Healthy Talk

Eating healthy is important for so many reasons. Not only will it help you look great, but it can also help you feel great. Unfortunately, many Americans believe it's easier and more affordable to eat fast food and junk rather than healthy food.By eating unhealthy, processed, and high-calorie foods, you're putting yourself at more risk to have health issues later in your life.Why should you be incorporating more healthy foods like fruit and vegetables in your diet?According to new research published in the medical journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, eating fruits or vegetables on a regular basis could lower your risk of Alzheimer's disease.What else did the study find?Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the study that suggests eating fruits and vegetables on a regular basis can lower your risk of Alzheimer's.

Parkinson's disease is a neuro-degenerative brain illness where the symptoms slowly get worse over time.According to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year, and an estimated 7-10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson's disease.What are the causes of Parkinson's disease?According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, a combination of both genetic and environmental causes can be the reason why you may have Parkinson's disease.A study published in the medical journal, Annals of Neurology, found that your gut could be involved in the development of Parkinson's disease.Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the latest study on Parkinson's disease and if there is any insight on what causes this disease.

If you have dry, brittle nails or frizzy, frail hair, you might have tried every product possible to help rejuvenate them back to health.However, you may want to consider using collagen and keratin for healthier nails and hair.Collagen is a protein that serves as a key structural component of the connective tissue in your skin, bones, and ligaments. Keratin is a protein that's a major component in your hair, skin, and nails.Listen in as Dr. Mike discusses how you can repair your skin and nails with these essential compounds.

Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans.Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know:I read from your website to take fish oil and put it in a bowl to help it get oxidized and take some of the smell away. You said that all fats are like that and have a stability question to them. I was refrigerating my Nordic Natural omega-3's for a long time and according to Nordic Natural, it's not necessary to do that. What do you recommend?You are using a great product and there's no reason to change. Personally, Dr. Mike believes there are two other important ingredients to have in addition to omega-3s. They are: sesame lignans and olive oil.I've been taking Vitamin K2 for my bone health, but Life Extension has said "If you're taking anticoagulants such as Coumadin, please consult with your physician before taking supplemental vitamin K." I also remember listening to one of your shows

Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans.Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know:What are your thoughts on intermittent fasting?Dr. Mike thinks that as long as it's truly intermittent (one day a week or one day every couple of weeks) it has amazing overall health benefits.What are your thoughts on putting butter in your coffee?This is called bulletproof coffee, where you put unsalted and grass-fed butter into your coffee mixed with a medium chain oil (like coconut oil). There is some evidence that a fat-based diet is better for you than a carb-based diet. Dr. Mike believes that butter in your coffee is fine to do, but you might want to consider doing it in moderation.I listened to your show about the thyroid gland and it's very interesting. However, I didn't understand the name of the plant extract that can help convert my T4 into T3.Your thyroid gland (located in your

It's been said that one of the most unfortunate parts of aging is seeing a difference in your body and mind.Your body might start to ache in certain places that never did before, and you may find yourself forgetting where you put your car keys or your cell phone.If you memory starts to fail, you might be wondering if you're in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.Could the emerging research in telomerase science aid in treating Alzheimer's?Listen in as Dr. Michael Fossel shares the future of telomerase treatment and if it can help with Alzheimer's.

Unfortunately, aging is inevitable. Not only will you see a difference in your appearance, but you may also see a difference in how your brain and body functions.Telomeres help protect your chromosomes from deterioration and are located at the end of each of your chromosomes. They help your cells' chromosomes from melding together and creating an abnormality, which could lead to disease or cancer.How can telomeres reset cell aging?Dr. Micahel Fossel joins Dr. Mike to discuss telomeres and how they can help control aging.

Many doctors believe that your mouth is one of the most crucial parts of your body.In fact, if there's something wrong within your body, warning signs might be showing up in your mouth.Recent research is suggesting that there's a link between tooth decay and an overall increase in chronic diseases and mortality.Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the latest research with you on tooth decay and mortality.

Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans.Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know:Hello Dr. Mike, I have a confusion about the use of digestive enzymes. I've heard on your show that taking certain supplements can block certain digestive enzymes to slow the absorption of sugar. My son is on a gluten-reduced diet and occasionally takes a digestive enzyme to aid in the breakdown of gluten. However, I've also heard mention of the importance of blocking this enzyme. I can assume that the need to block or increase the absorption of protein, sugar, etc., is specific to certain health conditions. Can you help me understand when digestive enzymes should be supplemented or restricted?Dr. Mike can see how this can be a little confusing. Some shows and doctors might discuss the importance of digestive enzymes. However, there also are times when doctors might talk about blocking dige

Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans.Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know:In Life Extension's recent dopamine article, dopamine is called the "feel good" neurotransmitter. But, I've heard you say that serotonin is this feel good neurotransmitter. Which is it?Actually, there's really no such thing as a feel good neurotransmitter. It's just a catch phrase used in medicine. However, Dr. Mike remembers learning in med school that serotonin influences more mood balance than any other transmitter. So, that's why Dr. Mike mentioned it as the feel good neurotransmitter.Doctors are still leaning, as the brain is very complex. For example if a patient is taking Prozac for depression and it doesn't work, it may be because the human body's neurotransmitters are so complex. It doesn't mean that drug might not benefit someone else.All of the neurotransmitters, like dopamine, s

Eczema is a condition where your skin becomes inflamed, resulting in red rashes, chronic itching, and dry skin. According to the National Eczema Association, there are over seven types of eczema, and over 30 million Americans have this condition.New research is suggesting that eczema often can lead to asthma.Asthma occurs when you have inflammation in your air passages that results in the narrowing of the airways that transport oxygen from your nose and mouth to your lungs. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, and tightness in the chest. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the current number of adults suffering from asthma is 18.7 million.Can controlling asthma help with your eczema outbreaks?Listen in as Dr. Cheryl Eberting shares the correlation between asthma and eczema.

