Healthy Talk: Recent Episodes
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Dr. Michael A. Smith, MD, is committed to providing listeners with the most current health information available. His weekly show is the place to listen to respected experts in the fields of integrative health, wellness, fitness, and medicine. Dr. Mike's engaging ability to present complex medical topics in a clear, conversational manner has attracted a sizable following of anti-aging and disease-prevention enthusiasts who have dubbed him "the country doctor with a city education." Healthy Talk is produced in conjunction with the Life Extension Foundation.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 don’t want to get cancer, but I have a family history of cancer. What can I do to decrease my odds?
The key to cancer prevention is keeping your cells healthy. Cancer is a cell gone bad. The basic blueprint that drives the engine of a cell turns bad when you have cancer. The genetic makeup gets mutated.
Do things to promote DNA health. Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable. Cruciferous vegetables preserve the integrity of DNA. Watercress, kale, cauliflower are also cruciferous. Eat at least a serving or two of cruciferous vegetables every day. The isothiocyanate inside is what protects your DNA. Diet is first, but it would be difficult to get enough isothiocyanate from just vegetables. Supplementation will help. Look for a product that lists the amount of isothiocyanate on the label.
Curcumin is the workhorse of cell health. It seems to benefit every organ system in the body. Try 400 mg a day.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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:
Can you suggest a heart protocol for someone who has had a heart attack?
Many patients go on an ACE inhibitor or something to control blood pressure. We devise regimens that are appropriate based on individuals. Don’t stop taking medicine without talking to your doctor, but there are things you can do with nutrients.
You can take 200 mg a day of CoQ10. You want to know what your blood level is, so do a blood test to see if you’re between levels 4 and 6 because that’s a heart healthy range of CoQ10.
Omega-3 supplements will help as well. You should do 2-4 grams a day. They are blood thinning, so make sure your doctor knows that. You may have to cut down the dose of Omega-3 and watch for easy bruising.
Vitamin D3 should be about 5000 IU a day. That helps with cells.
You are at risk of a second coronary event if you’ve had a heart attack. Stabilize all of your arterial plaques by building a cap of collagen and calcium. That keeps all the fat and cholesterol from rupturing into the blood stream and forming a clot. Vitamin K2 will help stabilize the plaque. Gutocola is an herb that puts collagen into the cap of the plaque. You can try EDTA for oral chelation. Garlic oil can help.
Increase the activity of the PON1 gene to prevent the fat from oxidizing and getting sticky. You can be helped by 250 mg of pomegranate a day, as well as by supplementing with curcumin.
The endothelial cell lines the artery. You can boost the endothelial cells with resperital, SOD, and garlic extract.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
How does exercise help people with lung disease?Everyone knows exercise is a component of healthy living. It's important to exercise, even when challenged with lung disease.
Speaking with your doctor and starting out with a low gradient is the best way to get started.
Here are some exercises for beginners who are battling lung disease:
- Yoga, which focuses on breathing. There are classes available for those with difficulty breathing. You can feel your breathing improve if you continue practicing yoga.
- Walking, which is an easy way to get started with an exercise regimen. If outdoor air quality and factors are too tough on you, you can join an indoor walking group or walk around your local mall.
- Gardening, which involves walking and light lifting. It's also a great chance to relax and enjoy nature while you exercise.
Dr. Jack Coleman joins Dr. Mike to share how exercise can benefit those with lung disease.
What can stem cell therapy accomplish with lung disease?Stem cells are the body's natural way of healing. When you are sick or injured, stem cells travel through the body to the site that needs repair.
But, the stem cells the body provides don't work fast enough to remedy a chronic progressive disease like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Stem cell therapy introduces additional stem cells to battle the disease by rebuilding healthy cells in the affected area.
New developments in stem cell therapy indicate that the lung cells may be rebuilt, treating the cause of the chronic progressive disease.
Dr. Jack Coleman joins Dr. Mike to discuss how stem cell therapy can help combat lung disease.
Find out what dong quai, also known as the female ginseng, can do for you.Ginseng is well known for for its ability to support male sexual function, heart health, and endurance.
Dong quai is known as the female ginseng, mainly because of its ability to ease menopausal symptoms. But, dong quai can help men and women alike with a myriad of concerns.
Dong quai supports mood with potential seratonin-like qualities. It also supports bone strength and eases inflammation of the joints. It supports lung health with its anti-inflammatory ability, serves as a brain booster, supports heart health, and it may fight cancer.
Listen in as Dr. Mike discusses what dong quai can do for you.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 am healthy and 74 years old. My family doc said I need to take fosamax because I have osteopenia that could become osteoporosis. I have asthma and it has always been well controlled. I took my first fosamax pill and had a headache for 24 hours. I rarely get headaches, and I can easily treat the ones I do get with Advil. The main problem is that I coughed all week, night and day. Can fosamax cause my asthma symptoms to escalate? Is it worth the benefit to my otherwise healthy body? Are there other ways to stave off osteoporosis?
If you have asthma, any drug can be a stressor to your body, because the cortisol in your body increases. The reaction to this new thing might exacerbate some reactive airway symptoms.
You need to discuss the risks versus the benefits with your doctor. As you get older, you really must take care of your bones. Look at your total calcium intake. It’s good to take 1500 mg per day, and at least 1000 units of vitamin D per day. Vitamin D helps the calcium get into your bloodstream. Take vitamin K2 to help the calcium get into your bones. You don't want your calcium to be mismanaged and deposited into the wrong places, so be sure to take all three.
Boron, silicon, and plum extract all help increase the strength and mineralization of the bones. Strontium was very popular in the 1950s for low bone density. It’s perfectly safe in supplement form and awesome for your bones.
I’m 69 years old. A month ago I got sick with a virus that is still with me. Once a week I go to an alternative medicine doctor. I was treated weekly with nutritional and peroxide IV, and yesterday he prescribed erythromycin.I've had chronic yeast inflammation for many years, and I take several supplements. What else can I do?
The ache, coughing, and malaise that hang around are known as the viral syndrome. Antibiotics won’t hurt if you’ve had it for a while, because the bacteria may hang around in the respiratory system.
Vitamin D (5000 IU daily), reishi mushroom extract, and andrographis paniculata are all great. You can also try vitamin C to bowel tolerance. Give your immune system a chance to tackle the virus.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 an article on www.lifeextension.com about curcumin and how it might be an Alzheimer's treatment. It didn't get into how it would do it, other than curcumin is a good antioxidant. Can you explain how curcumin works?
Curcumin is a potent antioxidant. It breaks the blood-brain barrier and can serve as an antioxidant in the brain. The theory is that oxidative stress contributes to Alzheimer’s disease development. It’s also a great anti-inflammatory.
Curcumin can also stimulate the immune system. Abnormal proteins clump together to form the Alzheimer’s protein plaque, which is just a symptom of the disease. Curcumin addresses oxidative stress and inflammation. It’s also helping to clear the amyloid plaques by attaching itself to the abnormal proteins. That combination is enough to stimulate a type of immune cell that internalizes the plaque and is able to clear it.
