• Ozempic and similar weight loss drugs have been linked to 162 deaths in the U.S., with adverse reactions increasing by 40% in six months as usage expands
• These medications are associated with serious side effects, including pancreatitis, bowel obstruction and stomach paralysis, with 80% to 90% of users experiencing at least one adverse event
• Studies have found a significant link between semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) and suicidal ideation, particularly in patients also taking antidepressants or antianxiety medications
• Emerging reports indicate severe kidney problems in some patients using these weight loss drugs
• Akkermansia, a beneficial gut bacteria, is a natural alternative to stimulate GLP-1 production, offering similar benefits without the risks associated with drugs like Ozempic

(Mercola)—Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, including semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — have taken the world by storm. Originally developed for Type 2 diabetes, these drugs’ weight loss properties quickly caught the attention of researchers and the public alike.

Their effectiveness in shedding pounds has led to a global shortage, with an estimated 20 million people using them annually.¹ But as with any quick fix, there’s often a catch. According to data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), these medications have been linked to 162 deaths in the U.S.²

The Daily Mail reports that fatalities mentioning weight loss drugs have increased by 40% in just six months, jumping from 117 to 162 reported deaths.³ This sharp rise coincides with the expanding use of these medications, as more formulations hit the market and off-label prescriptions become commonplace.

However, your risk doesn’t disappear simply because you’re using these drugs as directed. The FAERS data show that adverse reactions occur in patients using these medications for their approved purposes, whether for diabetes management or weight loss.

Ozempic-Related Deaths and ‘Serious’ Reactions on the Rise

The FAERS database reveals a disturbing trend in adverse reactions to weight loss drugs containing semaglutide and tirzepatide (used in Mounjaro and Zepbound). Since 2018, there have been 62,000 reported reactions to these medications in the U.S.⁴

What’s particularly alarming is that 46,000 of these reports — nearly three-quarters of the total — occurred after 2022. This coincides with the increased availability and marketing of these drugs. Of the 162 reported deaths, 94 were linked to semaglutide-based drugs, while 68 were associated with tirzepatide medications. It’s worth noting that in 2023, tirzepatide was linked to nearly twice as many adverse reactions as semaglutide.⁵

The FAERS system has recorded 10,000 “serious” reactions to these weight loss drugs, defined as events resulting in hospitalization or life-threatening conditions. These aren’t just minor inconveniences; they’re significant medical events that could have long-lasting impacts on your health.

For instance, Daily Mail reports a case of a 30-year-old man on Ozempic who was hospitalized with pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas that causes severe abdominal pain. In another case, a 49-year-old woman taking Ozempic experienced mania and a dangerous surge in blood pressure, requiring hospitalization.⁶

While 1.7% of Americans — approximately 5.6 million people — were prescribed weight loss drugs in 2023, recent surveys suggest that number has grown to about 6% of U.S. adults, or 15.5 million people.⁷ This rapid increase in usage means more individuals are exposed to the serious side effects.

Ozempic Linked to Suicidal Ideation

A comprehensive study analyzing the World Health Organization’s database of adverse drug reactions uncovered more troubling findings about Ozempic.⁸ The research, which looked at over 36.1 million reports, found a significant link between semaglutide and suicidal ideation.

Out of 30,527 total reports for semaglutide, 107 cases of suicidal or self-injurious reactions were identified, and the association remained significant even after accounting for other factors. The research revealed a 45% increased risk of suicidal ideation in patients taking semaglutide compared to other medications.⁹

Further, people taking antidepressants or antianxiety medications alongside semaglutide were at an even higher risk of reporting suicidal thoughts — a 150% to 300% increase in suicidal ideation was found among this group.¹⁰

A study in Frontiers in Psychiatry revealed insights into semaglutide’s impact on your emotional state and psychological well-being.¹¹ The drug’s main component targets GLP-1 receptors, which are present not just in your digestive tract but also in critical brain areas. These regions, such as the lateral septum and hypothalamus, are essential for managing emotions, reward systems and appetite control.

Semaglutide’s interaction with these receptors modifies the functioning of neural pathways involved in these processes. Particularly noteworthy is its influence on dopamine, a neurotransmitter closely associated with mood regulation and reward perception.

Research indicates that stimulating GLP-1 receptors may enhance dopamine transporter expression, leading to decreased free dopamine levels in specific brain regions. This shift in dopamine signaling might lead to alterations in your mood, motivation levels, and even how you experience pleasure.

Up to 90% of Ozempic Users Experience an Adverse Event

The most common side effects linked to Ozempic and similar drugs are gastrointestinal, including nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. In clinical trials, a staggering 80% to 90% of participants experienced at least one adverse event.¹² Though most were mild to moderate, they led some people to discontinue the medication.

Further, these drugs are intended for long-term use — stopping them often results in weight regain — further increasing the risk of side effects over time. While nausea and diarrhea might seem manageable, more severe health risks, including pancreatitis, are a real concern. A study of 16 million patients found that those taking liraglutide or semaglutide had over nine times the risk of developing pancreatitis compared to those on other weight loss medications.¹³

The same study showed a four-fold increase in the risk of bowel obstruction and nearly four times the risk of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis). Gallbladder issues are another significant concern. Clinical trials revealed higher rates of gallstones and cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation) in people taking these drugs.¹⁴

While rare, some patients required surgery for these complications. It’s also worth noting that these medications increase heart rate.¹⁵ There’s also the potential for aspiration during anesthesia. These drugs slow down stomach emptying, which means you may still have food in your stomach even after fasting for the recommended time before surgery. This increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia, a serious complication.

The FDA has also warned that Ozempic causes an intestinal blockage called ileus,¹⁶ which can lead to life-threatening complications if not treated promptly.

Another Ozempic Dark Side: Kidney Damage

Troubling reports of severe kidney problems due to Ozempic are also emerging. Research published in the Clinical Kidney Journal reported two patients experienced acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), a serious kidney inflammation, after starting semaglutide.¹⁷

One case even involved focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a type of kidney scarring. These findings suggest these drugs pose significant risks to your kidney health, especially if you have pre-existing kidney issues. The first case involved a 68-year-old woman with chronic kidney disease who started semaglutide for weight loss.

Within weeks, she developed severe nausea and vomiting, leading to a dramatic increase in her creatinine levels — a key indicator of kidney function. Even after stopping the medication, her kidney function worsened upon restarting it. A biopsy confirmed acute interstitial nephritis, likely triggered by semaglutide.¹⁸

The second case was even more alarming. A 49-year-old woman with no prior kidney issues developed severe swelling and protein in her urine after three months on semaglutide. Her kidney biopsy revealed not only AIN but also FSGS, a condition that can lead to kidney failure.

The study authors suggest that risk factors for these complications may include chronic kidney disease, advanced age, obesity and concurrent use of other medications that can affect the kidneys. A review of the FDA’s adverse event reporting system revealed 2,375 kidney-related events associated with GLP-1 drugs between 2010 and 2022.¹⁹

Acute kidney injury was the most common, accounting for nearly 59% of reports. Other reported issues included high blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances and, in rare cases, severe protein loss in the urine.

Akkermansia: A Natural Ozempic Alternative

Sustainable weight loss involves more than just a quick fix. It requires a holistic approach that considers your overall health, including your mental well-being. As tempting as these drugs might seem, especially with their popularity on social media, it’s crucial to make decisions based on scientific evidence rather than anecdotal reports or trends. Your health is too important to gamble with unproven or potentially dangerous solutions.

In my interview with Dr. Colleen Cutcliffe, a molecular biology scientist and the CEO and co-founder of Pendulum, a company that creates microbiome products, she explained that, instead of using Ozempic, you can naturally elevate your GLP-1 levels by increasing the presence of the beneficial bacteria Akkermansia in your gut:

“What happens in your body naturally, if you’ve got all the right microbes, is that you eat a meal, your microbiome metabolizes that food and generates postbiotics [excretions from beneficial bacteria] like butyrate [and] a protein called P9. Some of these postbiotics then signal your body to produce GLP-1.

All that signaling is happening from the microbiome directly to the L cells. And so you eat a meal, your microbiome digests them, these postbiotics get created and tell your L cells, ‘Hey, go produce GLP-1,’ and then you get a spike in GLP-1 in your body.

GLP-1 stimulates your body too. It says, ‘We’ve got to metabolize the sugar in the bloodstream, release insulin.’ It also signals to your brain, ‘We just ate, we’re full, we don’t need to eat again.’ After a period of time, GLP-1 goes down — until the next time you eat a meal. Then it spikes again.

So that’s the natural way of things. There are only two strains that have been published, to date, that have been shown to be able to stimulate L cells to produce GLP-1, and one of them is Akkermansia. It actually secretes three different [postbiotics] that stimulate L cells to produce GLP-1.

So, what’s been found is that if you are low or missing Akkermansia, your body is not naturally producing as much GLP-1 as it’s supposed to be. By giving people back Akkermansia, you can now have these physiological benefits of reducing A1C and lowering blood glucose spikes.

To be clear, the natural GLP-1 you produce is different from the drug. The drug is a mimic. It’s an analog. It looks like GLP-1. It gets injected into the bloodstream directly, which means that rather than the natural spike after you eat [followed by a decline], the [drug] is keeping those levels really high all the time.

So, this signaling of ‘we got to metabolize sugar in the blood and we’re full, we just ate’ is going on constantly. That’s why people experience these incredible, amazing overnight effects because that’s how those drugs are working. But if you actually have the right microbes, you can generate your body’s natural GLP-1 and get back into this natural cycle.”

Many People Are Lacking Akkermansia

Research published in Nature Microbiology found that Akkermansia increased thermogenesis and GLP-1 secretion in mice fed a high-fat diet.²⁰ While Akkermansia plays a vital role in maintaining intestinal health, many individuals have insufficient levels due to compromised mitochondrial function and oxygen leakage in the gut.

One of Akkermansia’s primary functions is the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including butyrate. These fatty acids serve as fuel for your colonocytes, which in turn produce mucin, a gel-like protective substance that coats your gut lining.

SCFAs also help remove oxygen from your colon, creating an environment where beneficial bacteria can flourish. Mucin acts as a barrier, shielding intestinal cells from damage, harmful microorganisms and digestive irritants.

Additionally, mucin enhances your immune system. It contains antibodies and antimicrobial peptides that help fight infections. Mucin also functions as a trap for potential pathogens, facilitating their elimination through the digestive process. Akkermansia is so beneficial that it should, ideally, constitute about 10% of your gut microbiome.

Make Sure Live Akkermansia Probiotics Reach Your Colon

When selecting Akkermansia probiotics, opt for products with bacterial counts in the billions rather than millions. Generally, a higher bacterial count is beneficial, but there’s an important caveat: the delivery method is crucial.

Look for probiotics in delayed-release capsules. This feature is essential because it ensures the beneficial bacteria have a higher likelihood of reaching your colon alive. Without this protective mechanism, most of the bacteria may not survive the journey through your digestive system.

Akkermansia are very sensitive to oxygen. This makes their journey through your digestive system very challenging. These beneficial microbes thrive in an oxygen-free environment, and even a brief exposure to oxygen can be fatal for them. This trait makes the delivery method of Akkermansia supplements crucial to their effectiveness.

In fact, a lower-dose probiotic (in the hundreds of thousands of bacteria) that successfully reaches your colon can be more effective than a high-dose product (with hundreds of billions of bacteria) that doesn’t make it to its intended destination. Remember, when it comes to probiotics, successful delivery to the colon is just as important as the initial dosage.

Understanding this helps you choose the most effective supplement. You want to nurture your gut microbiome with live, active Akkermansia, as dead or inactive ones won’t do you as much good as they don’t reproduce.

If you want to use Akkermansia supplements, look for ones with advanced, dual-timed release capsules or microencapsulation. These technologies keep Akkermansia dormant and protected until it reaches your colon, usually in two to four hours.

To maximize its effectiveness, take it on an empty stomach, ideally first thing in the morning after an overnight fast. Wait at least one to two hours before eating to reduce transit time, allowing the bacteria to reach your colon faster — usually within two hours. This will greatly increase the number of live bacteria that make it to your colon.

Avoid taking probiotics with food, as this can extend your transit time to over eight hours, likely killing the bacteria long before they reach your colon. Being mindful of when and how you take your Akkermansia probiotic will maximize the benefits of this powerful probiotic.

• ^1, 8, 9 JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Aug 20;7(8):e2423385
• ^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} Daily Mail September 8, 2024
• ¹⁰ ZeroHedge August 21, 2024
• ¹¹ Front Psychiatry. 2023 Aug 29;14:1238353
• ^{12, 13, 14, 15} Obes Pillars. 2024 Aug 31;12:100127
• ¹⁶ U.S. FDA, Drug Safety-related Labeling Changes, Ozempic September 22, 2023
• ^17, 18, 19 Clin Kidney J. 2024 Aug 13;17(9):sfae250
• ²⁰ Nature Microbiology volume 6, pages 563–573 (2021)

• Ozempic and similar weight loss drugs have been linked to 162 deaths in the U.S., with adverse reactions increasing by 40% in six months as usage expands
• These medications are associated with serious side effects, including pancreatitis, bowel obstruction and stomach paralysis, with 80% to 90% of users experiencing at least one adverse event
• Studies have found a significant link between semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) and suicidal ideation, particularly in patients also taking antidepressants or antianxiety medications
• Emerging reports indicate severe kidney problems in some patients using these weight loss drugs
• Akkermansia, a beneficial gut bacteria, is a natural alternative to stimulate GLP-1 production, offering similar benefits without the risks associated with drugs like Ozempic

(Mercola)—Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, including semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — have taken the world by storm. Originally developed for Type 2 diabetes, these drugs’ weight loss properties quickly caught the attention of researchers and the public alike.

Their effectiveness in shedding pounds has led to a global shortage, with an estimated 20 million people using them annually.¹ But as with any quick fix, there’s often a catch. According to data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), these medications have been linked to 162 deaths in the U.S.²

The Daily Mail reports that fatalities mentioning weight loss drugs have increased by 40% in just six months, jumping from 117 to 162 reported deaths.³ This sharp rise coincides with the expanding use of these medications, as more formulations hit the market and off-label prescriptions become commonplace.

However, your risk doesn’t disappear simply because you’re using these drugs as directed. The FAERS data show that adverse reactions occur in patients using these medications for their approved purposes, whether for diabetes management or weight loss.

Ozempic-Related Deaths and ‘Serious’ Reactions on the Rise

The FAERS database reveals a disturbing trend in adverse reactions to weight loss drugs containing semaglutide and tirzepatide (used in Mounjaro and Zepbound). Since 2018, there have been 62,000 reported reactions to these medications in the U.S.⁴

What’s particularly alarming is that 46,000 of these reports — nearly three-quarters of the total — occurred after 2022. This coincides with the increased availability and marketing of these drugs. Of the 162 reported deaths, 94 were linked to semaglutide-based drugs, while 68 were associated with tirzepatide medications. It’s worth noting that in 2023, tirzepatide was linked to nearly twice as many adverse reactions as semaglutide.⁵

The FAERS system has recorded 10,000 “serious” reactions to these weight loss drugs, defined as events resulting in hospitalization or life-threatening conditions. These aren’t just minor inconveniences; they’re significant medical events that could have long-lasting impacts on your health.

For instance, Daily Mail reports a case of a 30-year-old man on Ozempic who was hospitalized with pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas that causes severe abdominal pain. In another case, a 49-year-old woman taking Ozempic experienced mania and a dangerous surge in blood pressure, requiring hospitalization.⁶

While 1.7% of Americans — approximately 5.6 million people — were prescribed weight loss drugs in 2023, recent surveys suggest that number has grown to about 6% of U.S. adults, or 15.5 million people.⁷ This rapid increase in usage means more individuals are exposed to the serious side effects.

Ozempic Linked to Suicidal Ideation

A comprehensive study analyzing the World Health Organization’s database of adverse drug reactions uncovered more troubling findings about Ozempic.⁸ The research, which looked at over 36.1 million reports, found a significant link between semaglutide and suicidal ideation.

Out of 30,527 total reports for semaglutide, 107 cases of suicidal or self-injurious reactions were identified, and the association remained significant even after accounting for other factors. The research revealed a 45% increased risk of suicidal ideation in patients taking semaglutide compared to other medications.⁹

Further, people taking antidepressants or antianxiety medications alongside semaglutide were at an even higher risk of reporting suicidal thoughts — a 150% to 300% increase in suicidal ideation was found among this group.¹⁰

A study in Frontiers in Psychiatry revealed insights into semaglutide’s impact on your emotional state and psychological well-being.¹¹ The drug’s main component targets GLP-1 receptors, which are present not just in your digestive tract but also in critical brain areas. These regions, such as the lateral septum and hypothalamus, are essential for managing emotions, reward systems and appetite control.

Semaglutide’s interaction with these receptors modifies the functioning of neural pathways involved in these processes. Particularly noteworthy is its influence on dopamine, a neurotransmitter closely associated with mood regulation and reward perception.

Research indicates that stimulating GLP-1 receptors may enhance dopamine transporter expression, leading to decreased free dopamine levels in specific brain regions. This shift in dopamine signaling might lead to alterations in your mood, motivation levels, and even how you experience pleasure.

Up to 90% of Ozempic Users Experience an Adverse Event

The most common side effects linked to Ozempic and similar drugs are gastrointestinal, including nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. In clinical trials, a staggering 80% to 90% of participants experienced at least one adverse event.¹² Though most were mild to moderate, they led some people to discontinue the medication.

Further, these drugs are intended for long-term use — stopping them often results in weight regain — further increasing the risk of side effects over time. While nausea and diarrhea might seem manageable, more severe health risks, including pancreatitis, are a real concern. A study of 16 million patients found that those taking liraglutide or semaglutide had over nine times the risk of developing pancreatitis compared to those on other weight loss medications.¹³

The same study showed a four-fold increase in the risk of bowel obstruction and nearly four times the risk of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis). Gallbladder issues are another significant concern. Clinical trials revealed higher rates of gallstones and cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation) in people taking these drugs.¹⁴

While rare, some patients required surgery for these complications. It’s also worth noting that these medications increase heart rate.¹⁵ There’s also the potential for aspiration during anesthesia. These drugs slow down stomach emptying, which means you may still have food in your stomach even after fasting for the recommended time before surgery. This increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia, a serious complication.

The FDA has also warned that Ozempic causes an intestinal blockage called ileus,¹⁶ which can lead to life-threatening complications if not treated promptly.

Another Ozempic Dark Side: Kidney Damage

Troubling reports of severe kidney problems due to Ozempic are also emerging. Research published in the Clinical Kidney Journal reported two patients experienced acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), a serious kidney inflammation, after starting semaglutide.¹⁷

One case even involved focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a type of kidney scarring. These findings suggest these drugs pose significant risks to your kidney health, especially if you have pre-existing kidney issues. The first case involved a 68-year-old woman with chronic kidney disease who started semaglutide for weight loss.

Within weeks, she developed severe nausea and vomiting, leading to a dramatic increase in her creatinine levels — a key indicator of kidney function. Even after stopping the medication, her kidney function worsened upon restarting it. A biopsy confirmed acute interstitial nephritis, likely triggered by semaglutide.¹⁸

The second case was even more alarming. A 49-year-old woman with no prior kidney issues developed severe swelling and protein in her urine after three months on semaglutide. Her kidney biopsy revealed not only AIN but also FSGS, a condition that can lead to kidney failure.

The study authors suggest that risk factors for these complications may include chronic kidney disease, advanced age, obesity and concurrent use of other medications that can affect the kidneys. A review of the FDA’s adverse event reporting system revealed 2,375 kidney-related events associated with GLP-1 drugs between 2010 and 2022.¹⁹

Acute kidney injury was the most common, accounting for nearly 59% of reports. Other reported issues included high blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances and, in rare cases, severe protein loss in the urine.

Akkermansia: A Natural Ozempic Alternative

Sustainable weight loss involves more than just a quick fix. It requires a holistic approach that considers your overall health, including your mental well-being. As tempting as these drugs might seem, especially with their popularity on social media, it’s crucial to make decisions based on scientific evidence rather than anecdotal reports or trends. Your health is too important to gamble with unproven or potentially dangerous solutions.

