Latest news with #Mercola
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Find That Taking This Vitamin May Help You Live Longer
Most of us grew up with a vague understanding that 'getting our vitamins' was important, but the reasoning wasn't always clear. A new study dives into the specific health benefits of one vitamin in particular—vitamin D—and its findings show that getting enough of it could be the key to living longer and aging healthfully. Meet the Experts: Joseph Mercola, D.O., board-certified family physician and author of Your Guide to Cellular Health; and Amy Davis, R.D., L.D.N., Live Conscious nutrition consultant. The trial followed more than 1,000 healthy American women over 55 years old and men over 50 for a period of four years and found that, compared to placebo, taking 2,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D3 daily helped slow down the shortening of telomeres. Telomeres are 'protective caps on your chromosomes that naturally wear down with age,' explains Joseph Mercola, D.O., board-certified family physician and author of Your Guide to Cellular Health, and they protect DNA during cell division, a process that the body uses to repair and grow. Every time that happens, they get a bit shorter, which makes them a marker of biological age. 'When telomeres get too short, your cells can't divide properly and start to malfunction or die,' Dr. Mercola adds. 'When they shrink too fast, your risk for things like heart disease, cancer, and premature aging symptoms goes up.' At the start of the study, participants had varied vitamin D levels, and those who took vitamin D3 had more telomere protection than those who didn't after four years. 'That's a measurable slowdown in cellular aging,' says Dr. Mercola. Another group in the study took omega-3 supplements and did not experience the same results. Wondering if you're getting enough vitamin D? The National Institute of Health recommends adults not get more than 2000 IU of vitamin D a day. While the study is promising, and there are others like it, there were a few limitations, including the participant pool lacking broad demographic and health diversity, potentially limiting the strength of the findings, explains Amy Davis, R.D., L.D.N., Live Conscious nutrition consultant. Still, both of our experts do think that, in the way of studies, this one was a pretty solid randomized clinical trial. 'While more studies would help clarify the full picture, this adds real credibility to vitamin D3's role in slowing age-related decline,' Dr. Mercola concludes. Vitamin D is known as the 'sunshine vitamin' that may boost mental and bone health. More research is needed to determine exactly how it slows telomere shortening, but it likely has to do with its anti-inflammatory effects, immunity protection, and its role in cell function, particularly within the mitochondria, explains Dr. Mercola. 'Your mitochondria are the energy factories of your cells, and keeping them healthy helps preserve your metabolic power, your resilience, and even your brain function,' he says. 'Vitamin D also supports the production of glutathione, your body's master antioxidant. That means less oxidative stress, fewer damaged proteins and membranes, and slower wear and tear on your cells.' Research shows that oxidative stress may play a role in everything from cancer to rheumatoid arthritis. Of course, as is the case with any supplementation, you should talk to your doctor before going all-in on vitamin D supplements and make sure you're practicing other healthy habits such as eating a Mediterranean-style diet, exercising regularly, getting good sleep, and maintaining an active social life. Your body gets vitamin D through sun exposure, which you naturally absorb safely in small increments, says Dr. Mercola. (Still, don't skip the sunscreen!) 'Your body is built to regulate how much vitamin D it makes from sunlight,' he adds. 'If you supplement, test your levels first.' Your doctor can draw blood and determine if you have a deficiency and if supplements are needed. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Fox News
30-04-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Honey and allergy relief: Do these two really go together?
