Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Soybean oil dominates the U.S. food supply. Americans' intake has increased from about 2% to nearly 10% of calories over a century, alongside sharp rises in obesity and diabetes A recent study published in the Journal of Lipid Research found soybean oil drives obesity independent of calories by generating liver oxylipins that track with weight gain, revealing LA metabolism, not food intake, as the...

Women with uterine fibroids face a significantly higher long-term risk of heart disease, meaning fibroids act as an early warning sign of deeper cardiovascular strain rather than a localized reproductive issue The increased risk shows up early, often years before traditional heart disease symptoms appear, giving you a key window to address underlying metabolic and vascular stress Fibroids are link...

Saffron supports both mood and sexual function, addressing a common problem where depression treatments often blunt intimacy Clinical trials show a daily 30-milligram dose of saffron reduces depression symptoms at a level similar to common antidepressants used for mild to moderate depression Unlike many psychiatric drugs, saffron improves erectile function, arousal, lubrication, and sexual satisfa...

Colorectal cancer is rising in younger adults, with U.S. rates increasing 2.4% per year since 2012. New evidence points to dietary changes as a contributing factor A recent study in JAMA Oncology found that those consuming the most ultraprocessed foods had a 45% higher risk of developing precancerous colorectal tumors before age 50 Risk increased with higher ultraprocessed food intake, then platea...

Your gut microbes determine how foods affect your health, meaning identical diets produce very different outcomes on people depending on microbial enzymes, balance, and overall gut condition Large-scale research shows plant compounds require specific gut microbes for benefits, explaining why plant-heavy diets improve energy for some people yet trigger bloating, fatigue, or food reactions in others...

Osteoarthritis (OA), the leading cause of hip pain, affects an estimated 240 million people worldwide. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones gradually breaks down, causing pain and stiffness A study published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found that patients with a gait speed of at least 1 meter per second (m/s) before hip replacement recovered sig...

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) now affects about 788 million adults worldwide, more than double the number in 1990, making it one of the most widespread and underrecognized health threats A recent systematic analysis published in The Lancet revealed that CKD is now the ninth leading cause of death globally, responsible for roughly 1.48 million deaths in 2023 alone High blood sugar, elevated blood pr...

Young people who use pre-workout supplements face more than double the risk of sleeping five hours or less per night, a level of sleep loss that undermines mood, learning, and physical recovery High-dose stimulants in pre-workout products keep your nervous system in a stressed, alert state, making it harder for your brain and body to shift into deep, restorative sleep Short sleep doesn't just caus...

Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by gut bacteria that ferment dietary fiber. It serves as essential fuel for colon cells and maintaining overall systemic health Adequate fiber intake — around 30 grams daily — is crucial for butyrate production. Without it, your body burns stored fat and protein, creating disease-causing byproducts Butyrate strengthens your gut barrier, preventi...

Almost 80% of Americans take supplements — and that number keeps growing. It's no surprise supplements are everywhere. Herbal products alone bring in more than $12 billion a year The U.S. supplement industry is raising safety standards without banning trusted herbs. Experts advocate for clearer rules, improved testing, and consumer protection while maintaining access to beneficial natural products...

Americans are rediscovering calisthenics — simple, equipment-free exercises like squats, pushups, and planks — as an effective way to build strength, endurance, and mobility without relying on a gym Bodyweight training activates multiple muscle groups at once, improving balance, flexibility, and cardiovascular health while also supporting joint stability and posture Calisthenics delivers measurabl...

Heavy alcohol use accelerates bleeding strokes by more than a decade, causing brain hemorrhages to occur around age 64 instead of 75 and leaving survivors with greater disability and cognitive decline MRI scans show that heavy drinkers develop more severe white matter damage, a sign of accelerated brain aging and small vessel disease, even before a stroke occurs Alcohol and seed oils both damage y...

Early smartphone ownership at age 12 is linked to higher risks of depression, obesity, and insufficient sleep, placing your child on a riskier long-term developmental path Each year earlier a child receives a smartphone increases the odds of obesity and insufficient sleep, showing just how much the timing of that first phone shapes their health Children who acquire a smartphone between ages 12 and...