In my interview with Dr. Colleen Cutcliffe, a molecular biology scientist and the CEO and co-founder of Pendulum, a company that creates microbiome products, she explained that, instead of using Ozempic, you can naturally elevate your GLP-1 levels by increasing the presence of the beneficial bacteria Akkermansia in your gut:

“What happens in your body naturally, if you’ve got all the right microbes, is that you eat a meal, your microbiome metabolizes that food and generates postbiotics [excretions from beneficial bacteria] like butyrate [and] a protein called P9. Some of these postbiotics then signal your body to produce GLP-1.

All that signaling is happening from the microbiome directly to the L cells. And so you eat a meal, your microbiome digests them, these postbiotics get created and tell your L cells, ‘Hey, go produce GLP-1,’ and then you get a spike in GLP-1 in your body.

GLP-1 stimulates your body too. It says, ‘We’ve got to metabolize the sugar in the bloodstream, release insulin.’ It also signals to your brain, ‘We just ate, we’re full, we don’t need to eat again.’ After a period of time, GLP-1 goes down — until the next time you eat a meal. Then it spikes again.

So that’s the natural way of things. There are only two strains that have been published, to date, that have been shown to be able to stimulate L cells to produce GLP-1, and one of them is Akkermansia. It actually secretes three different [postbiotics] that stimulate L cells to produce GLP-1.

So, what’s been found is that if you are low or missing Akkermansia, your body is not naturally producing as much GLP-1 as it’s supposed to be. By giving people back Akkermansia, you can now have these physiological benefits of reducing A1C and lowering blood glucose spikes.

To be clear, the natural GLP-1 you produce is different from the drug. The drug is a mimic. It’s an analog. It looks like GLP-1. It gets injected into the bloodstream directly, which means that rather than the natural spike after you eat [followed by a decline], the [drug] is keeping those levels really high all the time.

So, this signaling of ‘we got to metabolize sugar in the blood and we’re full, we just ate’ is going on constantly. That’s why people experience these incredible, amazing overnight effects because that’s how those drugs are working. But if you actually have the right microbes, you can generate your body’s natural GLP-1 and get back into this natural cycle.”

Many People Are Lacking Akkermansia

Research published in Nature Microbiology found that Akkermansia increased thermogenesis and GLP-1 secretion in mice fed a high-fat diet.²⁰ While Akkermansia plays a vital role in maintaining intestinal health, many individuals have insufficient levels due to compromised mitochondrial function and oxygen leakage in the gut.

One of Akkermansia’s primary functions is the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including butyrate. These fatty acids serve as fuel for your colonocytes, which in turn produce mucin, a gel-like protective substance that coats your gut lining.

SCFAs also help remove oxygen from your colon, creating an environment where beneficial bacteria can flourish. Mucin acts as a barrier, shielding intestinal cells from damage, harmful microorganisms and digestive irritants.

Additionally, mucin enhances your immune system. It contains antibodies and antimicrobial peptides that help fight infections. Mucin also functions as a trap for potential pathogens, facilitating their elimination through the digestive process. Akkermansia is so beneficial that it should, ideally, constitute about 10% of your gut microbiome.

Make Sure Live Akkermansia Probiotics Reach Your Colon

When selecting Akkermansia probiotics, opt for products with bacterial counts in the billions rather than millions. Generally, a higher bacterial count is beneficial, but there’s an important caveat: the delivery method is crucial.

Look for probiotics in delayed-release capsules. This feature is essential because it ensures the beneficial bacteria have a higher likelihood of reaching your colon alive. Without this protective mechanism, most of the bacteria may not survive the journey through your digestive system.

Akkermansia are very sensitive to oxygen. This makes their journey through your digestive system very challenging. These beneficial microbes thrive in an oxygen-free environment, and even a brief exposure to oxygen can be fatal for them. This trait makes the delivery method of Akkermansia supplements crucial to their effectiveness.

In fact, a lower-dose probiotic (in the hundreds of thousands of bacteria) that successfully reaches your colon can be more effective than a high-dose product (with hundreds of billions of bacteria) that doesn’t make it to its intended destination. Remember, when it comes to probiotics, successful delivery to the colon is just as important as the initial dosage.

Understanding this helps you choose the most effective supplement. You want to nurture your gut microbiome with live, active Akkermansia, as dead or inactive ones won’t do you as much good as they don’t reproduce.

If you want to use Akkermansia supplements, look for ones with advanced, dual-timed release capsules or microencapsulation. These technologies keep Akkermansia dormant and protected until it reaches your colon, usually in two to four hours.

To maximize its effectiveness, take it on an empty stomach, ideally first thing in the morning after an overnight fast. Wait at least one to two hours before eating to reduce transit time, allowing the bacteria to reach your colon faster — usually within two hours. This will greatly increase the number of live bacteria that make it to your colon.

Avoid taking probiotics with food, as this can extend your transit time to over eight hours, likely killing the bacteria long before they reach your colon. Being mindful of when and how you take your Akkermansia probiotic will maximize the benefits of this powerful probiotic.

• ^1, 8, 9 JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Aug 20;7(8):e2423385
• ^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} Daily Mail September 8, 2024
• ¹⁰ ZeroHedge August 21, 2024
• ¹¹ Front Psychiatry. 2023 Aug 29;14:1238353
• ^{12, 13, 14, 15} Obes Pillars. 2024 Aug 31;12:100127
• ¹⁶ U.S. FDA, Drug Safety-related Labeling Changes, Ozempic September 22, 2023
• ^17, 18, 19 Clin Kidney J. 2024 Aug 13;17(9):sfae250
• ²⁰ Nature Microbiology volume 6, pages 563–573 (2021)

(Mercola)—I’ve long been fascinated by cholesterol’s role in our health, and research published over the last few years challenges what we’ve been told for decades. For example, a groundbreaking study of over 23,000 people reveals surprising, never-before considered findings about the impact of race and genetics on cholesterol and its links to heart disease.

Is Lower Cholesterol Really a Good Thing?

You’ve been told that high cholesterol is bad and low cholesterol is good. But what if I told you that low cholesterol could actually harm your heart health? This might sound counterintuitive, but recent research has uncovered some surprising truths about cholesterol’s role in our bodies.

Cholesterol is a crucial component of cell membranes and a precursor to many important hormones.¹ It’s not just a harmful substance to be eliminated, but a vital part of our biology. In fact, cholesterol plays a key role in brain function, hormone production, and even vitamin D synthesis.

For decades, the medical community has focused on lowering cholesterol levels to prevent heart disease. This approach was based on studies like the Framingham Heart Study, which linked high cholesterol to increased cardiovascular risk. As a result, millions of people have been prescribed statins and told to follow low-fat diets.

However, new research is challenging this simplistic view. The REGARDS (REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) study² published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology examined data from 23,901 participants over a median follow-up of 10.7 years.

