Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Sleeping fewer than seven hours a night shortens lifespan more than poor diet, lack of exercise, or weak social ties, making sleep one of the strongest predictors of long-term survival
Short sleep accelerates aging by disrupting cellular repair, hormone balance, and energy production, even in people who eat well and stay physically active
Most adults are not metabolically resilient enough to function on limited sleep, which means chronic sleep loss quietly compounds damage year after year
Small, consistent sleep deficits add up over time, increasing vulnerability to disease and reducing your body's ability to recover from stress
Restoring sleep quality by stabilizing light exposure, circadian timing, and nightly routines gives your body the conditions it needs to repair itself and extend health span

Plastic cutting boards shed microplastics during routine food prep, contributing to increased plastic ingestion that accumulates in organs like the brain and reproductive tissues over time
Research shows knife pressure releases hundreds of plastic fragments per cut, many embedding into food tissue and remaining even after rinsing or cooking
Older, heavily grooved boards release more microplastics, as repeated knife strokes and surface wear accelerate abrasion and contamination during everyday meal prep
Replacing plastic boards with wood, bamboo, or glass reduces microplastic exposure, while proper cleaning and timely replacement help limit bacterial and chemical risks
Beyond cutting boards, reducing exposure to microplastics requires filtering water, avoiding plastic packaging, choosing natural fabrics, and addressing hormone disruption caused by estrogen-mimicking plastic chemicals

Over half of Americans now live with neurological disorders, which significantly impact disability levels and quality of life. Tension headaches, migraines, stroke, and Alzheimer's are major contributors
Neurological burden varies by region, with Southern states experiencing worse outcomes. Despite medical advances, mortality has decreased but long-term disability has increased due to longer lifespans
Global brain-related disorders cost $1.7 trillion annually, with stroke and dementia the most expensive. High-income countries spend disproportionately more while lower-income nations face severe resource shortages
Aging populations and rising care costs strain health systems, as inpatient and long-term care dominate expenses. Uneven access means outcomes depend heavily on geography, income, and health care infrastructure
Improving neurological health requires targeting mitochondrial dysfunction through lowered linoleic acid intake, gradual gut repair, reducing electromagnetic field and plastic exposure

Belly fat changes how your heart is built and works, even when your weight and body mass index (BMI) appear normal
Men face earlier and more severe heart damage because they store more fat deep in the abdomen, which increases pressure on the lungs and forces the heart to work harder with every breath
Standard scales miss this risk, but simple waist measurements reveal hidden stress on your heart long before symptoms appear
Beer bellies form when cellular energy fails, pushing fuel into fat storage instead of burning it for daily function
Restoring metabolism through food choices, gut repair, and daily movement reduces belly fat and protects heart structure over time

Women with psoriasis consistently show lower progesterone and DHEA, two hormones that normally quiet inflammation, making flare-ups stronger and more frequent
Estrogen dominance — where estrogen feels too strong relative to progesterone — heightens immune reactivity and explains why symptoms worsen before your period, after childbirth and during menopause
Intracellular estrogen, not blood estrogen, drives inflammation in psoriatic skin, which is why your labs can look "normal" even when your symptoms intensify
Long-term hormone replacement therapy increases psoriasis risk by overstimulating inflammatory pathways, especially in post-menopausal women whose hormones are already shifting
You can ease flare patterns by supporting progesterone and DHEA, eliminating estrogen-mimicking triggers, avoiding seed oils, optimizing vitamin D and reducing stress-related hormonal strain