I’m a 60-year-old woman and I’ve been taking 5000 IU of vitamin D3 daily for over three years. I wear sunscreen daily. My blood level is between 80 and 99. There are so many opinions on what is a safe blood level for vitamin D3. I have read that 80 to 100 levels are cancer preventative. Am I in the safe zone regardless of the cancer prevention?
Vitamin D blood levels between 80 and 99 is great. A vitamin D level of 34 is the conventional blood level, but that's the level where you're safe from diseases specifically related to vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D plays a huge part in the immune system that fights cancer.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Changes in gut bacteria can influence your appetite.Your moment-to-moment weight can ultimately be determined by a simple equation: calories in minus calories out.
How your body handles stress, calorie combinations, seratonin in the brain, hormones, sugar management, inflammation, and chronic disease can all influence how your body works with that equation.
Combining sugar and fat together changes the types of bacteria that live in the small bowel. That can influence appetite and weight.
Not only can the brain influence hunger and digestion, the gut can influence the brain on the same things. Changes in the gut flora can impact the brain, affecting your memory, mood, and appetite. Fat-sugar combinations influence the brain the most.
Listen in as Dr. Mike talks about the relationship between gut bacteria and what we want to eat.
How do genetics and emotions lead you to eat certain foods?There is no miracle solution to weight loss. The latest cleanse or elimination diet won't shed the pounds and keep them off.
Learning better eating habits can help you lose the weight. Some foods give you an energy boost, and some foods make you drag. When you are aware of the foods that work for YOU, you will be on the path to success.
How do genetics and emotions lead you to eat certain foods?
Dr. Cliff Thomas joins Dr. Mike to discuss how your eating habits are influenced by genetics and emotions.
An apple a day may provide you with significant health benefits.How do you like them apples? A new study indicates apple eaters may be less likely to require prescription medications.
Scientists tracked the nutritional habits of 8,399 individuals to compare the data of those who ate an apple a day to those who didn't eat apples. Nine percent of participants consumed an apple a day, and they were slightly less likely to be on medications than non-apple eaters.
Other benefits to eating raw apples:
- Better sexual health
- Lower cholesterol
- Lower blood pressure
- Less body fat
- Reduced risk of heart disease
- Decreased oxidative stress
- Reduced risk of colorectal cancer
Additionally, you should eat the apple peel to get the most nutrients.
Listen in as Dr. Mike discusses the wonders of apples.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 mold really linked to cancer?
More oncologists and research doctors have been looking at the possibility that infectious agents in certain settings can initiate cancer over the past few years. Molds can create toxins. The toxin that gets into the cell damages the DNA. All cancer is defined as mutations in the DNA, regardless of the ultimate cause of that cancer. The process of cell replication is regulated by your DNA. If there’s damage to the DNA, it can lead to the cell mutation that ends in cancer.
The theory is that microbes in mold can produce the toxins that enter the cells. There is good evidence that these toxins can enter the cells and potentially lead to cancer. Science leads us to these conclusions based on testing and results. Alzheimer patients have a lot of spirochetes in their brains, which was recently found in research. Mycotoxins (toxins from mold) could lead to cancer, but it needs to be researched further. The theory that mold can create toxins that cause problems holds weight but needs further study.
Can sugar lead to cancer?
When a cell becomes cancerous, it starts to grow uncontrollably. The cancerous cells then are thrown into your circulation. They tend to use sugar and sugar only to grow. Glycolysis is the process where an unhealthy cell uses sugar for short energy bursts. This is the beginning of normal cell energy production, but cancer cells want the energy quickly. If you starve the cancer cell of sugar, you may make them more susceptible to cancer treatments.
Eliminating sugar may not prevent cancer. So many things can initiate cancer. Genetics can as well. One lifestyle change, like eliminating sugar, may not prevent cancer since cancer has many factors. However, doing so improves your overall health and wellness.
How long will the virus in my chest last? It's been almost two weeks and I still feel really bad.
Viruses can last a long time because of your body’s response to the virus. It's not uncommon for it to hang out in the respiratory system for two to four weeks; longer if you're older or have chronic issues.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Change your habits and preserve your knees.Knees receive a lot of stress and torque on a daily basis.
The way you stand, walk, and move can greatly impact your knee health.
What habits are harming your knees? How can you change those habits to preserve your knees?
Listen in as Dr. Gregory Martin joins Dr. Mike to discuss how you can stop destroying and start preserving your knees.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 five things I can do right now to look better and feel better?
It’s easy to believe anybody online. We have to be careful when we research. Not everyone knows what they’re talking about, and a lot of people are trying to sell you something.
These five things are well-supported by research:
1. Hydration. You need to be hydrated. Your skin is better, your kidneys work better, your liver detoxes better.
2. Exercise. Walking at a nice pace for 30 minutes daily can help joints, immune system, and mood.
3. Eat less. The excess of calories slows us down. Eat more nutrient-dense foods but eat less food overall.
4. Get better sleep. There is an epidemic of insomnia in this country. It puts you at risk for stress, anxiety, and mood issues.
5. Say no to sugar. We consume too much added sugar. We’re getting 10-20 tablespoons of sugar per day instead of a few teaspoons.
I had knee surgery because my bones were shattering and my knee was leaning in. I was bow-legged my entire life. The leg that had knee surgery was straightened, and it's now longer than the other leg. I now have new pain in my hips and back. My doctor had me get an orthotic lift, but it's still not adjusted perfectly. The pain is making me crazy.
The lengthening of the leg puts pressure on the other joints. Chiropractic care can help readjust the hip joint and knee joint so your gait matches with the other leg. Natural supplements can also help. Taking 400 mg of a high quality curcumin extract, 250 to 500 mg of glucosamine, and 1000 mg of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) should help.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
How can you keep your knees strong and healthy?Knee problems are very common, and they happen in people of all ages.
Nearly everyone will have some knee trouble at some point, possibly requiring surgery.
There are treatments and options that can not only reduce and eliminate knee pain, but also postpone or prevent surgery.
Listen in as Dr. Gregory Martin joins Dr. Mike to discuss simple ways to keep your knees strong and healthy, including the following:
- Lose weight
- Exercise regularly
- Reduce intake of inflammatory foods
- Choose supplements wisely
What five foods live up to they hype for improved health?Not all dietary recommendations are based on research. Dr. Mike skips past the assumptions about food and makes recommendations based on solid evidence.
What five foods live up to they hype for improved health?
- Avocados. They have good fats that may combat triglycerides. Their fiber content is high. Half of an avocado provides 4.5 to 5.5 grams of fiber. Americans should get 40 to 50 grams of fiber per day, but most only get 10 to 15 grams of fiber per day. Avocados also good for the eyes, cardiovascular support, and digestion. Peel off the skin instead of scooping the flesh out with a spoon to get the most nutrients.
- Coconuts. They have a high percentage of saturated fat that can be antimictrobial and good for cell membranes. Coconut oil can improve memory and cognition. Oil pulling (using coconut oil as a mouth rinse) can help with oral bacteria.
