House Call With Dr. Hyman

Today is Part 2 of our discussion around reasons for hitting a weight loss plateau. One of my followers tweeted me saying, “I Lost 30 lbs on The Blood Sugar Solution. I am doing Eat Fat, Get Thin for another 30 days. NO sugar/carbs – all veggies, proteins, and good fats, but much slower weight loss this time.” Last week, we talked about four important reasons why someone might be having difficulty losing weight. With Pastor Rick Warren and Daniel Amen, I created The Daniel Plan, a faith-based wellness program that helped 15,000 people from Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church lose 250,000 pounds collectively, in 10 months, by doing it together. Rick says, “every body needs a buddy!” So together, we wrote the #1 best-selling book, The Daniel Plan that details a practical plan to get healthy together because we found that getting healthy is a team sport. Using the power of peer pressure for good can make it easier to do the right thing. Even if I don’t say a word, when people eat out with me, they choose healthier foods because they know it matters to me. I don’t care what they eat and I don’t prompt them, but their internal compass shifts. So, you can see it’s important to surround yourself with healthy people if possible or join a community of healthy, like-minded people. Those are my top tips for addressing a weight loss plateau. There is always something you can do. We can always dig a little deeper. And, if you feel like you’re doing everything right and still not losing the desired weight, I highly encourage working with a Functional Medicine practitioner – like one of the practitioners at The UltraWellness Center, where we dig deep to get to the root cause of the issue. If you liked this video, be sure to share it with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter. Also, don’t forget to tweet me your health questions using #housecallwithdrhyman, and maybe next week, I’ll make a House Call to you. Wishing you health & happiness, Mark Hyman, MD

A reader tweets, “I lost 30 lbs. on The Blood Sugar Solution program. Now, I am following the guidelines from Eat Fat, Get Thin for the next 30 days. NO sugar/carbs – all veggies, proteins, good fats – but seeing much slower weight loss this time.” Weight loss plateaus are a very common and frustrating issue. When I am working with someone who is having trouble losing weight, despite doing everything right, there are a few things I look at, to see if we can uncover why they are hitting a weight loss plateau. Today, we’ll discuss four of the most common reasons for a resistance to weight loss. When I work with my patients who are experiencing a weight loss plateau, these are the first four things I immediately take into consideration. Remember, Functional Medicine assesses the root cause of the problem and treats the whole system to quiet and cool the flames of inflammation, leading to weight loss and overall good health. Next week, I’ll cover four more reasons behind a weight loss plateau, so stay tuned. If you liked this video, be sure to share it with your friends and family on Facebook and on Twitter. Also, tweet me your questions, using the hashtag #housecallwithdrhyman, and maybe next week I’ll make a house call to you. Wishing you health and happiness, Mark Hyman, MD

In this week’s House Call, a reader asks, “How do I go about finding answers or the underlying root causes if conventional doctors won’t/can’t, but you can’t afford a Functional Medicine doctor?” This is not only a great question, but it’s an important one. For a variety of reasons, many of you are not able to work with a Functional Medicine practitioner. I am here to tell you that you still have the power to work with your doctor to get the tests that you need. A big part of my work is helping patients who are dealing with what I call “diabesity”. Diabesity is the continuum of abnormal biology that ranges from mild insulin resistance to full-blown diabetes. I’ve put out tons of material about the importance of getting the right tests. In fact, I’ve created a companion guide to go along with The Blood Sugar Solution called, How to Work with Your Doctor to Get What You Need for anyone who is concerned about insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and more. Now I want to hear from you. Were you able to take charge of your health without the help of a Functional Medicine practitioner or integrative doctor? Comment on my Facebook Page, and if you liked this video, be sure to share it with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter. Also, tweet me your questions, using the tag #housecallwithdrhyman, and maybe next week I’ll make a House Call to you. Wishing you health and happiness, Mark Hyman, MD

In this week’s House Call, a reader asks, “If one is lactose intolerant, but has no other intolerance to dairy, (e.g. casein and whey) is it OK to consume dairy products while having Hashimoto’s?” By now, most of my readers probably know how I feel about dairy — it’s nature’s perfect food — but only if you’re a calf. We have no biological requirement for this food, and yet, we’ve been told over and over again that dairy is a great source of calcium, milk makes healthy bones and we should drink it daily. I’m here to tell you that this is not true. Based on research and my experience practicing medicine, I typically advise most of my patients to avoid dairy products completely. Personally, when I eat little to no dairy, I feel much, much better. Give it a shot, what’s to lose? Besides all the miserable symptoms and a little weight, that is… Now, I want to hear from you. Do you consume dairy? Have you given it up? Leave your comments on my Facebook page, and if you liked this video, share it with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter. Also, tweet me your questions @MarkHymanMD using the tag #housecallwithdrhyman, and maybe next week I’ll make a House Call to you. Wishing your health and happiness, Mark Hyman, MD

