Friday, September 26, 2008

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

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!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Experience the Benefits of Massage with Dr. Joseph Mercola

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 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!