- Chocolate. Look for 75% cocoa content. Chocolate has great antioxidants. It contains compounds that can lower systolic blood pressure and help boost nitric oxide production. There's also a euphoria from eating chocolate.
- Seaweed. It's full of minerals and fiber. Seaweed is rich in nutrients.
- Ancient grains like spelt. They lower cholesterol and sugar.
Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the five foods that are great for you and have a variety of health benefits, all supported by research.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 taking 100 mg of CoQ-10 enzyme for cell energy for many years. In the past six weeks, I’ve started taking AMPK activator as well. Lately I’ve had trouble sleeping more than four or five hours a night. I have lots of energy. I’m 72 and have a 70% raw food diet that I alternate with a paleo-ish diet two to four times per day. I've rarely had sugar for the past two years. I avoid most bread and eat grains and nuts. Is the high energy-low sleep because of the CoQ-10 and AMPK supplements?
AMPK activator contains ynostemma pentaphyllum and rose hip extract. Those have been shown to activate an enzyme in your cells called AMPK. When AMPK is activated in your cells, they manage energy better. You tend to make more ATP (coenzyme used as an energy carrier in the cells), burn more fat,and burn more sugars. The cell becomes cleaner and functions at a higher level.
When people first start taking CoQ-10, they may feel energized and have some sleepless nights because their blood level of CoQ-10 was so low and it's being recharged. Your body will reach a steady state with a supplement and there will not be peaks and valleys. The energy you might get early from CoQ-10 is gone, but the supplement is still good for you. You should be at a steady state with it if you take it on a consistent basis.
The addition of the AMPK activator could be the culprit. It creates cell energy, which the CoQ-10 was already doing. You may reach a steady state with the AMPK activator in another week. If nothing changes after a week, try dosing every other day or every third day. If that doesn’t help, stop the AMPK activator and just use the CoQ-10.
My question is about plaque in the blood. As we try to eat healthy and supplement to clean our blood, is there a chance that a dissolved or dislodged piece of plaque might float around and cause blockage down the line?
Eating better, getting more exercise, taking supplements targeted to the cardiovascular system and supplements targeted to the plaque itself (pycnogenol made from pine bark extract, pomegranate, vitamin K2, gotu kola, EDTA, resveratrol) can help with plaque burden. Nothing totally gets rid of plaque. It's more about stabilizing the plaque.
You can decrease plaque burden by doing the right things. The body puts a fibrous cap on the plaque, shrinking the plaque and decreasing the plaque burden. You’ve stabilized the plaque and it is less prone to rupture. Your body knows how to take care of the plaque. The contents of the plaque (fat, cholesterol, immune cells) can be absorbed by the arterial wall itself or just leave as you stabilize the plaque. Vitamin K2 can help the cap become stronger and keeps calcium out of the way. Focus on stabilizing the plaque to prevent cardio events in the future.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 eat more whole foods than processed foods and I try to remain very healthy. I've been drinking a few ounces of kefir every day on an empty stomach. I've been reading great things about it-- including healing, preventative, and wellness benefits. I purchase it from a local store and he uses organic whole milk to make it. How much is recommended daily? Is it actually "liquid gold" as some say?
Kefir is a cultured, enzyme-rich food. The main reason people use it is for the probiotics made from cultured whole milk. Yogurt isn't bad, but it's overly processed in this country and doesn't have a lot of healthy, viable, living, good bacteria. Kefir is basically a fermented probiotic product for replenishing healthy gut bacteria.
Kefir has a high number of good bacteria and a high number of strains. With any probiotic, you want to be sure it has at least six or seven common bacteria strains (phytobacteria, lactobacilli, and others). It's a strong drink so most healthcare practitioners will tell you to start with two to three ounces a day and work up to a cup a day. It's good for you, but it's not liquid gold. Skin, immune, brain, mood, heart -- they all benefit from healthy probiotics.
But, it has to be done in the context of a healthier lifestyle. One probiotic product is not liquid gold.
What are your thoughts on telemedicine?
Doctors love telemedicine because they don't have to do a physical exam and can be connected to the patient from any computer. It's great for many common conditions like cold and flu that general doctors address. There is risk, however, because nothing is better than talking to a person face to face and doing a good physical exam.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Can vitamin D and omega-3s lift your spirits?An estimated 44 million American adults are suffering from mental illness.
Omega-3s and vitamin D have been previously suggested to help treat mental illnesses. New research has determined the role each plays in increasing serotonin.
Listen in as Kathy Gruver, PhD, joins Dr. Mike to discuss what each supplement can do to boost serotonin levels.
How can hypnosis help you?Hypnosis is a natural state for human beings.
We've all had the experience of driving and suddenly realize we passed our exit and have no idea where we are. Or, you're reading a book and realize you've turned three or four pages but haven't actually read anything.
Those are both examples of moments of hypnosis.
How can this natural state be employed to help people? Who can be hypnotized? How does it work? What conditions can it help treat?
Dr. Kathy Gruver, alternative medicine practitioner, joins Dr. Mike to discuss hypnosis, some common misconceptions and fears, and how to find a skilled hypnotist near you.
Not in the mood? An extract from the herb fenugreek may help.Fenugreek extract has been used to treat many ailments, including female reproductive issues and digestive issues.
Recent studies show that it may assist in lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Fenugreek extract has also supported the male libido, and clinical trials have shown success in boosting female sexual desire as well.
How can this supplement boost your desire?
Listen in as Dr. Mike discusses all the benefits of fenugreek extract on female sex drive.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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:
For the past 10 years I've had tremors and it's getting worse. The tremors only happen when I'm signing my name. When I move around, they are okay, and when I'm at rest they are okay. My father also developed tremors at the young age of 60. He died at 97 without being diagnosed with Parkinson's.
Unfortunately, nobody knows what causes an essential tremor. They usually begin around age 40, starting on one side of the body and progressing to both sides of the body.
Dr. Mike suggests doing a high dose of vitamin B12 and vitamin C shots. He also suggests phosphatidylserine.
Do you recommend fecal transplantation for a cure of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth? Is this procedure safe?
Fecal transplantation has some science and validity to it, so it's not as crazy as it sounds. However, Dr, Mike is always cautious when using the word "cure." With that being said, it may help. You should find a doctor to look into it with you.
There was just a new study that looked at the possibility of Alzheimer's disease being a fungal disease. What's your take on this?
What causes Alzheimer's in multifactoral. The amyloid plaques that form in your brain if you have Alzheimer's is not the cause, it is the result and the symptom.
This idea that Alzheimer's could be fungal or bacterial is not a crazy idea, and there needs to be more research on this.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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:
Several authors have talked about the amount of lipid peroxidation from cooking eggs. Dr. Mercola only eats raw eggs (I'm not a big fan of raw eggs). The theory is the more you cook egg yolk, the more fat oxidation occurs, which can lead to increased oxidized LDL (bad) cholesterol. What's your opinion?
