Josh Axe

Joshua Lee Axe was born on August 18, 1981, in Troy, Ohio. He attended the University of Kentucky and then Palmer College of Chiropractic, earning his DC degree. He subsequently obtained a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential and a Doctor of Natural Medicine (DNM) designation from an unaccredited alternative medicine body. He also holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Johns Hopkins University.

In 2008 Axe opened a functional medicine clinic in Nashville, Tennessee, called Exodus Health Center, which he claims served over 1,000 patients per week during its operation until 2013. In 2009 he launched DrAxe.com, which grew into one of the highest-traffic health websites in the world, covering nutrition, natural remedies, fitness, and trending health topics while generating revenue through advertising and product promotion.

Axe co-founded Ancient Nutrition with Jordan Rubin to manufacture and sell bone broth, collagen, and other supplement products. The company has generated tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue. Ancient Nutrition products have faced Proposition 65 litigation in California related to allegations of heavy metal contamination, an industry-wide issue connected to raw ingredient sourcing.

Critics have consistently highlighted that Axe's prominent use of the 'Dr.' title misleads consumers about his qualifications. A chiropractor's training does not encompass the disease-treatment and nutritional medicine claims Axe makes. His leaky gut and bone broth content in particular makes sweeping therapeutic assertions unsupported by clinical evidence, and the commercial incentive to sell supplements through his website creates clear conflicts of interest in how that content is presented.

“Leaky gut syndrome is the root cause of most illness in America and can be healed through his dietary protocols and supplements”

Intestinal permeability (colloquially 'leaky gut') is a real physiological phenomenon under legitimate scientific study, but the claim that it is the root cause of most illness and that Axe's supplements can fix it far exceeds the current evidence. No supplement sold by Axe has been clinically proven to treat intestinal permeability or the diseases he attributes to it.

“Bone broth is a powerful healing food that can repair the gut lining, reduce inflammation, improve joint health, and reverse numerous diseases”

While bone broth contains protein and some minerals, the specific disease-reversing claims made by Axe are not supported by clinical research. The collagen in bone broth is digested into amino acids like any other protein and does not directly repair the gut lining or joints. Axe co-authored a book titled Bone Broth Breakthrough and sells related products, creating a commercial conflict of interes

“Collagen supplements directly improve skin, joint, and gut health in ways that justify their premium pricing”

Some clinical studies show modest benefits of collagen peptide supplementation for skin elasticity and joint discomfort, but the breadth and magnitude of benefits claimed in Axe's marketing for Ancient Nutrition products significantly exceed the evidence base. Ancient Nutrition products have faced Proposition 65 lawsuits in California related to heavy metal contamination.