Dr Joseph Mercola Recommends Yummy Blueberries! They Satisfy Your Palate while Slowing Down the Signs of Aging

Friday, September 26, 2008

When asked what fruit would be the most nutritious overall, Dr. Mercola’s answer would be - berries. They are some of the most nutritious fruits on earth! Why? Because they haven't been hybridized into giant fruits full of sugar, they are small and densely packed with potent phytochemcials that can do wonders to support your health. And one of the best berries on the planet, chock full of antioxidants, is the blueberry. As he says in his book, Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program:

"Blueberries are quite low in sugar compared to other fruits yet pack some of the most powerful antioxidant properties of all fruits and vegetables. In addition to preventing heart disease, cancer and other diseases, they've been shown to slow the aging process, especially in the brain."

Blueberries also maintaining your nutritional health by:

• Decreasing your risk of cancer

• Preventing heart disease and stroke by reducing the buildup of so called "bad" cholesterol

• Guarding against Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases

• Combating aging and reversing short term memory loss

• Relieving arthritis inflammation

• Fighting infection and bolstering the immune system

• Promoting urinary tract health

• Optimizing vision health and reversing the causes of macular degeneration and blindness

• Improving motor skills

Certainly, as with all fruits and vegetables, Dr. Mercola strongly recommends you try to buy organic. If you want that burst of flavor and nutrition of quality wild organic blueberries in your area, he highly recommends you try the Vital Choice Wild Organic Blueberries offered here!

Dr. Joseph Mercola Blasts the Myth of Multitasking

Multitasking has been used for decades to describe the parallel processing abilities of computers. At the height of human arrogance, we have now coined it to describe the hurry, bustle and agitation that now rule over most people’s lifestyles. We wear our “multitasking badges” proudly, fancying ourselves the ultimate survivors of the 21st century!

But Dr. Mercola Reveals That Multitasking Isn’t What It’s Cut Out to Be!

• Studies have shown the danger of using cell phones and other electronic devices while driving.

• In the business world, time management is a perennial problem as workplace distractions (an offshoot of a multitasking mindset) are on the rise.

• The electronic din is now invading every nook and cranny of our everyday lives – we may turn out to be more informed. But are we gaining wisdom when we focus on our goals and tasks with crumbs of attention?

Dr. Mercola Explains the Value of “Attention”

When discussing “multitasking”, we are actually talking about attention:

• The capacity to pay attention

• The ability to shift attention

• To decide which things are worthy of our attention

People with great achievements often say they owe their success to a sharply honed skill for paying attention. When Isaac Newton was asked about his “genius” he answered that if he had made any discoveries, it was “owing more to patient attention than to any other talent.”

Dr. Mercola Agrees with William James (the Great Psychologist)

To James, steady attention was ultimately an attribute of a mature mind, a usual state disturbed only by stress. To people a century later, that calm portrayal may seem unusual—as though illustrating a bygone era. Today’s multitasking adult may find something more similar in James’s description of the youthful mind: an “extreme mobility of the attention” that “makes the child seem to belong less to himself than to every object which happens to catch his notice.”

Are we growing in wisdom then?

Spice Up Your Life with Dr. Joseph Mercola

Time sure flies because the holidays are fast approaching. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner, with the scent of holiday spices soon filling your home. But unknown to many, these spices do more than just add fragrance and flavor to your food – they also infuse your favorite holiday dishes with numerous health benefits.

Dr. Joseph Mercola, one of America’s leading natural health practitioners and nutrition experts, shares the unique health benefits that you can experience from these popular holiday spices:

Cinnamon – Used for centuries as a spice and as medicine, just half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day significantly helps reduce blood sugar levels of people with type 2 diabetes while also lowering triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels in this group. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg because cinnamon also:

• Enhances digestion

• Constricts and tones tissues

• Relieves congestion

• Soothes pain muscles and joints

• Relieves menstrual discomfort

• Helps stimulate circulation

• Helps relieve arthritis

• Helps prevent urinary tract infections, tooth decay and gum disease, and

• Is a powerful anti-microbial agent that can kill E. coli and other bacteria, naturally keeping foods fresher longer

Cloves – Native to Indonesia, cloves are used in Chinese and western herbal medicine in dental emergencies, as it is known to relieve tooth and gum pain but beyond that, cloves:

• Have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties

• Provide relief from asthma and bronchitis

• Relieve muscle pains from injuries, arthritis or rheumatism, and

• Kill intestinal parasites and fungi

Ginger – Commonly used all over the world, ginger contains up to three percent of an essential oil, giving it its fragrance. Aside from warming the body and adding that familiar “kick” to your food, ginger:

• Promotes cardiovascular health

• Soothes upset stomach, nausea and motion sickness

• Relieves morning sickness

• Eliminates intestinal gas

• Has antioxidant properties

• Relieves dizziness

• Boosts the immune system

• Protects against bacteria and fungi, and

• Encourages bile flow

Nutmeg – A regular in pies, pudding, cookies and soufflés, nutmeg also helps lower cholesterol and:

• Is useful for those with insomnia as it can induce drowsiness

• Calms muscle spasms

• Lowers blood pressure

• Increases circulation, and

• Relieves toothache

Peppermint – Since ancient times, fresh peppermint leaves have been known for their therapeutic properties. One of the most versatile herbs, peppermint is used to flavor tea, ice cream, gum, toothpaste and is even added to shampoos and soap. It also:

• Soothes the digestive tract

• Relieves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome

• May protect against cancer

• Inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungus, and

• Relieves the symptoms of allergies and asthma

These spices will surely make your holidays healthier. But however beneficial these spices may be, Dr. Mercola warns that they should not be taken daily because you will expose yourself to the risk of allergies. For Dr. Mercola, there are no shortcuts to optimal health because only in addressing the underlying causes of illness with a healthy diet and lifestyle will you become truly healthy.

Dr. Mercola is the author of Take Control Of Your Health, where he offers more advice and tips on how to get healthy and happy. For more information on Dr. Mercola’s practice, visit Mercola.com now!

Dr. Joseph Mercola Believes that Exercise Fights Depression!

Depression can come upon a person without notice. It may be clinical, manic or situational depression, but a person can be affected physically and emotionally to the point of not functioning in the world all the same. There are many techniques and methods to help you pull away from depression - and exercise is one of them.

According to Dr. Mercola depression and exercise are polar opposites. One brings you down while the other makes you come alive. Research has shown that exercise is an effective weapon against depression.

Exercise helps you in your fight against depression by:

• Increasing your self-esteem

• Taking your mind off your concerns

• Helping you release pent-up frustrations

• Tiring you so you can sleep better
  

Dr. Mercola observes that depression can make exercising seem impossible. Someone who is depressed simply wants to stay in bed and sleep. But you need to begin to exercise to push depression out of your life! Don’t set an unrealistic goal - running several laps around the park is a good start. Also remember to do what you enjoy with your loved ones to make the road to recovery less bumpy.

If you find that exercise is still intimidating (one of the biggest hindrances for people who haven’t exercised in a long time is getting started): Walking is a wonderful way to get started. It is very low impact so it is easy on the joints.

For deep depression Dr. Mercola would not recommend using EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) on your own, but rather as reinforcement while working with a trained EFT practitioner. Taking a look at Dr. Carrington's guidelines on selecting an EFT therapist would get your major questions answered. In addition, truly improving your diet is obviously an important step in treating depression, and another important consideration would be to make certain you are getting adequate supply of omega-3 fats.

Is Earwax Your Friend? Ask Dr. Joseph Mercola

Are you tired of stubborn earwax clogging your ears? You are not alone because around 12 million Americans visit the doctor every year because of excessive earwax. But before you go get some Q-tips, you might be surprised to know that earwax is better left alone.

Dr. Joseph Mercola, an osteopathic physician and natural health expert, provides information and practical tips relevant to your health, from something as mundane as cleaning earwax to more serious concerns like proper diet and nutrition.

An Unlikely Friend

Earwax, or cerumen, as it is known in the medicine world, is formed in the outer one-third of the ear canal and is produced by the body to block dust and other small particles and prevent them from reaching the eardrum. Earwax naturally emerges out of the ear, expelling the trapped dirt along with it. However, wax buildup caused by overzealously cleaning the ears with cotton swabs, or using earplugs and headphones for long periods of time, pushes the earwax back, causing:

• Pain and pressure

• Itchiness

• Foul odor

• Ear discharge and,

• Hearing problems

The American Academy of Otaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) has issued the national guidelines to help clinicians handle earwax problems. While the AAO-HNSF advises that earwax should be left alone because it is essentially a good thing, you should remove excess earwax if you experience these symptoms:

• Earache

• Partial or progressive hearing loss

• Ringing or noise in your ears

• Itching, odors or discharge

• Coughing

• A feeling or sensation that your ear is plugged

Wax Management

It’s easy to deal with earwax at home. You can use either water, oil or ear drops to soften the earwax and help it emerge. Ear irrigation is also an option. You can safely use coconut oil, hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide and olive oil for this purpose. However, ear irrigation is not an alternative if you have diabetes, a weak immune system, or a perforated eardrum.

