Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Sciatica pain stems from irritation of your sciatic nerve, the long nerve running from your lower back to your foot, and causes sharp pain, numbness, or tingling that makes even simple movements difficult Movement — not rest — is the key to recovery, because gentle activity increases blood flow, reduces inflammation, and helps the nerve heal faster Short walks, swimming, and simple stretches like knee-to-chest or the cobra pose relieve pressure on the nerve and prevent stiffness during flare-ups Daily habits such as limiting sitting time, improving posture, strengthening your core, and supporting your spine during sleep help stop sciatica from returning Most people recover within weeks when they stay active, use heat and cold strategically, and build strength in their hips and core to protect their lower back

Chronic pain is a common struggle, affecting over 50 million adults. The key to staying active lies more in pain resilience than severity. Five components define this resilience: emotional regulation, psychological flexibility, self-care, spirituality, and internal strengths. Strategies like walking 8,000 steps daily and ensuring quality sleep can boost emotional balance. Additionally, consuming healthy carbohydrates fuels energy and repair. The hosts even challenge listeners to adopt two resilience-building actions for a week.

California is leading the charge against ultraprocessed foods in school lunches with a bold new law, but it won't fully take effect until 2035. These addictive foods are linked to alarming health issues in children, including obesity and poor metabolic markers. Experts discuss how ultra-processed options impact cravings and suggest empowering parents to make healthier choices at home. Simple strategies like cooking with kids, teaching marketing literacy, and reducing screen time can help shift habits toward real, nourishing foods.

Discover the link between elevated cortisol and Alzheimer's risk, revealing how chronic stress impacts brain health long before memory loss starts. Learn about the significance of the cortisol-to-DHEA-S ratio in gauging neurodegeneration. Explore how lifestyle choices like diet, sleep, and breathwork can naturally rebalance these hormones. Hear about the critical midlife vulnerability and the role of thyroid health in regulating cortisol. Plus, get practical tips for managing stress and an integrated two-week plan to support your brain health.

A widely used grease remover and dry-cleaning chemical called tetrachloroethylene (PCE) has been linked to liver fibrosis, a condition that causes scarring and loss of liver function even in people who don't drink alcohol or have obesity Researchers found that people with measurable levels of PCE in their blood were three times more likely to have liver fibrosis, and for every tiny one-nanogram-per-milliliter increase in PCE, the risk increased fivefold PCE exposure often occurs through inhaling fumes from dry-cleaned clothes, contaminated air, or drinking water, and the chemical can also enter through the skin, affecting the liver, kidneys, heart, and nervous system Long-term exposure to PCE has been linked not only to liver disease but also to nerve damage, reproductive issues, and several cancers, including those of the bladder and liver, prompting the EPA to begin phasing it out Lower your risk of liver damage by switching to solvent-free wet cleaning, letting dry-cleaned clothes air out before use, replacing household products that contain PCE, and supporting liver repair through clean nutrition, hydration, and sun exposure

Pickleball's explosive growth has led to a surge in serious eye injuries, with emergency room cases increasing by 405 each year between 2021 and 2024 Most eye injuries occur in players over 50, whose slower reflexes and vision changes make them more vulnerable to high-speed impacts and falls The sport's modern paddles can launch balls over 60 miles per hour at the kitchen line — just 14 feet apart — leaving players less than half a second to react Despite the sharp rise in injuries, there are still no universal safety rules requiring protective eyewear in recreational or professional play Wearing shatterproof glasses, warming up, and improving balance are simple steps that protect your eyesight and keep pickleball fun, safe, and injury-free

President Trump's Executive Order 14212 established the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to address the nation's escalating childhood chronic disease crisis The MAHA Commission identified four key drivers of illness — poor diet, chemical exposure, chronic stress, and overmedicalization. It also introduced a coordinated national strategy built on research, systems reform, public awareness, and accountability In a recent report by Dr. Robert Malone, one of RFK Jr.'s appointed vaccine advisers, he explains that Congress must turn MAHA's executive directives into law to ensure the reforms become lasting national policy Malone categorized the MAHA legislative agenda into five areas of reform — addressing food standards, medical accountability, agricultural freedom, agency coordination, and government transparency To show your support, call or write your representatives directly, because real reform starts when your voice reaches the people writing the laws that shape your family's future

Exposure to artificial light at night disrupts your body's natural sleep-wake rhythm, raising your risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and heart failure A large-scale study found that adults living in the brightest nighttime environments had up to a 56% higher risk of heart failure and a 47% higher risk of heart attack compared to those in the darkest settings When combined with air pollution, bright night environments amplify cardiovascular risk even more — nighttime light accounted for up to 39% of the extra heart failure risk linked to polluted air Nighttime light not only harms your heart but also increases the risk of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, while reducing exposure to bright daylight worsens these effects Restoring a natural light-dark cycle — bright days and truly dark nights — helps regulate your hormones, protect your heart, improve mood, and reduce your risk of chronic disease

Antidepressants like SSRIs are strongly linked to hyponatremia, a dangerous drop in blood sodium that disrupts nerve and muscle function The risk is highest in the first two weeks of treatment, when sodium levels plummet to life-threatening lows that trigger confusion, seizures, or fainting Older adults, especially women over 80, are among the most vulnerable, with nearly 1 in 15 experiencing profound sodium loss after starting these drugs Symptoms of drug-induced low sodium often mimic worsening anxiety or depression, leading to misdiagnosis and unnecessary increases in medication Natural strategies like optimizing nutrition, restoring key vitamins and minerals, daily movement, sunlight exposure, and restful sleep offer safer ways to support mood and energy without creating sodium imbalances

New research shows that overall human performance — combining intelligence, emotional balance, and judgment — peaks between ages 55 and 60, making midlife a time of strength, not decline While mental processing speed slows with age, emotional intelligence, wisdom, and decision-making power continue to grow, helping you handle stress and relationships more effectively Your brain adapts by strengthening networks that regulate emotion and memory, allowing smoother coordination between thought and feeling for wiser, more integrated choices Eliminating seed oils high in linoleic acid (LA) and eating about 250 grams of healthy carbohydrates daily supports cellular energy and protects brain function Staying physically active, prioritizing sleep, and pursuing lifelong learning help maintain focus, clarity, and vitality — proving that your 50s and 60s can be your most productive, fulfilling decades