Mark Hyman
Functional medicine physician
Physician and author championing food as medicine and whole-body health.
“Food isn't just calories, it's information.”
Listen to story & lessons
The story
Mark Hyman trained as a family doctor and spent his early career doing what family doctors do: writing prescriptions for chronic problems like diabetes, fatigue, pain and digestive trouble. He was good at it, and his schedule was full.
The problem was that his patients rarely got better. The pills helped for a while, then the doses went up or new pills were added, and the underlying illness kept marching on. He grew increasingly frustrated with a system that was excellent at naming diseases and managing symptoms, but strangely uninterested in why people got sick in the first place.
His search for answers took him into nutrition and functional medicine, an approach that asks what is causing an illness rather than only what to call it. The question became urgent when his own health collapsed with chronic fatigue, and conventional medicine had little to offer him. Rebuilding his health through food, sleep and lifestyle convinced him that the kitchen is often more powerful than the pharmacy.
He went on to help build the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, write a long run of bestselling books, host The Doctor's Farmacy podcast and co-found Function Health. Along the way he learned the lesson at the heart of his work: much of health is decided at the kitchen table, and treating causes beats managing symptoms.
Accomplishments
- Helped establish the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine and previously served as its director.
- Founded The UltraWellness Center in Massachusetts.
- Has written many New York Times bestselling books on food and health.
- Hosts The Doctor's Farmacy podcast and co-founded Function Health.
Top 10 lessons
- 01
Food is information that talks to your genes.
What you eat sends signals to your body that can calm or fuel inflammation. Choose food as if each meal is a message.
- 02
Eat mostly whole, unprocessed foods.
If it grew in the ground or had a mother, it is usually a better choice than something made in a factory.
- 03
Cut back on sugar and refined starches.
Sugar and white flour spike blood sugar and drive cravings. Lowering them is one of the fastest ways to feel better.
- 04
Healthy fats are your friend.
Olive oil, nuts, avocados and fish help your brain, heart and hormones. Fat is not the enemy it was once thought to be.
- 05
Your gut health shapes your whole health.
Trillions of gut bacteria affect digestion, mood and immunity. Feed them with fiber and varied plant foods.
- 06
Treat the root cause, not just symptoms.
Ask why a problem is happening instead of only covering its signs. Sleep, food, stress and environment are often the answer.
- 07
Move your body every single day.
You do not need a gym to stay healthy. Walk, stretch, dance or garden, just move every day.
- 08
Manage stress — it shows up in your biology.
Long-term stress raises blood sugar and harms sleep. Breathing, nature and rest are real medicine.
- 09
Community and connection are medicine.
People with strong friendships tend to be healthier. Share meals, walks and goals with others.
- 10
Cook at home; it's the most radical act of health.
Cooking your own meals puts you in control of ingredients and portions, and brings people together.