The researchers found that the relationship between HDL cholesterol and heart disease risk actually varied depending on race. Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — often called “good” cholesterol — were only associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease in White adults. Even more surprisingly, high levels of HDL cholesterol didn’t seem to protect against heart disease in either White or Black adults.

This revelation challenges decades of medical advice that has emphasized raising HDL cholesterol levels as a way to improve heart health. It also highlights the importance of considering racial differences in health research and treatment recommendations.

Another intriguing discovery is the “cholesterol paradox” observed in various health conditions.³ In some cases, individuals with low cholesterol levels actually had worse health outcomes than those with higher levels — a finding that flies in the face of long-held beliefs about cholesterol and health. As noted in one 2023 scientific review:

“On average, patients with a total cholesterol level of 232 mg/dl had a 25% higher survival rate than those with a total cholesterol level of 193 mg/dl who were suffering from heart failure. A total cholesterol level under 200 mg/dl is generally preferred.”⁴

These unexpected results raise important questions about how we assess cardiovascular risk and whether current treatment guidelines are appropriate for all populations. Clearly, the relationship between cholesterol and health isn’t nearly as straightforward as we once thought.

Complex Interplay of Factors Influence Cholesterol’s Effects

Aside from race, individual genetics also play a big part in how our bodies handle cholesterol. Some people naturally make more cholesterol, while others make less. This is why two people eating the same diet can have very different cholesterol levels.⁵

Inflammation and oxidative stress in our bodies can also impact how cholesterol affects our health. When there’s a lot of inflammation, cholesterol can act differently and cause problems that would not occur in someone that did not have the same level of inflammation. This is one reason why overall health is so important when thinking about cholesterol.⁶

This complex web of interactions makes it hard to predict exactly how cholesterol will affect each person’s health.⁷ Here’s a short list of factors that influence cholesterol’s effects:

1. Cellular energy production
2. Genetic factors
3. Inflammation and oxidative stress
4. Interaction with other metabolic processes

Understanding these relationships helps explain why low cholesterol isn’t always good and high cholesterol isn’t always bad.

Shifting Paradigms in Cholesterol Management

The revelations about cholesterol’s complex role in health are causing waves across the medical community and beyond. Importantly, these findings are prompting a reevaluation of cholesterol treatment guidelines that have been in place for decades.⁸

Healthcare providers are increasingly moving towards a more personalized approach to cholesterol management. Instead of relying solely on total cholesterol numbers, doctors are considering a wider range of factors including race, genetics, and overall health status when assessing cardiovascular risk.⁹

The pharmaceutical industry may need to adapt to new understandings of cholesterol’s role in health. As research reveals the complex relationship between cholesterol levels and heart disease risk across different populations, drug development and marketing strategies really ought to shift to reflect more personalized approaches to cardiovascular health management.¹⁰ Whether that will actually happen remains to be seen.

Public health messaging about cholesterol is also undergoing a transformation. The old mantra of “lower is always better” is being replaced with more nuanced advice. Dietary recommendations are shifting away from blanket low-fat guidelines to focus on overall diet quality and individual metabolic health.¹¹

These changes are empowering patients to take a more active role in their health management. With a better understanding of cholesterol’s complexities, you can make more informed decisions about your diet, lifestyle, and medical treatments.

Advanced lipid testing methods that provide more detailed information about cholesterol particle size and number are becoming increasingly important. These tests offer insights beyond standard lipid panels, allowing for more accurate cardiovascular risk assessment and targeted interventions.¹²

As our understanding of cholesterol continues to evolve, it’s clear that its impact extends far beyond individual health. It’s reshaping medical practice, influencing public health policy, and even affecting economic sectors.

To better understand the real-world implications of these findings, let’s look at some specific examples and case studies that illustrate the complexity of cholesterol management in different scenarios.

Real-World Scenarios Illustrate Complexity of Cholesterol Management

Consider the case of John, a 55-year-old White male with low HDL cholesterol levels. Traditional medical wisdom would have flagged him as high-risk for heart disease, and indeed, the REGARDS study^{13,14,15,16,17} confirmed that that low HDL cholesterol is associated with increased risk in White adults. So, for someone like John, a White male, the traditional wisdom about low HDL cholesterol increasing heart disease risk holds true.

In contrast, Maria, a 60-year-old Black woman with high HDL cholesterol, might have been considered at low risk for heart disease based on outdated guidelines. However, the new research suggests that high HDL levels aren’t necessarily protective for Black adults, prompting a reevaluation of Maria’s overall cardiovascular health beyond just her cholesterol numbers.

Another intriguing example is seen in highly trained, keto-adapted athletes. These individuals often display what appears to be paradoxically high cholesterol levels, yet they maintain excellent cardiovascular health.¹⁸ This phenomenon highlights the complex interplay between diet, physical activity, and cholesterol metabolism.

These scenarios underscore the need for a more nuanced and individualized approach to cholesterol management. They demonstrate that relying solely on standard cholesterol numbers can lead to misclassification of risk and inappropriate treatment decisions.

Given these complex scenarios, what can be done to optimize cholesterol management and improve health outcomes? The answer lies in a more holistic and personalized approach to health assessment and treatment.

Advanced Strategies for Optimizing Cholesterol Health

The takeaway is that improving cholesterol health goes beyond simply lowering your total cholesterol levels. A comprehensive approach that considers individual factors and overall metabolic health is key. Here are some strategies to promote optimal cholesterol balance. By embracing a more holistic strategy, you and your healthcare provider can work together to reduce your cardiovascular health risks.

• Personalized risk assessment — Healthcare providers should look beyond standard cholesterol numbers and consider factors like race, age, genetics, and lifestyle when evaluating cardiovascular risk.¹⁹
• Advanced lipid testing — This provides a more detailed picture of cholesterol levels than standard tests. These tests break down different types of LDL and HDL particles, giving you a clearer understanding of your individual heart disease risk.²⁰ Importantly, this detailed information helps identify individuals at risk even when their standard lipid panel appears normal.²¹
• Diet — Instead of focusing solely on lowering fat intake, focus on the quality of fats consumed. Incorporating foods rich in omega-3s, and saturated fats such as butter and coconut oil, will help you maintain a healthy cholesterol level while supporting your overall heart health.
• Exercise — Regular physical activity, especially a combination of aerobic exercise and strength training, helps improve lipid profiles and overall metabolic health.²²
• Targeted supplementation — For some individuals, targeted supplementation might be beneficial. For example, nutrients like omega-3s, niacin, and plant sterols have shown promise in supporting healthy cholesterol levels.²³

Sources and References

• ^{1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 18, 21, 22, 23} Int. J. Res. Ayurveda Pharm. 14(2), 2023
• ^{2, 8, 9, 13, 19, 20} Journal of the American College of Cardiology Volume 80, Issue 22, November 29, 2022, Pages 2104-2115
• ¹⁵ NBC News, November 22, 2022
• ¹⁶ Healio, November 21, 2022
• ¹⁷ Medical News Today, November 22, 2022

