Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Available Episodes

5 of 1085

How Front-of-Package Claims Mislead Shoppers, and What to Read Instead
A new PRiMER study that analyzed nearly 600 packaged foods found that front-of-package (FOP) health claims like "high in fiber" or "heart healthy" often fail to match the product's nutritional quality Ultraprocessed foods were the biggest offenders, displaying the most "health" labels while remaining high in sugar, sodium, and refined fats Marketing phrases such as "keto," "gluten-free," or "organic" can make a product sound healthy when it isn't When checking a Nutrition Facts label, begin with the serving size and calories, then look at the % Daily Value for key nutrients Learning to read nutrition labels helps you make confident daily food choices that support heart health, steady energy, and long-term wellness
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7:18
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7:18
Common Medications Can Disrupt Your Gut Health for Years
Researchers from the University of Tartu found that nearly 90% of 186 common medications affected gut composition, and almost half left long-lasting microbial changes that persisted years after use ended Antibiotics caused the strongest and most persistent gut disruption, with measurable microbial shifts still evident six months after use and cumulative effects worsening with each additional treatment course Non-antibiotic drugs like benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, glucocorticoids, and proton pump inhibitors also altered microbial composition Long-term medication use explained more variation in gut microbiome composition than current prescriptions. This shows that the gut retains a biological "memory" of past pharmaceutical exposures Restoring gut health starts by reducing unnecessary medications, avoiding vegetable oils, and eating whole foods that help beneficial bacteria recover and rebuild balance over time
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7:33
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7:33
Study Debunks a Big Myth for Eczema and Bathing
A University of Nottingham study with 438 participants found that daily and weekly bathing were equally effective in managing eczema symptoms, quality of life, and treatment needs over four weeks The research reveals bathing frequency matters less than post-bath skincare. Both groups improved similarly when following up with moisturizers, giving patients flexibility to choose routines that suit their lifestyles without worsening symptoms Weekly bathers used topical steroid creams slightly less frequently than daily bathers, suggesting less frequent bathing may reduce medication dependency while maintaining skin stability when combined with proper moisturizing habits For optimal eczema management, use lukewarm water with gentle, fragrance-free cleansers, pat skin dry, and immediately apply moisturizer while skin remains damp to lock in moisture and strengthen the protective barrier Natural remedies like baking soda, colloidal oatmeal, and Dead Sea salt added to baths provide anti-inflammatory benefits and can help soothe itching, reduce redness, and improve skin hydration when used appropriately
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6:13
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6:13
Hip Fractures from Osteoporosis Predicted to Double by 2050
Osteoporosis affects one in three women and one in five men over 50 globally, with hip fracture rates projected to double by 2050 due to aging populations and inadequate treatment Fewer than half of hip fracture patients worldwide receive osteoporosis treatment, despite evidence that coordinated fracture liaison services effectively prevent secondary fractures and reduce mortality rates Calcium and vitamin D3 work synergistically for bone strength, but many people struggle to convert vitamin D3 into its active form due to impaired enzyme function within cells Bones require collagen for elasticity and flexibility, not just calcium. Ideally, one-third of protein intake should come from collagen sources like bone broth or gelatinous meats Resistance training two to three times weekly significantly strengthens bones, particularly at the hip and spine, while low-impact activities like walking provide insufficient stimulus for bone growth
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7:58
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7:58
Study: Dramatic Increase in Percentage of US Adults Who Meet New Definition of Obesity
Nearly 70% of U.S. adults now qualify as obese under a new definition that goes beyond body mass index (BMI) to include waist and hip measurements, exposing millions with hidden fat linked to higher disease risk The new standard, developed by an international panel and endorsed by dozens of medical organizations, identifies both clinical obesity — where fat is already harming organs — and preclinical obesity, where fat-driven dysfunction is just beginning Using the expanded criteria, researchers found a 60% surge in obesity prevalence, revealing that about 1 in 4 adults were reclassified as obese — mostly from the overweight group — while roughly 1 in 17 with a "normal" BMI carried hidden visceral fat that raises the risk for diabetes, heart disease, and early death BMI alone fails to distinguish between fat and muscle or between safe subcutaneous fat and harmful visceral fat, meaning many healthy people are misclassified while those at real metabolic risk go undiagnosed Measuring your waist-to-hip or waist-to-height ratio provides a far clearer picture of your metabolic health, empowering you to take early action — through healthy eating, reduced toxin exposure, and daily movement — to restore energy and prevent chronic disease
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7:55
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7:55