Who Can You Trust in Wellness?

A Doctor’s Guide to Red Flags, Green Flags & Critical Thinking

The wellness industry is booming. From podcasts to Instagram reels, we’re flooded with advice on how to live longer, feel better, and optimize everything. Some of it is empowering. A lot of it is confusing. And too often, it’s driven more by profit than truth.

As a practicing physician, I see the effects of misinformation every day. Patients come in overwhelmed by the noise and unsure whom to believe. That’s why I use a simple framework to cut through the chaos: green flags, red flags, and trusted experts.

Green Flags: Who to Follow and Why

The best experts in wellness share these traits:

• Evidence-based guidance
• Transparency about financial ties
• Integrity in their recommendations
• Still see patients, publish research, or teach
• Share information responsibly—without overselling products
  
  

Examples of Green Flag Experts:

• Dr. Eric Topol – Cardiologist and founder of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. Champions ethical medical technology and publishes peer-reviewed research.
• Dr. Mike Varshavski (“Doctor Mike”) – Board-certified family physician who makes health accessible and fun while actively debunking myths.
• Dr. Peter Attia – Longevity physician who brings nuance, data, and humility to discussions on healthspan.
• Dr. Jen Gunter – OB/GYN and author who dismantles pseudoscience in women’s health with rigor and wit.
• Professor Timothy Caulfield – Health policy and law professor known for debunking health hype.
• Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen – Triple-boarded MD focused on improving healthspan by all evidence-based means.
• Dr. Danielle Belardo – Cardiologist advocating for heart health through science-based nutrition and medicine.

These professionals encourage dialogue, avoid fear-driven marketing, and base advice on solid research—not just trends.

Red Flags: Who to Be Cautious About (and Why)

Many popular wellness figures mean well—but they often:

• Don’t actively see patients
• Base recommendations on personal experience or unproven theory
• Profit directly from what they promote

Examples to Approach with Caution:

⚠️ Gary Brecka – “Human biologist” without a medical license; promotes genetic testing and supplements not backed by strong science.
⚠️ Bryan Johnson – Tech entrepreneur and Blueprint founder; intriguing self-experiments but not realistic or broadly applicable.
⚠️ Dr. Mark Hyman – Functional medicine leader who mixes valuable advice with heavy supplement marketing.
⚠️ Dave Asprey – Bulletproof founder known for costly, unproven “biohacks.”

Others to Watch Critically:

• Ben Greenfield – Fringe biohacks, own supplement line.
• Paul Saladino (Carnivore MD) – Extreme diet advocacy lacking robust evidence.
• Joseph Mercola – Repeatedly sanctioned for spreading misinformation.
• Thomas DeLauer – Keto influencer with strong product ties.
• Anthony William (Medical Medium) – Claims medical insight from a spirit guide, no formal training.
• Aubrey Marcus – Blends supplements, spirituality, and self-help with minimal oversight.
  
  

Your Health Deserves Better

You don’t need perfection—you need clarity. Look for voices who:

• Acknowledge uncertainty
• Still treat patients or publish research
• Are transparent about conflicts of interest
• Educate before selling
• Say “It depends” more often than “This is the only way”
  
  

True wellness isn’t loud, trendy, or urgent—it’s sustainable, honest, and grounded in reality.

Final Takeaway

This isn’t about attacking individuals—it’s about empowering you to make better health decisions. In a world where wellness is marketed like a lifestyle brand, always ask:

• Who profits from my fear?
• Who still shoulders the responsibility of clinical decision-making?
• Who invites me into the conversation—not just into their sales funnel?
  
  

Wellness is not a product. It’s a process.
Own your health. Own your future.