Author: Joseph Mercola

By Dr. Mercola A dense bush bearing tiny red berries, hawthorn bushes are common in wooded areas and fence rows across the U.S. and throughout the world. Many parts of the hawthorn (with the botanical name Crataegus), including its berries and flowers, have been used by traditional healers for centuries. Resembling tiny sweet cherries, hawthorn berry “haws” have been used to make wine, jelly and flavored brandy for years, but not many people are aware of the impressive ways it remedies heart problems and many other physical ailments as well. Increasingly, modern studies are pointing to the hawthorn plant as … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola Can light affect your health? In this interview, Dr. Alexander Wunsch, a world class expert on photobiology, shares the hidden dangers of light-emitting diode (LED) lighting that most people are completely unaware of. In fact, this could potentially be one of the most important video interviews I’ve done, as it has enormous impacts — not only on preventing blindness as you age but it is also a pervasive hidden risk factor for sabotaging your health. Largely as a result of energy efficiency, there’s been a major transition to using LED as a primary indoor light source. In … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola Flu season is rapidly approaching and, with it, constant reminders to get vaccinated. This despite the fact that mounting research suggests this approach to flu prevention may be ill advised for long-term health, and doesn’t actually work in the first place. In January 2015, U.S. government officials admitted that, in most years, flu shots are, at best, 50 to 60 percent effective at preventing lab confirmed influenza requiring medical care.1 Then, in December 2015, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analysis2 of flu vaccine effectiveness revealed that, between 2005 and 2015, the influenza vaccine was … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola The bacteria in your gut play crucial roles in your health, and your diet can significantly alter your gut microbiome. Sugar nourishes health-harming bacteria, yeast and fungi in your gut, which may actually harm you more than its impact on insulin resistance. By eating a healthy diet, you allow beneficial gut bacteria to flourish. They then perform the real “magic” of nourishing  your health. You may have noticed that probiotics are now featured in articles relating to all sorts of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, depression and heart disease. As explained by Russian neurologist Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola Trading saturated fats for added sugars and trans fats in our diet is among the worst lifestyle alterations to occur in modern history. We now know this is a recipe for obesity, heart disease, cancer and other chronic diseases.1,2 Many of these illnesses are now showing up in children, who are exposed to these ingredients even prior to birth through their mothers’ diets. The preponderance of research shows that once you reach 18 percent of your daily calories from added sugar, there’s a 200 percent increase in metabolic harm that promotes prediabetes and diabetes.3 Fortunately, the low-fat … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and 1 of every 3 seniors dies with some form of dementia.1Families may spend over $5,000 each year caring for a loved one, and it costs the U.S. $216 billion a year for Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. However, feeding your brain the right food isn’t just about preventing a disease in the future. Giving your brain the fuel it needs to function optimally may also improve your current cognitive function and creativity, making you more productive at work and at home. … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola According to the latest statistics, 57 percent of Americans drink alcohol at least once a month.1 Alcohol consumption is a controversial issue. Some studies suggest “moderate” consumption is harmless; others propose it may even have some health benefits. For instance, research shows people who have one to two drinks a day may have a significantly reduced risk of death from heart disease and “all causes” compared to those who never drink alcohol.2 The latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans also notes that “moderate consumption of alcohol [is a component] of a beneficial dietary pattern in most studies.”3 That … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola Aging is inevitable, but are age-related problems such as poor vision absolute givens? Contrary to popular belief, your vision is largely dependent on your lifestyle. Nourishing your eyes with appropriate nutrients throughout the years can go a long way toward maintaining good eyesight well into your senior years. Moreover, even if your eyesight has started to deteriorate, evidence suggests you can stop the deterioration. You may even be able to turn back the clock, as it were, and improve your vision. Foods Can Protect and Improve Your Eyesight In a recent BBC article,1 Dr. Michael Mosley discusses … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola Aging is inevitable, but are age-related problems such as poor vision absolute givens? Contrary to popular belief, your vision is largely dependent on your lifestyle. Nourishing your eyes with appropriate nutrients throughout the years can go a long way toward maintaining good eyesight well into your senior years. Moreover, even if your eyesight has started to deteriorate, evidence suggests you can stop the deterioration. You may even be able to turn back the clock, as it were, and improve your vision. Foods Can Protect and Improve Your Eyesight In a recent BBC article,1 Dr. Michael Mosley discusses … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola The use of marijuana for medical purposes is now legal in 25 states and, as of this writing, two additional states (Arkansas and Florida) have pending legislation or ballot measures to legalize medical marijuana.1 Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Colorado and the District of Columbia have also legalized recreational use of marijuana for adults, while 16 states have decriminalized certain marijuana possession offenses.2 According to estimates, between 85 and 95 percent of Americans are in favor of medical cannabis, and nearly 60 percent support complete legalization of marijuana. And, contrary to what you might think, doctors overwhelmingly agree. A … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola If you’re looking for muscle growth and definition, there’s no getting around exercise. However, you cannot exercise your way out of a poor diet, and when it comes to muscle definition, one of the keys is to lose body fat, or else you will not be able to see the muscles in the first place. The common belief is that if you want to build muscle, you need to eat lots of protein and carbohydrates because carbs fuel your muscles and protein builds them up. However, the evidence that has emerged over the past several years shows us … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola There’s emerging scientific evidence that a high-fat, low-net carb, moderate protein diet is an ideal diet for most people. However, compliance tends to be low for a number of reasons. Discussing this is Randy Evans, who has a master’s degree in nutrition and works with Dr. Jeanne Drisko at the University of Kansas Integrative Medical Center. I recently interviewed Drisko on her clinical use of nutritional ketosis. Evans grw up on a dairy farm in Southern Iowa at a time when agriculture was largely still organic. “I actually grew up eating mostly real whole foods,” he says, … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola Over the course of a lifetime, the average American uses about 20 gallons of toothpaste,1 and even though you don’t swallow it, chemicals in the toothpaste can make their way into your bloodstream, courtesy of the fact that your mouth has an absorption efficiency rate of more than 90 percent.2 With this in mind, it’s well worth considering what you’re brushing your teeth with on a daily basis. Many popular brands contain highly questionable ingredients that are best avoided for long-term health. A recent report by The Cornucopia Institute, an organic industry watchdog, highlights many of the … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola A charley horse, or muscle cramp particularly in your calf muscles, is an incredibly common condition that results in your muscles becoming tight, stiff and extremely painful. If you’re an adult, there’s a good chance you’ve had one at some point (and likely multiple points) during your lifetime. In case you’re a trivia buff and wondering why these muscle cramps are referred to as “Charley horses” (a name that’s primarily used in North America), it’s said to be a tribute to Charley “Old Hoss” Radbourne, an 1880s-era baseball pitcher who often suffered from muscle cramps during games.1 … Continue reading →

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By Dr. Mercola Anyone who’s ever experienced the pain (and sometimes agony) of a kidney stone may have thought afterward, “Wouldn’t it be great if they came up with something that could prevent that?” As is so often the case in science, such visualizations are the same as those of researchers. In this instance, a dietary supplement with the power to dissolve the little troublemakers before they wreak havoc in your system may be the solution. Researchers at the University of Houston (UH) are calling it a possible “prevention tool.” You may be thinking that if it could actually do that, … Continue reading →

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