First of all, Dr. Mike doesn't suggest eating raw eggs, especially if you don't know the source of the eggs. Eggs are very good for you; they are a great source of protein and packed with B vitamins. However, how you cook particular foods can influence the nutrient levels. In the case of eggs, Dr. Mike hasn't seen anything that's shown that hard boiling an egg or frying an egg is causing any significant amount of fat oxidation.
LDL oxidation is something you want to prevent while cooking. However, dietary sources of cholesterol aren't really the issue.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
How are prebiotics different from probiotics?Prebiotics are probiotic "accomplices" that are made up of non-digestible fiber compounds. Prebiotics help promote activity within your gut bacteria.
And, new research suggests that prebiotics may help ease anxiety symptoms.
Listen in as Dr. Mike discusses prebiotics and how they can relieve your anxiety.
What are the warning signs of dementia?Dementia is term used to describe a decline in your brain health.
This can include the loss of your ability to think, remember, and/or learn. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia and accounts for 60-80 percent of all cases.
How can you plan a dementia intervention plan if you think someone you love is suffering? What are some of the warning signs you should be watching for?
Stephanie Erickson, a clinical social worker, joins Dr. Mike to discuss dementia, as well the time, planning, and care that must be put in when becoming a dementia patient's advocate.
How can ginseng improve your longevity?Ginseng has been used in traditional medicine to help aid and heal a number of aliments. There are two types of ginseng, and studies have found that the different types of ginseng offer numerous health benefits.
Ginseng has the power to boost your immune system, lower blood sugar levels, and improve concentration.
How else can ginseng improve longevity?
Listen in as Dr. Mike discusses all the benefits of ginseng and why you should consider using it.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 three health hacks to use in your everyday life?
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Brushing your teeth when you're hungry decreases your appetite. If you're on a diet, or trying to detox after a long binge of unhealthy eating and drinking (aka: the holidays), brushing your teeth can actually help manage your appetite.
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If you have chronic gum disease or bad breath, oil pulling is one of the best things you can do. Oil pulling involves placing a tablespoon of oil into your mouth, swishing it around and pulling it through your teeth and gums for about 20 minutes. Oil pulling removes unwanted plaque, toxins, and bacteria from your mouth.
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One way to get extra nutrients is to boil vegetables with water over the stove. Once the vegetables are cooked, remove them from the pot and let the water sit and cool off. After it's cooled, drink the water to obtain more nutrients.
I read that during our evolution period, calcium was scarce and magnesium was plentiful. So, our bodies got very adept at pulling calcium from our food. Do we really need to take calcium supplements?
It is true, we pull calcium from food. When Dr. Mike makes his dosing suggestions, he is basing it off of food, but also with a supplement. For example, women over 36 should be getting close to 1,000 mg a day. For men, it's about 500 mg.
The key thing about taking a calcium supplement is that you can overload on calcium when you don't have enough vitamin D and vitamin K2.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 started taking CoQ10 based on Dr. Mike's suggestion. However, after a day or so, I started feeling really energized and worried that I was too stimulated, so I stopped.
If you've never taken CoQ10 before and you're in your 20s or 30s, you've probably lost a lot of CoQ10 already. If you start taking a high quality form of CoQ10, all of a sudden you have all of this cell energy because of how well your body absorbed it. Dr. Mike suggests starting off at a lower dose like 50 mg, and once that evens out, you can gradually increase the dosage.
Should I be taking AMPK activator or CoQ10?
Dr. Mike suggests taking both. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is found in every cell in your body and acts as a crucial source of cellular energy. AMPK also helps prevent against obesity and diabetes.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
How can you effectively lose the weight you gained over the holidays?Too many people fail to stick to their New Year's resolutions to lose weight, mostly because they don't plan and implement a weight loss strategy.
Rather than radically adjust personal habits in one day, it might be a better idea to do some pre-shopping to stock up on healthier food options and plan a day-by-day diet.
Even though exercise is an important factor for losing weight, most weight loss is done within the kitchen.
Dr. Sandeep Grewal joins Dr. Mike to share successful tips on how to lose that holiday weight.
Why are you more likely to gain weight around the holidays?Just when you've worked so hard for your summer body, the holidays appear. The temptation of food is almost insurmountable and the likelihood of gaining weight is high.
Holiday weight gain occurs from Thanksgiving through New Year's. The average amount of weight gained is one pound, which actually doesn't sound so bad.
However, most people typically don't lose this one pound once they've gained it. The average weight gain per year is two pounds, which breaks down to approximately 20 pounds in a decade.
What actually drives quick weight gain during the holidays, and how can you lose the excess weight?
Dr. Sandeep Grewal joins Dr. Mike to discuss the science behind holiday weight gain, as well as how you can shed it and keep these pounds off.
How often should you drink Pu-Erh tea?As you age, not only does your physical appearance change, but your internal body changes as well.
For example, your immune system begins to decline and it can't protect as well as it once did.
How can Pu-Erh tea help protect your immune system?
The blackest of black tea, Pu-Erh tea, has proven to be an immune support powerhouse. Pu-Erh tea is rich in polyphenols and other bioactive molecules, including theabrownins, a unique group of compounds developed during the post-fermentation process.
Listen in as Dr. Mike discusses the science supporting this tea as the next generation immune nutrient.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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:
Can inflammation really be a cause of weight gain? I recently read in an article by a doctor that it can. What are your thoughts?
The fat you have in your body works like a factory that pours out inflammatory molecules. These molecules have a metabolic affect that can slow down your metabolism.
Your fat cells within your body can be used to store fat for energy. However, your body needs to know when to hold onto those fat cells to store them and when to burn them. It makes sense that there is a neuro-hormonal connection in different parts of your body.
Dr. Mike believes that inflammation can disrupt the normal fat cell signals, causing the fat cell to hold on to more fat. However, if you were to do something to reduce some of the inflammation, can you lose weight? This is where it get a little tricky.
Is calcium supplementation necessary? In other cultures where they don't supplement calcium, do they have a higher risk of bone breaks and fractures?
In older adults, calcium supplementation is crucial. It's important to have the right dose and to remember that you shouldn't be taking just calcium, this can lead to build up in your arteries. Dr. Mike suggests taking calcium with vitamin K2 and vitamin D.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 a Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patient since 1998. My doctor has put me on PPI's since then; however, earlier this year my friend encouraged me to reach out to a specialist on natural medicine. During the conversation he recommended that I stop eating wheat and start taking enzymes and probiotics. I started the diet and started taking the enzymes and probiotics that have improved my GERD condition. I am now back to only 1 mg a day of the PPI (instead of 20 mg). Before bed, I was taking six to eight Tums, and now I'm just taking one or two esophageal guardian soft chews. Recently, looking for additional alternatives, I was listening to one of your shows on Healthy Talk that discussed GERD and you mentioned Di-Delamine. If I stop taking my PPI's and start taking Di-Delamine would that be okay?
Dr. Mike first wants to point out that his advice is informational and wants you to first discuss any changes in your medication with your doctor.
Di-Delamine is a protein found within citrus fruits. Doctors are surprisingly unsure why Di-Delamine works. Some believe it works as a coating mechanism.
Can you suggest something for muscle soreness after working out? There's a lot of information on muscle support and building, but not on recovery.
