Scientists Identify Key Factors Behind E. Coli Outbreaks in Romaine Lettuce
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Release Date: 09/10/2025
Reanalysis of Popular Antidepressant Trial Uncovers Reporting Flaws
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
A reanalysis of a study found that fluoxetine alone showed no measurable benefit over placebo in treating adolescent depression after 12 weeks Researchers uncovered 11 additional suicide-related events that were hidden or misclassified, bringing the total to 21 serious incidents Statistical tactics and selective reporting made fluoxetine appear safer and more effective than it really was in clinical trials A different reanalysis mentioned that adverse events and many side effects were minimized or excluded from the original reports Improving gut health, getting regular exercise, undergoing...
info_outline
New Research Reveals How Low Sodium Disrupts the Heart's Electrical Rhythm
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Sodium is an essential electrolyte that supports fluid balance, nerve signaling, muscle contraction, and heartbeat coordination; even small drops in blood sodium disrupt these essential functions A Virginia Tech study found that low blood sodium amplifies the effects of flecainide, a common rhythm-control drug, by disrupting key electrical support systems between heart cells Restoring sodium to the normal range reversed conduction delays. This confirms that the effects were due to a temporary sodium imbalance People on sodium channel blockers need to monitor sodium levels closely, as common...
info_outline
Glutamine Protects Eye Health and Helps Prevent Vision Loss
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in your body, supporting tissue repair, immune function, and energy production, while also helping protect your eyes from vision loss Research shows your eyes rely on glutamine to fuel photoreceptors, the light-sensing cells in the retina, making it a key nutrient for long-term visual health When glutamine metabolism is disrupted, photoreceptors degenerate rapidly, triggering harmful stress pathways that accelerate retinal thinning and increase the risk of blindness Studies demonstrate that restoring glutamine balance calms cellular stress, preserves...
info_outline
The War on Saturated Fat Is Finally Coming to an End
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
For several decades, saturated fat was wrongly blamed for heart disease, while vegetable oils quietly caused a surge in obesity, inflammation, and chronic metabolic disorders Newly appointed FDA commissioner Dr. Marty Makary is now leading efforts to revise outdated dietary guidelines that were built on cherry-picked data from Ancel Keys’ Seven Countries Study A 2016 BMJ-published reanalysis found replacing saturated fat with linoleic acid-rich vegetable oils increased cardiovascular deaths, despite lowering cholesterol Investigative journalist Dr. Maryanne Demasi faced vicious backlash...
info_outline
Scientists Uncover How Targeted Probiotics Help Athletic Performance and Recovery
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Targeted probiotic strains improve endurance, strength, recovery, and mental resilience by supporting gut integrity, reducing inflammation, and enhancing nutrient absorption Intense training damages your gut lining and weakens immunity, but probiotics help maintain barrier function and prevent bacterial toxins from triggering systemic inflammation Specific strains deliver specific benefits, such as Lactobacillus plantarum for endurance, Bacillus coagulans for muscle recovery, and Lactobacillus casei for stress reduction Supporting butyrate-producing bacteria fuels intestinal cells, improves...
info_outline
Why Phosphate-Loaded Sodas Hammer Your Metabolism Harder Than Sugar
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
A single can of cola floods your system with nearly 100% absorbable inorganic phosphate, triggering hormonal shifts that disrupt vitamin D, calcium balance, and kidney function Phosphate in soda raises levels of FGF23, a hormone that accelerates vascular calcification, weakens bones, and increases your long-term risk of heart attack or stroke, even if your labs are normal Unlike natural sources, phosphate additives in soda are rapidly absorbed and bypass digestive safeguards, placing a silent burden on your kidneys and arteries with every sip When combined with high-fructose corn syrup...
info_outline
Prebiotics Influence Gut Bacteria That Raise Brain GABA Levels
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Low GABA levels are linked to anxiety, poor sleep, memory issues, and neurological conditions like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s, but boosting GABA through your gut microbiome offers a natural solution A study in NPJ Science of Food found that prebiotics like fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and Aspergillus-derived enzymes significantly increased brain GABA and homocarnosine, a compound that protects and stabilizes brain function Specific gut bacteria such as Akkermansia and Parabacteroides were directly linked to higher GABA production, while strains like Blautia and Roseburia were associated with...
info_outline
Processed Food Diet Raises Lung Cancer Risk
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
People who ate the most ultraprocessed foods had a 41% higher risk of developing lung cancer compared with those who ate the least The increased risk was seen in both smokers and nonsmokers, showing that diet alone influences lung cancer development Processed foods alter nutrient absorption, strip away protective compounds, and add toxic byproducts that fuel inflammation and immune dysfunction Harmful chemicals from packaging and high-heat cooking further raise cancer risk and weaken your body’s defenses Choosing whole, unprocessed foods and cutting linoleic acid in vegetable oils down to 2...
info_outline
The Hidden Crisis in Organ Transplantation — Brain Death Diagnosis and Ethical Failures
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
The concept of "brain death," introduced in 1968 to enable organ harvesting, has never been proven equivalent to actual death — it merely defines an irreversible coma Documented cases exist of "brain dead" patients who were conscious, including some who mouthed "help me" as their organs were nearly harvested Global organ shortages have fueled a black market, with an estimated 5% to 20% of transplants involving illegal procurement and added pressure to lower diagnostic standards for “brain death” Recent federal investigations found serious failures in the U.S. organ donation system:...
info_outline
Science Reveals Why Exercise Takes Longer to Pay Off as You Get Older
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, begins subtly in midlife and accelerates with age, increasing your risk of frailty, falls, and fractures As your body ages, muscles become less responsive to training, and physical gains come more slowly, even when effort and consistency remain the same A 2025 study published in Nature Communications found that older muscles fail to activate key growth pathways and repair signals after exercise, explaining the reduced adaptation Despite slower gains, exercise remains essential not just for physical strength but also for brain...
info_outline- E. coli O157:H7 is one of the leading causes of severe foodborne illness, and romaine lettuce has repeatedly been implicated in widespread outbreaks of this pathogen
- A Cornell University study that traced contamination from field to table found that irrigation practices are the dominant factor in whether lettuce becomes a carrier of E. coli
- Lettuce irrigated with untreated surface water sprayed overhead carried the greatest contamination risk, while switching to furrow or drip irrigation reduced illness by over 96%
- The study showed that consumer washing only lowered risk by 28%, reinforcing that on-farm prevention through safer irrigation is essential to protect lettuce before harvest
- Although prevention starts with better farm practices, there are still strategies to lower your risk at home, including staying updated on recalls, choosing fresher local produce, washing and storing them properly, and even growing your own food