Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

New research shows that overall human performance — combining intelligence, emotional balance, and judgment — peaks between ages 55 and 60, making midlife a time of strength, not decline While mental processing speed slows with age, emotional intelligence, wisdom, and decision-making power continue to grow, helping you handle stress and relationships more effectively Your brain adapts by strengthening networks that regulate emotion and memory, allowing smoother coordination between thought and feeling for wiser, more integrated choices Eliminating seed oils high in linoleic acid (LA) and eating about 250 grams of healthy carbohydrates daily supports cellular energy and protects brain function Staying physically active, prioritizing sleep, and pursuing lifelong learning help maintain focus, clarity, and vitality — proving that your 50s and 60s can be your most productive, fulfilling decades

Rising salt levels in soil and water are destroying farmland worldwide, with 16.6 million square kilometers now salt-affected — an area roughly the size of South America Saline agriculture offers a powerful solution by using salt-tolerant crops, smart irrigation, and natural soil restoration methods to turn degraded land back into productive farmland Research shows countries like China, India, Pakistan, Argentina, and the U.S. have millions of acres suitable for saline farming, which could help feed hundreds of millions of people without relying on scarce freshwater Techniques such as gypsum treatment, drip irrigation, and phytoremediation — using plants themselves to absorb and redistribute salt — is helping restore soil fertility and protect food supplies These same principles apply beyond farms; by managing salt, adding organic matter, and choosing resilient plants, even home gardeners can help revive soil health and contribute to global food resilience

Skin cancer affects one in five Americans, with nonmelanoma types like basal and squamous cell carcinoma making up most cases. Niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, is found to offer a strong preventive effect A recent study published in JAMA Dermatology associated niacinamide use with a 14% lower overall risk of developing additional nonmelanoma skin cancers, with the greatest benefit seen after the first cancer diagnosis Earlier research showed that taking 500 milligrams of niacinamide twice daily reduced new nonmelanoma skin cancers by 23% and precancerous lesions by up to 15% Niacinamide protects your skin by restoring NAD+ for DNA repair, reducing inflammation, supporting immune defenses, and strengthening the barrier that maintains moisture and resilience against environmental stress For long-term use, smaller daily doses of 50 milligrams three times per day are safe and sustainable. Combining niacinamide with sensible sun exposure habits and good nutrition strengthens skin defense naturally

A cough isn't just a symptom — it's your body's built-in alarm system, warning you about irritation, infection, or hidden lung problems that need attention Different types of coughs — dry, wet, tickly, or chronic — reveal unique clues about your health, helping you identify whether you're dealing with allergies, pollution, or something more serious Air pollution, smoke, and chemical exposure age your lungs faster, reduce breathing capacity, and trigger chronic coughs even in nonsmokers, but removing these irritants allows your lungs to heal Nebulized hydrogen peroxide offers a powerful, research-backed way to stop viral respiratory infections at the source, often improving symptoms within hours when used early and correctly Natural remedies such as raw honey, steam inhalation, and hydration support your body's healing process better than cough syrups, which suppress the reflex your lungs need to clear infection

Rhythmic breathing techniques like Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) create measurable changes in brain activity that mirror deep relaxation and meditative awareness while keeping you fully awake and alert EEG scans show that SKY breathing increases theta and delta brain waves — patterns linked to restorative rest and emotional balance — while reducing alpha waves tied to sensory distraction and stress These brain shifts demonstrate how controlled breathing helps your nervous system move from "fight-or-flight" stress to a calm, parasympathetic state, supporting focus, better sleep, and improved mood Even beginners experience these benefits, as rhythmic breathing immediately quiets your brain's background "noise," promoting mental clarity, energy conservation, and emotional stability Practicing rhythmic breathing for just 10 to 20 minutes a day trains your brain to enter relaxation faster, giving you a free tool to manage anxiety, sharpen focus, and restore balance anytime you need it

DMSO is an "umbrella remedy" capable of treating a wide range of challenging ailments. It has a unique affinity for the eyes, resulting in DMSO frequently treating a wide range of visual disorders that frequently cannot be treated with conventional therapeutic options — including blindness DMSO's potent anti-inflammatory properties allow it to treat a variety of challenging inflammatory eye conditions throughout the eye, including uveitis, iridocyclitis, and iritis, along with releasing the troublesome adhesions (synechia) associated with them DMSO's ability to restore fluid circulation and protect compromised nerves allows it to rapidly reduce intraocular pressure and protect the optic nerves of glaucoma patients DMSO's unique ability to stabilize proteins and solubilize misfolded ones allows it to eliminate a variety of pathologic protein deposits in the eyes, such as floaters and cataracts. Likewise, users often report that their eyes become much sharper and clearer as less obvious deposits are eliminated DMSO's ability to normalize the shape of the eyes also frequently results in users reporting their eyes regain the ability to focus and glasses no longer being needed (particularly for nearsightedness). This article will review how DMSO can treat these conditions and how those healing properties allow it to treat many other challenging eye conditions, such as eye strain, dry eyes, vision loss, and macular degeneration

A groundbreaking blood test identified myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) with up to 96% accuracy, using 3D genomic mapping to detect immune and metabolic disruptions in blood cells ME/CFS, a chronic, multisystem illness that can devastate daily life, affects an estimated 17 to 24 million people worldwide Research points to the gut-brain-immune axis as a key driver, linking post-infectious inflammation, leaky gut, and microbial imbalance Excess serotonin activity, often triggered by SSRIs, may worsen fatigue by slowing cellular energy production and increasing inflammation True recovery means restoring balance: calming the nervous system, repairing the gut, cutting inflammatory seed oils from the diet, and rebuilding cellular energy so the body can heal itself

Researchers from Liverpool John Moores University found that drinking less than 1.5 liters of water daily raised stress hormones by 50%, suggesting that dehydration can add to your stress load When you're dehydrated, hormones like vasopressin quietly kick in, signaling stress and triggering cortisol Signs of dehydration go beyond thirst. Fatigue, headaches, sugar cravings, and dry skin are your body's early warning signs that it's running low on water and energy It's also possible to drink too much water. Overhydrating dilutes minerals like sodium, causing fatigue, confusion, or nausea Aside from drinking when you're thirsty, you can stay hydrated by consuming water-rich foods like watermelon. Adding a pinch of salt and a splash of lemon or organic juice to plain water helps improve electrolyte absorption

A study found that alcohol raises dementia risk at every level of drinking, overturning decades of claims that moderate use protects your brain Even light drinking damages neurons, disrupts mitochondrial energy production, and accelerates brain aging, showing there is no safe dose for cognitive health Genetic data revealed that for every measurable increase in alcohol consumption, dementia risk rose by about 15%, with the danger extending across all age and ancestry groups Alcohol and linoleic acid (LA) from seed oils follow the same toxic pathway in your liver, creating harmful aldehydes that cause mitochondrial damage and fatty liver disease, both of which impair brain function Reducing or eliminating alcohol and cutting seed oils to under 5 grams per day — ideally 2 grams — support liver recovery, restore mitochondrial function, and protect long-term brain health

In the U.S., the average age for first-time fathers has climbed to about 31, and men aged 50 and older now make up 1.3% of all fathers, signaling a shift toward later fatherhood A 2025 Nature study found that sperm accumulate genetic mutations with age, including "selfish" mutations that expand within the testes and increase risks of neurodevelopmental and childhood disorders A companion analysis of over 54,000 families confirmed these mutations are passed to children. This shows that paternal age directly shapes genetic inheritance through natural selection within sperm-producing cell Modern factors like endocrine disruptors, microplastics, obesity, stress, alcohol, smoking, and EMF exposure are accelerating sperm decline across all ages and contributing to the global drop in sperm counts Simple, preventive actions, including maintaining a healthy weight, minimizing toxins, managing stress, and considering early sperm screening or preservation, can help protect fertility