Podcast summary & analysis
Can natural remedies really reverse chronic disease?
It depends on the disease. Type 2 diabetes can go into remission for some people, and fatty liver can improve a lot with lifestyle change; others can't simply be 'reversed,' and no single root cause or supplement fixes them all.
This content promises control over scary conditions, and part of that promise is real: for some diseases, lifestyle change is genuinely powerful. The risk is treating all chronic diseases as one problem with one natural fix, delaying care that works, or buying supplements with little proof. The useful skill is judging each condition on its own evidence.
What this episode covers
- In this episode, functional-medicine practitioners Dr.
- Josh Axe and Dr.
- David Jockers argue that many chronic conditions, insulin resistance, thyroid problems, fatty liver, and low testosterone, share root causes you can fix naturally, often framed around mitochondrial health.
- Part of this is genuinely true and important: 'chronic disease' is not one thing, and for some conditions lifestyle change is powerful.
- Substantial weight loss can put type 2 diabetes into remission for some people, and can markedly reduce liver fat and inflammation in fatty liver disease.
Confidence in this episode
Everything about how much to believe this episode, in one place.
Parts are strongly supported: lifestyle change can put type 2 diabetes into remission, and substantially improve fatty liver, for some people. Much weaker is the episode's unifying claim, that one 'root cause' and 'natural remedies' reverse a range of different diseases. Both presenters sell supplements and programs tied to this framework.
- Lifestyle change can put type 2 diabetes into remission for some people, especially with sustained weight loss.
- Weight loss can substantially reduce liver fat and calm liver inflammation in some people; advanced scarring is a different, more serious situation.
- Minimally processed diets, regular activity, adequate sleep, and weight loss where appropriate improve many markers of metabolic health.
- Whether 'natural remedies' beyond diet and exercise add real benefit for these conditions.
- How much lifestyle helps very different problems grouped as 'thyroid disease' or 'low testosterone.'
- Whether products marketed for 'mitochondrial health' change disease outcomes.
What stands out
- 'Chronic disease' is not one biological thing; different diseases have different causes and very different potential for remission.
- Lifestyle change is real, evidence-based medicine: it can put type 2 diabetes into remission for some, and substantially improve fatty liver, not just 'alternative' care.
- Shared mechanisms like insulin resistance or mitochondrial dysfunction can connect diseases without being one universal cause.
See the broader evidence
1Best-supported action
The single highest-leverage move from this episode, anchored in the strongest evidence the speaker presents.
Consider making lifestyle change a serious part of your plan, since for some conditions it is a core treatment, while being cautious about supplements sold to 'reverse' disease.
2Where to start
Small low-friction starters covering the main moves from this episode.
- Eat mostly minimally processed foods and move regularly.
- Prioritize sleep and, where appropriate, lose excess weight.
- Keep proper medical care for any diagnosed condition.
3Other supported actions
Further actions discussed in this episode, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence. This is one expert's view, the full topic compares and ranks across experts.
- Treat lifestyle change (diet quality, activity, sleep, weight loss where appropriate) as a serious, core part of care, not an optional extra.Strong evidence
- Judge each condition and claim on its own evidence, since some diseases can go into remission with lifestyle and others cannot.Moderate evidence
- Be cautious with the natural remedies and supplements promoted here; ask your doctor whether any is proven and safe for your specific condition.Limited evidence
4See the broader evidence
Questions worth asking your doctor
- Given my specific condition, how much can lifestyle change realistically improve it, and is remission possible?
- Given the supplements suggested, are any worth taking for me, and are they safe with my medicines?
- Given my diagnosis, what mix of lifestyle change and other treatment gives me the best results?
Full doctor prep with ranked questions available in the full topic page
Context
Dr. David Jockers is trained as a chiropractor (Doctor of Chiropractic) and holds a Doctor of Natural Medicine (DNM) credential, which is not a conventional medical qualification. He works in functional medicine, explaining chronic conditions through a 'root cause' and mitochondrial/metabolic framing, and also promotes ketogenic diets and fasting. Some of the underlying biology he cites is well established, but he tends to extend it into confident claims that lifestyle and natural approaches can reverse a wide range of diseases, which goes beyond current clinical evidence. He has commercial interests in this space, relevant when weighing product-specific recommendations.
'Chronic disease' is not one thing, and the honest answer depends on the condition. Lifestyle change can produce remission of type 2 diabetes in some people, especially with substantial, sustained weight loss, though not for everyone, and 'remission' is a better word than 'reversal.'
Weight loss can substantially reduce liver fat, and enough weight loss can also improve the liver inflammation of fatty liver disease in some people; the amount of weight loss matters. Advanced scarring (fibrosis or cirrhosis) is a different and more serious situation.
'Thyroid disease' and 'low testosterone' cover very different problems. Thyroid disease includes autoimmune Hashimoto's, Graves', and others; low testosterone can come from obesity, poor sleep, medications, or problems in the testicles or pituitary. Lifestyle helps some of these and not others, so they cannot be lumped together or fixed by one approach.
Mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in many diseases, but being involved is not the same as being the single root cause, and products marketed to improve 'mitochondrial health' are not shown to reverse these conditions.
Specific natural remedies and supplements vary widely, and most are not proven for these conditions. Both speakers have commercial interests in supplements and programs, which is relevant when weighing product-specific recommendations. Diagnosed conditions still need proper medical care. This is general information, not medical advice.
Where people go wrong
- Treating all chronic diseases as one problem with one natural fix.You may apply the wrong approach to a condition that needs something specific.
- Relying on supplements to 'reverse' a serious condition instead of proven care.You may let a treatable disease progress.
What to expect over time
- StartImprove diet quality, activity, and sleep, and lose excess weight where appropriate, as part of your care.
- Over monthsSome conditions (like type 2 diabetes) can reach remission, and others (like fatty liver) can improve a lot; some change little.
- Before supplementsAsk your doctor whether any natural remedy is proven and safe for your specific condition.