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Are wearable devices beneficial for your health?It seems like everyone is wearing a fitness device made by Apple, Samsung, or Google to help track their physical activity and sleep patterns for a healthier lifestyle. Even though it may seem like these fitness wearables are gaining popularity, recent evidence is finding they aren't bridging the gap. In fact, according to a recent article from the Journal of the American Medical Association, only one to two percent of individuals in the U.S. have used a wearable device, but the annual sales are projected to reach 50 billion by 2018. What are the gaps that need to be identified? Listen in as study author, Mitesh S. Patel, MD, MS, identifies and shares the gaps that need to be changed in order for fitness wearables to be successful.

Two powerhouse nutritionists cover the latest health and wellness headlines, to help you live better.Today on Chew On This, Dr. David Friedman and co-host, Kim Barnouin, discuss the following topics: GNC being sued by Oregon Attorney General. Moderate coffee drinking may be associated with a lower risk of death. Listen in to get the latest updates on the hottest headlines.

While it's a popular show on television, The Doctors is more than just "entertainment."While it's a popular, Emmy award-winning show on television, The Doctors is more than just "entertainment." Having been airing nearly a decade now, the show is spreading the word about important health topics; even saving lives.  Dr. Travis Stork has been a part of that journey from the very beginning. In this segment, he joins Dr. Friedman to share more about the message the show aims to send in terms of healthcare, preventative care, and wellness, as well as specific things he utilizes in his own life to be the healthiest he can be.

Pills, programs, detoxes and diets... with so many options available for weight loss, why are so many of us still overweight?Pills, programs, detoxes and diets... with so many options available for weight loss, why are so many of us still overweight? Simply put, diets don't work. Sustainable outcomes only come with concerted changes in behavior.  As fitness expert Jay Cardiello puts it, "food is just a habit, not the root cause." You have to identify your "why" factor. What brought you to the point of packing on the pounds? If you look for a quick fix, you're only putting a band-aid on the problem. Of course, eating well needs to be part of that behavior change, as does getting quality sleep (and enough of it), proper exercise, and consistent hydration. Listen in as Cardiello joins Dr. Friedman to explain why diets don't work, as well as effective ways you can lose the weight and finally get healthy.

Inflammation is everywhere... you see warnings about it on the news, in books, and hopefully at your doctor's office.Inflammation is everywhere... you see warnings about it on the news, in books, and hopefully at your doctor's office. One doctor who has been researching the problem of inflammation for a great while now is Dr. William Sears, who has authored the tremendous resource, The Inflammation Solution: When Everything Works and Nothing Hurts. Dr. Sears has identified ways to control your inflammation and stave off the negative effects, particularly in your brain. He recommends his "6-S Anti-inflammatory Diet," which includes the following: Seafood: Preferably wild salmon. Seafood is a top anti-inflammatory source because of the omega-3 fish oils, which benefit your brain, heart, gut, and joints. The pink color of salmon also contains the antioxidant, astaxanthin, which some experts call the "world's best antioxidant." Smoothies: A shake a day keeps inflammation away. The more colorful fruit and vegetables you include, the better (blueberries, kale, etc.). Salads: Put more color on your plate... dark leafy greens, tomatoes, avocado, and don't forget the salmon! Spices: Spices such as ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, and black pepper all have anti-inflammatory properties. Snacking: Make sure you follow Dr. Sears' "rule of two." Eat twice as often, eat half as much, chew twice as long. When you graze, you avoid spikes in blood sugar and inflammation. Supplements: If you can't get all of your nutrients in food form, you need to supplement the ones you're missing. Listen in as Dr. Sears joins Dr. Friedman to explain why inflammation is so dangerous, as well as simple, effective ways to get it under control.

Dr. P. Piero is known as "the dentist who doesn't brush his teeth," and has been researching dental health and periodontal disease for many years.Periodontal disease is more than just a dental issue. In fact, it's been linked to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, dementia, and other systemic diseases.  Dr. P. Piero is known as "the dentist who doesn't brush his teeth," and has been researching dental health and periodontal disease for many years. According to Dr. Piero, 50 percent of the individuals over the age of 35 have periodontal disease. That statistic rises to 75 percent of individuals at the age of 65. Toothbrushes aren't working, obviously. Gum recession and decay, enamel damage, and root damage can all result from traditional brushing and flossing. And, says Dr. Piero, if you're a "once in a while" flosser, not a consistent one, you may be doing more harm than good. Listen in as Dr. Piero joins Dr. Friedman to share more about the dangers of poor oral health and periodontal disease, as well as the invention he has created (the Dental Air Force home dental cleaning system) to ensure both proper oral health, as well as overall health.

When should antibiotics be prescribed?A clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offers updated guidance on treating respiratory tract infections in children, with the goal of reducing unnecessary antibiotics prescriptions. Studies have shown that as many as 10 million antibiotic prescriptions are written each year for infections they are unlikely to help. Recent evidence shows that prescriptions for broad-spectrum antibiotics have increased, even when no antibiotics are needed or when a narrow-spectrum antibiotic would work. Overuse of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance, making infections more difficult to treat. Why is it important to understand the appropriate way to use antibiotics? Listen in as H. Dele Davies, MD, MS, explains how you can get smart about antibiotics.

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.

How can you effectively use heart rate monitoring in your personal workouts?Heart rate monitoring can be extremely beneficial for your overall health. For example, high resistance intervals are an effective method for improving the aerobic qualities of fast twitch fibers through constant oxygen delivery to your muscles. However, before buying a heart rate monitor, there are some things you need to be aware of. What are some of the features you should look for when purchasing a heart rate monitor? Listen in as George Centeio, MA, shares the benefits of heart rate monitoring, as well as what you should look for when you buy a heart rate monitor.

How can a heart rate monitor help enhance your workout?Within the past few years, heart rate monitoring has become a popular fitness trend. Monitoring your heart rate can be used to measure how hard you're working during an exercise, and track changes in your fitness level. Cardiac intervals are a high-intensity option for increasing the power of the cardiac muscle and its mitochondrial density. Why would you want to consider using this method of fitness? Listen in as George Centeio, MA, shares the basics of heart rate monitoring.

News of the week, toxic dangers, and helpful health tips. You don't want to miss this! Straight talk from You Doc, Michael Roizen, MD. Dr. Mike discusses more of the most prevalent health news you need to know from the past week. Plus, find out "What's Toxic & What's Not" from toxicologist and regular contributor, Gary Ginsberg. More from RealAge 6 Facts You Should Know about Tapeworms