Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Eating five or more servings of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) a day nearly doubles your risk of developing Crohn's disease
Additives like emulsifiers, thickeners, and artificial sweeteners found in ultraprocessed foods break down the gut's protective mucus barrier and fuel chronic inflammation
High intake of UPFs is linked to changes in gut bacteria that reduce diversity and promote the growth of harmful strains associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flare-ups
Common UPFs like white bread, frozen meals, sauces, and breakfast cereals show the strongest links to increased Crohn's risk
Removing seed oils, emulsifiers, and UPF-heavy meals while focusing on gut-repairing whole foods can help reduce flare frequency and support long-term healing

A new Nutrients study shows that drinking 12 ounces of 100% elderberry juice daily for a week helped overweight adults activate more genes that regulate how the body uses energy after meals than a placebo
Elderberry juice turned on processes that help the body manage energy better — making it easier to switch between burning carbohydrates and fat for fuel
Earlier research from Washington State University showed elderberry juice improved blood sugar control, increased fat burning, and shifted energy use during meal challenges
Practical tip: Aim for about 12 ounces of unsweetened, 100% elderberry juice daily for seven days. Check labels to avoid added sugars, as unsweetened juice still contains about 30 to 36 grams of natural sugar per eight-ounce serving
Safety first: Never eat raw elderberries, check for medication interactions (such as immunosuppressants or diabetes drugs), and consult a healthcare provider before using if you are breastfeeding or have an autoimmune condition

Winter worsens migraines because cold, darkness, and routine disruption overload your nervous system and reduce your brain's ability to regulate pain signals
Seasonal drops in light exposure disrupt melatonin and circadian rhythm, lowering your brain's resilience and increasing headache frequency and intensity
Excess LA from seed oils damages mitochondrial energy production, making your brain more reactive to stress and more prone to migraine attacks in any season
Stable daily patterns — consistent sleep timing, hydration, meals, and movement — reduce neurological stress and raise your migraine threshold
Restoring cellular energy by lowering LA intake and supporting mitochondrial function helps your brain stay calm, resilient, and less reactive year-round

Parkinson's disease is rising rapidly worldwide, and most cases are driven by lifestyle and environmental stressors rather than genetics, meaning daily choices play a powerful role in risk and progression
The disease often begins years before diagnosis, with early signs like poor sleep, digestive issues, anxiety, and fatigue signaling stress on your brain long before tremors appear
Chronic inflammation, toxin exposure, poor sleep, and metabolic strain weaken dopamine-producing neurons, but improving sleep, movement, diet, and stress regulation slow this damage
Supporting gut health, reducing exposure to environmental toxins, and maintaining steady energy through proper nutrition help protect your brain and preserve mobility and cognition
Consistent habits that lower stress, improve sleep quality, encourage movement, and support vitamin D balance give your brain the conditions it needs to stay resilient over time

A new trial in The New England Journal of Medicine found that exercise, whether done at home or with a physical therapist, helped reduce knee pain in adults with osteoarthritis and meniscal tears
Supervised physical therapy (PT) offered a modest short-term advantage over home exercise. Much of PT's value may come from the attention and interaction with therapists rather than the specific therapeutic interventions
Avoiding movement worsens knee arthritis over time by weakening muscles and stiffening joint structures, while regular exercise helps maintain mobility and reduce discomfort
Surgery, including arthroscopy and meniscectomy, often fails to outperform exercise and carries long-term risks, making structured movement a better starting point
Gentle, joint-friendly exercises like sit-to-stands, mini squats, leg raises, step-ups, cycling, and pool walking can help strengthen your knees and support long-term function