NBA Legend Chris Paul on Longevity, Nutrition & Staying Elite at 40

The Dr. Hyman Show

Dr. Mark Hyman

Medicine, Health & Fitness, Nutrition

4.5 • 9.1K Ratings

🗓️ 8 April 2026

⏱️ 63 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Longevity isn’t just about talent—it’s about what you’re willing to change when your body starts asking for something different. On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I’m joined by Chris Paul—one of the most respected point guards of all time—to talk about the mindset that’s carried him through more than two decades in the NBA. We get into what shifted along the way and what it really takes to keep showing up at a high level year after year. Watch the full conversation on YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Here’s what we cover: • Why what worked in your 20s stops working and what to do instead • How inflammation shows up and what improves when you address it • Why stress and poor sleep quietly drain energy and slow recovery • What simple habits actually move the needle over time • How understanding your data helps you make better daily decisions Your body is always giving you signals. The earlier you begin to listen and respond, the more it can support you over time. View Show Notes From This Episode Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman 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/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 Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Results https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive This episode is brought to you by Sunlighten, Korrus, Seed, Paleovalley, Pique and Made In Cookware. Visit sunlighten.com and use code HYMAN to save up to $1600 today! Visit Korrus.com/DrHyman for 15% off their newest product OIO Sphere with code HYMANSPHERE15. Go to seed.com/hyman and use code 20HYMAN to get 20% off your first month. Head to 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. Visit MadeInCookware.com and use code HYMAN10 for 10% off your order. (0:00) Chris Paul’s mindset, falling in love with monotony, and introduction by Dr. Mark Hyman (2:51) Chris Paul on hard work, success, and his grandfather’s influence (9:26) Longevity in the NBA, transition to plant-based diet, and dietary impact on performance (18:21) Effects of diet on performance, recovery, and family health habits (22:11) Impact of diet on athletic performance and Function Health insights (25:26) Emotional and family impact of health changes (27:52) Stress, gut health, cortisol, and the importance of rest (31:34) NBA players’ health insurance, short careers, and health education (34:52) Function Health’s accessibility and intelligence (37:32) Daily routines, hydration, and rest for athletes (45:06) Evolution of Chris Paul’s diet, recovery, and disconnecting from technology (48:24) The significance of sleep for athletes (52:42) Chris Paul’s nonprofit work and food access initiatives (55:00) Future plans, community, accountability, and health advice to a younger self

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	You have to fall in love with the monotony.
0:02.3	When you're really good at something,
0:04.0	you just think, I ain't gotta change nothing. What you realize and you learn is that you don't know what you don't know. Somewhere, this became a mindset, not just in sport, but whatever I do. If you have a million dollar racehorse, you're not gonna feed at McDonald's. Inflammation is sort of the enemy of the athlete, right? The more inflammation you have, It's going to affect your performance, your recovery, your longevity, everything.
0:22.1	For 2019 is when I went plant-based. The inflammation is sort of the enemy of the athlete, right? The more inflammation you have, it's going to affect your performance, your recovery, your longevity, everything.
0:22.6	For 2019 is when I went plant-based to see the way inflammation disappeared for me.
0:28.6	It was crazy.
0:29.6	People don't realize your second brain is your gut.
0:31.6	What I learned is that the thing that's passed down from generation to generation is recipes and habits.
0:39.9	The thing that money can't buy you is healthy.
0:42.2	Today I'm joined by NBA legend Chris Paul.
0:44.3	He is one of the greatest point guards of all time.
0:48.5	At 40 years old, he is redefining elite performance by mastering the data of his own health.
0:56.6	Living a long and healthy life isn't about chasing shortcuts. It's about focusing on small daily habits that support the body at the cellular level, circulation, recovery, repair of your cells,
1:02.5	which are the foundation of long-term health. And one ritual I built into my own routine is using
1:07.0	an infrared sauna. Infrared works differently than a traditional sauna. Instead of just
1:10.8	hitting the air, it uses light energy that's absorbed into the body's tissues. And in many ways,
1:16.4	our bodies are like solar panels. We're designed to receive and use this kind of energy. And the
1:20.9	research suggests that infrared may help support circulation, improve mitochondrial activity, and the
1:26.2	body's own natural repair processes,
1:28.0	all of which play role in how we age. It can also promote sweating, which supports the body's
1:32.5	natural detox pathways while gently increasing your heart rate and your circulation.
1:37.0	For me, it's become a longevity ritual that I try to do a whole bunch of times a week.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Dr. Mark Hyman, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Dr. Mark Hyman and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.