Dr. Mike suggests branch chain amino acids, tart cherry extract, glutathione, and lemon verbena. You might also want to try using a foam roller to help ease some of the muscle soreness.
I was wondering if the sudden infusion with a large amount of calcium from a pill is good for our health?
If you take a bunch of calcium in pill form, there could be some problems and it could deposit into your arteries. Dr. Mike suggests taking calcium with vitamin K2 and vitamin D.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
How can being obsessed with healthy eating and fitness lead to an eating disorder?There's nothing wrong with trying to make healthier swaps with foods and making better lifestyle choices, but when it becomes obsessive, it can turn deadly.
Orthorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder where you're fixated on healthy eating. It often starts out as an innocent attempt to eat more healthfully, but orthorexics become fixated on food quality and purity.
How can you tell if someone is trying to be healthy or if they are struggling from orthorexia?
Dr. Ovidio Bermudez and Dr. Mike discuss orthorexia and how to spot the warning signs.
What sort of factors can trigger an eating disorder?You may be concerned with what you are eating and how you look in the mirror every once in a while, but an eating disorder takes your perceived body image to an serious level.
An eating disorder is an illness that causes extreme changes in your everyday diet, such as eating small amounts, overeating or eliminating food altogether.
What are the main warning signs to look out for to determine if you or someone you know might have an eating disorder?
Dr. Ovidio Bermudez and Dr. Mike discuss warning signs of an eating disorder and how you can seek professional treatment if you or a loved one is struggling.
How can Ashwagandha help with your thyroid issues?Your thyroid is not only responsible for your body temperature, but it also acts as an important factor for your metabolism and how you burn and store fat for energy.
If your thyroid isn't working properly, it can cause a handful of health issues.
If you've been diagnosed with a thyroid disease, you know how frustrating it can be to get the proper dosing of medication.
Would you ever consider using herbs to help?
Ashwagandha is one of the most popular and powerful herbs in healing and has been used since ancient times to help strengthen and restore your body.
How can Ashwagandha help boost your thyroid?
Listen in as Dr. Mike discusses Ashwagandha and how it can boost your thyroid.
What's the connection between lack of sleep, too much sugar, and lack of sex drive?Not sleeping well is sure to interfere with your daily activities and can alter your mood. You may find that when you're overly-tired, you reach for foods and drinks packed with sugar to help boost your energy.
By doing that, not only are you damaging your overall health, but you're affecting your sex drive.
What is the connection between lack of sleep, too much sugar, and lack of sex-drive?
Listen in as Brad Davidson, Co-Founder and Performance Strategist at Stark, joins Dr. Mike to share the connection between sugar, lack of sleep, and your sex drive.
Should you eat less often or five to six meals a day?It seems like every month or so there's a new diet or rule you should be following in order to drop the stubborn weight you can't seem to get rid of.
For example, you might have heard that you shouldn't eat past 8 p.m. Or, that you should eat only protein and fat during the day, and carbohydrates at night.
Do you know which weight loss myths can actually backfire and cause you to gain more weight?
Listen in as Brad Davidson, Co-Founder and Performance Strategist at Stark, joins Dr. Mike to bust the top six weight loss myths that can actually cause you to gain weight.
Why do you need arterial support as you age?As you age, inflammatory cells, lipids, calcium, and cellular waste products build up within the walls of your blood vessels and form arterial plaque.
This plaque can build up and rupture and potentially block your blood flow. This can be extremely dangerous, even fatal.
How can you find total arterial support to help keep your cells healthy?
Listen in as Dr. Mike shares why arterial support is important as you age and how you can find total arterial support.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 trying to cycle my supplements more. I've been taking supplements during weekdays and taking the weekend off, except for a few supplements. Now, of course we all know we should get everything our body needs from food, but realistically that's difficult. We're also not talking about survival levels of nutrients, we're talking life extension/optimal levels. The question is, do you think there are any supplements that are so important to optimal health that they shouldn't be skipped a couple days a week?
Unfortunately, this is not a simple answer and the concept is actually very complex. If you need to take a break on occasion and it ultimately helps with compliance for the rest of the days, Dr. Mike says to go for it.
If you suffer from pill fatigue and you end up stopping them all every day, then that's not good. Consistency is best, but if taking a day or two off helps, then do that.
However, Dr. Mike has a second answer that contradicts this first answer. He also believes that you shouldn't take breaks. You don't really get a break from the toxins that surround you within your environment, or take a break from stress. When you think of it that way and consider the things that are causing your body harm, you don't take a break. Therefore, you really shouldn't take a break from the supplements that optimize your body's well-being.
Here's some suggestions to help with compliance: try to take water-soluble vitamins every day, like the B vitamins, vitamin C, and herbal vitamins. Dr. Mike also wants to point out that if you're taking a supplement for a specific condition, don't skip those either.
Are gummies, liquids, and mints as good as more traditional forms of supplements like tablets and capsules?
It seems like the alternatives like gummies, mints, and liquids are more popular among younger consumers. Again, this answer can be complex. When you first look at compliance, it could be better. People might be more prone to take the gummies, liquids, and mints on a daily basis and wouldn't need a break. However, as far as the purity and getting the effect that you ultimately need from the nutrients, Dr. Mike believes the alternative format still needs some improvement.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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:
My brother-in-law has colon cancer. What can he take to fight the cancer and reduce what the doctors are calling 'tumor burden'?
There are some things that you can do in order to reduce tumor burden, which is how big the tumor is. You can also do some other protocols in order to improve quality of life.
Dr. Mike suggests that the first thing you need to get control over is inflammation. Dr. Mike suggests taking aspirin, curcumin, and boswellia as a way to help reduce inflammation.
The next thing Dr. Mike wants you to focus on is boosting your vitamin D levels. The third thing Dr. Mike wants you to do is improve your B vitamin and folic acid levels.
You may also want to consider using drug therapy like metformin and garlic.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
What are the top vegetables to eat in order to boost your mind and overall health?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.
More research is showing a strong connection between your gut and your brain.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.
How can you repair dry hair and brittle nails?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.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 on RadioMD where you also said something like taking vitamin K2 is for those taking blood thinners. However, I'm taking Vitamin K2 to make my bones stronger. What exactly is Vitamin K2? Is it for bone health or blood health?
What Dr. Mike means by those taking blood thinners and vitamin K2 is that vitamin K2 is a safe form of vitamin K for people on blood thinners to take.
Life Extension had that statement on their website as a standard disclaimer. Dr. Mike wants you to talk to you doctor about taking vitamin K2.
Do vitamins or any other supplements deteriorate over time? For instance, I took a glucose support product from 2013 for my sugar levels. It worked for a little while but then it stopped. I then switched to a cinnamon extract, and that worked for a while but no longer seems to be working. I am wondering if I should be switching my supplements from time to time?
There are many other questions that Dr. Mike has, for instance, what made you start taking a glucose support pill, what is your lifestyle like, etc. If truly nothing changed and the product wasn't working as well, Dr. Mike suggests doubling the dose, even if just every other day.
