Are Processed Plant-Based Foods Bad for Your Heart? Here's What Research Says
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Release Date: 02/03/2026
A Single Binge-Drinking Episode Can Damage Your Gut
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
A single binge-drinking episode triggers rapid immune and barrier damage in your gut, and those changes continue to affect digestion, inflammation, and nutrient absorption for days or weeks afterward Alcohol causes your immune system to attack your own gut lining, increasing intestinal leakiness and allowing bacterial toxins to enter your bloodstream, which fuels whole-body inflammation Repeated binge drinking quietly reshapes your gut microbiome, leaving behind a pro-inflammatory bacterial pattern that makes your gut overreact to stress, infection, or irritation long after drinking stops The...
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Food Additives Now Shape Everyday Eating
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Most people are exposed to multiple food additives every day because they’re built into common packaged foods, not just occasional treats Children receive a higher additive load from the same foods adults eat, which places more strain on developing systems tied to growth, metabolism, and brain function Food additives are consumed as mixtures that stack across meals, even though safety limits are usually set for single ingredients in isolation “New and improved” food formulations often replace one additive with another instead of reducing overall exposure Shifting daily eating patterns...
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Are Small Electric Appliances Contaminating the Air You Breathe with Heavy Metals?
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Researchers at Pusan National University measured ultrafine particle (UFP) emissions from appliances that use heating coils and brushed electric motors, such as hair dryers, air fryers, and toasters Chemical analysis showed emitted UFPs contained metals such as copper, iron, aluminum, silver, and titanium, originating from heating elements and motor components Particle emissions varied by appliance design, with brushed motors producing the smallest particles and brushless designs emitting fewer overall Once inhaled, heavy metal-containing UFPs penetrate deep lung tissue, promote inflammation...
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Fewer Than 1 in 4 Preschoolers Meet the Recommended Daily Physical Activity Levels
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Fewer than 1 in 4 preschoolers get enough daily movement, which affects how their bodies, brains, and confidence develop during the most important growth window of their lives Structured environments, like childcare settings, naturally increase activity through routines and transitions, while unstructured home days often lead to long stretches of sitting that weaken healthy habits The KID-FIT trial is testing whether a playful, school-based movement curriculum strengthens fitness, motor skills, and long-term activity patterns in young children The reinstated Presidential Fitness Test reflects...
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Berberine and Diabetes — How It Works, What the Studies Show, and Safe Dosing
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
A 2022 meta-analysis of 37 randomized trials found that berberine lowered glycated hemoglobin by 0.63% and fasting glucose by 0.82 mmol/L, with consistent results across diverse patient groups Earlier researchers also highlighted how berberine lowers blood sugar and harmful blood fats while also reducing liver fat and markers linked to kidney damage Berberine limits fat cell development and dampens inflammation as well, effects that may support weight control and improved insulin sensitivity In a 13‑week randomized study, researchers showed that berberine’s blood sugar-lowering abilities...
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Insufficient Sleep Strongly Predicts Shorter Life Expectancy
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Sleeping fewer than seven hours per night is strongly linked to a shorter lifespan, even when factors like diet, exercise, income, and access to health care are taken into account Large-scale U.S. data shows sleep loss predicts reduced life expectancy more reliably than many habits people focus on daily, including physical inactivity and obesity Chronic short sleep keeps your heart, immune system, and brain under constant strain, preventing the nightly repair work your body relies on to stay resilient over time Sleep pressure builds when your cells fail to produce energy efficiently, leading...
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Are Processed Plant-Based Foods Bad for Your Heart? Here's What Research Says
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Not all plant-based foods support heart health — ultraprocessed items may actually increase cardiovascular risk despite their “vegan” label A large French cohort study of over 63,000 adults found an approximately 40% reduction in cardiovascular disease risk when participants ate minimally processed, nutrient-rich plant foods There was also a 38% increase in overall cardiovascular disease risk when diets were dominated by ultraprocessed, low-quality plant-based foods, even if they appeared “healthy” Key red flags include: high sodium in vegan meats and deli slices, seed oils that...
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Playing or Enjoying Music May Help Protect Against Dementia
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
A study of over 10,800 Australians age 70 and older found that people who always listened to music had a 39% lower risk of dementia, while those who often played an instrument had about a 35% lower risk Those who engaged in both listening and playing music had a 33% lower risk of dementia and a 22% lower risk of cognitive impairment Music activates multiple brain regions at once, including those tied to memory, movement, and emotion, making it especially useful for supporting recovery and preserving connections in dementia care Enjoying music at an appropriate volume encourages regular...
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Relearning Basic Movements Eases Chronic Lower Back Pain
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Relearning basic movements like rolling, crawling, and squatting restores smoother coordination and reduces the fear-driven stiffness that worsens chronic low back pain A 12-week movement retraining program improved balance, daily function, and confidence by teaching participants how to move without triggering pain A structured walking routine nearly doubled the time people stayed pain-free after a flare, giving them longer stretches of normal movement and fewer recurrences Breaking up long sitting periods by even 40 minutes a day kept pain from worsening, showing that small increases in...
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Obesity During Adolescence Increases the Risk of Severe Infections in Adulthood
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Adolescent obesity is rapidly turning into a worldwide health emergency. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 160 million children and teenagers ages 5 to 19 are now overweight or obese A new study from the University of Gothenburg collected data from nearly one million Swedish men and found that obese teenagers are more likely to experience severe infections later in life Obesity is a chronic medical condition characterized by excess body fat that impairs health and leads to symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, joint pain, and metabolic issues that tend to worsen...
info_outline- Not all plant-based foods support heart health — ultraprocessed items may actually increase cardiovascular risk despite their “vegan” label
- A large French cohort study of over 63,000 adults found an approximately 40% reduction in cardiovascular disease risk when participants ate minimally processed, nutrient-rich plant foods
- There was also a 38% increase in overall cardiovascular disease risk when diets were dominated by ultraprocessed, low-quality plant-based foods, even if they appeared “healthy”
- Key red flags include: high sodium in vegan meats and deli slices, seed oils that damage mitochondrial function, refined starches/sugars, and gut-disrupting additives like methylcellulose and gums
- The most protective plant-based diets are built from whole foods with minimal processing, like legumes, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains