• The Hidden Triggers of Insulin Resistance and How to Restore Balance

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 26th 2025 11:33pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE When cells become insulin resistant, they struggle to use glucose for energy, forcing your body to convert excess glucose into fructose through the sorbitol pathway — a “backup plan” that prevents immediate crisis but causes long-term damage Modern diets high in refined sugars and seed oils (like soybean and corn oil), combined with […]

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  • How to Avoid and Treat Digital Eye Strain

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 26th 2025 11:32pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Digital eye strain affects 55% to 81% of screen users, causing blurred vision, tired eyes, headaches and neck pain due to extended exposure to digital devices Environmental factors like improper lighting, workspace setup and screen positioning contribute to eye strain and worsen symptoms Taking regular breaks and limiting screen time help reduce eye […]

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  • Holistic Approaches to Treating Vertigo

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 26th 2025 11:31pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Vertigo causes a spinning sensation different from general dizziness and typically stems from inner ear issues, including displaced crystals (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV), infections or fluid buildup Diagnosis involves tests like the Dix-Hallpike maneuver to determine if ear crystals are out of place Physical therapy, particularly vestibular rehabilitation, helps retrain your […]

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  • Exploring Benefits of Different Wavelengths of Light in Photobiomodulation

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 25th 2025 11:33pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Photobiomodulation therapy utilizes specific light wavelengths — including 660 nanometers (nm), 850 nm and 1,050 nm — to stimulate biological processes, each offering unique tissue penetration and therapeutic benefits The optical window (600 to 1,100 nm) allows effective light penetration into tissues by avoiding absorption from hemoglobin, melanin and water, optimizing PBM efficacy […]

  • Environmental Chemicals Increasingly Linked to Breast Cancer Risk

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 25th 2025 11:32pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Women with moderate triclosan exposure face up to 2.33 times greater breast cancer risk Triclosan, found in 75% of Americans’ urine, is readily absorbed through skin and commonly appears in antibacterial products, cosmetics and even clothing, making its way into blood, breast milk and the food chain Exposure to environmental chemicals like DDT, […]

  • Your Nails Reveal How Fast You’re Aging

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 25th 2025 11:31pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Nail growth slows by 50% over a lifetime, making it a reliable indicator of overall aging and metabolic health Aging nails become brittle, thickened, and dull due to changes in keratin structure, decreased blood circulation and nutritional deficiencies If you have poor circulation or a metabolic issue like hypothyroidism, your nails start to […]

  • Intermittent Fasting During Adolescence Could Have Long-Term Effects on Metabolism

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 24th 2025 11:33pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Long-term intermittent fasting disrupts insulin production in adolescents, which leads to poor blood sugar regulation and increased metabolic risks in adolescence Fasting reduces beta-cell maturity in young people, making it harder for their young bodies to regulate glucose properly Adolescents experience insulin decline from fasting, which mimics patterns seen in Type 1 diabetes […]

  • How Maternal Vitamin D Status Impacts Preterm Birth Risk

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 24th 2025 11:32pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE First trimester vitamin D levels significantly affect baby length and preterm birth risk, with every 10 nmol/L increase in maternal vitamin D corresponding to measurable increases in fetal length Pregnant women with severe vitamin D deficiency (below 10 ng/mL) face nearly eight times higher risk of preterm birth and more than four times […]

  • How Does Hot Lemon Water Benefit Your Health?

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 24th 2025 11:31pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Lemons are packed with nutrients like vitamin C, minerals and flavonoids that support immune function, digestion and provide powerful antioxidant benefits for overall health Hot lemon water improves digestion by increasing gastric acid, enhancing intestinal motility and supporting gut microbiota through its natural citrus compounds One way drinking lemon water boosts immune health […]

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  • Butyrate — The Gut-Brain Axis Connector That Influences Mood and Cognition

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 23rd 2025 11:33pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Butyrate, produced by gut bacteria when they ferment dietary fiber, acts as a signaling molecule in the gut-brain axis, influencing stress, pain tolerance, immunity, and brain health Through multiple mechanisms, including specific enzyme inhibition and NF-κB pathway regulation, butyrate reduces neuroinflammation and protects against neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease Butyrate influences […]

  • How Sleeping Pills Harm Your Brain and Raise Dementia Risk

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 23rd 2025 11:32pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Between 50 million and 70 million Americans struggle with sleep disorders, and 8.4% of adults take sleep medications regularly. The rate rises with age, reaching 11.9% among those 65 and older Your brain has a cleaning mechanism called the glymphatic system, which flushes out harmful toxins during deep sleep, including beta-amyloids and tau […]

  • The Wide, Encompassing Role of Vitamin K2 on Human Health

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 22nd 2025 11:33pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Vitamin K2 helps prevent vascular calcification by guiding calcium away from your arteries and into your bones, reducing the risk of heart disease and arterial stiffness Research shows people with higher vitamin K2 intake have a 29% lower risk of peripheral artery disease, 44% reduction in Type 2 diabetes, and 41% reduction in […]

  • Filling the Tank — Restoring Cellular Energy (Part 2)

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 21st 2025 11:33pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE A body without cellular energy is like a car without fuel. Providing your body with the right nutrition, exercise, sleep, and sunlight exposure is essential to maintaining and replenishing these vital energy reserves Exercise, particularly interval training and resistance exercises, stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis and enhances your body’s capacity to generate energy and improve […]

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  • The Surprising Metabolic Benefits of Mangoes

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 21st 2025 11:32pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Research shows mangoes significantly improve insulin sensitivity in people with chronic low-grade inflammation by activating genes that enhance the body’s natural antioxidant defenses A 12-week study found that consuming freeze-dried mango pulp daily led to reduced blood glucose levels in obese adults At the cellular level, mango polyphenols activate the AMPK signaling pathway […]

  • How Chronic Stress Changes Your Hearing

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 21st 2025 11:31pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Chronic stress alters how your brain processes sound, making regular noises like conversations seem quieter while your ears remain physically healthy Stress primarily muffles medium-volume sounds while allowing very soft or very loud noises to break through, a possible survival mechanism The longer stress persists, the more your hearing is affected, creating a […]

  • What They Don’t Tell You About Benzodiazepines and Anxiety

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 20th 2025 11:33pm EDT

    By: A Midwestern Doctor STORY AT-A-GLANCE Benzodiazepines (benzos), the go-to treatment for anxiety, cause several issues, especially for the elderly, like cognitive impairment, lightheadedness, poor coordination, and fatigue, all of which increase the risk of accidents and falls When used for the correct type of anxiety and combined with other therapeutic interventions, benzodiazepines can greatly […]

  • How Aerobic Exercise Like Walking Protects Against Dementia

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 20th 2025 11:32pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Animal research on rats found that aerobic exercise significantly reduced key markers of Alzheimer’s disease, including a 63% decrease in tau tangles, a 76% reduction in amyloid plaques, and a 58% drop in iron accumulation in the brain Exercise improves axon-myelin relationships in the brain, leading to healthier nerve fibers and more effective […]

  • The Importance of Vitamin B12 for Brain Function in Seniors

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 20th 2025 11:31pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Low vitamin B12 levels slow brain signals and thinking speed in seniors, affecting memory and focus Research shows vitamin B12 treatment improved symptoms in 84% of patients with memory issues, with 78% scoring higher on cognitive tests after three months High methylmalonate and homocysteine levels — B12 deficiency markers — are linked to […]

  • Probiotics Offer New Hope for Alzheimer’s and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 19th 2025 11:33pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Probiotics may influence brain function through the gut-brain axis, offering benefits for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s by improving gut health and reducing inflammation Studies suggest a link between gut health and cognitive function, indicating that an improved gut microbiome enhances mental health and may reduce inflammation associated with neurodegeneration Research indicates […]

  • How Long Does It Take to Form a Lasting Health Habit?

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 19th 2025 11:32pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Contrary to popular belief, habits do not form in 21 days. Research shows it takes two to five months for a behavior to become automatic, depending on its complexity Simple, consistent behaviors performed at the same time daily and linked to specific triggers are more likely to become permanent habits than complex or […]

  • Vitamin E During Pregnancy Shown to Prevent Food Allergies in Newborns

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 19th 2025 11:31pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Vitamin E supports a healthy pregnancy — Vitamin E intake during pregnancy has been shown to reduce the risk of food allergies in newborns by stabilizing immune responses and lowering histamine levels Vitamin E alters histamine production — Researchers found that α-tocopherol, a specific form of vitamin E, prevented severe allergic reactions by […]

  • Mitochondrial Dysfunction Sparks Inflammation and Cancer Risk

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 18th 2025 11:33pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Suppression of mitochondrial ATP production prevents apoptosis and activates the NLRP3 inflammasome, a key player in inflammation and disease Inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) lead to changes in mitochondrial cristae structure and retention of cytochrome c, which is necessary for NLRP3 activation but not sufficient on its own Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome […]

  • Metabolic Syndrome Contributes to Prostate Enlargement in Aging Men

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 18th 2025 11:32pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE BPH is not just a part of aging — While prostate enlargement becomes more common with age, research shows that metabolic dysfunction is also a key driver of disease progression Inflammation fuels prostate growth — Men with BPH have higher levels of inflammatory lipids that promote tissue remodeling and chronic inflammation Metabolic dysfunction […]

  • Gardenia Compound Offers Hope for Rare Genetic Disorder

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 18th 2025 11:31pm EDT

    STORY AT-A-GLANCE Genipin, derived from gardenia plants, restores nerve development, and reduces neurodegeneration in patients with familial dysautonomia, a rare genetic disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system Originally discovered as a blue dye source in the 1980s, genipin has evolved from a food science application to a therapeutic compound with several medical applications Genipin […]

  • The Truth About Bread — Why Your Ancestors Could Digest It (And Why You Might Not)

    Dr. Joseph Mercola DO - Mar 17th 2025 11:33pm EDT

    By: Ashley Armstrong STORY AT-A-GLANCE Our ancestors consumed large quantities of bread (up to 16 pounds weekly for men and 8 pounds for women in the 1880s) without widespread digestive issues seen today. Pre-harvest desiccation with glyphosate (increased 400% in two decades) leaves residues in wheat products that may disrupt gut microbiome and contribute to […]