If you are suffering from severe earwax impaction, irrigation using a syringe or manual removal can be done by a health professional.

As always, prevention is still the key to avoiding earwax problems. The new AAO-HNSF guidelines warn against using cotton swabs or other probing objects, oral jet irrigators and ear candles, as these may do you more harm than good.

Dr. Mercola advises the regular intake of Omega-3 supplements, such as krill oil, to prevent the excess buildup of earwax. After clearing out impacted earwax, getting sufficient amounts of Omega-3 in your diet usually prevents a recurrence.

Get hype-free solutions to your everyday health concerns and more when you visit the world’s leading natural health website, Mercola.com!

Experience the Benefits of Massage with Dr. Joseph Mercola

Friday, September 19, 2008

Every once in a while, you need to take a break from your busy schedule and spend some time to relax because your body can only take so much activity.

For Dr. Joseph Mercola, an osteopathic physician with over two decades of experience, massage is one of the best and simplest relaxation methods. For Mercola, massage can provide relief from stress and muscle pain to everyone, from babies to senior citizens, and professional athletes to executives.

Massage is one of the most effective therapies because it stimulates the body's natural ability to rejuvenate itself. Because the skin, the body's largest sensory organ with thousands of specialized receptors, reacts to external stimuli such as heat, cold and pressure by sending messages through the nervous system to the brain, gentle massage affects our nerves by stimulating the release of endorphins - natural 'feel good' chemicals in the body which help induce relaxation and a sense of well-being.

Stronger massage, on the other hand, stimulates blood circulation to boost the supply of oxygen and nutrients to body tissues and helps the lymphatic system flush away waste products. It also helps relax tense and knotted muscles and stiff joints to improve mobility and flexibility.

Massage Made Easy

There are different types of massages but you don't really need to go to an expensive spa for special treatments because Dr. Mercola has discovered two effective and cheap tools to help you experience the benefits of massage:

GlidePoint 610 - Recommended by chiropractors and massage therapists, the GlidePoint 610 is designed with a roller ball that smoothly glides across the skin without any gels or oils, allowing you to deliver both a gentle and a strong tissue massage. The unique rolling ball action helps temporarily relieve aches and pains, making it ideal for stress relief and relaxation. You can glide the roller ball over bare skin or clothes on tension areas like the neck, back, shoulders, legs and feet. Its ergonomic design minimizes hand fatigue and is small enough for you to take it anywhere.

The Tingler - This spider-shaped device is the ultimate head massager and is specially made to tingle away your headaches. Its ten flexible copper tines act like ten specialized fingers to gently stimulate the nerve endings in your scalp, 'tingling' you from head to toe, leaving you relaxed, stimulated and happy at the same time. Bend it and form a rake or semi-circle tickle to scratch the rest of your body. The Tingler has appeared on Ellen, CNN, MTV, Will and Grace, and Miss Congeniality 2 and graced the pages of Glamour, InStyle, Elle, Redbook, and Ladies Home Journal. If it doesn't 'tingle' your senses, nothing will!

But don't get the wrong impression, Dr. Mercola doesn't recommend products because they're popular - it's because they really work! Mercola has worked hard to keep his site, Mercola.com, free from third-party influence, including pharmaceutical and advertising companies. He personally researches and tests any product before recommending them to the public because his motivation is to provide you with what you need to stay healthy.

Find out more about Dr. Mercola, his practice and approach to healing, and the products that will help you live healthy and happy by logging to Mercola.com now!

Dr. Joseph Mercola Tackles the Eye Bag Conundrum!

There are many reasons why anyone can wake up with noticeable eye bags in the morning! But one thing is clear eye bags are certainly not flattering! And we could do without this physical reflection of an unhealthy lifestyle - and aging!

What Causes Your Eye Bags to Sag?

