Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

About 1 in 3 American teens — more than 8 million adolescents — already live with prediabetes, putting them at high risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke later in life Prediabetes is often silent, with many teens showing no symptoms, which means serious damage begins long before the condition is diagnosed Risk is higher in teens who are overweight, eat ultraprocessed foods, or are inactive, but lifestyle changes dramatically lower their chances of developing diabetes When prediabetes progresses, it damages blood vessels, disrupts energy production inside cells, and strains your pancreas until it no longer keeps blood sugar in check Parents play a key role in reversing prediabetes by encouraging healthier food choices, daily movement, regular sunlight, and monitoring blood sugar markers before Type 2 diabetes takes hold

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is heavily funded by pharmaceutical companies, influencing policies that promote more medical interventions for children while reducing parental control The AAP's top priority is to eliminate parental authority over childhood vaccination decisions, replacing it with state or provider control Major child health issues like rising obesity, increasing autism rates, and chronic illness prevention are absent from the AAP's top 10 priorities The AAP uses rare measles outbreaks to justify removing personal and religious vaccine exemptions, despite measles mortality already being near zero before mass vaccination began Ignoring preventive strategies, the AAP's approach sets children up for lifelong dependence on pharmaceutical products rather than building lasting health

Research shows sugary drinks and alcohol intake are strongly linked to faster hair loss, with younger men experiencing baldness patterns that typically appear a decade earlier A systematic review covering over 61,000 participants confirmed low vitamin D and iron levels consistently worsen hair loss, highlighting how nutrient deficiencies directly weaken follicles Sugary drinks spike insulin and fuel inflammation, narrowing scalp blood vessels and starving follicles of oxygen and nutrients, which accelerates thinning and weakens regrowth cycles Men with male pattern baldness consumed nearly twice as many sugary drinks weekly compared to men without hair loss, proving diet is a visible risk factor Cutting sugary beverages, eliminating alcohol, restoring vitamin D through safe sun, and boosting iron intake with nutrient-rich foods are direct steps to protect hair and overall health

Benadryl's active ingredient, diphenhydramine, is now considered outdated and unsafe, with researchers urging that it be removed from over-the-counter use The drug causes strong sedation, impaired memory, and slower reaction times, with studies showing it affects driving performance more than alcohol Older adults face lingering grogginess for up to 18 hours, while children risk unpredictable reactions, including agitation, coma, or heart problems if overdosed Other countries have already restricted access, and medical authorities warn against its use in children, highlighting safer alternatives and lifestyle strategies Natural approaches like vitamin C, quercetin, whole foods, restorative sleep, and stress management help balance histamine and reduce allergy symptoms without dangerous side effects

Tooth sensitivity often signals deeper dental problems like enamel erosion, gum recession, or hidden decay Everyday habits such as drinking acidic beverages, brushing too hard, or using harsh whitening products strip away your teeth's natural protection and expose nerves Natural alternatives like zinc, black seed oil, and coconut oil soothe pain, reduce gum inflammation, and strengthen oral tissues without relying on fluoride Some remedies, like clove oil or saltwater rinses, offer short-term relief, while others, such as apple cider vinegar, make sensitivity worse Protecting enamel with gentle brushing, staying hydrated, breaking harmful habits, and seeking care from a mercury-free biological dentist help stop pain at its root

Microplastics have been detected in both male and female reproductive fluids, confirming that these synthetic particles are reaching the most sensitive areas of the human body Researchers found nine different types of microplastics, including materials from clothing fibers, cookware, packaging, and household products These particles enter your body through the air you breathe, the water you drink, the food you eat, and skin contact, making exposure nearly unavoidable without targeted changes Certain natural binders, probiotics, and liver-support compounds are being studied for their ability to trap and remove microplastics before they cause further harm Simple lifestyle upgrades — like switching to natural fabrics, improving air and water filtration, not using plastic containers for food storage, and replacing plastic kitchen tools — lower your daily microplastic intake and protect reproductive health

No-till gardening improves soil health and plant strength but brings new challenges with weed control Perennial weeds like bindweed and thistle need long-term strategies such as tarping to starve out their underground root systems Fast-growing annual weeds spread quickly by seed, making early removal essential to prevent future infestations Cover crops such as rye, oats, and wheat naturally block sunlight and suppress weeds while feeding your soil Mulching with straw, wood chips, or crop residue shields the soil, stops weed seeds from sprouting, and builds long-term fertility

Older diabetes drugs like glipizide are linked to higher rates of heart attack, stroke, and even death compared to newer options People with Type 2 diabetes already face double the risk of heart problems, making it especially important to avoid medications that add to that danger Older diabetes drugs like glipizide are still widely prescribed because they're inexpensive and familiar, but research shows they come with hidden dangers that put your heart at greater risk Lifestyle changes such as cutting vegetable oils, choosing the right carbohydrates, and lowering toxin exposure restore your body's natural ability to regulate blood sugar A simple HOMA-IR blood test detects insulin resistance early, giving you a chance to reverse course before Type 2 diabetes leads to life-threatening complications

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training allows people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to build muscle, improve mobility, and reduce pain using very light resistance, avoiding the joint stress of heavy lifting Eccentric exercises — the slow "lowering" phase of movements — help increase muscle mass, lower blood pressure, reduce body fat, and restore daily function without triggering flare-ups In studies, RA patients who followed structured BFR or eccentric training programs reported higher strength, better endurance, and greater ease in performing everyday activities The Arthritis Foundation emphasizes gentle, consistent movement such as stretching, swimming, walking, and balance training as key to protecting joints and slowing disease progression Combining light-load eccentric exercise with BFR offers a safe, effective way to rebuild strength, stability, and independence while keeping inflammation and discomfort in check

Just one hour of scrolling on your smartphone is enough to trigger measurable eye strain, reducing how often you blink and leaving your eyes dry and tired Social media reels are harder on your eyes than reading or watching videos because constant brightness changes force your pupils to adjust nonstop Eye strain builds over time, with the most noticeable discomfort showing up after the 40-minute mark, when blinking patterns become irregular Nearly all participants in the study reported dryness, fatigue, and blurred vision, proving that the measurable eye changes match real-world discomfort Simple lifestyle steps like reducing screen time, taking longer breaks, cutting out blue light at night, improving nutrition, and spending more time outdoors protect your eyes from daily screen stress