• In my recent appearance on The Jimmy Dore Show, we discussed how mitochondrial dysfunction, caused by modern toxins, is at the root of many diseases. ATP production has decreased by up to 75% compared to a century ago
• I shared insights from my latest book, “Your Guide to Cellular Health: Unlocking the Science of Longevity and Joy,” including that seed oils, like soybean and corn oil, are major culprits in damaging cellular health, while natural sugars can be beneficial when used wisely
• Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and EMFs from devices like cellphones and Wi-Fi routers pose significant risks to mitochondrial function, necessitating practical steps to reduce exposure
• Powerful foundations and industry interests have shaped medical education and public health policies, often prioritizing pharmaceutical interventions over natural approaches
• Restoring cellular health involves eliminating toxins, adopting a whole foods diet, optimizing sun exposure and addressing gut health imbalances

(Mercola)—In my recent appearance on The Jimmy Dore Show, we explored a vital yet often overlooked aspect of human well-being — cellular health and the myriad of silent toxins eroding it. I shared insights from my latest book, “Your Guide to Cellular Health: Unlocking the Science of Longevity and Joy.”

This article reviews the most pivotal points from our extensive discussion, revealing the vital components that sustain health and the modern challenges that threaten them. As I shared with Dore, for 15 years I struggled with a mind-bending, unexplained rash that caused me to lose sleep at night because of unrelenting itching. All the physicians I consulted, some of the best out there, had no clue how to resolve it.

This personal battle led me to a groundbreaking realization: impaired mitochondrial function is at the heart of nearly every disease. Mitochondria, the powerhouses of your cells, produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) — your body’s essential energy currency.

Everyone knows you can’t run a car without fuel. Similarly, your body is a vehicle that transports you around, and if you don’t have enough energy, it’s a problem. Historically, humans produced twice the amount of ATP compared to today, but the influx of chemical toxins has drastically reduced cellular energy production, leading to a significant decline in overall health.

The ATP Crisis: A Modern Epidemic

Humans are producing up to 75% less ATP today than a century ago. This decline is not just a number — it’s a reflection of our deteriorating health. The question remains: Why has ATP production plummeted?

The answer lies in the toxins that have permeated our environment over the past 150 years. The Industrial Revolution and subsequent advancements introduced chemical poisons into our lives, fundamentally disrupting our cellular machinery. Among these toxins, seed oils like soybean, corn and sunflower oil, stand out as primary culprits in harming your cellular energy.

Seed Oils: The Silent Destroyers of Health

Seed oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are one of the main drivers destroying your health, as excess consumption leads to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and dementia. These oils, often misleadingly labeled as “healthy” vegetable oils, wreak havoc on mitochondrial function. Consuming excessive amounts overloads your cells with harmful fats, crippling their ability to produce ATP.

Safe alternatives include coconut oil, ghee and beef tallow. Eating out poses a significant challenge for those striving to avoid seed oils like canola and soybean oil. One practical tip when you dine at a restaurant is to inform the server that you have a severe allergy to seed oils. Show them evidence of the dangers, and ensure the kitchen adheres to your requirements.

Most restaurants are unaware of the extent of seed oil contamination. By educating them and insisting on pure fats, you protect your health while raising awareness. The prevalence of adulterated oils, even in the case of products like extra virgin olive oil, makes vigilance essential. Additionally, cooking your own meals at home or choosing restaurants that use healthier frying fats, such as beef tallow, will significantly reduce your exposure to harmful PUFAs.

The Truth About Sugar: A Cellular Fuel

Contrary to popular belief, not all sugars are detrimental. Sugar, when used wisely, restores your energy. The key lies in understanding the type of sugar and its role in your metabolism. Real sugar — specifically glucose, also known as dextrose — is the ultimate fuel for your mitochondria. Unlike high-fructose corn syrup, which is harmful, glucose is essential for efficient energy production.

However, moderation is crucial. If you consume too much sugar, it disrupts insulin and hormonal balance. For individuals suffering from severe mitochondrial poisoning, however, glucose is a lifesaver, providing the necessary energy to sustain vital bodily functions. This nuanced understanding of sugar’s role challenges the conventional narrative that all carbohydrates are harmful.

Your Gut Microbiome: Balancing Good and Bad Bacteria

Your gut health plays a pivotal role in cellular energy and overall well-being. I explained the importance of colonocytes — cells lining your colon that rely on short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, propionate and acetate, produced by beneficial bacteria. When mitochondrial function is impaired, these colonocytes begin to die, allowing oxygen to seep back into your gut.

This shift creates an environment where pathogenic, oxygen-tolerant bacteria thrive, producing endotoxins that further damage mitochondria. This creates a vicious cycle I call the “black hole of death.”

To break free from this cycle, it’s essential to restore the balance of gut bacteria. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the state of their microbiome, as beneficial bacteria are often overshadowed by their pathogenic counterparts. Advanced testing, though expensive, provides insights into the state of your gut health, but practical dietary adjustments are equally important.

Until an intervention targets the factors harming your colonocytes and restores optimal oxygen levels, the population of beneficial, oxygen-intolerant microbes cannot be reestablished in your gut. This mitochondrial-gut microbiome communication is necessary for health. However, when oxygen-tolerant pathogenic bacteria dominate, they outcompete the beneficial, oxygen-intolerant bacteria, preventing the production of essential metabolites needed for vitality.

Removing excess oxygen from your colon is key because, without it, even the best lifestyle practices — such as exercise, adequate sleep proper nutrition and the use of supplements — will not result in significant improvement. Simply introducing probiotics is insufficient for replenishing oxygen-intolerant microbes, as most commercially available probiotics are often non-viable.

While these probiotics offer postbiotic benefits, they do not function as true “seeds” to rebuild the appropriate microbial community. Just as a seed cannot grow in a desert, the environment within your colon must be conducive for these beneficial microbes to flourish.

Therefore, avoiding mitochondrial poisons, including seed oils and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, is essential to create the right conditions for restoring a healthy, oxygen-intolerant microbial population in your gut.

The Hidden Dangers of Plastics and Endocrine Disruptors

Beyond dietary choices, environmental toxins like plastics pose a significant threat to cellular health. Plastics produce endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that stimulate estrogen receptors. These chemicals are pervasive, found in everyday items like water bottles and food wraps, and are linked to various health issues, including breast cancer.

EDCs disrupt hormonal balance, leading to widespread health problems. These chemicals primarily operate by activating estrogen receptors within your cells. This activation leads to an increased influx of calcium ions into your cells. Excessive intracellular calcium dramatically elevates the levels of superoxide and nitric oxide.

These reactive molecules swiftly combine to form peroxynitrite, an extremely potent oxidant stressor. The formation of peroxynitrite induces severe oxidative stress, resulting in significant cellular damage. In addition, when combined with natural estrogen, exposure to EDCs leads to estrogen overload and initiates a series of harmful events.