Dr. Mercola says we have proposed countless theories on why baggy lower eyelids come with aging. It has been pointed out that fat expansion in the eye socket is the number one culprit! A study examined the MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) of forty subjects and it became clear that the increase of lower eyelid tissue was due to fat increase!

Eyelid Surgery

According to Dr. Mercola almost 11.7 million cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures were performed in the United States in 2007 according to American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. And blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery that lifts sagging tissues under your eye into more youthful proportions) was one of the more popular procedures!

You Can Prevent Enormous Eye Bags!

Dr. Mercola observes that our culture has become obsessed with youthful looks, but instead of putting in the work so our physical appearance reflects the true state of our health, we prefer to undergo procedures that tweak our physical appearance. But the secret to a truly youthful beauty is:

• Eat a healthy diet
• Get enough sleep
• Get just enough exercise
• Avoid smoking
  

Not observing these simple health truths will lead to accumulation of free radicals (cell damaging substances in your body). Accumulation of free radicals is largely seen in your face, in the form of wrinkles and loss of skin elasticity and glow!

High sugar diets increase free radicals and oxidative stress, and causes signs of premature aging, and a recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation on May 16, 2008, states that people with metabolic syndrome suffer greater levels of oxidative stress than those who are not pre-diabetic.

Dr. Mercola stresses that what you should know is - there’s more to great skin and a youthful face than your genetic traits!

Dr. Joseph Mercola Says No To Food Irradiation

Can you imagine eating a "nuclear lunch" composed of irradiated vegetables and meat?

This may be what the future holds, thanks to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as it recently approved the irradiation of fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce to keep them free from E-coli and salmonella.

Food irradiation is the process of treating food with ionizing radiation, using either gamma rays, x-rays or high-speed electrons to kill microorganisms, bacteria, viruses or insects that might be present. The FDA assures that irradiated foods and non-irradiated foods have no difference yet the FDA website states that "irradiation can produce changes in food, similar to changes caused by cooking, but in smaller amounts."

The FDA approved irradiation of meat products based on only seven out of 441 animal studies and gave the go-signal to irradiate fruits and vegetables only on a theoretical calculation of the danger of the new chemicals that were created, not on any studies.

Food safety advocates strongly condemned the agency's decision, claiming that irradiation strips the food of nutrients, destroys natural flavor and introduces unsafe chemicals.

Dr. Joseph Mercola, a well-known natural health guru and the founder and editor of Mercola.com, the world's top natural health website, echoes this sentiment. He believes that food safety starts in the farm, where fruits and vegetables are grown and animals are raised. For Mercola, the solution to providing healthier and safer foods involves going back to the basics, not resorting to unproven and questionable high-technology practices like irradiation.

Mercola warns that our food is under attack from all sides. Pollution, pesticides, genetic modification and now, irradiation, all put food safety in question. That is why he provides the latest news and developments related to your health at Mercola.com. Because you need this information in order to stay healthy.

But Mercola.com gives you more than news and updates, it's your total health resource! Log on to Mercola.com now to start your journey towards good health!

Dr. Joseph Mercola Reveals the Dangers of Energy Drinks

Friday, September 12, 2008

Energy drinks are supposed to help you regain lost energy but what you may not know is that they can also give you a stroke.

Dr. Joseph Mercola, founder and editor of the world’s most popular natural health website, Mercola.com, tells you why energy drinks have no place in your diet.

Red Bull, the popular Austrian brand, sold almost 3.5 billion cans in 143 countries last year and accounts for almost half of the U.S. market for energy drinks. However, it is banned in Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Uruguay because of health risks.

Researchers from the Royal Adelaide Hospital Cardiovascular Research Center in Australia recently reported that just one can of Red Bull may increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke, even in young people. The study also states that Red Bull could be deadly when combined with stress or high blood pressure because it may impair proper blood vessel function.

Red Bull Australia said that the company will study the report but added that the reported effects were no different from those induced by drinking a single cup of coffee.

Before the Australian study, Sweden’s National Food Administration also investigated Red Bull after the deaths of three consumers in 2001.

Composition wise, energy drinks do not differ much from carbonated beverages because both contain little nutritional value. Red Bull and other similar products may contain B vitamins and taurine but this is negated by the high amounts of caffeine and sugar.

Children should not be allowed to consume any type of energy drink and it is also advisable to avoid them if you are pregnant or lactating, sensitive to caffeine, suffering from anxiety, stress or chronic fatigue syndrome, high blood pressure, predisposed to cardiovascular disease or have any type of blood clotting problems.

