Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

The bowel prep used before a colonoscopy does more than empty your colon; it strips protective mucus, wipes out beneficial gut bacteria, and weakens your gut's natural defenses right when they are needed most
Research shows nearly half of people experience bloating, abdominal pain, or digestive distress for weeks after a colonoscopy, and these symptoms trace back to microbiome disruption rather than the procedure itself
If you already have gut inflammation, inflammatory gut conditions, or low bacterial diversity, bowel prep increases tissue damage, allows harmful bacteria to escape the gut, and raises the risk of prolonged flare-ups
Colonoscopy prep shifts the gut environment in favor of inflammatory bacteria by increasing oxygen exposure and reducing butyrate-producing microbes that keep the colon healthy and inflammation controlled
Simple choices, such as split-dose prep, carbon dioxide inflation, supportive nutrition, and avoiding inflammatory fats, help protect your gut and speed recovery if you decide to undergo a colonoscopy

A review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified 51 PFAS in 1,744 cosmetic products. Among the 25 most-used PFAS, 19 lacked sufficient safety data for assessment
The most common PFAS in European makeup were polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in 26% of PFAS-positive products and perfluorodecalin in 22%, both used to soften skin
In a 2021 study, researchers discovered that 82% of waterproof mascaras and over 60% of tested lipsticks and foundations contained high levels of fluorine, indicating the presence of hidden PFAS
Several top brands like Urban Decay, Inglot, L'Oréal, Maybelline, Burt's Bees, and Bare Minerals have faced lawsuits or investigations for PFAS contamination despite being marketed as "natural" or "clean"
While the FDA lacks a national ban, U.S. states are now leading the shift toward PFAS-free beauty products — nine states have passed or scheduled bans on intentionally added PFAS in cosmetics through 2032

Walking 5,001 to 7,500 steps a day slows the buildup of tau, the brain protein linked to Alzheimer's-related decline, helping you stay sharper for years longer
Older adults with elevated amyloid — a key early Alzheimer's marker — preserved memory and daily function far better when they consistently reached a moderate step range
Even small increases in movement, such as moving from under 3,000 steps to 3,500 to 5,000 per day, deliver meaningful cognitive benefits without requiring intense exercise
High-intensity training pushed healthy adults into metabolic dysfunction, reducing mitochondrial energy production by about 40% and disrupting blood sugar stability
Finding your personal exercise "sweet spot" — enough movement to avoid inactivity without pushing into extreme training — protects both long-term brain health and daily metabolic balance

Black cumin seed oil has a long history of traditional use, and its benefits trace to thymoquinone. However, it also contains the omega-6 fat linoleic acid (LA), which exposes you to risks that may outweigh its benefits
Thymoquinone makes up only about 0.1% to 0.9% of black cumin seed oil, so obtaining meaningful amounts through this oil requires consuming substantial quantities of LA
Black cumin seed oil contains roughly 50% to 62% LA by weight, placing it in the same high-LA category as other vegetable oils, such as cottonseed oil
Typical dosing of 1 to 3 teaspoons daily delivers roughly 2.5 to 7.5 grams of LA, representing a meaningful increase over an already elevated modern baseline intake
Standardized thymoquinone extracts are a better alternative, commonly sold as 5%, 10%, or 20% formulations. These allow you to obtain benefits from a traditional remedy without the LA burden

A highly influential 2000 glyphosate safety study long cited by regulators worldwide was retracted after evidence showed it was ghostwritten by Monsanto scientists and misrepresented as independent research
Internal company emails revealed Monsanto planned, wrote, and celebrated the paper as a strategic tool to defend Roundup and Roundup Ready crops during a crucial period of expiring patents
Despite ghostwriting being exposed in a 2017 litigation, the study continued shaping research, regulation, and public perception for years, accumulating more than 1,300 citations before a long-delayed retraction
The journal admitted the study relied on unpublished Monsanto data while ignoring existing toxicity research, showing how selective evidence can quietly shape policy for years
The glyphosate case reflects widespread unethical research across health and medicine, showing why you need to question consensus, examine incentives, and protect your health rather than trust the system blindly