The Healing Power of Food: What to Eat When You’re Sick - AI Podcast

Story at-a-glance Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a serious condition where jawbone dies and fails to heal, and it’s been linked to common bone drugs like bisphosphonates and denosumab A Finnish study found that people taking denosumab were five times more likely to develop MRONJ than those using bisphosphonates, with cancer patients and long-term users at highest risk Adding corticosteroids to bone drugs significantly worsened outcomes, multiplying the risk of jaw disease by up to six times in some users MRONJ often begins after dental procedures like extractions, but it also develops in people with gum disease or dentures — even without dental intervention Preventive dental care, a nutrient-rich diet, and lifestyle habits that support natural bone repair offer your best defense against this disfiguring and painful condition

Story at-a-glance Most ovarian cysts are harmless and disappear naturally, but some cause severe complications like rupture or twisting the ovary, requiring emergency surgery Vegetable oils like canola and sunflower act as fake estrogens, damaging ovarian tissue and fueling cyst formation due to linoleic acid content PCOS drives recurring cysts through hormonal chaos, particularly insulin resistance and elevated estrogen that disrupts normal ovarian function and cycles Natural pain relief includes heat therapy, massage and gentle movement, while chamomile and ginger teas help reduce inflammation and balance hormones Prevention focuses on eliminating vegetable oils, addressing insulin resistance and considering natural progesterone to restore hormonal balance and stop cyst recurrence

Story at-a-glance Different symptoms require specific food strategies: hydration comes first during stomach bugs, bland carbs help with upset stomachs, while warm liquids and fiber aid constipation Bone broth and warm teas help with congestion, while both cold foods and warm soups soothe sore throats. Raw honey acts as a natural cough suppressant Bone broth offers collagen and amino acids for tissue repair, while garlic provides antiviral and antibacterial effects that reduce cold and flu severity Coconut water restores lost electrolytes without irritating your stomach, and ginger effectively stops nausea while calming your digestive tract Eat small, frequent amounts rather than large meals when sick, and use high-water fruits and vegetables like watermelon and cucumbers as hydration alternatives

Story at-a-glance DMSO is an “umbrella remedy” capable of treating a wide range of challenging ailments due to its combination of therapeutic properties (e.g., reducing inflammation, improving circulation, and reviving dying cells) One of DMSO’s unique properties is its ability to enter through the skin and carry anything it dissolves with it as it rapidly travels throughout the body, greatly enhancing the potency and viability of many pharmaceutical drugs Because of this, numerous preparations over the years have combined DMSO with a commonly used medication, and in many cases, demonstrated safety and efficacy of the combination to drug regulators Some of these DMSO combination therapies are able to treat challenging illnesses, such as significant musculoskeletal injuries, antibiotic resistant infections, persistent fungal and viral infections, chemotherapy resistant cancers, and chronic pain More creative DMSO combinations (which can be produced at home) have been frequently used to successfully treat many challenging conditions (e.g., tinnitus, a wide range of eye issues, cancers, and uncomfortable scars)

Story at-a-glance Sitting too much makes hips tight, causing knee pain, back problems, and poor balance, but simple exercises help fix these issues Six key moves, like hip circles, knee rotations and bridge lifts, help your hips work properly again and wake up sleeping muscles Using a foam roller on tight muscles before exercises helps blood flow and loosens stiff areas that develop from sitting all day Side-to-side movements like side lunges build strength in muscles most people rarely use, improving balance beyond just forward and backward motion Just 15 minutes of hip exercises daily helps improve how you move, taking pressure off your knees and lower back

Story at-a-glance The safest way to remove a tick is with fine-tipped tweezers, gripping it close to your skin and pulling upward slowly without twisting or yanking Trying to dig out leftover tick parts causes more harm than good; your body will naturally expel them, similar to how it handles a splinter Using the wrong removal method, such as squeezing a tick or applying petroleum jelly or heat, increases your risk of infection by forcing harmful bacteria into your skin Prevention starts before you go outside: wearing protective clothing, using natural repellents and performing daily tick checks drastically lowers your risk of disease Tools like lint rollers, proper tick disposal methods and documenting bites with photos help you stay proactive and avoid complications from tick-borne illnesses

Story at-a-glance Fisetin, naturally found in strawberries, apples, and onions, prevents artery stiffness by halting harmful calcium buildup in blood vessels Regular consumption of fisetin-rich foods significantly reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, effectively lowering your risk of heart disease and stroke Fisetin enhances your body's natural defenses by activating enzymes that switch off dangerous signals responsible for arterial calcification Eliminating ultraprocessed foods from your diet protects your arteries from chronic inflammation and metabolic damage Daily physical activity and targeted carbohydrate intake help maintain healthy insulin levels, which is essential for preserving flexible arteries and good cardiovascular health

Story at-a-glance Hysterectomy is often performed for various gynecologic conditions, yet research shows it significantly alters long-term cardiovascular health, especially when done before age 50 or with ovary removal Data from the Nurses’ Health Studies show hysterectomy raises the risk of heart disease and stroke, even with estrogen therapy, particularly for women undergoing surgery before menopause A major Korean study confirmed that hysterectomy increases stroke risk across all surgical types, suggesting the uterus itself plays a protective role in cardiovascular health, independent of hormone status Hysterectomy may eventually lead to unopposed estrogen activity. Even with normal blood estrogen levels, tissue-level estrogen remains active, which gradually impairs mitochondrial function, metabolism, and overall health Take control of your hormonal balance post-hysterectomy by avoiding vegetable oils, limiting exposure to endocrine disruptors, and considering natural progesterone to counter unopposed estrogen activity

Story at-a-glance Dead hangs rebuild your tendons and ligaments faster than most workouts, helping prevent injury and improving joint stability with minimal time and equipment Starting with simple bodyweight hangs trains your nervous system to engage stabilizer muscles that improve posture, grip strength and shoulder control Thick bar grips and towel wraps activate more muscles without adding weight, making your hands stronger while reducing the risk of pain or skin tears Weighted dead hangs offer powerful tendon remodeling but should only be added after you can safely hang for 60 to 90 seconds with correct form Practicing short, consistent hangs throughout the day builds full-body strength and resilience without burnout, especially when combined with wrist and grip-specific movements

Story at-a-glance Heavy metal exposure in children disrupts gut microbiome balance, affecting digestion, immune function and mental health from everyday sources like food packaging and cookware Research shows children with elevated metal levels had reduced beneficial bacteria and altered microbial function, with 490 different metabolic pathways affected by metal concentrations A specific combination of prenatal metal exposure (high zinc, low cobalt) and gut bacteria was linked to depression scores 15.4% higher in children Metal-microbe interactions create a two-step mechanism where toxic exposure first alters gut bacteria, which then interfere with mood-regulating chemicals and immune balance Simple household changes like filtering water, avoiding aluminum cookware, eliminating secondhand smoke exposure and choosing whole foods help significantly reduce children's toxic metal burden