If you want to avoid stress, you’ve been born in the wrong era. Chronic stress has become an epidemic in our society where faster is better, and we attempt to pack more obligations into our ever-expanding schedules. Luckily, there are experts out there who have come up with ways that we can achieve calm in the middle of chaos. One of those experts is Pedram Shojai, A.K.A. The Urban Monk. Pedram Shojai has studied Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Yoga, Meditation, and medicine diligently for the past 20 years. He is a doctor of Oriental Medicine, the author of two books – including The Urban Monk, and he is the founder and president of Well.Org. I don’t know about you, but I would like to be an urban monk, too! So, I sat down with Pedram during The Fat Summit 2 to talk about managing stress in our modern world. In this interview, Pedram shares his top tips for a happier and healthier life. We had a great time talking about Pedram’s way of being, and I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did. Wishing you health and happiness, Mark Hyman, MD

The mantra of the government and food industry is that people should just eat less, choose a “balanced diet,” and exercise more. How’s that working out for you? Despite what popular magazines and TV shows might say, if you think you can exercise your way to weight loss, I am sorry to say you are in for a big disappointment. Using exercise to lose weight without changing your diet is asking for failure. You can change your diet and lose weight, but if you exercise and keep your diet the same, you may gain some muscle, improve endurance, and be healthier overall, but you won’t shed many pounds. I sat down with Dave Asprey last year to talk about fat, weight loss, coffee, and an article in The New York Times about the show, The Biggest Loser. This article caused quite a bit of controversy, because it essentially explained that some people are just destined to be overweight no matter what they do. Both Dave and I disagree with this idea and with the idea that eating less and exercising more is the way to your best weight. I hope you enjoy this conversation. Wishing you health and happiness, Mark Hyman, MD.

Do you ever wonder why you get cravings? Last year, I sat down with Alexandra Jamieson to talk about food addiction, cravings, and much more. One of my favorite parts of our conversation was her explanation of the four root causes of cravings. First, let me tell you a little bit about Alexandra. She is the co-creator and co-starred in the Oscar nominated film, Super Size Me. She coaches women going through big life shake-ups to double-down on self-care, nutrition, and pleasure, and master a positive mindset, to create the energy and peace they desire in their bodies, so they can be resilient, effective and happy in their lives. She’s also published four books. In our conversation we talk about the following root causes for cravings: Bacterial Nutritional Emotional Physical We also talk about how to address them. This is an important conversation that you won’t want to miss. Do you deal with food cravings? What has worked for you and what hasn’t? Let’s take the conversation to Facebook. I’d love to hear from you. Wishing you health and happiness, Mark Hyman, MD

Is pre-disposition predestined? The answer is no. Epigenetics suggests that our behavior can influence which of our genes are turned on or off. This has been one of the biggest breakthroughs in medicine. Most people tend to attribute far too much power to their genes. I’ve seen thousands of patients who have blamed genetics for their ailments and diseases, however it is your lifestyle washing over your genes that determines who you are in any moment. What you eat, how you move, how you restore your system, along with your thoughts, feelings and social connections, regulate your genes. Those genes end up creating the expression of who you are and how you are. You can turn on genes that create health or disease, weight gain or weight loss. Some genes can predispose you to obesity, type 2 diabetes or heart disease. But predisposition is not predestined. Ninety percent of our current health is controlled by the environment in which we bathe our genes – the food we eat, our exercise regimen, our resilience in the face of stress and our exposure to environmental toxins. You don’t have to sit back and accept that you’re doomed to become fat and sick. In this conversation, I got to sit down with Dr. Deepak Chopra to talk about genes and the role of the microbiome in our health and its effects on our genes. I think you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Thanks to epigenetics, you actually have a say in your health and you can create optimal health with the power of food and lifestyle. Wishing you health and happiness, Mark Hyman, MD

It’s not just genes; your environment could be harming your thyroid. I had the pleasure to sit down with thyroid expert Dr. Izabella Wentz and talk about all things thyroid last year, and one of my favorite moments of the interview was our discussion around environmental toxins and their impact on the thyroid health. After being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis in 2009, Dr. Wentz was surprised at the lack of conventional medical knowledge about lifestyle interventions for Hashimoto’s, hypothyroidism, and autoimmune conditions. She decided to take on lifestyle interventions as a personal mission, in an effort to help herself and others with Hashimoto’s. In this podcast, we discuss the following: Thyroid harming toxins in your water Makeup products that are harming your health How to determine if you’re mercury sensitive How to detoxify your body How chronic infections affect thyroid health How leaky gut can lead to thyroid disorder To learn more about taking care of your thyroid, check out my recent blog post at drhyman.com. Wishing you health and happiness, Mark Hyman, MD