How EDCs Trigger Your Self-Attack Autoimmune Responses

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) pose a significant threat to your health, initiating a cascade of negative effects that begin at the cellular level and ripple outward to impact your entire body. This process unfolds in several interconnected stages, each building upon the last to create a perfect storm of health challenges in your system.

It all starts with your mitochondria — the powerhouses of your cells. EDCs interfere with these crucial organelles, diminishing their ability to produce the energy your cells need to function optimally. This energy deficit isn’t just a matter of you feeling tired; it has far-reaching consequences, particularly for your gut health.

Your digestive system relies on a delicate balance of beneficial bacteria, many of which thrive in an oxygen-free environment. The energy shortage caused by mitochondrial dysfunction disrupts this carefully maintained anaerobic setting in your gut. As a result, these beneficial microorganisms struggle to survive and perform their vital functions within you.

One of the key roles of these gut bacteria is the production of short-chain fatty acids. These compounds are essential for maintaining the health and integrity of your intestinal lining. They act as a primary food source for the cells that make up this barrier and help regulate the immune responses in your gut. However, when your gut bacteria are compromised due to the altered environment, their ability to produce these crucial fatty acids is severely impaired.

The absence of adequate short-chain fatty acids leads to a weakening of your intestinal barrier. This condition is often referred to as “leaky gut” or increased intestinal permeability. In this state, the tight junctions between the cells lining your intestines become loose, allowing substances that should remain within your gut to pass into your bloodstream.

This is where the situation can take a particularly concerning turn for you. Among the substances that can now penetrate your weakened gut barrier are proteins that bear a striking resemblance to structures within your own body — such as those found in your joints or neurological tissues.

When these foreign yet familiar proteins enter your bloodstream, your immune system is faced with a case of mistaken identity. It perceives these proteins as threats and mounts an attack against them.

The problem is, due to the similarity between these intruding proteins and your own body tissues, your immune response doesn’t stop at neutralizing the perceived invaders. Instead, it can turn against your own cells and tissues that share similar structures. This misdirected immune attack is the hallmark of autoimmune diseases, where your body essentially wages war against itself.

Thus, from the initial disruption of cellular energy production by EDCs, you arrive at a situation where your body’s own defense mechanisms have been tricked into causing harm to you. This complex chain of events underscores the far-reaching and interconnected nature of your body’s systems and highlights how these seemingly small disruptions can cascade into significant health challenges for you.

The challenge lies in finding safe alternatives, as conventional plastics are laden with harmful chemicals. I’m in the process of creating bio-compatible alternatives to plastics in order to help eliminate EDC exposure and promote environmental sustainability.

Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs): A Mitochondrial Poison

Another insidious threat to your cellular health today is exposure to EMFs. Unlike other toxins, EMFs permeate our environment, making them a pervasive danger that is often overlooked.

Electromagnetic frequencies describe all types of radiation, including beneficial ones like sunlight. However, the high-frequency EMFs emitted by modern devices such as cellphones, Wi-Fi routers and microwaves operate in the gigahertz range, posing significant risks to your mitochondria.

While ionizing radiation like X-rays directly damages cells by creating free radicals, EMFs cause harm through a different mechanism called non-thermal effects. These non-thermal effects disrupt cellular function without raising tissue temperatures, making the damage less visible but equally, if not more, dangerous.

EMFs interfere with mitochondria by increasing calcium ion influx into cells. Elevated calcium levels catalyze the production of harmful free radicals, leading to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. This process mirrors the damage caused by other mitochondrial poisons, like seed oils and EDCs, creating a vicious cycle of cellular decline.

The Telecommunication Industry’s Deceptive Practices

The telecommunications industry, much like the tobacco industry before it, has employed deceptive strategies to downplay the dangers of EMFs. They used the same playbook as the tobacco industry to greenwash their products and obfuscate the real risks. The 1996 Telecommunications Act, for instance, effectively immunized these companies from liability, allowing them to continue disseminating harmful EMFs without accountability.

They promote the idea that non-ionizing radiation is safe because it doesn’t cause immediate thermal damage. This misleading narrative ignores the long-term, chronic effects of EMF exposure, which accumulate over time and contribute to a host of health problems, including cancer, neurological disorders and reduced cellular energy.

Practical Steps to Mitigate EMF Exposure

Understanding the dangers of EMFs is only the first step; taking actionable measures to reduce exposure is crucial for safeguarding your health. Here are several strategies I recommend:

1. Limit cellphone use — Avoid keeping your cellphone close to your body, especially when sleeping. Cellphones emit high levels of EMFs and prolonged exposure significantly disrupts mitochondrial function. I personally use an EMF shield tent to create a low-radiation environment during sleep, ensuring that my mitochondria remain untainted by these frequencies.
2. Reduce Wi-Fi dependency — Turn off Wi-Fi routers when not in use, especially at night. Wi-Fi is a constant source of EMFs in many households, and minimizing its operation drastically reduces overall exposure. For essential connectivity, use wired Ethernet connections instead of wireless alternatives.
3. Create EMF-free zones — Designate certain areas of your home, such as your bedroom, as EMF-free zones. By establishing a sanctuary free from electromagnetic radiation, you provide your mitochondria with the environment they need to function optimally. Simple steps like using wired devices and keeping electronic gadgets out of these areas makes a significant difference.
4. Use EMF shielding products — Investing in EMF shielding products, such as EMF-blocking phone cases or shielding tents, provides additional protection. These products help deflect or absorb harmful frequencies, safeguarding your cellular health. While not a complete solution, they offer a practical layer of defense against unavoidable EMF exposure.

Reclaiming Health: Strategies for Protection and Restoration

To break free from this cycle of mitochondrial poisoning, it is imperative to adopt comprehensive strategies that eliminate exposure to harmful toxins and support mitochondrial function. Here are several actionable steps:

1. Eliminate seed oils and processed foods — As mentioned, seed oils like soybean, corn and sunflower oil are laden with PUFAs that oxidize easily, producing toxic metabolites that damage mitochondria. By removing these oils from your diet, you reduce the primary source of mitochondrial poisoning.
2. Adopt safe fats and whole foods — Incorporate saturated fats such as coconut oil, butter, ghee and beef tallow into your diet. These fats are stable and support mitochondrial function without the harmful effects of PUFAs. Additionally, focus on whole, unprocessed foods that provide essential nutrients without the added toxins found in processed products.
3. Minimize EMF exposure — Limit your exposure to EMFs by reducing the use of wireless devices and turning off Wi-Fi when not in use. Embracing EMF shielding solutions, such as EMF-blocking phone cases and creating EMF-free zones in your home, significantly reduces cellular stress and supports mitochondrial health.
4. Optimize sun exposure — Embrace sun exposure around solar noon once you have eliminated seed oils from your diet. Proper sun exposure enhances mitochondrial energy production and supports overall health. Use minimal, protective clothing to maximize benefits while preventing skin damage.
5. Restore gut health — Addressing gut microbiome imbalances is crucial for maintaining cellular energy. Focus on consuming beneficial bacteria and limiting fiber intake if pathogenic bacteria dominate your gut. Probiotic supplements and dietary adjustments help restore a healthy balance of gut flora, supporting mitochondrial function.

