Healthy Talk

Losing weight might be easier than you previously thought.If you've been trying to lose weight, it might be easier than you expected. Instead of trying another crash diet, you may want to consider activating a natural cell in your body called AMPK. AMPK (adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase) is an enzyme that exists in cellular energy homeostasis. AMPK is found in your cells, plays a major role in your cellular energy balance, and is found in several of your body's tissues, such as the brain, liver, and the skeletal muscles. How can you activate this enzyme in order to lose weight? Listen in as Dr. Mike shares research on losing weight by activating AMPK.

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: There are commercials for green tea as a weight loss supplements. I drink green tea everyday, but I still can't lose 20-30 pounds. What's wrong with my green tea? Green tea is a natural metabolic booster, that can help burn more calories at rest. There's nothing wrong with your green tea, it's the amount of EGCG levels in your tea that's the problem. You would have to just take a EGCG supplement to raise your metabolism. I watched a TV show on the length between fungal infections and cancer. The doctors implied patients should be giving an antifungal medication. Is this true? Cancer is caused when your cells abnormally grow in an unregulated matter. Dr. Mike thinks that some cancer cases can be caused by a fungus, but doesn't think every cancer patient needs to take an antifungal medication. 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: When I eat spicy foods, I often get nosebleeds. Is this an allergic reaction? Actually, eating spicy food is associated with nosebleeds. Doctors aren't really sure why this happens to some people and not others. Dr. Mike thinks it's a neurodegenerative response, and it's completely normal. However, if nosebleeds are happening constantly when you're eating certain foods, or if you get them quite frequently, then you might want to talk to your doctor. Where is the best place to get a blood test? The first place you should always start is with your doctor. Your doctor could help write a prescription to get any necessary test(s) done. Tell me, what supplements do you take? Dr. Mike takes the core foundational supplements: multivitamin, vitamin D, CoQ10, omega-3 oils, DHEA, curcumin, vitamin K2, and a probiotic. What do you mean by "youthful hormone levels"? Before you start taking any hormones, it's extremely important to get a blood test. What Dr. Mike means by youthful hormone levels is having the same hormone profile as you did in your 20s and 30s. 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.

Finishing three phases of a metabolic detox could leave you feeling refreshed and healthy. The world today is filled with dangerous toxins. There can be thousands of different chemicals and toxins going through your body each day, and your liver is constantly working hard to keep your body clean. Detoxification, the process of ridding your body of toxic or unhealthy substances, can leave you feeling refreshed and healthy. A detox regimen can last anywhere from a few days to a few months, depending on the type that you choose. One specific kind of detox, metabolic detoxification, is a great way to remove unwanted lipid-soluble compounds from your body and help keep the liver – your own internal detox system – working smoothly. By detoxifying your liver, you are improving your metabolic function and keeping your body healthier. Dr. Michael Smith breaks down the three phases of metabolic detoxification. Phase One The main purpose of phase one in the liver detox is to bring toxins into the liver and make them less toxic. "Taking B-vitamins during this phase is so critical,” says Dr. Smith. You should focus on taking B1, B3, B5, and B6. If you are already taking a daily multivitamin, you may be getting enough, but Dr. Smith recommends taking a complete B-vitamin complex like B-100 or B-150 for a whole month, every three or four months. Taking high doses of vitamin B will help kick-start the liver’s detoxification reactions. Additionally, get plenty of antioxidants. Seek deep, dark-colored fruits and vegetables. Increasing your dietary intake of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables will further strengthen your liver’s ability to detoxify toxins. Phase Two Phase two involves attaching the toxin to a more water-soluble substance instead of fat, to make it easier to travel through urine and leave your body. During this phase, it’s important that you take methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) as a dietary supplement. You also need to ingest a class of compounds called stilbenes. Two of the most notable stilbenes are resveratrol and pterostilbene. Resveratrol can be found in grape skin, red wine, peanuts, blueberries, and cranberries. Pterostilbene is found in blueberries and grapes. Both can also be taken as a supplement. Phase Three So, now the toxins in your body have become less toxic, and are water-soluble and able to be excreted through urine easier. The third and final phase transports the toxins out of your cells, and gets them out of your body. The best way, according to Dr. Smith, to extract the toxins out of the liver is by taking artichoke extract. It will help decongest the liver, and move the water-soluble toxins into the bloodstream where they can leave through urine. You may be able to eat artichoke, but it’s more effective when taken as concentrated artichoke extract. Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the process of metabolic detoxification and why you might consider participating in one.

DHEA, a natural hormone produced in your own body, has numerous health benefits.Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an anti-aging hormone made naturally in your body that produces male and female sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen). As you age, the DHEA levels in your body decrease (more rapidly if you're female). According to an article on the Life Extension website, by the time you're at the age of 80, levels of DHEA fall by as much as 80-90 percent compared to what they were during your young adulthood. What are the benefits of DHEA and why should you be getting more of it? Listen in as Dr. Mike explains DHEA, as well as the many benefits associated with supplementing it into your diet.

