Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Story at-a-glance Ohia Lehua honey demonstrates superior antioxidant properties compared to Manuka honey in vivo, significantly increasing total antioxidant capacity and reducing oxidative stress markers in the body Manuka honey contains 10 times more phenolic compounds than Ohia Lehua honey, yet shows more limited antioxidant activity, suggesting its primary strength lies in antibacterial properties Research shows Manuka honey selectively inhibits breast cancer cell growth while leaving healthy cells unharmed, working through multiple mechanisms Both honeys contain distinct phytochemical profiles: Manuka is rich in hydroxybenzoic acids, while Ohia Lehua contains unique phenolics like phenyllactic acid. These profiles explain their different therapeutic effects Raw, unprocessed versions of both honeys retain maximum therapeutic benefits, but proper sourcing is important as many commercial honeys are heavily processed or adulterated with corn syrup

Story at-a-glance High blood sugar in Type 2 diabetes overwhelms cellular machinery like a chaotic factory, creating not just oxidative stress as previously thought, but also a more fundamental problem called reductive stress. Reductive stress occurs when there's an oversupply of electron-carrying molecules in cells, creating a "traffic jam" of electrons that can't be processed efficiently by the mitochondria's electron transport chain While traditional views focused on oxidative stress alone, scientists now understand that reductive stress actually triggers oxidative stress. It's the initial spark that sets off a chain reaction of cellular damage in diabetic conditions When the main pathway for processing glucose becomes blocked due to reductive stress, sugar molecules get diverted into harmful alternative pathways, creating additional toxic byproducts and inflammation The combination of reductive and oxidative stress explains many serious complications of diabetes including neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, and cardiovascular problems — all stemming from this initial electron overload Understanding reductive stress offers new therapeutic possibilities. Instead of just focusing on lowering blood sugar or fighting oxidative damage after it occurs, effective treatments target the electron transport chain efficiency and/or help cells recycle NADH more effectively

Story at-a-glance A massive industry exists to prevent pandemics, but despite receiving billions each year, it routinely fails to prevent pandemics or provide viable ways to address those which emerge This industry rests upon the lie that viral diseases cannot be treated, when in reality there are many effective, over-the-counter and unpatentable treatments for viral illnesses The industry engages in cruel and unnecessary animal experimentation, which wastes billions each year and repeatedly creates the pandemics it is supposed to prevent due to how frequently lab leaks occur The "war against bird flu" highlights key issues within the pandemic prevention industry, where billions have now been spent killing over 100 million birds, yet all that has accomplished is raising egg prices This article explores how many forgotten therapies can treat both severe viral illnesses and rapidly address common conditions like colds and flus

Story at-a-glance A 2025 meta-analysis of 46,694 cancer patients found that higher muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness reduced all-cause mortality risk by 31% to 46% across different cancer types and stages The same study showed that each unit increase in muscle strength reduced death risk by 11%, while increases in cardiovascular fitness lowered cancer-specific mortality by 18% Beyond improving cancer outcomes, a 2021 review of 188 studies found that regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing multiple cancer types by 10% to 20% through various mechanisms For cancer patients, intense workouts aren't necessary; simple activities like daily walks or standing up from a chair multiple times meaningfully improve strength and fitness The optimal daily target for walking is 10,000 to 12,000 steps, while strength training is most effective at 40 to 60 minutes weekly, spread across two to three sessions; exceeding 130 minutes negates benefits

Story at-a-glance Recent studies show toddlers are spending 60 to 90 minutes daily on screens, primarily television, despite recommendations against screen time for children under 2 years old A 2025 Latin American study found that passive TV viewing negatively impacts language development in toddlers Early exposure to screens, particularly before age 2, consistently shows negative effects on both receptive and expressive language skills, with fast-paced content being especially harmful EMF exposure and blue light from screens disrupts cellular health and sleep cycles in toddlers, making it important to limit device exposure, especially before bedtime Parents can protect language development by creating screen-free zones, prioritizing outdoor activities, emphasizing real-world interactions and maintaining dedicated daily reading time with their toddlers

Story at-a-glance Keloids are an extreme overreaction of the body’s wound healing process, causing thick, raised scars that continue to grow beyond the original injury, leading to pain, itching, and discomfort A study published in Burns & Trauma journal found that keloid cells overproduce CYP24A1, an enzyme that rapidly breaks down vitamin D, preventing it from regulating scar formation and inflammation Researchers discovered that inhibiting CYP24A1 allowed vitamin D to remain active longer, reducing excessive collagen buildup and helping keloid tissue behave more like normal skin Even individuals with sufficient vitamin D levels in their bloodstream could still have a functional deficiency in their skin due to rapid breakdown by CYP24A1, which explains why standard supplementation has not been effective for keloid treatment Another recent study found that vitamin D supplementation significantly improved wound healing, increasing skin hydration while reducing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), which strengthened the skin barrier and sped up recovery

Story at-a-glance Nebraska study reveals a 10% increase in pesticide exposure is linked to 36% rise in childhood brain cancers, 23% increase in leukemia, and 30% overall increase in pediatric cancers Research analyzing 2,512 cancer cases over 22 years identified herbicides dicamba, glyphosate, and paraquat as significant contributors to childhood cancer development in agricultural regions Children face heightened vulnerability to pesticide exposure through air, water, and soil due to developing organs and frequent hand-to-mouth contact during play The research demonstrates the importance of examining combined effects of multiple pesticides rather than individual chemicals, to represent real-world agricultural exposure more accurately Future research recommendations include human biomonitoring studies measuring pesticide levels in children's blood, plasma, and urine to better understand health impacts

Story at-a-glance Glucose and fructose, two simple sugars, behave differently in your body. Glucose provides quick energy while fructose goes directly to your liver Fructose in whole fruits is paired with fiber and nutrients that slow absorption, while processed fructose like high-fructose corn syrup flood your liver with sugar Excessive fructose consumption leads to de novo lipogenesis in the liver, resulting in fat buildup and an increased risk of fatty liver disease Processed sugars, unlike whole fruits, create rapid blood sugar spikes that put stress on insulin production and increases the risk of metabolic issues Consuming whole fruits with natural sugars supports a healthier metabolism by delivering fiber, water, and antioxidants that balance sugar absorption

Story at-a-glance Gut bacteria called Morganella morganii produce unusual fats that contain diethanolamine (DEA), an environmental micropollutant; the fats trigger inflammation that contribute to major depressive disorder The gut-brain axis operates bidirectionally — gut dysbiosis causes systemic inflammation that affects your brain while brain inflammation disrupts gut health Disruptions in gut bacteria lead to increased intestinal permeability, or "leaky gut," which allows harmful substances to enter your bloodstream and trigger systemic inflammation Neuroinflammation shifts tryptophan metabolism toward the kynurenine pathway, which produces substances that contribute to glutamate excitotoxicity, in turn damaging brain cells and contributing to depression Restoring gut health requires a comprehensive approach, including eliminating seed oils, avoiding endocrine disruptors, optimizing carbohydrate intake and carefully introducing beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia muciniphila

Story at-a-glance Heart failure affects 6.7 million Americans over the age of 20, and this number is expected to reach 8.5 million by 2030. Globally, it impacts over 37 million people as a life-threatening condition People who are hospitalized for severe infections like pneumonia or sepsis are more than twice as likely to develop heart failure Infections trigger an aggressive immune response that have a chance to become dysregulated, causing persistent inflammation and damage to the heart muscle's ability to pump efficiently The risk of heart failure persists long-term, with most cases appearing about seven years after the initial infection-related hospitalization Vitamin D produces antimicrobial peptides that protect against bacteria, fungi and viruses that cause severe infections, so make sure to optimize your levels through safe sun exposure