Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Prediabetes raises the risk of death by 64% in adults aged 20 to 54, making it far more dangerous at a younger age than later in life Most people with prediabetes have no obvious symptoms, which means you could be at risk without knowing it unless you get tested Unlike older adults, younger people with prediabetes often face faster disease progression and fewer overlapping health issues to mask the danger Simple lifestyle shifts like cutting vegetable oils, reintroducing the right carbs, reducing toxin exposure, and getting daily sunlight restore your body’s ability to make energy The HOMA-IR test is an effective way to track insulin resistance and see if your efforts are truly reversing prediabetes

Grip strength is a quick, noninvasive marker of overall health, linked to aging, resilience, neurological coordination, and risk of chronic disease and early mortality A 2025 study found that weaker grip strength in early psychosis patients correlated with poorer well-being and disruptions in key brain network connectivity patterns Stronger grip strength was linked to better communication between brain regions involved in movement, emotion, and self-reflection, especially within the brain’s default mode network Beyond brain health, grip strength also reflects cardiovascular fitness, immune function, cognitive performance, physical independence, and is widely used to detect early signs of frailty Grip strength is easy to track at home with a dynamometer, and exercises like daily dead hangs help support psychomotor coordination and neurological stability

The FDA has issued a nationwide warning about 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), an opioid substance found in some products available in gas stations and convenience stores across the U.S. 7-OH binds strongly to opioid receptors and has been shown to be more potent than morphine, yet it is unregulated, lacks approved medical use, and is often sold without proper safety labeling Many 7-OH products are disguised as energy shots or wellness aids, often with bright packaging that looks like candy or juice. This makes them easy to grab, especially for young consumers, and they’re frequently marketed with false claims for pain, anxiety, or mood support Most 7-OH products sold in the U.S. are lab-altered or highly processed, delivering doses far beyond what’s found in natural kratom leaves and carrying a much greater risk of dependence and harm If you’ve used 7-OH products, tapering gradually, supporting your body with movement, nutrition, and professional guidance helps reduce withdrawal symptoms and support a safe recovery process

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a therapy that restores balance in the gut by transferring healthy bacteria, helping patients escape the cycle of repeated antibiotic failures and infections A recent clinical trial found that FMT was safe and well tolerated in frail long-term care patients, showing fewer bloodstream infections and less antibiotic use than standard care Even though transplant recipients still carried resistant bacteria, they experienced fewer serious infections, proving that restoring microbiome diversity strengthens the body’s defenses against harmful microbes A national registry of 259 patients showed 90% were cured of recurrent Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection after just one FMT treatment, with results lasting beyond six months FDA-approved products like Vowst and Rebyota now make FMT accessible in oral capsule and rectal forms, offering new hope for those facing stubborn gut infections

Mental health issues like depression and anxiety are widespread across the globe. In the U.S. alone, nearly one in five adults is affected by mental illness each year Magnesium plays a central role in brain function, mood regulation, and stress response; deficiency is common and linked to anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and cognitive decline Vitamin D directly influences brain chemistry and inflammation, supports dopamine production, and is frequently low in individuals with mood disorders These two nutrients work synergistically. Magnesium activates vitamin D, while vitamin D enhances magnesium absorption; co-supplementation provides greater mental health benefits than either alone The best way to increase vitamin D is through regular midday sun exposure, while magnesium is increased through supplementation with well-absorbed forms like glycinate, malate, or L-threonate

About 1 in 5 adults with high blood pressure already has kidney damage, even if they feel completely fine High blood pressure silently destroys kidney function by narrowing blood vessels and trapping toxins in your body Older adults with high blood pressure are three times more likely to develop chronic kidney disease, yet most aren’t screened early Cutting all salt is not the solution — what matters most is improving your sodium-to-potassium ratio by eating whole, unprocessed foods Simple daily habits like breathing exercises, vitamin D optimization, and short walks help lower blood pressure and protect your kidneys long term

Discover the surprising benefits of creatine beyond athletic performance! It's a powerful ally for brain function, especially for older adults and those facing cognitive challenges like Alzheimer's. Learn how creatine supports recovery from stress and illness, making it beneficial for individuals with long COVID. The discussion includes practical advice on daily supplementation and dietary sources like grass-fed red meat. Plus, find out how combining creatine with resistance training can enhance muscle growth and resilience against frailty.

Persistent grief symptoms nearly doubled the risk of death within 10 years, showing that unresolved grief has serious long-term health effects People with high levels of grief were far more likely to use antidepressants, sedatives, and anxiety medications for years after their loss Frequent doctor visits remained elevated for up to seven years in those experiencing unrelenting grief, highlighting the strain it places on both mind and body Long-lasting grief keeps stress hormones high, weakens your immune system, disrupts sleep, and increases your risk of chronic disease Taking steps like honoring your unique grieving process, supporting your body with sleep, healthy diet, and exercise, and using techniques like the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) helps you move through grief and protect your long-term health

Eating minimally processed foods helped participants lose pounds at nearly double the rate of ultraprocessed diets, even when calories, fat, sugar, and protein were carefully matched Researchers found that people on minimally processed diets improved craving control twofold overall, with a fourfold improvement in resisting savory cravings, making long-term weight management far easier Ultraprocessed foods now make up more than 70% of the U.S. food supply, flooding daily diets with additives, seed oils, and engineered products that undermine health and longevity Large reviews link ultraprocessed foods to a 50% higher risk of heart disease and 32 additional health problems, including sleep issues, anxiety, depression, and digestive disorders Food companies engineer textures, flavors, and even sounds to bypass satiety signals and hook your brain’s dopamine response, making ultraprocessed foods as addictive as alcohol or cigarettes

Sodium is an essential electrolyte that supports fluid balance, nerve signaling, muscle contraction, and heartbeat coordination; even small drops in blood sodium disrupt these essential functions A Virginia Tech study found that low blood sodium amplifies the effects of flecainide, a common rhythm-control drug, by disrupting key electrical support systems between heart cells Restoring sodium to the normal range reversed conduction delays. This confirms that the effects were due to a temporary sodium imbalance People on sodium channel blockers need to monitor sodium levels closely, as common triggers like diuretics or illness cause dangerous delays in heart signal conduction Most adults do well with around 3,500 milligrams of sodium daily, especially when it comes from unprocessed, mineral-rich sources balanced by adequate potassium intake