Following up with a blood test is a great way to see if a supplement or medication is truly working or not.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 neck) makes T4, it then travels throughout the body and when it gets to a specific cell (like a muscle cell) it converts to the more active thyroid T3. When it comes to supporting your thyroid, it's important to support your thyroid with supplements like iodine and Tyrosine. You also want to incorporate a nutrient known as Commiphora, since it can help your body convert T4 into T3.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
How can telomerase science work in treating Alzheimer's?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.
How can telomeres reset cell aging?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.
Your mouth is the gateway to your overall health. If your oral health declines, is that bad news for the rest of your health?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.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 digestive enzymes, so it can seem like there is a contradiction.
However, it depends on the situation the doctor is talking about. In a perfect situation, where you're not worrying about other health conditions, you want to supplement with digestive enzymes. Supplementing with digestive enzymes is the norm and in most cases what you want to do.
The only time doctors might talk about restricting digestive enzymes is usually in the context of weight and weight management. This is when you want to block sugar or fat digestive enzymes.
Dr. Blaylock is against dietary intake of high glutamine foods, saying that they are excitotoxins. The problem is, most foods that are considered healthy are high in glutamine (such as meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, beans). It's to the point where someone can name any food and I could give you several reasons why you shouldn't eat it. I use a couple of scoops of whey protein in my morning shake. What are your views on dietary glutamine as a neuroexcitotoxin?
Glutamine is an amino acid that plays an important role in your body, and you need it to function optimally. The glutamine in foods is good for you and glutamine in itself is not an excitoxin.
What happens is it converts inside nerve and brain cells to glutamate, which is a neurotoxin. A major source or glutamate is glutamine from the food you eat. The problem is, you might build up too much of it from the food you eat, as well as the protein supplements you take. This causes it to accumulate in the brain, and that's when it's bad for you.
Dr. Mike's suggestion is to not avoid glutamine foods, but rather counter the potential build up of glutamate of those foods with other foods and nutrients known to calm down the brain. Spices and foods like saffron, omega and coconut oil, wild green oat extract, gaba, green tea, lemon balm, and passion fruit will all be beneficial in doing this.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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, serotonin, Gaba, and glutamine, work together and influence each other. So, there's really not just one feel good neurotransmitter.
Can you help me prioritize all of the different brain supplements on the market? I'm 60 and my memory is getting really bad.
Just given that information, Dr. Mike suggests the following:
- magnesium threonate
- essential, coconut, and omega oils
- phosphatidylserine
- blueberry extracts
- saffron extract
- triptophan
- wild green oak extracts
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Can controlling asthma help with eczema outbreaks?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.
If left untreated, what other issues can eczema cause?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.
What are ways to prevent cognitive decline?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.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 embolization. This is when you block off your uterine artery that's feeding the fibroids. The third option would include a myomectomy, a surgery that cuts out that one fibroid.
However, he suggests talking with your doctor before trying this (or any) option.
I just borrowed a DVD of yours from the library and I noticed the awesome color of your hair. How can I get mine like that?
Dr. Mike recommends taking Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an anti-aging hormone made naturally in your body, as well as melon and onion extracts, black sesame, and amaranth.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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, sea vegetables, squash, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tomatoes, and turnip greens.
As far as the seafood options, cod, salmon, sardines, and fatty tunas are great. For the nuts and seeds: almonds, cashews, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts.
Beans and legumes: chickpeas, lima beans, lentils, black beans, kidney beans, white beans, and navy beans. For grains: barley, buckwheat, rye, millet, and quinoa. Herbs and spices: basil, cilantro, cumin, sage, rosemary, oregano, and turmeric.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
What are some ways you can incorporate cilantro into your diet?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.
How can you protect yourself against falling ill to the flu?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.
How can echinacea help combat the common cold and 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.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 perspective, you may want to consider Tryptophan, wild green oat extract, saffron extract, and light box therapy.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 combination of zinc and carnosine, liquorice root, and Picrorhiza kurroa.
The stability of omega-3 fish oil is somewhat questionable. On one hand, you're told to keep fish oil in the refrigerator and not expose it to heat. On the other hand, salmon gets cooked at high heat and sits in a tupperware for days in the fridge as a leftover. You would think that would completely oxidize the omega-3's. What do you think?
If you take fish oil and put it out in a bowl, it will get oxidized, and begin to stink. All fats are like that and have a stability question to them. That's why Dr. Mike believes that if you're taking an omega-3 supplement, it's important to have additional ingredients to help preserve it.
Cooking the fish can be looked at as a form of processing. When you start to manipulate a food source, that's processing and it will decrease the nutrient content of the food.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
How can diet and nutritional supplements play a key role in both cancer prevention and treatment?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 or someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, what do you need to know about treatment options?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.
A new stem cell treatment is showing impressive results and improvements in scleroderma 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.
How can you produce, convert, and protect your thyroid hormone?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.
Having back pain is the second most common reason people visit their doctors; third most common reason for hospitalization; and fifth most common cause for surgery.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.
What are the latest warnings on OTC NSAIDs?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.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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.
Have they really discovered why some smokers live really long lives?
It looks like there are some smokers who have a cluster of genes where there's these slight changes (mutations) that are providing a protective benefit from the toxins and smoke.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
What foods are included in a slow medicine kitchen?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.
How can slow medicine help your overall health?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.
Typically, people with diabetes limit their carb intake to prevent blood sugar from soaring. But, what if you ate bread at the end of the meal?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.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Should you be adding more brown seaweed to your diet?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.
How can you prevent diabetes from happening?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.
How can taurine help boost your brain health?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.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 is making you gain weight.
What year was lead removed from homes? I'm finding some conflicting information. Some are saying 1968, others 1978.
According to Medicine Net, most lead was removed from homes in 1978. If you're buying a house, you want to make sure to find out exactly what year it was built.
There are so many reports and studies on the vitamins we should have daily. It's so hard to keep up! Is there a list available that shows what I need on a daily basis?
You need basic macro- and micro-nutrients every day; vitamins, minerals, and a balanced diet of healthy fats, carbs, and protein.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 absorb? What are other amino acids that might help with ADHD and mild autism?
In this case, with your doctor's guidance for a healthy and safe dose, 1,000 micrograms is a good amount. Yes, vitamin B is necessary for folic acid to absorb. Dr. Mike suggests magnesium threonate, omega oils, and inositol.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
What are simple and effective changes you can make to your diet?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.
Meat has been linked to cancer and other health issues. Should you stop eating it?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.
Probiotics may be able to do more than heal your gut.According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are two types of depression: major depression and persistent depressive disorder.
Major depression consists of severe symptoms such as persistent sadness, an inability to eat, sleep, or enjoy life, and thoughts of suicide.
Persistent depressive disorder is characterized by a depressed mood that lasts for at least two years.
There are several types of treatments that involve medications, psychotherapy and self-care. However, recent research published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity has suggested that probiotics may help alleviate depression.
True probiotics are a form of good bacteria found in supplements and foods. Most known for aiding in digestive health (constipation, upset stomach, diarrhea, cramping), probiotics also support immune function and help your body better absorb nutrients.
