Another year has passed and, for the 10th year in a row,
Mercola.com remains the most visited natural health site on the
Web.
Ever since the inception of Mercola.com, I and my team have
been committed to correcting the misinformation and deception of
traditional conflicted media and big businesses. Thankfully,
this dedication, shared by readers like you, is making a world
of difference.
Today, we embark on a new year and a fresh start in our
continued journey toward a healthier, happier life. But before
we leave 2014 behind, let's revisit the top 10 articles of the
past year, based on page views.
These are the articles that captivated you most, and they
cover a wide variety of health topics, from how increase your
testosterone levels without hormones, exposés on top nutritional
myths and the "best and worst" foods on the market, and much
more.
If you haven't yet read these top 10 articles, you're in for
a treat. And be sure to stay tuned to the newsletter for more
empowering health wisdom as 2015 unfolds.
#10:
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream That Doesn't
Melt!
There is something unsettling and (literally) unnatural
about an ice cream sandwich that doesn’t melt on a hot
summer day. Earlier this summer, a woman in Cincinnati
noticed that her son’s Walmart-brand ice cream sandwich
didn’t melt when he accidently left it outside for 12 hours,
in 80-degree F weather.
After one hour and 15 minutes outside in sunny, 80-degree
F weather, Walmart’s ice cream sandwich is still remarkably
solid.
If you’re shopping at Walmart because you’re on a tight
budget, it's a common misconception that buying pre-packaged
processed foods is less expensive than eating fresh and
cooking from scratch. Don't fall for this notion. When you
consider the nutrient value of fresh versus
processed-to-death denatured foods and the subsequent health
consequences of each choice, it's quite clear that you can
eat well and improve your health and still not spend a
fortune.
#9:
Gut Bacteria and Fat Cells May Interact to Produce "Perfect
Storm" of Inflammation That Promotes Chronic Disease
A wide array of health problems, including but not
limited to obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes,
periodontal disease, stroke, and heart disease all have
inflammation as a part of the disease.
The majority of inflammatory diseases start in your gut.
Chronic inflammation in your gut can disrupt the normal
functioning of many bodily systems. There also appears to be
a connection between certain types of bacteria and body fat
that produces a heightened inflammatory response and drives
the inflammatory process.
#8:
11 Charts That Show Everything Wrong with Our Modern Diet
Three decades ago, the food available was mostly fresh
and grown locally. Today, the majority of foods served,
whether at home, in school or in restaurants, are highly
processed foods, filled with sugars, harmful processed fats,
and chemical additives.
During that same time, obesity rates have skyrocketed,
and one in five American deaths are now associated with
obesity
The featured article contains 11 telling charts and
graphs, illustrating how the modern diet has led to an
avalanche of chronic disease.
#7:
63% of Americans Actively Avoid Soda
Rates of soda consumption have been dropping for decades,
and Americans now consume about the same amount they did
back in 1986. Today, 63 percent of Americans actively try to
avoid soda, compared to 41 percent in 2002.
Diet soda consumption has seen the greatest drop. While
regular soda sales fell two percent in 2013, Diet Coke sales
dropped seven percent amidst fears of aspartame’s health
risks. However, Coca-Cola Co. has no intention of letting
its brands, and its namesake product Coke, fall by the
wayside.
To combat flagging sales, Coca-Cola decided to target the
teen market directly, by printing 250 of the most common
teen names on Coke bottles. The “personalized” drink gimmick
worked, increasing North American sales by one percent in
three months.
#6:
7 Signs You May Have a Vitamin D Deficiency
Optimizing your
vitamin D levels may help you prevent cancer, heart
disease, autoimmune diseases, infections, mental health
conditions, and much more.
Researchers have pointed out that increasing levels of
vitamin D3 among the general population could prevent
chronic diseases that claim nearly one million lives
throughout the world each year. Incidence of several types
of cancer could also be slashed in half.
Vitamin D also fights infections, including colds and the
flu, as it regulates the expression of genes that influence
your immune system to attack and destroy bacteria and
viruses. Unfortunately, an estimated 50 percent of the
general population is at risk of vitamin D deficiency and
insufficiency.