Industrial farming has weakened soil biology, reduced food quality, and contributed to chronic disease, prompting renewed focus on soil health as a foundation for human health and agricultural resilience Regenerative agriculture rebuilds soil without reliance on heavy chemical inputs. This approach improves water retention, nutrient density, and long-term farm productivity In December 2025, the U....

GLP-1 drugs trigger rapid metabolic stress that shuts down hair growth, leading to thinning, reduced density, and delayed-onset shedding Dermatologists report a consistent pattern of telogen effluvium in GLP-1 users, a condition in which stress pushes large numbers of hair follicles into a resting-and-shedding phase, showing that hair loss reflects internal stress rather than aging or genetics Mul...

Parcopresis, or "shy bowel syndrome," is a condition that makes having a bowel movement outside your home feel impossible. Meanwhile, paruresis, or "shy bladder," causes similar difficulty with urinating in public restrooms A study in Frontiers in Psychology found that about 14% of 714 university students avoided public toilets because of anxiety, and the analysis showed this behavior is driven by...

Sorbitol, a common sugar alcohol in sugar-free and "diet" products, drives liver fat buildup even when your gut bacteria are healthy, making it a hidden contributor to fatty liver disease When your microbiome is weakened from antibiotics, stress, or ultraprocessed foods, sorbitol slips through your gut unchanged and reaches your liver, where it triggers rapid fat production Sorbitol is converted i...

As you age, your thymus produces fewer newly formed cells responsible for responding to unfamiliar pathogens, reducing your immune system's adaptability. This shift, combined with persistent inflammation, defines the core features of immune aging Urolithin A, a postbiotic compound, stimulates mitochondrial renewal in aging immune cells. A recent study shows it can increase naïve-like T cells and s...

The Achilles tendon, the body's longest and strongest connective tissue, links your calf muscles to the heel. It supports walking and jumping, withstands extreme loads, yet faces rising injury rates across populations National U.S. data from 2001 to 2020 show Achilles ruptures are the most common tendon injury, increasing about 3% annually, with higher risk in men and Black patients Research indic...

High-glycemic index foods push your insulin and IGF-1 into ranges linked to lung cancer, raising risk across multiple tumor types, including small cell and adenocarcinoma High-glycemic load diets, when built from fiber-rich whole fruits, vegetables, and grains, showed a lower lung cancer risk because they produced steadier blood sugar responses rather than sharp spikes Both smokers and nonsmokers...

A 2013 Science paper claimed beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), the primary ketone body produced during ketosis, was a potent histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor with powerful epigenetic benefits — this claim became the foundation of the keto movement's health narrative A devastating 2019 head-to-head comparison in Scientific Reports found that BHB shows no detectable HDAC inhibition in vitro or in vivo...

Everyday chemicals from pesticides, plastics, and flame retardants act like hidden antibiotics in your gut, killing beneficial bacteria that support digestion, immunity, and metabolic health Researchers identified 168 common industrial and agricultural chemicals that slowed or stopped the growth of healthy gut microbes, including key species that protect your gut lining and reduce inflammation Som...

Chronic insomnia affects millions worldwide and raises risks for cardiovascular disease, mental illness, and cognitive decline. Effective nondrug treatments are essential for restoring sleep and protecting long-term health Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the leading behavioral treatment for chronic insomnia. It uses structured therapy to change sleep-disrupting thoughts and ha...

Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced when gut bacteria ferment dietary fiber. It provides energy for colon cells and offers health benefits beyond basic nutrition Research suggests butyrate helps manage inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by reducing inflammation, improving symptoms and strengthening gut barrier integrity Laboratory studies show butyrate helps inhibit cancer cell grow...

Big Food now supplies over half of U.S. adults' at-home calories through ultraprocessed foods and, according to a study in The Lancet, these foods are now a major global health threat driving chronic disease The NOVA food classification groups foods by processing. Group 4 (ultraprocessed products) are industrial formulations that displace healthy diets and seriously harm health Across 104 studies,...