Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Story at-a-glance Vitamin D deficiency is strongly linked to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a growing metabolic disorder that often develops silently until serious damage occurs Research shows vitamin D controls liver function at the genetic level, activating fat-burning genes while suppressing fat storage, making it key for preventing and reversing liver damage Vitamin D supplementatio...

Story at-a-glance Modern technology causes widespread eye strain by reducing natural blinking rates from 15 times per minute to just five to seven times when using screens Follow the 20-20-20 rule and take longer breaks — look 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. Another variation is taking five-minute breaks hourly Blue light from screens disrupts your sleep patterns by suppressing melat...

Story at-a-glance Google slashed traffic to Mercola.com by 99.9%, replacing years of trusted content with pharma-backed search results that promote junk food and drugs as "healthcare" solutions A new term, "nonaginate," describes Google's tactic of wiping out 90% or more of alternative health websites' visibility — a practice now threatening hundreds of holistic sources Under the guise of safety,...

Story at-a-glance Dragon fruit delivers antioxidant protection, gut support, and metabolic benefits, making it an easy way to upgrade your fruit intake Research shows that 100 grams of dragon fruit, about 1/2 cup, daily lowers LDL cholesterol by up to 69%, raises HDL by over 60%, and reduces triglycerides within weeks Bioactive compounds in the flesh, seeds, and even peel help fight inflammation,...

Story at-a-glance Microplastics contaminate drinking water, food and blood; the average person consumes a credit card's worth of plastic weekly, causing hormone disruption and organ damage Natural okra and fenugreek extracts removed up to 93% of microplastics from real-world water samples, outperforming synthetic chemicals like polyacrylamide by nearly 40% Plant extracts work through "bridging," o...

Story at-a-glance Drinking just one sugary beverage a day increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 25%, even if you're not overweight Boys who consume daily sugary drinks in childhood show a 34% rise in insulin resistance by age 17, along with higher fasting glucose levels Unlike glucose, which is used by every cell in your body, fructose is processed only by your liver — and in excess...

Story at-a-glance Inhaling specific essential oils before bed helps calm your nervous system, lower stress hormones, and prepare your brain for sleep, without medication Lavender, jasmine, clary sage, and cedarwood have been shown in clinical studies to improve sleep quality, ease anxiety, and reduce the time it takes to fall asleep Your sense of smell is directly wired to your brain's emotional c...

Story at-a-glance Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is typically linked to cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension and aging, but evidence suggests chronic oral infections also play a direct role in its development New research links Porphyromonas gingivalis, the key bacterium in gum disease, to heart scarring and arrhythmias. Findings show it travels to the heart and interferes with electrical sig...

Story at-a-glance For 50 years, medicine has waged a misguided war against critical sources of health like salt and sunlight while avoiding discussing the real causes of diseases. Because of this, the dangers of salt are relentlessly focused on despite evidence not supporting them In parallel, the extreme dangers of consuming too little salt are rarely discussed in the medical field — despite dang...

Story at-a-glance Water temperature influences how the body absorbs and responds to fluids, affecting digestion, circulation, hydration rate, and recovery depending on when and how different temperatures are consumed Cold water helps cool the body after exercise, provides a mild metabolic effect, and boosts alertness, but it interferes with digestion and triggers symptoms in sensitive individuals...

Story at-a-glance Just five minutes of exposure to junk food branding — including ads that did not show any food — caused children to eat an average of 130 more calories that same day Logos, jingles, and color schemes trigger subconscious food cravings by hijacking children's natural hunger cues, even when the actual food isn't present or referenced in the ad A UK study found that brand-only ads w...

Story at-a-glance Women who ate more whole fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains in their 40s and 50s had up to 31% better odds of aging without disease or decline Diets high in white bread, sugary snacks and processed carbs were linked to significantly worse mental, physical and metabolic health in older age Eating carbs with little fiber, typical of most processed foods, was tied to a 29%...

Story at-a-glance Results of a two-year investigation found that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved nearly 75% of new drugs between 2013 and 2022 without meeting its own basic standards Some cancer and Alzheimer's drugs were fast-tracked using surrogate markers like tumor shrinkage or protein levels, not real improvements in survival, memory, or function Dangerous side effects —...

Story at-a-glance A single protein called klotho extended healthy mice lifespan by 20%, while improving muscle strength, bone density and cognitive function across multiple body systems Klotho functions as a "longevity switch" that naturally declines with age; it's influenced by lifestyle choices rather than just chronological aging Regular moderate exercise, whole-food diets rich in antioxidants...

Story at-a-glance PPI heartburn drugs have been linked to a 16% higher risk of heart attacks and double the risk of dying from cardiovascular events, even in people with no history of heart disease Contrary to common belief, most reflux is caused by too little stomach acid, not too much, and PPIs worsen this problem by further suppressing acid production Long-term PPI use damages kidneys, weakens...

Story at-a-glance Texas Senate Bill 25 requires processed foods with banned ingredients to display a warning label stating they are "not recommended for human consumption." It was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 22, 2025 and takes effect September 1 The law targets 44 harmful ingredients already banned overseas, including artificial dyes, seed oils, bleached flour, and chemical pre...

Story at-a-glance Egg white proteins naturally lower blood pressure by releasing peptides that relax blood vessels and boost nitric oxide production without pharmaceutical side effects Research shows egg whites reduced systolic blood pressure by 18 points in just nine days by supporting the body's natural circulation mechanisms Enzyme-treated egg whites maintain blood pressure benefits while elimi...

Story at-a-glance Independent testing of 51 popular toothpaste brands revealed 90% contained lead, 65% arsenic, 47% mercury, and 35% cadmium. Only six toothpastes tested clean Heavy metals enter toothpaste through contaminated raw materials like hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate, and bentonite clay used in manufacturing Lead and cadmium disrupt cellular functions, causing kidney damage, osteoporos...

Story at-a-glance More than 1 in 4 rice products sold in the U.S. now exceed the FDA's arsenic limit for infant cereal, exposing families to heavy metals that harm brain development, kidneys and long-term health Brown rice grown in the southeastern U.S. was the most contaminated, while white basmati from India, Thai jasmine and California-grown white rice had the lowest heavy metal levels Cooking...

Story at-a-glance Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a serious condition where jawbone dies and fails to heal, and it's been linked to common bone drugs like bisphosphonates and denosumab A Finnish study found that people taking denosumab were five times more likely to develop MRONJ than those using bisphosphonates, with cancer patients and long-term users at highest risk Addin...

Story at-a-glance Different symptoms require specific food strategies: hydration comes first during stomach bugs, bland carbs help with upset stomachs, while warm liquids and fiber aid constipation Bone broth and warm teas help with congestion, while both cold foods and warm soups soothe sore throats. Raw honey acts as a natural cough suppressant Bone broth offers collagen and amino acids for tiss...

Story at-a-glance Most ovarian cysts are harmless and disappear naturally, but some cause severe complications like rupture or twisting the ovary, requiring emergency surgery Vegetable oils like canola and sunflower act as fake estrogens, damaging ovarian tissue and fueling cyst formation due to linoleic acid content PCOS drives recurring cysts through hormonal chaos, particularly insulin resistan...

Story at-a-glance The safest way to remove a tick is with fine-tipped tweezers, gripping it close to your skin and pulling upward slowly without twisting or yanking Trying to dig out leftover tick parts causes more harm than good; your body will naturally expel them, similar to how it handles a splinter Using the wrong removal method, such as squeezing a tick or applying petroleum jelly or heat, i...

Story at-a-glance Sitting too much makes hips tight, causing knee pain, back problems, and poor balance, but simple exercises help fix these issues Six key moves, like hip circles, knee rotations and bridge lifts, help your hips work properly again and wake up sleeping muscles Using a foam roller on tight muscles before exercises helps blood flow and loosens stiff areas that develop from sitting a...

Story at-a-glance DMSO is an "umbrella remedy" capable of treating a wide range of challenging ailments due to its combination of therapeutic properties (e.g., reducing inflammation, improving circulation, and reviving dying cells) One of DMSO's unique properties is its ability to enter through the skin and carry anything it dissolves with it as it rapidly travels throughout the body, greatly enha...