New to HealthHippieMD? Start Here.
Where science meets soul, and wellness gets rewired.
You’ve stumbled onto something different here. HealthHippieMD isn’t another wellness newsletter hawking superfoods or miracle morning routines. It’s a weekly dose of science-backed curiosity for people who want to understand their health, not just follow the latest trend.
I’m Dr. Jeff Taekman, Professor Emeritus at Duke University and a fellow of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. But more importantly, I’m someone who rebuilt my own health from the inside out, achieving medication-free remission from Crohn’s Disease through evidence-based lifestyle changes.
Here’s what makes this different: Every Sunday, I curate the most compelling research across wellness, technology, and human flourishing—translating complex science into stories you’ll actually want to read. No fluff. No fads. Just 10 carefully chosen studies with punny titles and practical wisdom organized around nine dimensions of wellness.
If you’re new here, these five pieces will show you what HealthHippieMD is all about:
1. A Physician’s Journey to Crohn’s Remission Without Medication
Start with my story. See how a physician became a patient, dove deep into microbiome science, and transformed his health through integrative medicine. This is where it all began and why I do what I do.
→ Read this if: You want to know who I am and why you should trust me.
2. Nine Dimensions: A Map, a Compass, and a Creative Spark
Understand the framework. Health isn’t just physical. It’s emotional, intellectual, social, existential, occupational, financial, environmental, and creative. This is the lens through which I curate everything, and how you’ll start seeing your own wellness differently.
→ Read this if: You’re tired of one-size-fits-all health advice and want a holistic system.
3. Newsletter 153: The Sit-Stand Test That Predicts Lifespan—And the Music That Rebuilds Your Brain
Experience the weekly magic. This is what lands in your inbox every Sunday morning: 10 fascinating studies, each 300-350 words, tagged to specific wellness dimensions. Twin telepathy, microplastics in your tea, why advice backfires, and how music rewires aging brains. Three to five summaries are free, the rest are behind the paywall, and all article links are for paid subscribers.
→ Read this if: You want to see the quality and range of what you’ll get every week.
4. Why Trying Tai Chi Felt Like Learning to Walk Again
A personal essay about stumbling through a first Tai Chi class that seamlessly weaves neuroscience, ancient practice, awkwardness, and flow into a meditation on adult learning. Nine research citations support reflections on neuroplasticity, synchronized movement, and the dual meaning of “flow”—all wrapped in storytelling that makes you want to try something new yourself.
→ Read this if: You want to see how science and soul actually merge in my writing, and why stumbling might be the whole point.
5. Welcome to HealthHippieMD’s New Home on Substack
Join the journey. Learn why we’re building this community, how your engagement matters, and what’s coming next. This is an invitation into a space where curiosity meets evidence, and where your questions help shape what we explore together.
→ Read this if: You’re ready to become part of something bigger than a newsletter.
What You Get When You Subscribe
FREE SUBSCRIBERS receive:
3-5 curated research summaries every Sunday morning
Immediate access to new podcast episodes
Free wellness assessments to map your current baseline
Occasional deep-dive articles on topics that matter
Community discussion in the comments
PAID SUBSCRIBERS unlock:
All 10 weekly research summaries (not just the first few)
Direct links to every study
Full access to the archive
Exclusive long-form articles (like my recent article on Binaural Beats)
Priority access to wellness challenges and micro-courses
Behind-the-scenes research on topics before they hit the newsletter
Paid subscriptions start at just $8/month or $70/year—less than the cost of one supplement or probiotic, but infinitely more valuable.
Why People Love HealthHippieMD
“So inspiring. I have shared it with two friends who have this condition. Keep on blazing your trail! Others are following.”
— Lauren H.
“Your work constantly adds to my information/data flow. Posts that you share consistently grab my attention with a high number captured for further study.” — Mike K.
“Finally, a health newsletter that doesn’t talk down to me or sell me something I don’t need.” — Todd L.
“You expose me to articles that I am generally of interest to me, but most of which I would not have found on my own.” — Liz S.
Ready to Rewire Your Wellness?
Join 500+ curious minds who start every Sunday with science-backed insights that actually matter.
Questions? Here’s what most people ask:
Q: How is this different from other health newsletters?
A: Three things: (1) It’s curated by an MD with integrative medicine training, not an algorithm. (2) Every study is tagged to one of nine wellness dimensions, helping you see connections. (3) The writing voice blends scientific rigor with storytelling that makes you want to keep reading.
Q: What if I’m not a science person?
A: Perfect. I translate the jargon. You don’t need a PhD to understand why the runner’s high isn’t really about endorphins or whether microplastics in tea actually matter. I make the complex accessible without dumbing it down.
Q: Why should I pay for content I can find online?
A: Because curation is the new creation. You could spend 10+ hours each week reading research papers, or you could spend 10 minutes reading what I’ve distilled. Plus, paid subscribers get direct links to all studies and full access to everything, making research easy to reference and share.
Q: What’s the time commitment?
A: The newsletter takes 10-15 minutes to read. That’s it. No homework, no complex protocols. Just weekly insights that might shift how you think about wellness.
About Dr. Jeff Taekman
Before I became a Professor Emeritus at Duke University, my passion for health began with a simple comment from my father: “The world’s longest-living people eat yogurt every day.”
That early spark launched a lifelong fascination with how food and lifestyle shape our health, longevity, and well-being. In 2006, facing my own Crohn’s Disease diagnosis, I immersed myself in microbiome science, devouring thousands of research papers to understand how gut health (and later integrative practices) influences immunity, cognition, inflammation, and overall health.
That deep dive transformed my medical practice and my own health. I achieved medication-free remission through lifestyle changes, pursued a fellowship at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, and now dedicate my time to translating cutting-edge research for people who want to live better, longer.
Learn more about my background →
Listen to the podcast →
Wellness. Rewired.
Jeff Taekman, M.D.
Founder, HealthHippieMD