During times of stress or certain times of the year, you may begin to notice your skin becoming dry, blotchy, and itchy. Even though individuals are often prone to dry skin in the winter, if you've noticed red splotches all over your body, you might have eczema.Eczema is a general term used to describe a number of different skin conditions.What are the common misconceptions about eczema?Listen in as Dr. Cheryl Eberting shares the misconceptions of eczema and how you can help treat it.

One of the downsides to aging is cognitive decline. It may slowly start to happen... you forget where you put your Smartphone, you can never find your car keys when you need them, and you have "brain farts" and forget the name of something (or someone) you used to know so well.However, research has found that eating a healthy diet, doing mental exercises (like crossword or Sudoku puzzles), and taking certain supplements can help keep your mind mentally sharp.What are the benefits of enhancing your brain dopamine levels?Listen in as Dr. Mike shares how you can stay mentally sharp as a tack.

Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans.Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know:I'm a 56-year-old woman and I have a nine centimeter fibroid on my uterus. I still have regular menstruation and it isn't hurting, but it bleeds a lot. I have little iron in my body. What are your thoughts on having an operation? Or, should I wait until I'm done menstruating and hope the fibroids disappear with less estrogen to feed it? Are there other possibilities?Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths in your uterus. There are many theories on why this happens, but no one knows for sure. Many doctors believe it's some kind of hormonal imbalance between estrogen and progesterone.In Dr. Mike's opinion, since it's just one fibroid, you shouldn't jump to surgery. He thinks that you should try taking progesterone to help balance out your hormones. He also suggests uterine artery embolizati

Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans.Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know:I have been struggling with weight loss. I have gained 44 pounds in a year. I have a job that works me 12 hours a day, 60 hours a week. I usually grab what I can to eat because I'm so hungry when I get a chance to eat. Is there a way to try to lose weight with healthy foods that are simple to cook?Dr. Mike thinks it's great you're looking for healthy options to help you lose weight. At the end of the day, it's going to be the lifestyle choices that have the most affect on your health.Some of Dr. Mike's healthy food suggestions include: nuts and seeds, seafood, vegetables, grains, herbs and spices, and legumes.Some of the healthiest vegetables to eat for weight loss are: asparagus, beets, bok choy, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, collard greens, eggplant, kale, leeks, olives, s

Cilantro, an herb known for its health benefits and heavy metal detoxification, can be found in many popular Spanish, Chinese, and Indian cuisines.Due to the presence of a multitude of compounds, cilantro displays a wide range of therapeutic effects.It has antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-anxiety, anti-epileptic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, neuro-protective, and diuretic properties.However, this herb seems to be either cherished or just as equally hated. How can you add cilantro into your diet, especially if you don't particularly like the taste?Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the amazing powers and benefits of cilantro, as well as simple ways to incorporate it into everyday dishes.

There is a chance you can get the flu anytime of the year, but peak season is between October and February. Some doctors highly recommend getting the flu shot in order to keep you protected from falling ill.However, in 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a statement that the 2014-2015 flu vaccine wouldn't be as effective against a certain strain of the influenza virus.Could that happen again this year?Listen in as Dr. Jim Roach shares strategies to help protect yourself against the flu.

Echinacea is an herb that's used to fight infections like the common cold and other respiratory infections.According to a recent study, echinacea may also help to fight symptoms of the flu. Having the flu can be miserable, and the symptoms can knock you on your butt for weeks.How can echinacea help fight the flu?Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the latest study on echinacea and how it can help shorten the duration of the flu and common cold.

Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans.Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know:I just worry about my mother. She's really sick and has been to a lot of doctors and they say "try this, try this." She's been up and down, at times with depression and anxiety, etc. She did a total 180 in the last 10 years, she seems worse and worse. She doesn't want to go out, or clean herself. I just thought you might have some direction?Dr. Mike wants you to understand that he's here to just give information and some ideas that can help. The best advice Dr. Mike can give is to have your mom find a psychiatrist or psychologist that she's comfortable with and can work with to get better.Even though it may be tough, it's extremely important to get your mom outside in the sunlight exercising. Research has shown that exercise is just as good as (or better than) medication. From a nutritional

Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans.Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know:I would like you to direct me on the subject of alkaline reflux. I had an endoscopy done recently and the gastroenterologist observed reflux of bile back into my stomach. Unfortunately, in the related research I did about the existence of this illness, I found very little and on how to handle it, absolutely nothing. Thank you for your non-drug advice.Alkaline reflux is just like acid reflux. However, instead of the acid juices coming back up into your stomach, alkaline juices from your internal organs like your pancreas, liver, and gallbladder reflux back into your stomach.Alkaline reflux is also due to a weakened lower esophageal sphincter muscle. Based on recommendations from experts, Dr. Mike would treat this just like GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).The three best nutrients are a