Healthy Talk

If you've been diagnosed with cancer, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are the most utilized treatments. Unfortunately, with all of these treatments, there are many physical and emotional side effects.How can diet and nutritional supplements play a key role in both cancer prevention and treatment?Dr. Jack C. Westman shares how you can take a holistic approach to healing cancer, without having to worry about harmful side effects.

If you've been diagnosed with cancer, your doctor is likely to schedule some sort of conventional cancer care. This typically includes surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy.However, as you may have seen or experienced firsthand, these conventional cancer treatments can be debilitating, painful, and challenging.How can conventional cancer treatments be improved?Listen in as Dr. Jack C. Westman shares what conventional cancer treatment is and how it can be improved for patients.

Scleroderma is a group of rare diseases that involve the tightening and hardening of your skin and connective tissues.Scleroderma can also affect your blood vessels, your digestive tract, and your internal organs.According to the Mayo Clinic, scleroderma affects more women than men and occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. Unfortunately, there isn't a cure for scleroderma, but there are several treatments you can implement to help ease symptoms.Recently, a stem cell mobilizing treatment is showing impressive results and improvements in scleroderma patients.How does the stem cell mobilizing treatment work?Listen in as Dr. Mike discusses scleroderma and the new treatment option that is giving many patients new hope.

Around 200 million people worldwide and 59 million Americans suffer from some form of thyroid condition.If you feel like you're just in a funk, experiencing symptoms of fatigue, a change in your mood, weight loss, or weight gain, you might actually have an undiagnosed thyroid issue. If left undiagnosed and untreated, your symptoms could develop into more serious conditions.How can you restore your thyroid function?Dr. Mike shares the symptoms of a thyroid issue, as well as ways you can restore your thyroid for optimal living.

Did you know 33 percent of all people over the age of 18 have sought out some type of treatment for back pain in the last five years?In fact, back pain is the second most common reason people visit doctors and is the leading cause of disability in the United States for Americans under the age of 45.Back pain can keep you from being able to live a normal life; you may need time off at work, have trouble walking, and in very severe cases, may need to be confined to your bed.Listen in as Dr. Todd Sinett shares how you can get a better back in three weeks.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most common pain relief medications used to help ease inflammation, fever, and pain.Some of the most common NSAIDs include Advil, Aleve, and Motrin.Most NSAIDS are available over-the-counter, which can make them easier to be accessed, and abused.What are the latest "black box" warnings for NSAIDS?Listen in as Dr. Mike discusses the latest news on NSAIDS and if it applies to the OTC versions.

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've been looking at fulvic acid lately. It looks like it's sometimes paired with shilajit, and sometimes used in mineral supplements. However, some people are against it. What are your thoughts?Fulvic acid is found naturally in the soil, and is made by soil-based bacteria and organisms. Most supplements will have shilajit, because that's where we're sourcing it from.Dr. Mike thinks that fulvic acid is good; there's no indication that fulvic acid is dangerous.What are some of the longevity strategies that actually have a chance of working... in a practical sense?Dr. Mike personally thinks there are three longevity strategies that have the most potential: stem cell therapy, intracellular clean-up mechanism, and mitochondrial therapies.If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encour

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:Hey Dr. Mike, just a question on sweating. I've always been prone to sweat a lot, even in my teenage years. I'm very fit, working out six days a week for at least two hours a day. My personal trainer/friend barely breaks a sweat, but I'm drenched. Why do some people sweat more than others?There's a condition known as hyperhidrosis, an abnormal sweating disorder which causes you to sweat during times unrelated to exercise or temperatures. However, Dr. Mike doesn't think you have this since you mentioned it occurs while working out.If you're sweating excessively during your workouts there could be a number of things contributing to it; caffeine, or you might just have more sweat glands, so you produce more sweat. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do. Dr. Mike suggests to just embrace it

The concept of slow medicine typically includes using less aggressive care toward the end of life; but, it can also help you lead a healthier lifestyle at any age.Having a slow medicine kitchen allows you to experience nourishment in a new way; from the food you prepare and eat, to the people surrounding your table.How can you create a slow kitchen and enjoy wellness on a new level?Listen in as Dr. Michael Finkelstein joins Dr. Mike to discuss what happens in a slow medicine kitchen.

Slow medicine is a growing trend in healing and has become more available in nursing homes. Slow medicine typically uses less aggressive care toward the end of life.Your whole body is connected, and when part of your body is out of sync with the other parts, it can create a domino effect on your health.To achieve and sustain optimal health, you might need a perspective that goes beyond the obvious symptoms and to become aware of what is happening in each area of your life.How can you "multitask" healthy living?Listen in as Michael Finkelstein, MD, shares what slow medicine is and how it can help with healthy multitasking.

When you're eating a meal out at a restaurant, there's typically a bowl of bread on the table to satiate you until the main course arrives. However, instead of eating bread before your meal, it might actually benefit your health to eat it last.According to a study that was published in Diabetes Care, 11 middle-aged people with diabetes were given a meal of white bread, salad, and grilled chicken. The participants' blood sugar levels were measured before the meal, as well as 30, 60, and 120 minutes afterward.Researchers found that eating bread at the end of the meal was associated with a 30 percent drop in blood glucose levels, compared to those who ate bread at the beginning of the meal.How can you be carb smart if you're watching your sugar levels?Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the latest dietary tricks for diabetes, and how you can be "carb smart" while eating.

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:Is it true that the antioxidant era is over?Dr. Mike wants to be clear that no, it is not over. It's far from over. In fact, Dr. Mike wants you to know that if any scientist says that any outcome of a study is the definite answer, it's wrong. Science is constantly changing, and researchers are always finding new ways to look at things. You do have to be open minded to where the research is going.As you age, the antioxidants you have in your body don't work as well. That's why it's so important to eat foods containing antioxidants.Is it true that smell, or lack of it, is a sign of aging?It's actually been shown that a lack of smell increases your risk of mortality within five years.If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or

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:Have you heard about conditioning your blood flow to treat dementia?Dr. Mike needed to do some research on this, and he found that it falls under the theory of hormesis, which is the theory that a little bit of a stressor goes a long way and it stimulates protective processes in your body.Research published in the Augusta Chronicle says that briefly cutting off blood flow in the arm can stave off dementia, based on a chronic lack of blood flow in deeper parts of the brain.Dr. Mike, should one take nattokinase and vitamin K2? If so, what are the suggested doses?Dr. Mike says that you can take both nattokinase and vitamin K2. The worry comes in for some people who are trying to prevent clots; they are told to avoid vitamin K2.If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you t

According to an article in Life Extension, the average life expectancy of the Japanese people is among the highest in the world.Some believe this is due to the types of foods they eat, as their diet differs vastly from the heavily processed foods you can find in North America. One food item in particular that's very popular in Japanese diets is brown seaweed, which is rich in fucoidan.Over 1,000 studies have been done on brown seaweed and the benefits of fucoidan, and researchers have found it can suppress chronic inflammation, restore immune competence, and impede cancer progression.What are some other benefits of brown seaweed?Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the Japanese longevity factor and the amazing benefits of brown seaweed.

Your immune system is in charge of protecting your body against disease or other damaging foreign bodies.Is there a way you can engineer your immune system to prevent or stop diabetes?Diabetes is one of the most prominent diseases in society and is rapidly increasing with each new day. In fact, according to the American Diabetes Association, 25.8 million adults and children in the U.S. have diabetes, which accounts for 8.3 percent of the population.Dr. Todd M. Brusko joins Dr. Mike to discuss if (and how) your immune system can be engineered to stop diabetes.

Taurine is an amino acid that can help support neurological development and also helps regulate the level of minerals and water in the blood.Taurine also plays a very important role in creating new brain cells.Unfortunately, taurine levels drop as you age, which can leave your heart, brain, kidneys, and your other tissues deprived.What are some other benefits of taurine?Listen in as Dr. Mike shares how taurine can support your brain health.

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 58-year-old female and exercise (sometimes too much). My problem is that since I started taking bioidentical hormones, I've gained 10 pounds. I cannot get rid of it, no matter what I do. I do also have a muffin top and excessive skin. Please tell me what I can do to lose the weight.Dr. Mike thinks the question should be why are you gaining the weight, because it seems like you're doing everything you should be doing (eating healthy and exercising). It might be a hormone imbalance, which might be why you're taking the hormones in the first place.Dr. Mike suggests doing a follow-up with your doctor on where your hormones are at. You need to make sure you're at the right level constantly and adjusting your hormone levels. Dr. Mike thinks there's still a hormone imbalance going on, which

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's your opinion on carpet on your home? Should we remove it all?Dr. Mike has mentioned how carpets can possibly affect your health in a negative way.Many people believe that toxins are only found outside in the environment, and even though this is true, toxins can be found in your home as well. As the carpet ages, the chemicals that were used to manufacture the carpet begin to break up and are released into the air. Older carpet can also have mold, which can damage your health.In Dr. Mike's opinion, if you're having allergy symptoms, you might need to remove your carpets. However, Dr. Mike doesn't believe removing carpet is for everyone.Can you please tell me what might be a safe dose of folic acid for a healthy boy around 60 pounds? Are all the B vitamins necessary for folic acid to ab

Learning how to eat healthy isn't as easy as it may seem. Even though you may need to make a dietary change, if you've been used to eating a certain way your whole life, getting rid of those unhealthy habits can take some time.The first thing to remember is you shouldn't try to do too much at one time. You may need to make small changes, instead of cutting everything out immediately.How can you make changes to your current diet that are sustainable?Gary L. Clayman, DMD, MD, FACS, shares how you can break unhealthy habits and make changes to your diet in order to live a healthier life.

Most humans are omnivores, incorporating both meats and plants into an everyday diet. Some diets, like the paleo diet, are focused on eating significant amounts of meat and eliminating processed foods.Unfortunately, all calories (and meat choices) are not created equal. For example, indulging in a cheeseburger is not the same as eating grilled chicken. Yes, they are both meats, but the cheeseburger is unhealthier than the chicken. In fact, many doctors suggest limiting your red meat consumption due to risk of heart disease.This may have you wondering: should humans be carnivores?Gary L. Clayman, DMD, MD, FACS, shares his personal opinion on whether or not humans should be carnivores.