Health Information
Researcher Explains How Electromagnetic Fields Damage Your Health
By Dr. Mercola Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have been shown to cause biological damage and even cancer, but exactly how does this happen? In this interview, Paul Héroux, Ph.D., a researcher and professor of toxicology and health effects of electromagnetism at the faculty of medicine at McGill University in Montreal, helps answer that question. Originally trained as a physicist, he eventually ended up studying electrical power transmission lines, the topic of his Ph.D., and in the course of working for a power utility, he started...
read moreHygiene Habits That Can Do More Harm Than Good
By Dr. Mercola An article featured in Reader’s Digest1 called out a number of so-called “healthy” hygiene practices that actually do more harm than good. Given the condensed nature of their commentary and the many misconceptions involved with these particular areas of hygiene, I would like to elaborate on some of them. You are probably aware that many commercial personal care products, such as bubble bath and hand sanitizer, are laced with harmful chemicals that can potentially damage your health. But, what’s your view...
read moreEchinacea Tea’s Immune-Boosting Benefits
You’ve most likely heard of echinacea, also known as coneflower, and the many potential health benefits that it can provide. A member of the Asteraceae family,1 along with lettuce, artichokes, dandelion and sunflower, echinacea has been used for over 400 years by Native Americans to ease infections, help wounds heal and as a “cure-all” for different illnesses.2 There are many ways to use echinacea — dried herb, liquid extracts, capsules and pills3 are some products you can buy today. However, have you ever heard of echinacea tea?...
read moreThe Case for Green Burials: Funeral Industry Dumps 800,000 Gallons of Formaldehyde Into the Soil Each Year
By Dr. Mercola Most of you reading this article right now probably do your best to live a green and eco-friendly lifestyle. You likely buy local, organic and regenerative food when possible and use chemical-free cosmetics, personal care products and household cleaners. You may even recycle and drive an electric vehicle. These actions are commendable and bode well for our planet’s future. But what about your burial? Conventional burials (including cremation) are characterized by ground- and water-polluting chemicals, man-made greenhouse gas...
read moreHow to Grow Strawberries
By Dr. Mercola Strawberries, a symbol of love, also have a lot to offer those passionate about their health. High in immune-boosting nutrients such as vitamin C, anthocyanins, ellagitannins, flavonols, terpenoids, phenolic and ellagic acids, strawberries help fight infections. They’re also packed with manganese and folate, potassium with its co-factoring enzyme, superoxide dismutase, and minerals like copper for the healthy development of red blood cells. A culinary favorite and summer staple among people of all ages, strawberries are best...
read moreGreat Tips to Grow Lemongrass
By Dr. Mercola Cymbopogon citratus, commonly known as lemongrass, is an herb noted for its distinctive lemon flavor and citrus aroma. Lemongrass may be grown as a perennial in zones 10 to 11. In these climates lowest temperatures reach approximately 30 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter.1 In cooler areas lemongrass is grown as an annual, but may be planted in a pot and brought indoors in the winter months. The herb is among the most popular of essential oils and is native to tropical countries such as India, China and Thailand, where it is a...
read moreVitamin D Deficiency Linked to Dementia
By Dr. Mercola Vitamin D, once primarily known for its role in bone health, has traversed into the mainstream as one of the most important vitamins for overall health and disease prevention. From your heart to your gut and, as accumulating research shows, your brain, making sure you’re getting enough vitamin D is one of the simplest ways to make a difference in your health. Worldwide, an estimated 47 million people are living with dementia, and this is expected to increase to 75 million by 2030.1 Dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the...
read moreDeep Sleep Is Important for Emotional Resilience
By Dr. Mercola Among all the factors contributing to poor health and early death, stress is perhaps the most pernicious yet commonly overlooked. While the stress response is a lifesaving biological function, enabling you to fight or flee an attacker, this “lifesaving” reaction ends up doing far more harm than good when triggered by financial worries, fear of public speaking, difficult bosses and traffic jams. The sheer number of stress-inducing situations that face us on a daily basis can make it difficult to turn the stress...
read moreMullein: A Common Weed With a Host of Potential Health Benefits
The mullein plant (Verbascum) is a biennial introduced in the United States during the 18th century by settlers.1 Due to its quick rate of spreading in certain areas such as western North America,2 it has earned a reputation as an undesirable weed in gardens.3 Its common name is derived from the Latin word “mollis,” meaning soft, which most likely refers to its soft stem and leaves.4 Its botanical name, on the other hand, comes from the Latin “barbascum,” which means beard — a reference to the plant’s shaggy...
read moreWhy It’s a Good Idea to Clean With Oregano Oil
By Dr. Mercola Water pollution, environmental toxins and damage to fish and wildlife are all linked to the use of cleaning chemicals commonly found on grocery store shelves. As the understanding of the damage air pollution inflicts on human health has grown, the auto industry has taken steps to reduce emissions from their cars. However, pollution associated with air and water does not respect county, state or country boundaries, as demonstrated by the fact much of the smog experienced on the U.S. West coast originates in Asia.1 A...
read moreThe Vaping Epidemic Is Getting Out of Hand
By Dr. Mercola There is a certain perceived assurance e-cigarettes (e-cigs) are safe and harmless to your health. Unlike combustible cigarettes, the vapor is often odorless, making it difficult to detect once the e-cig device has been put away. While the number of people smoking traditional cigarettes has been dropping,1 the number of teens using e-cigs, also known as vaping, has steadily risen. Since 2011, teens have been smoking less and vaping more, and research demonstrates teens who vape may also be more prone to smoke.2 Tobacco...
read moreWet Wipes Increase Your Child’s Risk of Allergies and Cause Severe Environmental Problems
By Dr. Mercola Are you in the habit of using wet wipes on yourself or your baby? If so, your quest for clean may be doing more harm than good, and in more ways than one. With an infusion of aloe and fragrance, some people have made a complete switch from toilet paper to wet wipes, not realizing that the chemicals used, such as preservatives and fragrances, can cause painful skin irritation around your privates and other health problems.1 Wet wipes are also clogging sewers, necessitating costly repairs. Many wipes are now advertised as...
read moreAre Ticks Winning?
By Dr. Mercola Ticks are widespread throughout the U.S., and while bites can be harmless they also hold the potential to transmit serious diseases. Lyme disease — which is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria spread through the bite of blacklegged ticks (also known as deer ticks) and western blacklegged ticks — is thought to affect more than 300,000 Americans annually.1 As you can view for yourself in the video above, ticks are stealthy creatures that have developed an elaborate system to feed off human blood. Whereas other bloodsuckers...
read moreFarmed Salmon Contaminated With Synthetic Tire Chemical
By Dr. Mercola Do you buy farmed salmon in the belief that it’s the environmentally responsible thing to do? Think again. Fish farms are the water-based equivalents of land-based concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), and as such they create the same, if not worse, environmental concerns. Since the salmon pens are placed along wild salmon runs, they pose a severe threat to wild salmon stocks that pass by, exposing wild fish to diseases such as sea lice, pancreas disease,1infectious salmon anemia virus and piscine reovirus. For a...
read moreStrawberries Still the Dirtiest of the ‘Dirty Dozen’
By Dr. Mercola Fresh produce, whether organic or conventionally grown, is one of the healthiest food choices you can make. Organic produce gains an edge, however, because it tends to be more nutritious, tastes better and, importantly, does not contain pesticide residues like conventional produce does. In fact, the No. 1 reason people go organic is to avoid pesticides and other chemicals,1 and the majority of Americans consume organic food at least occasionally.2 If your budget prevents you from buying organic food 100 percent of the time — or...
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