So, if energy drinks are no longer an option, how do you replenish lost energy?

Dr. Joseph Mercola, an osteopathic physician and natural health expert, advises that the first thing for you to do is figure out why you lack energy because one is in a lethargic state usually because of a stressful lifestyle, poor nutrition, negative emotions and lack of exercise and sleep.

You can increase your energy, then, by simply addressing these factors. This is commonly done by minimizing stress, maintaining a healthy diet and getting enough physical activity and sleep.

Dr. Mercola has been providing health-related articles and practical tips on how to achieve optimal health on his website, Mercola.com, since 1997. He is the author of Take Control of Your Health, a comprehensive guide designed to help you live a healthy and happy lifestyle.

Kick the energy drink habit and find out how to feel energetic and healthy at all times. Visit Mercola.com now for more information!

Be a Healthy Chef with Dr. Joseph Mercola

America is the nation that gave the world the “fast food culture.” Fast food provides convenience for people who are always on-the-go because it’s cheap, quick and heavily-advertised but Americans don’t seem to mind the fact that they are sacrificing their health for the little time they save.

It’s not so much different at home. Our kitchens are stacked with appliances and products designed to make everything easier, faster and instantaneous. It’s quite alarming that a lot of people are still ignorant of or just ignore the health risks they expose themselves to just to save a couple of minutes in meal preparation.

Dr. Joseph Mercola, founder and editor of the world’s most popular natural health website, Mercola.com, has been helping Americans reduce health risks at home by finding and recommending the best products that promote a healthier lifestyle, including food, dietary supplements and home appliances. For Mercola, preparing your food healthy is equally important as eating healthy.

Dr. Mercola highly recommends these quality products to help you prepare healthier meals:

Enameled Cast Iron Cookware – If you’re still using Teflon, you probably don’t know that a scientific panel to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has advised that PFOA, the chemical which gives Teflon its non-stick finish and slipperiness, be labeled as a “likely carcinogen.” The EPA has also charged DuPont, the inventor of Teflon, with hiding health data about PFOA for 20 years. Aluminum and stainless steel are also not good choices, as the former has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease while the latter is suspected of increasing the likelihood of leaching metals like nickel and carbon to your food. The best alternative is this custom-designed, five-piece enameled cast iron set which is free of harmful elements. It’s perfect for all types of cooking, cooks food evenly, is easy to clean, saves energy and is so durable it will last for years.

Mercola Healthy Chef Turbo Oven – If you want to cook healthy meals, your microwave oven is not what you want to use. It may be fast and convenient but using microwaves is not natural nor healthy because they vibrate the molecules of your food to levels they were never meant to experience, causing damage to the highly perishable nutrients the food contains. Numerous studies have already exposed the dangers of microwaves but people still don’t want to part with their ovens. Make the healthy change. The Mercola Healthy Chef Turbo Oven allows you to broil, bake, roast, grill and steam your food to perfection faster than a conventional oven. It won’t win any races against your microwave but it will surely make your meals healthier!

Omega Juicers – Not getting enough fruits and vegetables in your diet? Try juicing, the easiest way to get all the nutrients that you need. Cheap blenders are too loud while other juicers are too expensive but they don’t juice non-leafy vegetables. Most high-speed juicers also destroy the natural flavor and nutritional value of fruits and vegetables. The Omega Juicer easily and rapidly produces large amounts of juices but it uses a milling-type screw which helps retain the flavors and nutrients. But it’s more than a juicer because you can use it to mince and chop meat, fish and herbs and spices.

These quality kitchen aids will help you become a healthy chef in a jiffy. But good health is more than just preparing your food the right way. Find out how to make the healthy lifestyle change by logging on to Mercola.com now!

Dr. Mercola Waves the Red Flag on Cholesterol Drugs

Your Cholesterol Medication May Be Making You Sicker!

Statin drugs are being prescribed in higher and more potent doses to increasing numbers of people (even those with normal cholesterol levels) for "hypercholesterolemia” - which some doctors call a non-illness. What most physicians often overlook is that patients on statins deplete their Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplies, which often leads to fatigue, muscle weakness, soreness and eventually heart failure!

A petition has been issued to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to label statin packages with a warning regarding statin-induced CoQ10 depletion along with a review of animal and human studies supporting the issue. Experts are not sure that the warning will be heeded however.