How can probiotics alleviate depression?
Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the recent research that shows how probiotics can relieve your depression symptoms.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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:
It appears that the average stomach pH while empty is one to three (very acidic). Stomach pH with food is between a four and five. I often take probiotics on an empty stomach. This seems like the opposite of what you should do. If you want to put the probiotic in the least acidic stomach environment, you would think you would want to take them with food. Also, what do you think about taking probiotics with water as a higher pH?
One of the problems is as the live bacteria travels from your stomach to your small intestine, and ultimately in your colon, most of the probiotics won't survive. When you're taking a probiotic pill, you want to get as many as those bacteria in your colon alive. There's a huge debate on how to do that, and on whether you should take the probiotic with food or not.
It may seem like a good idea to take a probiotic with food, but you are decreasing transit time, which means that your probiotic pill will sit in your stomach longer than it should. So, Dr. Mike says it's best to take a probiotic on an empty stomach, since it will move faster through your digestive tract.
I've been a loyal Life Extension member for many years. I live in New York and have a question on whether I should be taking or not taking vitamin D to correspond to the seasons. I take vitamin D, K from October to May, but not in the summer because I get plenty of sun. In the late fall through early spring I would not be getting much vitamin D since New York is so far north. Is it going against nature to be artificially raising my vitamin D level during a period when it normally would not be so high? Should the vitamin D levels be lower or higher?
Dr. Mike says that you want to have consistent vitamin D levels throughout the year, no matter what the season is. Dr. Mike believes a normal range is between 50-70 and wants you at that level constantly. You might want to consider getting your vitamin D level tested at least once a year to see where your level is at, and base your vitamin D dosing on that level.
Dr. Mike also wants to point out that just because during the summer months there is natural sun, you shouldn't stop taking vitamin D. Many people make that mistake and think they only need it during months where it might not be as sunny.
Dr. Mike wants you taking that vitamin D dose every day.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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:
Dr. Sinatra has been suggesting nattokinase for some time to help reduce the amount of fibrin in the bloodstream to prevent clotting, thereby reducing the chance of a heart attack. Ralph Holsworth talks about other things to use, like serrapeptase for heart attack prevention. Do you have an opinion on nattokinase or serrapeptase?
Dr. Mike things that there should be more research on both of these types of therapies. Inflammation is part of most diseases, and Dr. Mike believes it's crucial to get inflammation under control to help prevent disease. Inflammation occurs when there are too many proteins within your blood.
Blood clotting also happens because of the excessive amount of proteins that are in your blood. Fibrinogen is what doctors target to help reduce blood clotting with enzymes like nattokinase or serrapeptase.
In Dr. Mike's opinion, nattokinase is the better therapy, because it targets fibrinogen more specifically and more potently.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
How have trials gone so far and what can we expect for the future of new cancer treatment Mipsagargin?Mipsagargin is a recent generic drug that was created by GenSpera, Inc., a leader in developing therapies for cancer treatments.
This is a new drug that contains a natural product (a poisonous weed) that kills the growth of tumors.
Currently, Mipsagargin is in phase two clinical trials for hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) and glioblastoma (brain cancer).
Will this drug be expanding to other cancer treatments?
Dr. Craig Dionne shares what Mipsagargin is and how patients can receive this drug for treatment.
What's the biggest barrier holding doctors back in finding a cure for cancer?If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer, it can make you feel like your whole world has turned upside down.
Besides the emotional roller coaster, you also have to figure out what your next step is in terms of treatment.
Typically, 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.
Are there any other potential cancer cures that have limited access?
Listen in as Dr. Craig Dionne joins Dr. Mike to discuss potential cancer treatments that have limited access.
The most common use for chamomile tea is easing anxiety, but it has several benefits for your overall health.Chamomile tea has been used in traditional medicine for many years. If you've ever wanted something natural to drink before bed to help soothe your body, your doctor might have recommended drinking this tea.
A recent study from the University of Texas and published in The Gerontologist showed that chamomile might help extend your life. Researchers studied the effects of chamomile in the Mexican-American female population.
They found that 14 percent of the women in the study who drank chamomile tea were 29 percent less likely to die over the seven-year period compared to those women who did not drink chamomile tea.
Listen in as Dr. Mike shares why chamomile tea is beneficial to your health and how it can help you live longer.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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:
Can you review the foods that I can and cannot eat with gout?
Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs when uric acid builds up in your blood, which causes inflammation.
There are some foods you should probably avoid if you're prone to acute gout, including meat, dairy, fructose, and beer.
You might want to consider drinking more water and eating more nutritious foods, plant based protein, and fruit.
There are some supplements that can help acute gout, including drinking a combination of water, tart cherry extract, and vitamin C.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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:
Are nutritional deficiencies to blame for being overweight?
When you lack proper nutrition, your body may be showing you signs that you have a nutritional deficiency. These signs can be a number of things like brittle nails, bleeding gums, painful joints, hair loss, acne, dry skin, and many others. What about weight gain?
A study from a children's hospital in Oakland, California conducted three eight-week trials involving the twice daily intake of nutrient bars for two months for 43 lean and overweight/obese adolescents. What researchers found was in the overweight/obese participants, there was a reduction in weight, weight circumference, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, triglycerides, insulin resistance, C-Reactive Protein, and inflammation.
Nutrition is extremely important; in fact, it's listed as one of the nine pillars of successful weight loss Dr. Mike wrote about. The rest of the pillars are:
- Restore insulin sensitivity
- Restore youthful hormone balance
- Control rate of carbohydrate absorption
- Increase physical activity
- Restore brain serotonin
- Restore resting energy expenditure rate
- Restore healthy adipocyte signaling
- Inhibit the lipase enzyme
- Eat to live a long and healthy life
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
What role do zinc, copper, iron, and glutathione play in heart health?According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the number-one killer of U.S. men and women, accounting for 40 percent of all U.S. deaths.
That's more than all forms of cancer combined.
What antioxidants are the most important for preventing heart disease?
Listen in as Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum joins Dr. Mike to share how you can prevent heart disease with antioxidants.
Consuming just one 12-ounce sugary soda a day could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by a whopping 30 percent.Did you know that increased consumption of sugar can trigger insulin resistance and diabetes, as well as magnesium deficiency, all of which have an impact on heart health?
Research supports this, with a study in JAMA Internal Medicine (2014) revealing that American adults consume, on average, about 15 percent of their calories from sugar added to their food, with 37 percent of the added sugar coming from sugar-sweetened beverages.
Researchers project that consuming just one 12-ounce sugary soda a day could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by a whopping 30 percent.
What are some tips to beat sugar addiction?
Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, shares his top tips to help you overcome your sugar addiction.
A worker bee creates a secretion called royal jelly to help feed and keep the queen alive. Can humans benefit from this?You may already know the powerful health benefits that are packed in honey, but another superfood that bees produce is called royal jelly.
Royal jelly is a white secretion that is made by worker honeybees and is used to help feed the queen bee. Since it is a main source of nutrition for the queen, experts believe it can offer many health benefits to humans.
