Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

A five-week study of nearly 200 working adults found that leisure crafting, using hobbies more intentionally, boosted creativity and meaning at work, often more strongly than benefits seen in participants' personal lives
Creative activities like art, music, dance, and gaming are linked to younger-looking brain function, stronger connectivity, and greater mental flexibility
Reading regularly strengthens brain function, delays cognitive decline, and may reduce Alzheimer's risk by up to five years, making it one of the most powerful, affordable habits for long-term mental health
Cooking at home and free-form dancing both support brain and body health by improving mood, reducing stress, and encouraging you to experiment
Being intentional with your health by improving your diet, moving more, and getting sunlight can boost your energy, focus, and resilience so you can fully enjoy the hobbies that bring you joy

Arthritis-related disability remains high, with nearly half of adults with arthritis struggling to perform basic daily movements that affect independence, mobility, and quality of life
About 40% of working-age adults with arthritis report that the condition limits their ability to work, threatening income, job security, and long-term financial stability during prime earning years
Difficulty with walking and climbing stairs is the strongest signal of serious disability, showing that loss of mobility — not just pain — drives work and activity limitations
Arthritis-related limitations are far more severe when other chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, or depression are present, compounding physical and economic strain
Addressing root drivers like chronic inflammation, excess mechanical joint stress, and impaired cellular energy slows joint damage and helps preserve mobility and work capacity

Long-term, low-dose aspartame intake caused measurable changes in heart structure and brain energy use in mice, even at amounts far below current safety limits
Weight and body fat dropped with aspartame use, but this came alongside reduced metabolic function and signs of cardiac strain rather than improved health
Brain cells showed worsening access to fuel over time, which aligned with slower movement, poorer memory, and reduced task performance
Harmful effects developed gradually and only appeared after many months, explaining why short-term studies often miss these risks
Avoiding artificial sweeteners and restoring real carbohydrate fuel helps reduce metabolic stress and protect long-term heart and brain function

Federal health officials reduced the number of vaccines recommended for all children and reorganized the schedule to align more closely with other developed nations, giving parents clearer decision points
The updated framework separates vaccines into universal, high-risk, and shared clinical decision-making categories, increasing your role in evaluating what fits your child's specific situation
The U.S. moved away from being a global outlier in the number of childhood vaccines recommended for all children, signaling a shift toward a more focused national approach
Officials committed to stronger research standards, including placebo-controlled trials and longer-term safety monitoring, signaling a push for more transparent evidence
The revised structure encourages you to weigh risks and benefits more carefully while strengthening your child's immune resilience through foundational health habits

A study published in AIMS Microbiology discovered that many commercial water dispensers harbor more bacteria than tap water due to biofilms and poor maintenance, raising public health concerns for offices, homes, and public-use systems worldwide
Biofilms are slimy layers of bacteria that stick to wet surfaces like water dispensers, pipes, and medical tools, making germs harder to eliminate with disinfectants, or even antibiotics
In Arizona, 73% of Water Vending Machines (WVMs) exceeded EPA limits for bacterial growth. These consistent findings point to a systemic hygiene issue in dispenser systems, not the water supply itself
To keep water dispensers safe, clean them every two to four weeks using either vinegar or diluted bleach (but never both together); remember that UV systems help reduce microbes but can't replace regular hands-on cleaning
To protect yourself from harmful contaminants, clean your water dispenser regularly, choose stainless steel bottles, and filter your water