Dr. Mercola Uncovers the Truth about Statins

Statins have become the drug of choice for millions of people. If the recommendations issued by experts two years ago are to be believed, nearly 40 million Americans should be on statins by now.

What you don’t realize is that, statins kill people! And cause complications in many more.

Patients taking statins become depleted in Coenzyme Q10.

The elderly and patients with heart failure begin to show symptoms of CoQ10 depletion in as short as six to twelve months!

Younger patients can tolerate the drug longer, but they eventually develop CoQ10 depletion symptoms after several years.

When you get to the heart of matters, treating the symptoms of high cholesterol with a drug doesn’t treat the cause. Not only doesn’t it treat the cause, artificial drugs may even cause serious side effects!

Dr. Mercola advises - Don’t risk your health when you can normalize cholesterol levels by observing some simple steps:

Normalize your insulin levels by eliminating sugar and grains. Eliminating sugar and grains will ultimately have beneficial side effects, such as normalizing your weight, increasing your energy and lowering your blood pressure and triglycerides. You can find out more about this in the new book, Total Health Program.

Take a high-quality fish oil that is rich with beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. Find a fish oil that is independently tested by a lab to conform to purity guidelines. One such brand, of superior quality, is Carlson's fish and cod liver oil, which is in the "Recommended Products" section.

Regular exercise may further reduce your risk of heart disease!

You can also think of a potent enzyme called nattokinase, from the food natto. It has been used for circulatory problems for decades, and it is found in CardioEssentials, a supplement often recommended to those who have been diagnosed with heart disease.

Dr. Joseph Mercola Tackles the Weight Issue

Studies Reveal That Being Overweight Doesn’t Mean You’re Unhealthy!

If you’re overweight, does it mean you’re unhealthy? According to some medical research - apparently not! A report in the Archives of Internal Medicine goes on to compare weight and cardiovascular risk factors in a sample of 5,400 adults.

• They found that half of the overweight people were metabolically healthy (which means having healthy levels of “good” cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose).
  

• A third of the obese people in the study also turned out to be metabolically healthy!
  

• On the other hand, one out of four slim people in the study showed at least two cardiovascular risk factors associated with obesity!

Obesity is actually tied up with a host of health problems. And researchers found the percentage of metabolically healthy overweight and obese people quite surprising.

According to several studies, how a person performs on a treadmill is a more accurate indication of health than body mass index. There are research indications that show that people who are fat, but are able to do well on treadmill tests, have lesser heart risks than people who are slim yet unfit.

Dr. Mercola Adds That Growing Acceptance of Heavier Body Types May Be Good But…

Dr. Mercola emphasizes that there isn’t any uniform ideal weight. What may be the right weight for you may not be the right weight for another. But carrying excess weight will ultimately put you at risk for every chronic degenerative disease, so the concept that you may be overweight or obese and still healthy may make you less vigilant about your health.

Having said that, Dr. Mercola goes on to clarify that “obesity itself is not the underlying cause of any health problem, it is merely a symptom” The root causes are an unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise which will ultimately result in increased insulin and leptin levels. And along with emotional challenges all of us inevitably experience, you may find yourself at an unhealthy weight, and health challenges can eventually arise from there.

Factors That Contribute to Obesity

Two-thirds of the American Population is already overweight. This is due to factors that are an offshoot of modern life:

• Unhealthy diet
  

• Lack of exercise
  

• Increased emotional challenges

If this trend continues, it is highly probable that every American adult will be overweight by 2048!

Although surveys have shown that American perceptions have changed and there is a greater acceptance of heavier body types, which is a positive development, Dr. Mercola believes it is too soon to accept it as a “new healthy norm” If we embrace this concept fully, we might add to a nationwide health crisis as excess weight can be attributed to so many chronic and debilitating diseases that might have been easily avoided.

Dr. Joseph Mercola Shows You How to Manage your Leftovers

Friday, September 5, 2008

Are you among those who let food go to waste because you don’t know what to do with leftovers?

Before you think about putting that steak or pasta in a garbage bag, consider this:

According to a joint report done by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Foundation, the International Water Management Institute and the Stockholm International Water Institute, HALF of the food produced worldwide is wasted.