What are the health benefits of royal jelly?
Royal jelly is believed to help enhance your immune system, regulate your blood sugar and cholesterol levels, increase fat metabolism, and promote wound healing. It may even contain anticancer properties.
What are some of the other benefits of royal jelly?
Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the health benefits of royal jelly and why you should consider using it.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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:
If I ride my bike, will that make my enlarged prostate worse?
This has been debated back and forth for many years. Some doctors will tell you that it doesn't damage your prostate, while other doctors will tell you it does. Dr. Mike thinks that if your prostate is normal size, there's no issue with riding a bike.
However, if you have prostatitis, or an enlarged prostate, you might exacerbate and cause more symptoms.
A study on Health Day's website looked into bike riding and men's health. Researchers found that cyclists who ride more may face a higher risk for prostate cancer, but not a greater chance of infertility or erectile dysfunction.
Is Hawaiian spirulina the best source, and is it better than chlorella?
Yes, Hawaiian spirulina does seem to be the best sourced. Spirulina is a blue-green algae; it doesn't have a cell wall and has more of a complete protein. Chlorella is more like a plant and is better for heavy metals. So, depending on what you're trying to do will determine whether to use spirulina or chlorelia.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 sometimes feel like a mad scientist in my own personal experiments as I mix several supplements into a drink and toss it back. Currently, before I go out for my hikes I mix L-carnitine, d-ribose, MSM, and natural calm into a drink and it actually tastes okay. I feel like I can actually hike and climb longer with lower heart rates when I take this. The question is this: are there supplements that should never be mixed together?
There are two ways to think about this, and one of them is pharmacokinetic. This is how something is digested, distributed, absorbed, and eliminated from your body. So, if you're mixing things together, does this change the kinetics of that compound? On the other hand, there's an pharmacodynamics perspective... is it going to increase or lower the response of the supplement?
Dr. Mike is going to answer with a pharmacokinetic response. You need to be cautious when mixing calcium, magnesium, and zinc together, since calcium blocks the absorption of zinc and magnesium.
Another bad combination is creatine and glutamine, as they use the same co-transporters and end up competing with one another. If you take them together, you might lose the cellular effect. Vitamin E and iron is another combo that you shouldn't mix, because iron can disrupt vitamin E absorption.
From a pharmacodynamics standpoint, Dr. Mike would never start someone on rhodiola and DHEA because it might overstimulate.
Everyone is taking probiotics these days. As I understand, the small intestine is supposed to be almost sterile and the colon is supposed to be lined with the desirable probiotic. More is being talked about small intestinal overgrowth, where the normally bacteria-free small intestine becomes overgrown with bacteria. This seems to cause bloating and gas. I am unclear: if we swallow large amounts of bacteria, how is it that most people don't develop small intestinal bacteria overgrowth?
You internal digestive system is covered in probiotics, all the way from your throat to your anus. The reason why you don't see intestinal overgrowth when people are taking probiotics is because in the small bowel, there's a layer of bicarbonate that protects any seeping from your stomach acid coming into your small bowel.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
The Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) study is one of the largest studies done on childhood maltreatment and development of diseases later in life.Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) is one of the largest studies to connect childhood maltreatment and your health later in life.
Over 17,000 Kaiser patients who volunteered to be in the ACE study and participate in regular health screenings.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the ACE study suggests that certain experiences are risk factors for leading causes of illnesses, poor quality of life, and death.
How else can ACE affect your life as an adult?
Donna Jackson Nakazawa discusses what ACE is and how it might cause serious health issues later in your life.
Constantly being emotionally "worked-up" can cause your heart rate to escalate and your body to shut down.Even though research has suggested that some amount of stress might be beneficial to your health, emotional stress is different.
Emotional stress involves your sympathetic nervous system, the part of your brain that kicks in during a fight-or-flight situation.
Could there be a connection between a psychologically stressful event and physical disease?
Public speaker, Donna Jackson Nakazawa, discusses whether or not emotional trauma and stress can cause disease.
Do certain minerals work in combating PMS?
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) occurs in millions of women in the weeks that lead up to their monthly cycle.
Even though the symptoms you experience are usually predictable every month (mood swings, bloating, tender breasts, irritability, food cravings, depression), it can still be unpleasant to deal with.
If you've ever experienced PMS, you and those around you know the roller coaster it can put you through.
What if there was a way to combat your PMS symptoms?
Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the dietary and lifestyle changes you might want to consider to ease your PMS symptoms.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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:
Grains or no grains? I'm confused. What do you do?
Dr. Mike agrees that it can be confusing when it comes to deciding on whether or not to eat grains, and there might be conflicting answers. For example, people who follow a paleo diet don't believe in eating any type of grain, since society's ancestors never did. Then, you have other dieters who believe that the ancient grains are okay to eat.
One of the issues with grains is that they are carbohydrates that break down into simple sugars. This results in an insulin release, which in turn causes you to store food.
Dr. Mike believes that grains are fine in moderation, but that you should try to avoid overdoing it.
Fox News Health listed ways to prevent summer weight gain. What do you think about what they had to say?
The first thing Fox News had on the list was if you're feeling a sweet craving coming on, eat something sour instead (bite into a pickle or drink lemon tea).
Dr. Mike believes in this, and even suggests brushing your teeth to curb sugar cravings. The next one on the list was to eat more fiber. Dr. Mike also believes eating fiber is great for your health, but also that there are more factors involved.
The third on the list is to stay hydrated and to drink a glass of water before every meal. Dr. Mike agrees with this tip and suggests that drinking broth can also help.
The fourth tip is to savor every bite. Dr. Mike strongly believes in this and has talked about it before.
The last tip is to snack smart by eating a healthy snack in the mid-afternoon. Dr. Mike agrees with this and suggests snacking on almonds.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.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 a history of depression and my family is moving to Montana. I've read that depression happens more in higher elevations (we're currently living in Houston). If this is the case, what can I do?
There was a study published in March 2015 in High Altitude Medicine and Biology that said there is an increase of depression at higher elevations. In the study, rats were exposed to high altitude conditions (both simulated and real), and they increased depression-like behavior.
Dr. Mike suggests doing a few things to help prevent depression like symptoms, such as taking tryptophan, lysine, and saffron supplements.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
According to a recent study, eating organic food (even occasionally) has some major benefits to your health.When browsing food at your grocery store, you might have noticed the major difference in price between organic and non-organic food.
This can cause you to avoid organic foods, or only buy them selectively. Fortunately, you don't have to buy all organic, all the time.
According to a new study, eating organically (even occasionally) has some major health benefits.
The results of this study were published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
Listen in as Dr. Mike shares more about this study and the benefits of eating organic food.
Will the constant change of technology impact the way you visit your doctor?When you're feeling ill or are in need of a check-up, the typical protocol is to schedule an appointment with your doctor.
More than likely, it won't be right away.
What if there was a way to have access to your doctor on demand?
Dr. Pat Basu joins Dr. Mike to discuss telemedicine and how the future of your doctor visits might be changing.