Author: Joseph Mercola

By Dr. Mercola Sleep apnea is a common problem, affecting as many as 53 percent of men and 26 percent of women.1 Apnea is a Greek word that means “breathe.” Sleep apnea is the inability to breathe properly, or the limitation of breath or breathing, during sleep, which can have serious health consequences. Central apnea refers to an inability to properly pull air in, whereas obstructive apnea refers to a frequent collapse of the airway during sleep, hindering breathing for periods that can last for several seconds. Mixed apnea is a combination of both. Snoring is a related problem, caused … Continue reading →

By Dr. Mercola Turmeric is a yellow-pigmented curry spice that is often used in Indian cuisine. But this spice is far more than a cooking staple. It also has a long history of medicinal use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as well as Ayurvedic medicine. Traditional medicinal uses include the treatment of liver disease, skin problems, respiratory and gastrointestinal ailments, sprained muscles, joint pains, and general wound healing. Its benefits have since been well documented in the medical literature, and curcumin—one of the most well-studied1,2 bioactive ingredients in turmeric— has been found to promote health and protect against a wide … Continue reading →

By Dr. Mercola Nearly 40 percent of Americans report overeating or eating unhealthy foods as a result of stress.1 While it may seem tempting to drown your anxiety in a bowl of ice cream or calm your nerves with a bag of chips… eating junk foods while stressed may be particularly dangerous to your health. Among a group of chronically stressed women (those caring for a spouse or parent with dementia), eating foods high in unhealthy fats and sugar lead to concerning health effects, including a larger waistline, increased abdominal fat, more oxidative damage, and more insulin resistance.2 In this … Continue reading →

By Dr. Mercola Testosterone is an androgenic sex hormone produced by the testicles (and in smaller amounts in women’s ovaries), and is often associated with “manhood.” Primarily, this hormone plays a great role in men’s sexual and reproductive function. It also contributes to their muscle mass, hair growth, maintaining bone density, red blood cell production, and emotional health. Although testosterone is considered a male sex hormone, women, while having it at relatively low levels, are more sensitive to its effects.   While conventional medical thought stresses that testosterone is a catalyst for prostate cancer,1 even employing castration (orchiectomy) as a … Continue reading →

By Dr. Mercola While most accept deteriorating vision as a natural part of aging, it’s really more of a side effect of our modern lifestyle. Aging does not automatically equate to failing vision, provided you’ve properly nourished your eyes through the years. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness among the elderly, followed by cataracts. Both of these conditions are largely driven by free radical damage, and may in many cases be largely preventable through antioxidant-rich foods such as those listed in the table below. The Importance of Kale and Other Leafy Greens Studies have shown … Continue reading →

By Dr. Mercola In a survey of at-home spending patterns on food among US households, the Economic Research Service (ERS) of the US Department of Agriculture revealed Americans are throwing a lot of their food budgets toward very unhealthy foods. The average US household spent most of their food budget (nearly 18 percent) on refined grains followed by sugar and candies (at nearly 14 percent). The next highest category was red meat (mostly from concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs), followed by frozen or refrigerated entrees and beverages.1 In stark contrast, Americans spent less than 0.5 percent of their food … Continue reading →

By Dr. Mercola If you feel challenged in consuming enough vegetables, then making a small investment in a high-quality juicer is one of the best steps you can take for your health. Raw juice is equivalent to a “living broth” teeming with micronutrients that many people are lacking, and this deficiency is a major factor in disease. More people die from chronic disease today than all other causes combined. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 36 million people die every year from degenerative conditions, and 100 million are driven into poverty by healthcare costs alone. When you drink fresh, … Continue reading →

By Dr. Mercola Each and every day, you come into contact with a large number of items—many of which have health risks that can accumulate over time. Many chemicals appear safe yet aren’t, and are not likely to be suspected when your health starts failing. But other items that are part of the “standard” of contemporary living—such as electronics and even your office chair—can also do more harm than good in the long run. The list of offending items can certainly be made exceedingly long, but here I will list 10 everyday items that you’d be better off without. A … Continue reading →

By Dr. Mercola Sleep disturbances are endemic in the US, where nearly 40 percent of adults report unintentionally falling asleep during the day in the past month, and five percent report nodding off while driving.1 Forty-five percent of teens also don’t get enough sleep on school nights and 25 percent report falling asleep in class at least once a week. Lack of sleep has ramifications that go far beyond not feeling fully awake and refreshed during the day. There’s a price to pay in terms of health, both short- and long-term. A number of studies have linked poor sleep or … Continue reading →

By Dr. Mercola When it comes to shedding stubborn belly fat, exercise alone is not the answer. The master key really lies with what you eat, and perhaps more importantly when you eat, followed closely by the type of exercise you engage in. Scheduling your eating to a narrow window of time each day is the version of intermittent fasting I recommend for those struggling with insulin resistance and excess body weight. Other healthy lifestyle habits such as sleep and stress reduction are also helpful, as they help keep your cortisol levels low. Cortisol is a stress hormone that, when elevated, … Continue reading →

By Dr. Mercola Processed foods are loaded with preservatives, artificial colors, and artificial flavorings, which is one of the reasons that I recommend avoiding them. Once you become a label reader, you’ll realize just how ubiquitous they are. The best way to avoid toxic chemical additives is to consume only fresh whole foods. But practically speaking, this can be difficult for many people to accomplish, at least 100 percent of the time. Chances are that, despite your best efforts, you’ll have a processed food or two somewhere in your diet. Therefore, it’s good to know which of the thousands of … Continue reading →

By Dr. Mercola Heart disease claims the lives of about one million Americans every year, making it the leading cause of death for both men and women. One in every three deaths in the US is attributed to cardiovascular disease. This year alone, 920,000 Americans will have a heart attack, and nearly half will occur suddenly and without warning.1 Remember the most common symptom of heart disease is actually sudden death. A heart attack occurs when part of your heart muscle begins to die, and even if you survive, the resulting scarring can cause severe health problems down the road, … Continue reading →

By Dr. Mercola Your body is a complex ecosystem made up of more than 100 trillion microbes that must be properly balanced and cared for you to achieve optimal health. This system of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa living on your skin and in your mouth, nose, throat, lungs, gut, and urogenital tract is referred to as the “human microbiome.” It varies from person to person based on factors such as diet, health history, geographic location, and even ancestry. When your microbiome falls out of balance, you can become ill. Those organisms perform a multitude of functions in key biological … Continue reading →

By Dr. Mercola For Americans, it’s that time of the year again—time to move your clocks an hour ahead; losing a precious hour of sleep in the process. For many, the time change associated with daylight savings time1 (DST) also means spending several days or even weeks feeling generally off-kilter. As reported by Prevent Disease:2 “A study, published in 2007… combined surveys from 55,000 people in central Europe with data on 50 individuals’ sleeping and wakefulness patterns for eight weeks around the shifts to and from daylight saving time. The researchers found people never fully adjust their circadian rhythms to … Continue reading →

By Dr. Mercola In today’s world it’s harder than ever to keep your weight under control, as evidenced by the fact that two-thirds of American adults and one-third of children and teens are either overweight or obese.1 Weight management is a concern for most people, and many struggle to determine what they’re doing wrong. Even exercising regularly can fail to make a dent for some people. It is important to understand that while exercise is certainly part of the formula for success, the foods you choose to eat are three times more important for controlling your weight than your exercise. … Continue reading →