Yoga can build strength, improve your flexibility, and may also have the power to reduce heart disease.Heart disease is the number-one killer for both men and women in the U.S. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 610,000 people die of heart disease in the U.S. annually. Doctors usually recommend eating a heart healthy diet, exercising, and avoiding unhealthy habits like smoking in order to help lower your risk of heart disease. But, a new study suggests yoga could improve your cardiovascular health and lower your risk of heart disease as well. According to an article posted in Indian Express, researchers looked at 1,404 records, and conducted 37 randomized control trials. They found that compared to non-exercisers, people who practiced yoga displayed a drastic improvement in body mass index, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. How else can yoga improve your heart health? Listen in as Dr. Mike shares this recent study on how yoga can help improve your cardiovascular health, while simultaneously lowering your risk for heart disease.

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: Junk food rewired people's brains. Can you shed some light on this? Published in Journal Frontiers in Psychology, a new study shines some light on the possibility that junk food has the power to rewire your brain. Scientists put rats into two groups; labeled Cafeteria and Chow. Both rats had a typical rat diet, but the Cafeteria group got bonus foods that included meat pies, cookies, and cakes. Researchers found that both rat groups gained weight, but the Cafeteria group gained more weight and didn't seem to care about balancing their diet. Researchers believe that the junk food diets of today cause lasting changes in the reward circuit part of the brain, which also plays a major role in decision-making. 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: Please review how plastics are rated. Which plastics should I never use? On the bottom of plastic waterbottles, tupperware, toys, etc. there's a numbered label of one through seven, which indicates which type of plastic is used and if it's safe to use. Here is what each level of plastic indicates: Plastic number one contains Polyethylene Terephthalate, the most common type of plastic. It's used in bottling drinks, toys, hair combs, microwaveable food trays, and rope. Plastic number two contains high-density polyethylene and is found in snack wrappers, milk containers, shampoo bottles, toys, cereal box liners and is very safe and known to not leak any chemicals in food, drinks, toys, etc. Plastic number three contains polyvinyl chloride and is found in shower curtains, plumbing pipes, and floor coverings. Plastic number four contains low-density polyethylene and found in grocery bags, sandwich bags, and dry cleaning bags. Plastic number five contains polypropylene and is found in food storage contains, diapers, yogurt containers, and plastic bottle caps. Plastic number six contains polystyrene or Styrofoam and is found in food packaging, disposable coffee cups and restaurant carry out boxes. Plastic number seven is labeled as miscellaneous, it can be made from any plastic. Is it true that women who place their cell phones in their bras have a higher risk of breast cancer? It's probably not the best place to put it, but Dr. Mike researched and couldn't find any clinical evidence that supports the risks of carrying your phone there. However, Dr. Mike still suggests carrying it in your purse or anywhere away from your body. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com 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 of NAD? Some companies are promoting it as an energy and anti-aging supplement? This question was brought to Dr. Mike's attention yesterday, but he only had 10 seconds left to answer this question, so he wanted to give you a more in-depth answer. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is found in all of your cells and plays a huge role in taking energy from your food and turning it into ATP for your cells. So yes, it is an energy nutrient. I'm an adult and I'm concerned about measles. I've had the measles vaccine way back in the 1970s and I'm wondering if I'm still protected? Do I need a booster? You actually would have to go see you doctor to have an antibody test done. There's a certain level your doctor will look for, and if you're above that level, you are protected against measles. However, if you're below that level, then you would have to get a booster. How do I make the right decision for my heart health when there's so many conflicting studies? Science and medicine is always changing, and very rarely is there a defiant answer to studies. There are new studies done all the time that change what scientists and doctors believe about certain topics. For example, Dr. Mike might suggest one thing this year but the next year, if there's a new discovery, it might change his mind. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.

Did you know cognitive decline is highest in developed countries?Memory loss, inability to focus, or having problems putting thoughts into words could all be signs of cognitive decline. You might refer to this as a "brain fog," and as you get older, you might realize it happens to you more often than you'd like to admit. But, there's a growing rate of brain fog happening amongst middle age groups. Most of this could be because of our toxic environment. There are over 70,000 industrial chemicals in your environment and 1,000 new toxins are introduced every year. Even if you do your best to protect yourself from these chemicals, you can have up to 400-500 measurable levels of toxins in your bloodstream. What are some of the major contributing factors to cognitive decline? Oxidative stress Inflammation Hormonal Imbalance Dr. Mike discusses what cognitive decline is, why it's happening at a growing rate, and factors that are contributing to your cognitive decline.

