Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Belly fat changes how your heart is built and works, even when your weight and body mass index (BMI) appear normal
Men face earlier and more severe heart damage because they store more fat deep in the abdomen, which increases pressure on the lungs and forces the heart to work harder with every breath
Standard scales miss this risk, but simple waist measurements reveal hidden stress on your heart long before symptoms appear
Beer bellies form when cellular energy fails, pushing fuel into fat storage instead of burning it for daily function
Restoring metabolism through food choices, gut repair, and daily movement reduces belly fat and protects heart structure over time

Women with psoriasis consistently show lower progesterone and DHEA, two hormones that normally quiet inflammation, making flare-ups stronger and more frequent
Estrogen dominance — where estrogen feels too strong relative to progesterone — heightens immune reactivity and explains why symptoms worsen before your period, after childbirth and during menopause
Intracellular estrogen, not blood estrogen, drives inflammation in psoriatic skin, which is why your labs can look "normal" even when your symptoms intensify
Long-term hormone replacement therapy increases psoriasis risk by overstimulating inflammatory pathways, especially in post-menopausal women whose hormones are already shifting
You can ease flare patterns by supporting progesterone and DHEA, eliminating estrogen-mimicking triggers, avoiding seed oils, optimizing vitamin D and reducing stress-related hormonal strain

Rosacea often worsens in midlife because years of inflammation prevent blood vessels from fully recovering between triggers, making redness more persistent
An overactive immune response keeps inflammatory signals switched on, which drives flushing, burning, and visible blood vessels even without obvious triggers
Gut imbalance fuels facial inflammation by sending immune signals into your bloodstream that keep skin cells reactive and slow recovery
Processed foods, including seed oils, increase inflammatory load, while stabilizing digestion and reducing daily stressors lowers flare frequency
Addressing root drivers such as diet, gut health, and emotional stress reduces reactivity and helps your skin regain the ability to reset

Walking 5,001 to 7,500 steps a day slows the buildup of tau, the brain protein linked to Alzheimer's-related decline, helping you stay sharper for years longer
Older adults with elevated amyloid — a key early Alzheimer's marker — preserved memory and daily function far better when they consistently reached a moderate step range
Even small increases in movement, such as moving from under 3,000 steps to 3,500 to 5,000 per day, deliver meaningful cognitive benefits without requiring intense exercise
High-intensity training pushed healthy adults into metabolic dysfunction, reducing mitochondrial energy production by about 40% and disrupting blood sugar stability
Finding your personal exercise "sweet spot" — enough movement to avoid inactivity without pushing into extreme training — protects both long-term brain health and daily metabolic balance

Eating five or more servings of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) a day nearly doubles your risk of developing Crohn's disease
Additives like emulsifiers, thickeners, and artificial sweeteners found in ultraprocessed foods break down the gut's protective mucus barrier and fuel chronic inflammation
High intake of UPFs is linked to changes in gut bacteria that reduce diversity and promote the growth of harmful strains associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flare-ups
Common UPFs like white bread, frozen meals, sauces, and breakfast cereals show the strongest links to increased Crohn's risk
Removing seed oils, emulsifiers, and UPF-heavy meals while focusing on gut-repairing whole foods can help reduce flare frequency and support long-term healing