Author: Joseph Mercola

By Dr. Mercola Heroin addiction is becoming a serious problem in the U.S., and far from being an inner-city problem, heroin addicts abound in the suburbs of America. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),1 lethal heroin overdoses nearly quadrupled between 2000 and 2013 in the U.S., escalating from 0.7 to 2.7 deaths per 100,000 during this timeframe. In 2013, more than 46,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, with prescription drugs and heroin topping the list.2 Half, or about 23,000, of these lethal overdoses were due to prescription drugs, with painkillers accounting for about 16,000 deaths.3 About … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola Merry Christmas! As you celebrate today with family and friends, healthy eating may take a backseat to sharing memories, laughter, opening presents, and maybe even a few indulgent treats here and there. And that’s as it should be. Eating real food is important, but it needn’t be the focus of your life. You have other things to do – like spending time with your loved ones and pursuing your passions. But, that’s the great thing about healthy eating – once you give your pantry a real-food makeover, it becomes second nature to eat healthy food. You won’t … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola Polyphenols are phytochemicals, meaning compounds found abundantly in natural plant food sources that have antioxidant properties. There are over 8,000 identified polyphenols found in foods such as tea, wine, chocolates, fruits, vegetables, and extra virgin olive oil,1 just to name a few. Polyphenols play an important role in maintaining your health and wellness.Antioxidants as a group help protect the cells in your body from free radical damage, thereby controlling the rate at which you age. If your body does not get adequate protection, free radicals can become rampant, causing your cells to perform poorly. This can lead … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola Sleep is such an important part of your overall health that no amount of healthful food and exercise can counteract the ill effects of poor sleeping habits. Researchers have linked poor sleep to a number of ailments, from short-term memory loss and behavioral problems, to weight gain, diabetes, and even increased risk of cancer, just to mention a few. Yet while most of the literature emphasizes the ramifications of insufficient sleep, research shows too much sleep isn’t good either.1 Studies have linked excessive sleep to health risks ranging from depression to an increased risk for stroke, just … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola For those of us living in the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice and least amount of daylight is fast approaching, as is the risk of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). An estimated1 20 percent of Americans are affected by SAD each winter, suffering from the blues, fatigue, and in some cases, more serious depression as sunlight grows scarce. Worldwide, it strikes about 1 in 20.2 What differentiates SAD from regular depression is that a full remission occurs in the spring and summer months. The fact that SAD occurs when sunlight is at a minimum is not a coincidence. … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola Many people have a problem with their relationship with food. Some overeat, others undereat, and many struggle with their weight despite doing everything right “on paper.” Marc David, addresses these and other issues in his book. He’s also the head of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating, which offers an eight-week long virtual retreat that teaches you how to nourish yourself in a whole new way. As for how he got into this field, he says: “Sonoma State University allowed me to do an independent study for my master’s degree in Eating Psychology. I put an … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola “Statin Nation II: What Really Causes Heart Disease?” is the sequel to the documentary “Statin Nation: The Great Cholesterol Cover-up.” However, it stands well on its own, even if you didn’t see the original film. For many decades, the idea that saturated fats caused heart disease reigned supreme, and diets shifted sharply away from saturated animal fats such as butter and lard, toward partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and margarine. However, as people abandoned saturated fats and replaced them with trans fats, rates of heart disease continued on a steady upward climb. And, the more aggressive the recommendations … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola Vitamin C is one of the most well-established traditional antioxidants we know of, and its potent health benefits have been clearly demonstrated over time, especially for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. A perfect example of the healing power of this antioxidant vitamin is the drbiochamatic case of Allan Smith, who contracted a serious case of swine flu, and was brought back from the brink of death using a combination of IV and oral vitamin C. While most animals have the ability to produce vitamin C internally, three species cannot. Guinea pigs, primates, and humans must … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola Vitamin A is an important vitamin for healthy vision, immune system function, and cell growth. It works synergistically with a number of other vitamins and minerals, including vitamins D, K2, zinc, and magnesium, without which it cannot perform its functions. “Vitamin A” actually refers to several different but related nutrients that can be divided up into two main categories:1,2 Retinoids (aka retinol), the bioavailable forms of vitamin A found in animal foods Carotenoids, previtamin A found in plant foods The only type of vitamin A your body can readily use is retinol, found in animal foods like … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola So you’re carrying some extra weight around, what’s the easiest and healthiest way to get rid of it? Many believe the answer lies in burning off more calories than you’re taking in, and while this theory sounds reasonable, the reality is more complex. Many also believe that cutting fat from their diet is an essential step, but this too is a myth1 that may actually prevent you from achieving the weight loss you seek. It’s important to realize that you cannot exercise your way out of a poor diet. Research2 shows exercise is largely ineffective for producing … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola America spends more per capita on health care than any other developed nation, yet Americans are among the sickest citizens of the developed world, ranking only 50th worldwide for life expectancy. Americans also rank near the bottom for everything from infant mortality to obesity, heart disease, and disability.1 A growing number of studies suggest that part of the problem is actually excessive medical intervention. Americans are receiving — and paying for — an enormous amount of unnecessary and/or ineffective medical tests and treatments. According to a report by the Institute of Medicine, approximately 30 percent of all … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola Contrary to popular belief, deteriorating vision is primarily a side effect of modern lifestyle. Aging does not automatically mean you will lose your eyesight. The key is to properly nourish your eyes throughout the years, and avoid chronic eye strain. For example, I noticed my near vision started to deteriorate around 20 years ago, but after applying these principles, at 61, I don’t wear reading glasses unless I need to see small print and there is very little light. Staring at a computer screen for hours on end is a common cause of blurred vision, short-sightedness, and … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola The common cold is the most common infectious disease in the US and many other areas of the world. Cold symptoms are triggered by hundreds of different viruses — not bacteria — and infection is typically spread by hand-to-hand contact between people, or by touching objects that harbor the pathogens. Since colds are viral in nature, antibiotics are completely useless and should be avoided, unless your physician diagnoses a serious secondary bacterialinfection. Using antibiotics when no bacterial pathogen is present simply contributes to the problem of antibiotic-resistant disease. The key to preventing colds and recovering from them … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola How many chemicals are you exposed to on a daily basis? There’s no way to know for sure, but chances are toxic chemicals are in your food and many items you touch hundreds, if not thousands, of times a day. What is known that your toxic burden is largely related to your purchasing decisions and lifestyle. While environmental pollution is certainly a factor, primary routes of chronic exposure include your diet, and personal care and household products. Tests have confirmed that those who eat non-organic foods and use chemical-based products tend to have far higher levels of … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola We all experience blips in our memory now and then, but wouldn’t it be handy to be able to recall information instantly whenever you need it? Forgotten names of colleagues or old friends, lost keys, and that item from your grocery list you forgot at the store… all would become things of the past. It may be next to impossible to completely eliminate such blips from your life, but you can certainly ramp up your brain function to enhance your memory, cognitive skills, and more. Your brain is actually a very moldable organ with the remarkable ability … Continue reading →