#268 Herbal Medicine vs Pharmaceuticals: What Actually Works? | Dr. Robert Beltran @recomnd Nutrition episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 9, 2026 · 1H 6M

#268 Herbal Medicine vs Pharmaceuticals: What Actually Works? | Dr. Robert Beltran @recomnd Nutrition

from High Performance Longevity · host Nick Urban | Longevity, Biohacking, & Performance

What if the pills in your medicine cabinet are the problem, not the fix? Dr. Robert Beltran was a triple board-certified surgeon and pharmacist for 30 years. Then a 2014 accident left him dependent on OxyContin. A five-herb blend from an Asian market cleared his brain fog in three weeks and got him off opioids, launching a decade of formulating plant-based supplements at recomnd Nutrition. Meet our guest Dr. Robert Beltran (MD, PharmD, FACS) is a retired ENT and cosmetic surgeon and the CEO and Chief Formulator of recomnd Nutrition. At 73, he blends a pharmacist's rigor with a decade of clinical work on herbal formulas for cognition, stress, and sexual wellness. Thank you to our partners Outliyr Biohacker’s Peak Performance Shop: get exclusive discounts on cutting-edge health, wellness, & performance gear Ultimate Health Optimization Deals: a database of of all the current best biohacking deals on technology, supplements, systems and more Latest Summits, Conferences, Masterclasses, and Health Optimization Events: join me at the top events around the world FREE Outliyr Nootropics Mini-Course: gain mental clarity, energy, motivation, and focus Key takeaways A 2024 DNA barcoding study found 60% of shelf supplements don't match their label At least half of market supplements show no measurable benefit No clinical study has shown an obvious anti-aging benefit from NAD, per Beltran Herbs like tongkat ali and maca raise the body's own testosterone without replacing it 70% of men on testosterone therapy over 12-18 months develop side effects Antidepressants, sedatives, and sleep aids account for 60,000 deaths a year Fix exercise, diet, and stress before reaching for any supplement Episode highlights 01:53 The accident and the opioid trap 04:43 The five-herb blend that changed everything 07:01 What extract ratios really mean 18:31 The case against NAD 28:26 Herbs that raise testosterone naturally 30:55 The testosterone therapy risks clinics bury 49:15 The 60,000-death problem 53:26 Three desert-island ingredients 01:01:22 What to fix before any supplement   Links Watch it on YouTube: Full episode show notes: https://outliyr.com/268  Connect with Nick on social media Instagram Twitter (X) YouTube LinkedIn Easy ways to support Subscribe Leave an Apple Podcast review Suggest a guest Do you have questions, thoughts, or feedback for us? Let me know in the show notes above and one of us will get back to you! Be an Outliyr, Nick

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#268 Herbal Medicine vs Pharmaceuticals: What Actually Works? | Dr. Robert Beltran @recomnd Nutrition

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