Americans, for instance, throw away almost 30 percent of food, approximately $48 billion, when it’s been estimated that at least half of the food disposed in homes and restaurants around the U.S. isn’t bad and could still be eaten.

So how do you manage your leftovers and minimize spoilage?

Dr. Joseph Mercola , the founder of Mercola.com, the world’s most popular natural health website, has been giving sound advice on health concerns and practical tips to help you live a healthy and well-balanced life.

For Dr. Mercola, the best way of keeping your food safe isn’t buying a fancy refrigerator – it’s checking the source.

Try buying your food needs from small, local farms so you can personally check their conditions because food that is grown on a smaller scale usually contains lower levels of bacteria.

That’s the easy part. It gets a bit trickier when it’s time to determine if the food is spoiled or not.

Dr. Mercola suggests following ABC News’ “rule of four,” which means keeping food no more than four days at 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature will keep raw chicken, ground beef and cuts of beef and lamb safe for three days and four days for leftovers. But while temperature and age are probably the biggest factors, there are other things to consider.

Don’t throw away bread, cheese or fruits and vegetables just because of a spot of mold or an imperfection. Just cut the spot out because you can still eat the rest of it. Even if the food starts smelling a little pungent doesn’t necessarily mean that it has gone bad.

Extending the shelf life and quality of your food is just one simple and practical way of improving your lifestyle and staying healthy. Get more useful information pertinent to your health and wellbeing when you log-on to Mercola.com.

How Healthy Are You? Ask Dr. Joseph Mercola!

There are no shortcuts to good health. There is also no single health program designed that will work for everyone because we all have a unique biochemistry, genetics and physical appearance.

But for Dr. Joseph Mercola, achieving optimal health doesn’t need to be complicated. You just need to understand your body in order for you to take control of your own health.

Get started by assessing your health by looking at these four vital factors:

1. Insulin
2. Weight
3. Blood pressure
4. Cholesterol

The "Four Factor"

1. Insulin is crucial in metabolism and causes the cells in the body to take up glucose and stop the use of fat as an energy source. Most adults have only one teaspoon of sugar in their blood, and if your sugar level were to rise to one tablespoon, you would lapse into a hyperglycemic coma and die. Your body produces insulin to prevent this from happening but too much of it in your system can lead to degenerative illness as you get older.

2. Weight management, on the other hand, is perhaps the most visible among the four factors because you can tell by just looking at a person if he/she is at his/her ideal weight, overweight or underweight. Aside from physical health issues, extra body weight and obesity can also have major negative psychological effects that can hinder you from achieving optimal health.

3. Your ideal blood pressure should be 120/80 without any medication. High insulin levels, stress, tension or anxiety contribute to elevated blood pressure. If you are following a certain diet or program to normalize your blood pressure and do not see an improvement after several weeks, you need to seek help from a health professional.

4. Blood cholesterol is the trickiest part because most Americans are confused about their cholesterol levels due to the fact that too much emphasis is given to the importance of total cholesterol. For Dr. Mercola, the ratio of good cholesterol to total cholesterol is far more important when it comes to predicting cardiovascular risk.

Assessing and Taking Control of Your Health

A simple way to find out if you’re struggling with your weight is by measuring your waist circumference with a tape measure. Sizes above 40 for men and above 37 for women usually indicate obesity. Body Mass Index (BMI) is also a good tool to find out what your ideal weight should be. The National Institutes of Health has a simple online BMI calculator that you can use to know your ideal weight.

It is also easy and inexpensive to test for your insulin, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. So do yourself a favor and look at the state of your health as soon as possible.

After assessing the state of your health, the next logical step will be to adopt a plan that will help you address problems and improve your overall wellbeing.
Dr. Mercola has designed a special Nutrition Plan coming from decades of extensive research, collaboration with other health professionals and most importantly, successful treatment of thousands of patients. Mercola’s passion is to help you start the journey to optimal health, one step at a time.

Take control of your health with Dr. Mercola’s Optimized Nutrition Plan! Log on to Mercola.com now!

Dr. Joseph Mercola Explains When a Little Poison Can be Good for You

Too much of a good thing can be bad for you, like sugar and exercise. But can you believe that a little of something bad can be good for you?

We all know that excessive exposure to radiation and toxins from smoking and mercury are dangerous to your health. But did you know that a little exposure to toxic substances or stressors may actually give you health benefits?