According to the American Brain Tumor Association, nearly 70,000 new cases of primary brain tumors will be diagnosed this year.Even though melatonin has been known to help you fall asleep, there are so many other amazing health benefits you can gain from it. Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland, a tiny gland in your brain. This hormone is mainly in charge of regulating your sleep and wake cycles. But, melatonin also has other health benefits. Melatonin is also used to help slow digestion, calm your brain waves, relax your muscles and help treat various forms of cancers. An increased of amount of studies have been conducted to see if melatonin can treat brain tumors. According to the American Brain Tumor Association, nearly 70,000 new cases of primary brain tumors will be diagnosed this year, and close to 14,000 people will lose their battle with their brain tumors. How did brain tumors respond to melatonin? Melatonin inhibits growth of neuroblastoma cells, stops the growth of gilomas, and also treated pituitary tumors in rats.   Dr. Mike discusses the benefits of melatonin, and how brain tumors responded to melatonin treatment.

Researchers found that regular consumption of sugar-sweetened sodas increased cellular aging of your tissues.You might already be aware of the damage sugary drinks pose to your waistline, your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, but did you know it could also be damaging your telomere? 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. A study published in The American Journal of Public Health back in October 2014 found that by drinking sugary sodas, you're shortening the life of your telomeres. Researchers looked at 5,309 men and women between the ages of 20 and 65 that had previously enrolled in the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Researchers compared white blood cell telomere length and responses to the survey that included sugary-sweetened soda. Researchers found that regular consumption of sugar-sweetened sodas increased cellular aging of tissues. What are some ways you can reduce cellular aging? Stop drinking sugary sodas Get enough sleep Stop smoking Eat wholesome and nutritious foods Reduce stress Are there any nutrients you can take? Black tea Grape seed extract Dr. Mike discusses this study, if you should stop drinking sugary-sweetened sodas, and how you can avoid damaging your telomeres.

Here you'll find the answers to health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans.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 osteopenia, and I have been taking calcium and vitamin D for about two years. However, nothing has really changed. I heard about strontium and was wondering your thoughts on it? Osteopenia is low bone density and the beginning stage of osteoporosis. As you age, your bones become thinner and lose minerals, causing them to become weaker and at risk for breaking or fracture. You may want to consider taking vitamin K2 to help your bones absorb your calcium and vitamin D. Strontium has been around since the 50s and 60s and was actually the most commonly taken supplement. In Dr. Mike's opinion, strontium works great and helps improve your bone health. Do you have to have missing teeth capped? I heard if you don't, your jaw can move and cause your other teeth to become misaligned. This might depend on where your missing tooth is. For example, if it's in the back of your mouth, you don't necessarily need to cap your teeth. However, if it's in the front you may want to consider this, but not because of the risk of your teeth becoming misaligned. Have you heard about NAD? Some companies are promoting it as an energy and anti-aging supplement? Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is the cellular process of all living things. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide plus hydrogen (NADH) is a supplement that plays an important role in cell energy production. So, yes, NAD can be used for cell energy. If you can't make cell energy, unfortunately you won't live very long. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com 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 hyperthyroidism (high T4) and I do not want radiation therapy or surgery. I'm currently taking a drug called tapazole and I'm also on a beta blocker. Can I ease off my medications and take lemon balm and theanine? Can I replace the tapazole and use bugleweed? Unfortunately, no. Dr. Mike doesn't think that the combination of lemon balm and theanine would work for you and treat your hyperthyroid. However, there have been some studies on bugleweed and treating hyperthyroid, but only mild cases. If you have mild hyperthyroidism, you may want to consider asking your doctor about trying it. Does soy affect the thyroid gland? This has been a controversial topic between doctors, scientists and researchers. Dr. Mike believes that certain compounds in non-fermented soy can cause some issues but fermented soy does not. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.

Acetaminophen and NSAIDs are the two most common pain reliever medications.Whenever you have a cold, fever, or an injury, you might consider taking an NSAID like an aspirin to relieve your symptoms. However, if you're not monitoring how much you're taking, you could be putting yourself at risk for some dangerous and serious health issues. In fact, emergency hospital visits have drastically increased due to people who've accidentally overdosed on NSAIDs. Before you begin taking NSAIDs, you want to be sure of three things. First, you should read the label of the NSAID you're taking. Second, you should take only one NSAID product at a time. Lastly, if you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to talk to healthcare provider/pharmacist. What about taking acetaminophen? Is it just as dangerous? Acetaminophen is another common pain reliever and fever reducer, and the most common form of acetaminophen is Tylenol. There are side effects to taking acetaminophen, just like any other medication and you should ask your doctor of any potential risks to your health. Can you alternate between taking acetaminophen and NSAIDs? Since Tylenol doesn't have the exact side effects as those categorized under NSAIDs, it might even be helpful to alternate between taking the two (at the recommended dose). Dr. Byron Cryer joins Dr. Mike to discuss the differences between acetaminophen and NSAIDs and the recommended uses for each.