Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Greener Cities Linked to Better Mental Health Outcomes

* Living in greener neighborhoods is linked to significantly fewer hospitalizations for mental illness, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, and dementia * A global analysis of 11.4 million cases found that just a small increase in vegetation density reduced mental health hospital admissions by 7% * Urban residents experienced the strongest benefits — cities with more parks and tree-lined streets saw 13% fewer psychiatric hospitalizations * Researchers discovered that the ideal balance for mental well-being is when about half your surroundings are green; both too little and too much vegetation reduce benefits * Spending at least 30 minutes a day in moderate greenery, walking outdoors, or adding plants to your home helps lower stress hormones, boost focus, and improve emotional resilience

Gluten Sensitivity Often Has Little to Do with Gluten Itself

* Research from The Lancet found that only about 16% to 30% of self-identified gluten-sensitive individuals experience symptoms triggered by gluten alone * Many people who believe they're gluten sensitive are actually reacting to fermentable carbohydrates (FODMAPs) or gut-brain hypersensitivity, not gluten itself * Natural FODMAPs from whole foods like fruit and grass fed dairy help feed beneficial gut bacteria such as Akkermansia muciniphila, which strengthens your gut lining and supports immunity * Eliminating seed oils rich in linoleic acid and eating about 250 grams of healthy carbohydrates daily restores mitochondrial energy, improves digestion, and rebuilds a resilient gut * Once your gut is healed, gradually reintroducing whole grains helps expand your diet and restore comfort, turning food from a source of fear into a foundation for long-term health

Stress Alters Metabolic Hormone with Health Consequences, Study Shows

* Research from Columbia University shows that psychological stress changes a key metabolic hormone, linking emotional strain directly to energy production and overall health * People with healthy mitochondria experience a drop in this hormone under stress, while those with mitochondrial dysfunction show an increase — demonstrating how cellular energy capacity shapes stress resilience * Chronic stress overstimulates classic stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, disrupting blood sugar control, promoting fat storage, and exhausting your mitochondria — the engines that power every cell * Social isolation and loneliness were linked to higher levels of stress-related hormones, suggesting that emotional well-being and physical metabolism are deeply connected * Restoring mitochondrial balance through nutrition, regular movement, deep sleep, and meaningful connection helps calm stress chemistry, boost energy, and slow biological aging

Why Have Vaccines Become a Religion

* As more people awaken to the dangers of vaccines, they discover a persistent problem vaccine safety advocates have faced for decades: talking to vaccine zealots is like speaking to a brick wall. Regardless of the evidence presented, you cannot reach them — sometimes it feels like speaking to religious fanatics unwilling to consider the "blasphemy you're spewing forth" * This is deliberate, as vaccines have been enshrined as the holy water which baptizes you into the faith of Western medicine and became the "miracle" the superiority of modern medicine is based upon * Because of this faith and the relentless propaganda accompanying it, a series of absurd and contradictory arguments have been established to assert vaccines are "safe" which would never be accepted anywhere else * As a result, all vaccine research is designed around the assumption vaccines must be safe, and all regulatory decisions sharing this bias — thereby making it nearly impossible to prove a vaccine is harmful, regardless of how many people it kills or injures * This article will review the absurd fallacies used to defend mass vaccination, the unsound mindsets that produce them, and the incredible opportunity we have to at last shift this dysfunctional dynamic

Concussion Raises Risk of Future Car Crash

* Having even one concussion raises your long-term crash risk by 49%, which means you would be wise to give yourself more recovery time before driving to protect both your safety and your independence * The first month after a concussion is the most dangerous, with risk jumping more than sixfold, so adjusting your driving habits during this period helps lower your chance of a serious accident * Each additional concussion sharply increases your risk, with two concussions more than doubling it and three or more causing a 124% increase, making symptom monitoring and long-term brain care important for anyone with repeated injuries * Younger age, late-night driving, poor weather, rural roads, alcohol misuse, and lower income all magnify post-concussion crash risk. Being mindful of these factors can help you stay safer on the road * Concussion-related crashes have led to tens of thousands of extra hospital days and more than $800 million in medical and societal costs, showing why protecting your brain health now helps safeguard your future well-being, finances, and mobility