Toxic Food & Hidden Chemicals Are Everywhere: Here's What You Can Do

Mark Hyman

Mar 10, 2025

Episode description

Our immune system operates like a finely tuned symphony, yet many of us find ourselves out of harmony, vulnerable to persistent infections, autoimmune conditions, and chronic disease. Rather than merely suppressing symptoms, a Functional Medicine approach seeks to identify and address the underlying disruptions driving immune imbalance. Central to this dysfunction is compromised gut health, which undermines immune regulation, while mitochondrial impairment and chronic inflammation further erode the body's capacity for resilience and repair. By restoring balance at the root level, we can cultivate a more robust and adaptive immune system.

In this episode, I discuss, along with Dr. Elroy Vojdani and Dr. Leonard Calabrese, how cleaning up our diets, improving gut health, removing toxins, and decreasing stress can do wonders for our immune systems.

Dr. Elroy Vojdani is a pioneer in the field of functional medicine and research and is the founder of Regenera Medical, a concierge functional medicine practice in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from USC Keck School of Medicine, is a certified Institute for Functional Medicine Practitioner. Dr. Vojdani has conducted medical scientific research for decades with more than 25 publications in multiple peer-reviewed journals. He is also world-renowned for his research and development of state-of-the-art lab testing in the field of immunology. He recently authored a book entitled “When Food Bites Back” which discusses the role of food immune reactions in the development of autoimmune disease. 

Dr. Leonard Calabrese, is an expert in immunology and rheumatology. In fact, he is a Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and Vice Chair of the Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases. Dr. Calabrese is the director of the RJ Fasenmyer Center for Clinical Immunology at the Cleveland Clinic and holds joint appointments in the Department of Infectious Diseases and the Wellness Institute. Dr. Calabrese has made significant contributions to science in the fields of chronic viral infections and autoimmunity and vascular inflammatory diseases of the brain. He has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the advancements of immunology and wellness.

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:

Boost Your Immunity with These Simple Steps

How To Reset Your Immune System At A Cellular Level

The Secrets to Creating a Healthy Immune System




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Episode description

Our immune system operates like a finely tuned symphony, yet many of us find ourselves out of harmony, vulnerable to persistent infections, autoimmune conditions, and chronic disease. Rather than merely suppressing symptoms, a Functional Medicine approach seeks to identify and address the underlying disruptions driving immune imbalance. Central to this dysfunction is compromised gut health, which undermines immune regulation, while mitochondrial impairment and chronic inflammation further erode the body's capacity for resilience and repair. By restoring balance at the root level, we can cultivate a more robust and adaptive immune system.

In this episode, I discuss, along with Dr. Elroy Vojdani and Dr. Leonard Calabrese, how cleaning up our diets, improving gut health, removing toxins, and decreasing stress can do wonders for our immune systems.

Dr. Elroy Vojdani is a pioneer in the field of functional medicine and research and is the founder of Regenera Medical, a concierge functional medicine practice in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from USC Keck School of Medicine, is a certified Institute for Functional Medicine Practitioner. Dr. Vojdani has conducted medical scientific research for decades with more than 25 publications in multiple peer-reviewed journals. He is also world-renowned for his research and development of state-of-the-art lab testing in the field of immunology. He recently authored a book entitled “When Food Bites Back” which discusses the role of food immune reactions in the development of autoimmune disease. 

Dr. Leonard Calabrese, is an expert in immunology and rheumatology. In fact, he is a Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and Vice Chair of the Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases. Dr. Calabrese is the director of the RJ Fasenmyer Center for Clinical Immunology at the Cleveland Clinic and holds joint appointments in the Department of Infectious Diseases and the Wellness Institute. Dr. Calabrese has made significant contributions to science in the fields of chronic viral infections and autoimmunity and vascular inflammatory diseases of the brain. He has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the advancements of immunology and wellness.

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:

Boost Your Immunity with These Simple Steps

How To Reset Your Immune System At A Cellular Level

The Secrets to Creating a Healthy Immune System




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Mindsip insights from this episode:

Understand five categories of long COVID for better management

Long COVID can be broken down into five distinct categories: viral persistence, superantigen activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, gut issues, and autoimmunity.

Recognize COVID's link to increased autoimmune disease risk

A study of 1.5 million people published in Nature found a 46% higher chance of developing an autoimmune disease within 6 to 12 months after a COVID infection.

Address mitochondrial damage to combat long COVID

The core issue in long COVID may be acquired mitochondrial damage, which leads to a dysfunctional immune system and a state of 'brain on fire'.

Take micro-breaks for better vitality than gym sessions

For sedentary workers, getting up to walk for five minutes every hour was found to be more beneficial for vitality and mood than a single 30-minute gym session.

Find balance in exercise to boost immunity

While being sedentary is bad for your immune system, ultra-exercisers like marathon runners can also become immunocompromised, with moderate exercise being the sweet spot.

Rejuvenate immune system with Himalayan Tartary Buckwheat to reverse aging

Himalayan Tartary Buckwheat, containing over 132 unique phytochemicals, has shown in preliminary data the ability to reverse biological age by rejuvenating the immune system.

Combat inflammation by targeting zombie cells

A hallmark of aging is the accumulation of 'zombie cells' (senescent cells) that spread inflammation like a wildfire and cause other healthy cells to become zombies.

Strengthen immune resilience by nurturing gut health

The most important immune cells, T-regulatory cells, which balance the immune system, predominantly live in the gut lining, making it the center of immune resilience.

Reevaluate fish oil quality to ensure immune support

Most fish oils are processed in a way that degrades pro-resolving mediators, the key components that act as the brakes on the immune system.

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