In a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, “human biologist” Gary Brecka returned to the spotlight, making bold claims about curing UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones’ debilitating arthritis using hydrogen therapy—a fringe treatment gaining quiet traction among elite athletes. But while Brecka painted a picture of revolutionary recovery, his broader appearance on the podcast raised eyebrows for its mix of pseudoscientific health advice, oversimplified biology, and a growing pattern of health claims that often fail to hold up under scientific scrutiny.
“I Can’t Believe I’m Out of Pain”: Brecka’s Claim About Jon Jones
Brecka told Rogan that he “parachuted into” Jon Jones’ training camp shortly before the fighter’s return to action, bringing with him an arsenal of experimental treatments.
“Jon Jones has been very public about working with me,” Brecka told Rogan. “Right before his last fight, I brought him one of these hydrogen machines to bathe in… red light therapy, he would drink hydrogen water, and bathe in hydrogen gas.”
According to Brecka, the results were dramatic. Within just two to three weeks, Jones allegedly messaged him, reporting complete pain relief, improved sleep, and increased training volume. “I can’t believe I’m out of pain,” the text allegedly read, “I’m adding a sixth day to my training routine.”
Brecka attributed this near-miraculous recovery to hydrogen therapy—a process that includes soaking in hydrogen-infused baths, drinking hydrogen water, and utilizing hydrogen “bathbombs” to allow the gas to penetrate the skin and supposedly reduce inflammation at the cellular level.
What Is Hydrogen Therapy, and Does It Work?
Hydrogen therapy is not entirely without scientific intrigue. Brecka describes molecular hydrogen as a “selective antioxidant” that can pass through cell membranes, reduce oxidative stress, and trigger the NRF2 pathway, prompting the body to produce natural antioxidants like catalase and glutathione.
He cited a 2021 study from the Journal of Experimental Gerontology, which observed mild improvements in cognitive and inflammatory markers in people over 70. But even that study falls short of supporting the kind of broad, sweeping claims Brecka makes—especially regarding rapid arthritis recovery in elite athletes.
“I have literally put people into these tubs crippled with arthritis,” Brecka said, “and they will skip out of my unit like they won the lottery.”
That level of anecdotal storytelling lacks the rigor of controlled clinical trials. Despite growing interest in molecular hydrogen, there’s still little large-scale evidence to support the idea that it cures arthritis or replaces medically proven treatments.
The Broader Brecka Problem: Outlandish Claims from the Same Episode
While the Jon Jones hydrogen story stole headlines, Brecka made several other claims on the JRE that raised red flags among medical professionals and science communicators. His confidence in offering health advice appears inversely proportional to the scientific support behind it.
- Cholesterol Denialism
Brecka claimed that LDL cholesterol has no link to heart disease:
“There is no correlation between elevated levels of LDL cholesterol on its own and cardiovascular disease.”
This is factually incorrect. The consensus among virtually every major health organization—including the American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology—is that elevated LDL cholesterol causes atherosclerosis and is one of the strongest predictors of heart disease. The American Heart Association and Wikipedia provide ample research on this subject.
- Seed Oil Conspiracies
He described canola oil as being processed with “neurotoxins” and “carcinogens” like hexane and sodium hydroxide:
“They deodorize it with sodium hydroxide, a very powerful carcinogen.”
In reality, hexane is used in extraction but is removed during processing, and the FDA regulates its safe levels in food. Sodium hydroxide is neutralized during oil production and is also used in foods like pretzels and cocoa. These substances are not classified as carcinogens by the WHO or EPA when used properly in food-grade applications.
- Dangerous Oversimplifications of Autoimmunity
Brecka argued that autoimmune diseases are caused not by genetics or immune dysfunction, but by “parasites, mycotoxins, viruses, and mold.”
“Multiple sclerosis is caused by parasites.”
There’s no evidence supporting this claim. While environmental factors can contribute to autoimmune flare-ups, MS is a complex disease involving genetic predispositions, immune dysregulation, and unknown environmental triggers. Suggesting it can be blamed solely on parasites is speculative at best—and dangerous if it causes patients to abandon evidence-based care.
- Overhyping Hydrogen Therapy and Telomeres
Brecka also claimed that hydrogen therapy increased telomere length by 4% in just six months in elderly patients, and implied this had broader anti-aging implications.
Yet, no large-scale randomized trials have confirmed this. Telomere measurement itself is a controversial marker, and changes are often minimal or transient. Hydrogen may have antioxidant potential, but its real-world impact remains mostly theoretical.
It should be noted that Brecka sells hydrogen tablets you can use to add hydrogen to your water. And is reportedly looking at ways to add hydrogen to ice baths and keep that whole fad going.
So… Did Hydrogen Cure Jon Jones?
Gary Brecka is a captivating speaker who wraps speculative science in buzzwords and storytelling. His work with Jon Jones might feel like modern biohacking magic—but scratch the surface, and the claims collapse under scrutiny. From misleading cholesterol advice to pseudoscientific theories about oil and autoimmunity, Brecka’s credibility suffers under the weight of his own exaggerations.
While the idea of reversing arthritis with hydrogen might sound revolutionary, it’s crucial to separate hope from hype—and to remember that the most effective therapies are the ones that stand up to time, trials, and truth.
