your first order. Head over to rhonutrition.com [http://rhonutrition.com/] and use code HYMAN to get 20% off their entire product line. Visit sunlighten.com [http://sunlighten.com/] and use code HYMAN to save up to $1600 today! Head to bioptimizers.com/hyman [http://bioptimizers.com/hyman] and use promo code HYMAN at checkout to save 15%. (0:00) Introduction, survey on hormone use, and Dr. Sharon Malone’s expertise   (4:04) Importance of women's health research and historical neglect   (5:35) Lack of education and preparation for menopause   (6:28) Societal and historical biases in women's health   (9:05) Observational studies vs. randomized controlled trials   (13:30) Life cycles, hormonal changes, and stages in women   (19:26) Detailed stages of hormonal changes and perimenopause   (23:00) Misdiagnosis and definition of menopause   (25:02) The term "postmenopausal" and its significance   (26:34) Impact of menopause on organ systems and major symptoms   (31:19) Lifestyle factors and hormone therapy options   (39:25) Black box warning, Women’s Health Initiative, and therapy timing   (45:00) Women's Health Initiative findings and breast cancer risk   (47:57) Reinterpreting breast cancer risk and black box warning   (53:21) Personalized hormone therapy and clinical diagnosis   (59:55) Importance of estrogen and bioidentical vs. synthetic hormones   (1:03:35) Addressing sexual health and testosterone use for women   (1:08:05) FDA-approved peptides for women’s arousal disorder   (1:09:57) Long-term benefits of hormone therapy   (1:12:43) Early menopause, hormone therapy, and health impacts   (1:15:07) Estrogen’s role in brain health and dementia prevention   (1:16:22) Alzheimer’s risk in women and hormonal

Is HRT Safe? 10 Questions Women Ask Most — Answered by a Functional MD

Hormone replacement therapy is one of the most talked about—and misunderstood—topics in women’s health. For years, women were told HRT was dangerous. Now, the conversation is shifting, but many are still left confused about what’s actually safe, when to start, and whether hormones are even right for them. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Cindy Geyer from my clinic, The UltraWellness Center [https://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com/], to answer the most common questions we received from our audience about hormone replacement therapy, including: * What the latest research actually says about the safety of HRT—including breast cancer and cardiovascular risk * Why timing matters and the critical “window of opportunity” around perimenopause and menopause * The difference between bioidentical hormones, synthetic hormones, compounded options, and patches vs. oral therapy * How hormones impact sleep, brain fog, weight distribution, insulin resistance, libido, bone health, and healthy aging * Natural strategies that can support hormone balance alongside—or without—HRT, including nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, and targeted supplements * How functional medicine personalizes hormone therapy through testing, estrogen metabolism, gut health, genetics, and lifestyle factors Menopause is not just a hormone issue—it’s a full-body metabolic transition. And hormone therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. The key is understanding your biology, your symptoms, and your long-term health goals so you can make informed decisions that support vitality, resilience, and healthy aging. Visit ⁠functionhealth.com [http://xn--functionhealth-f63h.com/] for 160+ lab tests at just $365 a year. Want more on brain health? Sign up for the Brain Shaping Academy HERE [https://bit.ly/42U8Y85]. Have a question you’d love answered on Office Hours? Submit it here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNF2y4lFWEOMLlzVNlFDpJ4xl7oOpH9NlImMoHr5mHggL_Ww/viewform?usp=header] As a special thank you for our listeners, we’re offering $300 off a Functional Medicine Consultation Package, the most comprehensive service offering at Dr. Hyman's Functional Medicine Clinic, The UltraWellness Center. To learn more and book your consultation, please schedule a New Patient Discovery Call at the link HERE [https://meetings.hubspot.com/mckenzie-buckley/dr-hyman-show-] and reference the Dr. Hyman Show. Disclaimer: Offer expires July 31, 2026. Functional Medicine Consultation Appointments must be booked by July 31,2026 but may take place at a later date. The initial call with a New Patient Engagement Coordinator is required to book the appointment. Offer not valid on other appointment types or existing appointments. Offer valid for bookings with Dr. Boham, Dr. Geyer, Dr. LePine and Dr. Papanicolaou. (0:00) Welcome, introduction, and overview of hormone replacement therapy (1:26) Introduction of Dr. Cindy Geyer and safety of HRT (4:13) Timing, risks, and cancer concerns with HRT (7:06) Functional medicine perspective and factors in starting HRT (12:10) Benefits, timing, and natural alternatives to HRT (16:33) Prescription, bioidentical, and compounded hormones (19:20) Symptoms improved by HRT and libido considerations (22:24) Vaginal estrogen, progesterone, and recognizing need for therapy (24:25) Health markers and types of hormone testing (27:08) Duration, contraindications, and tailored hormone therapy (33:34) Preview: Dr. Sharon Malone on breast cancer risk (42:24) Introduction and details of Brain Shaping Academy