Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

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5 of 1056

Resistance Training May Help Preserve Aging Nerves
Resistance training for aging nerves helps older adults improve steadiness, reaction time, and daily movement confidence by strengthening communication between nerves and muscles A four-week hand-grip training program from Syracuse University showed that simple, consistent resistance exercise helps speed up how quickly nerves send signals to muscles, even in older adults While the approach supports nerve health, it's not a cure for neuropathy or a guaranteed fall-prevention solution. Evidence remains early and based on short-term trials Do two to three resistance sessions each week at a moderate effort level. Include a short, five-minute grip routine to strengthen nerve signaling and improve coordination Pair your training with balanced, protein-rich meals to support muscle recovery and nerve function. Make sure to also prioritize safety — use proper form and stop if you feel pain, dizziness, or unusual tingling
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7:40
Your Neck Size Can Reveal Your Risk for Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes
A thick neck is more than a cosmetic issue — it's one of the clearest physical signs of metabolic stress, indicating higher risks for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke Research shows neck circumference predicts disease risk more accurately than BMI or waist size because it reflects harmful visceral fat stored around vital organs Fat around the neck and upper torso releases inflammatory chemicals and stress hormones that disrupt blood sugar, blood pressure, and heart rhythm Visible changes in your neck, such as swelling, lumps, bulging veins, or sagging tissue, offer early clues about thyroid dysfunction, heart strain, or oxygen deprivation during sleep Tracking your neck size each month is an easy, no-cost way to monitor your metabolic health, helping you take early action before serious conditions develop
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7:50
Simple Exercises Help You Recover from Sciatica Faster
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
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7:30
The Mind-Body Skills That Help You Stay Active Through Chronic Pain
Chronic pain affects over 50 million U.S. adults, but research shows that pain resilience — your ability to adapt and stay active despite discomfort — matters more than pain severity itself Pain resilience acts as a mental shock absorber, helping people maintain physical activity even with significant pain, while fear of movement has weaker influence when resilience is present Five components define pain resilience. These are emotional self-regulation, psychological flexibility, self-care behaviors, religion and spirituality, and internal strengths like optimism, persistence, and problem-solving skills Building resilience requires practical daily habits, including consuming healthy carbohydrates for energy, training your brain toward optimism through reframing challenges, and learning new skills or hobbies Physical activity and quality sleep strengthen resilience. Walking around 8,000 steps daily improves metabolic health and pain management, while good sleep helps you handle stress
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7:35
California Moves to Eliminate Ultraprocessed Foods from School Lunches — by 2035
California became the first state in the U.S. to ban ultraprocessed foods from public school lunches under the "Real Food, Healthy Kids Act," but the full phase-out won't take effect until 2035 Ultraprocessed foods — packed with vegetable oils, additives, and refined sugars — are engineered to trigger cravings and disrupt metabolism, contributing to childhood obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease A study in JAMA Network Open found that preschoolers who ate the most ultraprocessed foods had higher body fat, larger waistlines, elevated blood sugar, and lower levels of protective HDL cholesterol The delayed timeline leaves millions of children unprotected for nearly a decade, underscoring the urgent need for parents to remove ultraprocessed foods and vegetable oils from their homes now You can protect your child's long-term health by replacing processed snacks with real foods, eliminating vegetable oils, cooking at home, reducing exposure to junk food ads, and teaching kids how to spot marketing tricks
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6:34
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6:34