One of my favorite moments from last year’s Fat Summit 2 was interviewing Dr. Stephanie Daniel about food, fat, sugar, and infertility. Dr. Daniel is a practicing physician and founder of Functional Medicine SF, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Daniel’s particular areas of interest and expertise are in women’s health and fertility and she has developed a 5-step approach to natural conception that she utilizes in her practice. She is the author of a book, Low-Stress Food: Eat Your Way to a Low Stress Life and spends her non-clinic time consulting for health tech start-ups like Ava Science and Metabolon, mentoring physicians in the practice of Functional Medicine and collaborating on the advancement of functional medicine with EvoMed. Last year, I interviewed Dr. Daniel about some very important subjects. In the clip from this interview, we discuss the following: One out of seven couples are dealing with infertility Five steps for dealing with infertility The role of nutrition in fertility and the importance of eating nutrient dense food The number one macronutrient for fertility One of the leading causes of infertility The importance of cholesterol I want to hear from you. Have you dealt with infertility? Comment on my Facebook page, and if you liked this video, share it with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter. Also, tweet me your questions @MarkHymanMD, and maybe next week I’ll make a House Call to you. Wishing you health & happiness, Mark Hyman, MD

On this week House Call: Steve tweets, “what is your recommended protocol for treating adrenal fatigue?” This is a question that I get almost daily. Your adrenals are important because they help you respond to stress. If you have chronic stress, your adrenals get beat up, and your energy plummets and it becomes difficult to manage your life. You could feel tired and wired, all at the same time. You might get palpitations or feel anxious or have trouble sleeping. You might crave salt. You may get dizzy when you stand up. You might have low blood pressure. You might even have sugar cravings, because your body can’t regulate your blood sugar properly. All these are clues that you could have adrenal problems. Are you dealing with adrenal dysfunction? Leave a comment on my Facebook page. If you liked this video, share it with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter, and if you have any questions, tweet me @MarkHymanMD, and maybe next week, I’ll make a House Call to you. Wishing you health & happiness, Mark Hyman, MD

The promise of GMOs is alluring for many. We were all told that genetically modifying crops would make them immune to weed killers and pests, leading to an abundance of foods that would solve our world hunger problems. We were also told that these crops would require fewer pesticides and herbicides, but is this true? Did genetically modified crops live up to their promise? In this week’s House Call, I address a question tweeted to me by Christina, who asks “What is your view on GMO foods?” Now I want to hear from you. What are your thoughts on GMO foods? Leave a comment on my Facebook page, and if you liked this video, share it with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter. Also, tweet me your questions (@MarkHymanMD), and maybe next week, I’ll make a House Call to you. Wishing you health & happiness, Mark Hyman, MD

On this week's House Call: My 7 Steps for Tackling Eczema Our first question comes from a reader who tweets, “Can you tell me the causes of eczema?” Are You Dealing with Excess Gas? “How do I get rid of excessive gas?” a caller asks. We’ve all experienced it, and probably at inopportune times. It’s embarrassing and uncomfortable. So, what’s the deal with gas? Are some of us doomed to be gassy forever? Now I want to hear from you. Are you dealing with excess gas or eczema? What has worked for you and what hasn’t? Comment on my Facebook page. If you liked this video, be sure to share it with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter, and tweet me your questions @MarkHymanMd, and maybe next week I’ll make a House Call to you! Wishing you health & happiness, Mark Hyman, MD

On this week's House Call: A Different Approach to Multiple Sclerosis “I was diagnosed with MS about 15 years ago,” our reader writes. “I haven’t taken any of the medication that my doctors wanted me to take. For the last year or 2, I have weakness in my left leg. I’ve eliminated dairy, grains, gluten; and I’m not sure what else I should do at this point.” Tackling Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Our next question comes from Margo who asks, “I’ve been diagnosed with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, and I’ve tried everything. What can I do?” Now I want to hear from you. Are you dealing with MS or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Share your thoughts on my Facebook page. If you liked this video, be sure to share it with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter, and tweet me your questions (@MarkHymanMd). Maybe next week I’ll make a House Call to you! Wishing you health & happiness, Mark Hyman, MD

On this week's House Call: How to Digest Fat without a Gallbladder Our first question comes from Christina who asks, “I want to incorporate more fats like you recommend, but I don’t have a gallbladder. Do you have any special instructions for someone who doesn’t have a gallbladder?” Getting Started on Your Health Journey Our next question comes from Angela who asks, “I’m ready to make a change, but how do I even get started? It seems overwhelming.” My Recommended Daily Supplements Our final question comes from Chad who asks, “What vitamins or supplements, if any, should men 40 and older take to reduce cancer risk and optimize health?” Now I want to hear from you. Do you have tips for digesting fat? How about tips for getting started with a healthy lifestyle? Also, what supplements do you take daily? Comment on my Facebook page. If you liked this video, be sure to share it with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter, and tweet me your questions @MarkHymanMD, and maybe next week I’ll make a house call to you. Wishing you health & happiness, Mark Hyman, MD