Hormesis is the process which theorizes that organisms exposed to low levels of toxins and other stress agents develop a resistance towards tougher challenges. Thus, a toxin showing hormesis has the opposite effect when administered in small doses than in large ones.

An example of this theory is an experiment wherein mice were exposed to small doses of gamma rays before irradiating them with very high levels of gamma rays, which decreased the occurrence of cancer. A similar effect was achieved when rats were given dioxin.

Dr. Joseph Mercola, who has been practicing osteopathic medicine for over 20 years, defines hormesis as the biological phenomena where an otherwise adverse or detrimental influence is beneficial when applied at low levels, enough to set something into motion.

Scientists have been trying to find a connection between hormesis and aging. It has been thought that cells may have an adaptive or hermetic response that are anti-aging when they are exposed to mild stress like heat shock, irradiation, pro-oxidants, hypergravity, food restriction and even exercise.

Dr. Mercola also cited another study which showed that mice whose food intake was reduced by 40 percent but whose diet included fish oil lived 300 percent longer than mice that ate as much as they wanted and fed with omega-6 oils.

The significant implication of the experiment showed that calorie restriction has a bigger influence on longevity than adding fish oils. But while he concedes that calorie restriction does work, he does not advocate it because human populations that consume low-calorie diets restricted in proteins and micronutrients tend to have short stature, late reproductive maturation, impaired fertility and impaired immune functions.

What Dr. Mercola recommends is eating according to your nutritional type, which involves shifting the amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates you consume because he believes that optimal health may depend on the percentage of each food you consume, and not with the type of the food you are eating.

You can find out more about hormesis, nutritional typing and other health topics at Mercola.com. Mercola.com delivers the latest health news and hosts thousands of articles related to your health and wellbeing. Visit Mercola.com now or send Dr. Mercola your questions at Ask Dr. Mercola.

Dr. Joseph Mercola Recommends Premium Supplements to Enhance Your Health

Dietary supplements are made to supply you with the essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, which you don't get enough of or are missing from your diet.

According to a survey done this year, nearly six out of 10 adult Americans take dietary supplements on a regular basis, with majority saying that they are satisfied with the products they are using.

However, despite the widespread use of dietary supplements, the survey showed that many of those taking them are misinformed about what they can actually do for your health, how long it will take for the benefits to take effect and which ones are more important.

Dr. Joseph Mercola, an osteopathic physician and natural medicine practitioner, has been helping consumers by independently researching and testing health products to find out which ones are the best in their respective categories. He provides unbiased recommendations because he is not affiliated with any advertisers or pharmaceutical companies; he simply wants to find the best products that will help you gain optimal health. He personally uses the products he recommends, including:

B-12 Energy Booster – Do you still drink coffee or energy drinks whenever you lack energy? Now there's an easy, convenient and effective way of recharging your energy and it doesn't involve any pills, tablets or capsules – it comes in the form of a spray! B-12 Energy Booster uses a patented NanoMist® delivery system that further reduces vitamin B-12 molecules to microscopic nanodroplets, making it easier and faster for your body to absorb the essential nutrients. No multivitamin containing vitamin B-12 can compare to this product. But giving you extra energy is just the tip of the iceberg. This innovative B-12 spray, which comes in a great-tasting spearmint flavor, also helps in cell formation (including red blood cells), longevity and enhances digestion, food absorption and carbohydrate and fat metabolism.

Chlorella – Green has always been the color that represents health. Chlorella, a natural green algae, is one of the purest natural green foods on earth. This premium chlorella is harvested from Ishigaki Island in Japan and is processed by an exclusive technology which breaks open the plant's cell wall to make its rich nutrient content available to you. It helps cleanse toxins from your body, boosts your immune system, helps digest your food, provides beta carotene and even helps freshen your breath! You won't find a better chlorella supplement than this.

Whole Food Multivitamin Plus – It's a jungle out there with all those different multivitamin brands. So what makes Whole Food Multivitamin Plus any different? The name speaks for itself. All the vitamins and minerals it contains are extracted from RAW foods and is 100% FREE from allergens and additives. Plus, it contains higher amounts of B vitamins, magnesium, calcium and an exclusive formula of antioxidants including beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, L-cysteine, lutein, lycopene, red wine proanocyanidins and selected extracts and powders from over 25 fruits, vegetables and herbs.

These are just some of the premium products that will help you live healthy and happy. Find out more by visiting Mercola.com, the world's most popular natural health website!