Spring is in the air – and so are seasonal allergies. "Spring can feel like a breath of fresh air, unless you're one of the millions dealing with seasonal allergies," said Dr. Joseph Mercola, a board-certified family physician based in Ormond Beach, Florida. "While trees bloom and flowers bud, you're left battling itchy eyes, sneezing fits or sinus pressure. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone." As many allergy sufferers seek help from alternative remedies, some scientific studies indicate that honey may indeed help relieve some of the pesky discomforts of seasonal allergies – although the research is far from definitive. Honey has health benefits because of its unique chemical composition, C. Marina Marchese told Fox News Digital. "It's a botanical fingerprint of a particular time and place, with potential wellness benefits that go far beyond the kitchen," said Marchese, founder of the American Honey Tasting Society in Weston, Connecticut. Honey might help with seasonal allergies, but the evidence is mixed. "Critics point out that the pollen found in honey mostly comes from flowers, while the kind that triggers your allergies is usually airborne from trees, grasses or weeds," Mercola told Fox News Digital. "Bees don't typically gather that kind in large amounts." A 2002 study by researchers at the University of Connecticut found no significant symptom relief in people with allergic rhino conjunctivitis after taking local or clover honey daily for 30 weeks. However, Mercola cited other studies that suggest honey does have anti-allergic potential. "In a 2021 mini-review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, researchers examined both animal and human studies. In mice and rat models, honey reduced common allergy symptoms like sneezing, nasal rubbing and airway inflammation — pointing to a possible protective effect in controlled settings," he said. "In human trials, including one involving patients with allergic rhinitis, those who consumed Tualang honey saw a steady improvement in nasal congestion and sneezing, even after they stopped using antihistamines." The type of honey you consume matters, according to Mercola. "Clinical and preclinical research suggests that honeys like Tualang and Manuka may offer more potent anti-allergy effects," he said. "These varieties are rich in bioactive compounds like gallic acid, caffeic acid and kaempferol, which have been shown to dampen inflammatory pathways and reduce histamine release." Marchese also stresses the importance of avoiding commercial honey, pasteurized or ultra-filtered honey, which "lacks the pollens, enzymes and other beneficial compounds that might be helpful." Many honeys sold commercially in supermarkets are not the best quality of honey, Marchese told Fox News Digital, and are imported from various countries and blended, treated with heat at high temperatures and compromising the integrity of the honey. If honey is going to offer any potential benefit for allergies, Marchese said, it should be fresh, preferably from a backyard beekeeper, unheated and unfiltered. Even if honey doesn't eliminate your allergies completely, it offers other wellness benefits, Marchese said. "It's rich in antioxidants, has antibacterial properties and can help soothe sore throats and coughs," she said.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts warn about shocking chemical exposure from food packaging: 'This … is a wake-up call'
Microplastics — tiny pieces of plastic that have been found in everything from bottled water to meat — may be damaging our hearts, according to a new study. A team of Italian researchers looked at how microplastics from polyethylene and polystyrene, plastics used in containers and food wrappers, affect human vascular smooth muscle cells. They found that microplastics damaged these cells, which help keep blood vessels healthy. The team also discovered that microplastics caused these cells to migrate, which could contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries, according to Eat This, Not That, which summarized the research. This process is linked to heart disease, strokes, and artery hardening, said Joseph Mercola, an osteopathic physician who was not affiliated with the study. "This study is a wake-up call," Mercola told the publication. "We've long worried about how microplastics affect digestion, but this research suggests they may be harming our cardiovascular system too." Scientists have discovered microplastics throughout our bodies, including in the brain, kidneys, and liver. In fact, one recent study found concentrations in the brain equivalent to the size of an entire plastic spoon. Although the health impacts of microplastics are still being studied, they have been tied to potential health harms such as cancer, dementia, and impaired blood flow in the brain. Microplastics are created when larger plastics break down over time and are tied to the larger plastics problem. Globally, we produce more than 450 million tons of plastic per year, with much of it ending up in landfills. Do you ever put plastic containers in your microwave? No way Sometimes Yes I don't have a microwave Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. To help, companies such as Pepsi are testing reusable packaging to take the place of plastic bottles. Meanwhile, countries such as England and France have banned plastic cutlery for most fast food and takeout, while major cities such as Los Angeles have banned Styrofoam products. You can help by investing in items such as metal razors, reusable water bottles, and nonplastic sandwich bags. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
