Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Available Episodes

5 of 1088

Concussion Raises Risk of Future Car Crash
Having even one concussion raises your long-term crash risk by 49%, which means you would be wise to give yourself more recovery time before driving to protect both your safety and your independence The first month after a concussion is the most dangerous, with risk jumping more than sixfold, so adjusting your driving habits during this period helps lower your chance of a serious accident Each additional concussion sharply increases your risk, with two concussions more than doubling it and three or more causing a 124% increase, making symptom monitoring and long-term brain care important for anyone with repeated injuries Younger age, late-night driving, poor weather, rural roads, alcohol misuse, and lower income all magnify post-concussion crash risk. Being mindful of these factors can help you stay safer on the road Concussion-related crashes have led to tens of thousands of extra hospital days and more than $800 million in medical and societal costs, showing why protecting your brain health now helps safeguard your future well-being, finances, and mobility
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Early Menopause and Weak Heart Function May Accelerate Brain Changes
Menopause, which typically occurs between age 44 and 55, marks the natural end of menstruation and fertility, and is confirmed after 12 consecutive months without menstruation A 2025 study presented at The Menopause Society Annual Meeting found that women who experienced earlier menopause and had weaker heart function showed more signs of brain aging Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, and Alzheimer's affects women nearly twice as often as men Falling estrogen and progesterone levels affect every system — blood vessels stiffen, sleep and mood fluctuate, and metabolism slows Menopause is not the end of vitality — it's a biological reset. Incorporating a nutrient-rich diet and a healthy lifestyle can restore balance and boost energy
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Treating Restless Legs Slashes Risk of Parkinson's Disease
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) isn't just a sleep problem — it's a neurological signal that your brain's dopamine and iron systems are under stress, and addressing it early helps protect long-term brain health A JAMA Network Open study found that people with RLS were significantly more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those without it RLS patients who received treatment had four times fewer Parkinson's diagnoses than untreated individuals, suggesting that managing RLS symptoms supports neurological resilience Iron levels, poor sleep quality, and disrupted waste clearance in the brain all appear to link RLS and Parkinson's, underscoring the importance of restoring iron balance and improving sleep hygiene By optimizing dopamine naturally, maintaining healthy iron levels, getting quality sleep, and staying physically active during the day, you can calm restless legs now and strengthen your brain against degeneration later
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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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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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