You’re particularly at risk if you consistently wear sun
protection (which blocks vitamin D production) or limit your
outdoor activities. Signs you may have a vitamin D
deficiency include age over 50, having darker skin, obesity,
achy bones, feeling blue, head sweating, and gut trouble.
#5:
Top 10 Destructive Nutrition Lies Ever Told
Many nutrition myths get repeated over and over until
they are mistaken for truth, especially when perpetually
spread by public health authorities. This article reviews my
top 10 list of the most widespread, destructive lies
typically told by mainstream nutritionists, despite being
refuted by science.
For example, millions of people have suffered needless
pain and suffering, and premature death, by following
commonly recommended low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets.
Another nutrition myth is that all saturated fats are bad
for you, and the corollary is equally untrue—that
cholesterol causes heart disease.
Surprising truths are also revealed about artificial
sweeteners, whole grains, eggs, soy, vegetable oils,
genetically engineered foods, and why breakfast may not be
the most important meal of the day after all.
#4:
15 Natural Remedies for the Treatment of Acid Reflux and Ulcers
Acid reflux affects an estimated 50 percent of Americans.
The hallmark symptom of acid reflux is “heartburn”—a burning
sensation behind your breastbone that sometimes travels up
your throat.
Contrary to popular belief, acid reflux is not
caused by excessive acid production in your stomach; rather
it’s a symptom more commonly related to hiatal hernia and/or
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.
The problem also typically results from having too little
acid in your stomach, which is why proton pump inhibitors
(PPIs) typically just perpetuate the problem, and make acid
reflux worse.
The answer to heartburn and acid indigestion is to
restore your natural gastric balance and function. Eat lots
of vegetables and other high-quality, ideally organic,
unprocessed foods. Also make sure you’re getting enough
beneficial bacteria from your diet by regularly consuming
fermented foods. This will help balance your bowel flora,
which can help eliminate H. pylori bacteria naturally.
#3:
Why I Don't Recommend Retractable Leashes
by Dr. Becker
A retractable dog leash is not so much a leash as it is a
length of thin cord wound around a spring-loaded device
housed inside a plastic handle. The handles of most
retractable leashes are designed to fit comfortably in a
human hand. A button on the handle controls how much of the
cord is extended.
Retractable leashes are popular among dog owners
primarily because they aren't as confining as regular
leashes, allowing dogs more freedom to sniff and poke around
on walks.
Here are 10 downsides to this type of leash.
#2:
What Happens Inside Your Stomach When You Eat Instant Noodles?
Instant noodles are a popular go-to lunch or dinner for
those who are strapped for time and/or cash. But by using a
pill-sized camera to see what actually happens inside your
stomach and digestive tract after you eat instant noodles,
researchers reveal why this commonly consumed food item may
be best left on the store shelf... Even after two hours,
instant noodles remain remarkably intact inside the GI
tract.
As a result, your may experience prolonged exposure to
the toxic preservative tertiary-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ)
and other additives, like MSG, found in instant noodles.
Animal studies have linked TBHQ to a number of adverse
health effects, including liver effects at very low doses;
cellular mutations; biochemical changes; and reproductive
effects. Research also shows that women who consume more
instant noodles are 68 percent more likely to have metabolic
syndrome than those who eat less, regardless of overall diet
or exercise habits.
#1:
What You See in the Toilet Can Give You Valuable Insights into
Your Health
You can learn a great deal about your overall health by
taking a look at your stool and noting its color, size,
shape, consistency, odor and other features. Your toileting
habits, such as your frequency of elimination and the ease
with which you move your bowels, can provide additional
clues to your health status. If you know what to look for,
you may be able to detect health problems early enough to
stop them in their tracks, including serious diseases like
celiac disease, hepatitis, urinary tract infections and
stones, malabsorption disorders, inflammatory bowel disease,
pancreatitis, cancer and others.
Most gastrointestinal problems can be prevented or
resolved by making simple changes to your diet and
lifestyle. Helpful strategies include removing gluten from
your diet, eating a diet rich in fresh vegetables, avoiding
artificial ingredients, boosting your gut flora by eating
plenty of naturally fermented foods, and more.