The Power of Education and Advocacy

Raising awareness about the true impact of these mitochondrial poisons is essential for empowering individuals to take control of their health. Education and advocacy are crucial in countering the misinformation spread by powerful industries. By informing the public about the real dangers of seed oils, EMFs and mask mandates, we foster a movement toward healthier living and systemic change.

On an individual level, you must take proactive steps to protect your health, even in the face of pervasive EMF exposure and misleading public health directives. Simple lifestyle changes, combined with a commitment to natural health principles, significantly enhance mitochondrial function and overall well-being.

A Vision for a Healthier Future

Looking ahead, my mission is to continue developing solutions that protect and restore cellular health. These efforts aim to harmonize technological advancements with natural health practices, ensuring that progress does not come at the expense of our well-being.

The goal is to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools needed to maintain robust mitochondrial function and achieve lasting health. By addressing the root causes of mitochondrial poisoning and advocating for informed, holistic health practices, we’ll can pave the way for a future of longevity and joy.

Food goes beyond providing energy — it’s essential for proper nutrition. Yet, many people fail to get the essential micronutrients they need. The problem often lies in food quality rather than quantity. People are consuming energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, setting them up for an excess of omega-6 fats from seed oils as well as added sugars, while missing out on vital micronutrients.

Micronutrient deficiencies are a prevalent form of malnutrition, leading to serious consequences like pregnancy complications, weakened immunity and increased risk of diseases. While past studies have investigated nutrient deficiencies and supplies, there has been no comprehensive global assessment of micronutrient intake inadequacies until now.

A recent study published in The Lancet Global Health¹ addresses this gap by evaluating whether current intake levels meet recommended health standards, focusing on deficiencies across different ages and genders. Their findings highlight an alarming trend — over half of the global population is deficient in the necessary micronutrients for optimal health.

Global Study Reveals Alarming Widespread Micronutrient Inadequacies

The study,² conducted by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), used data from 31 countries to model global nutrient needs. They applied these models to a dataset from 185 countries, estimating nutrient deficiencies for 99.3% of the world’s population. Fifteen essential nutrients, including calcium, B vitamins and vitamin C, were evaluated across different age and gender groups.

“Our study is a big step forward,” said co-lead author Christopher Free, Ph.D., a research professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), in a news release.³ “Not only because it is the first to estimate inadequate micronutrient intakes for 34 age-sex groups in nearly every country, but also because it makes these methods and results easily accessible to researchers and practitioners.” According to the authors:⁴

“More than 5 billion people do not consume enough iodine (68% of the global population), vitamin E (67%) and calcium (66%). More than 4 billion people do not consume enough iron (65%), riboflavin (55%), folate (54%) and vitamin C (53%).

Within the same country and age groups, estimated inadequate intakes were higher for women than for men for iodine, vitamin B12, iron and selenium and higher for men than for women for magnesium, vitamin B6, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin A, thiamin and niacin.”

These results underscore the widespread nature of micronutrient deficiencies globally, revealing distinct patterns related to sex and geographic location. “We hope this analysis … improves understanding of global micronutrient inadequacy so that public health interventions can more effectively address deficiencies,” the researchers concluded.

Common Nutrient Deficiencies in the US

According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), an estimated 31% of the U.S. population is at risk of developing one or more micronutrient deficiencies.⁵ The most common nutrient deficiencies include vitamins D, B1, B2, B3 and B12, A, C, E, calcium, magnesium and iodine.

Although the study didn’t include vitamin D since it primarily focused on nutrients obtained through diet, vitamin D deficiency remains a significant concern in the U.S., impacting approximately 35% of the population.⁶ Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for various physiological functions, including calcium absorption, bone health and immune function.

While it’s found naturally in some foods, your body endogenously produces vitamin D when your skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun.

However, many factors limit this natural production, including living in northern latitudes, having darker skin, spending most time indoors or using sunscreen. Additionally, as people age, their skin becomes less efficient at producing vitamin D from sun exposure.⁷

The ideal way to increase your vitamin D levels is through sensible sun exposure. On a typical sunny day,⁸ your body produces up to 25,000 international units IU of vitamin D. However, it’s important to approach sun exposure with care, especially if your diet is high in seed oils (rich in linoleic acid, or LA).

These oils migrate to your skin and oxidize when exposed to sunlight, causing inflammation and DNA damage, which makes you more prone to sunburn. If you’re on a high-LA diet, I recommend avoiding intense sun exposure until you’ve reduced your seed oil intake for four to six months. As you reduce your LA intake, slowly increase your time outdoors. You’ll eventually be able to enjoy an hour or more during peak sunlight hours.

If you’re unable to get adequate sun exposure, vitamin D3 supplementation is a wise choice. For health and disease prevention, aim for a level between 60 ng/mL and 80 ng/mL. In Europe, the measurements you’re looking for are 150 to 200 nmol/L, respectively.

To determine how much vitamin D3 you need to take, measure your vitamin D level, ideally twice a year. Your ideal dose is whatever it takes to keep you within that 60 ng/mL to 80 ng/mL range. It’s also important to remember that calcium, vitamin D3, magnesium and vitamin K2 must be properly balanced, as these four nutrients work together.

Vitamin B1, B2 and B3

Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, is used by nearly all your cells and is essential for several functions in the body, including energy production, nerve function, heart health, cognition, digestion and immune function.⁹

While thiamine deficiency is often the result of alcohol misuse, chronic infections, poor nutrition and/or malabsorption, research suggests vitamin B1 availability has dramatically declined throughout the food chain in recent years,¹⁰ and that naturally affects your ability to get sufficient thiamine from your diet.

Adult men and women need 1.2 and 1.1 milligrams (mg), respectively, each day.¹¹ If you have symptoms of thiamine deficiency, you might need higher doses. For tips on how to boost your vitamin B1 levels, I recommend reading my article, “Common Signs of Vitamin B1 Deficiency.”

Similarly, vitamin B2, commonly known as riboflavin, is important for energy production, cellular function and metabolism. As a coenzyme in various redox reactions, riboflavin is essential for converting food into usable energy. It plays a central role in the electron transport chain, where it helps produce ATP, the primary energy source for the body. This makes riboflavin particularly important for overall energy levels and metabolic health.^12,13

To increase your riboflavin levels, consume a diet rich in riboflavin sources. Good dietary sources include grass fed dairy products, lean meats like grass fed beef tenderloin, organic low-PUFA eggs, cremini and portabella mushrooms, and green leafy vegetables like spinach and beet greens.

Vitamin B3 exists in two primary forms — niacin (nicotinic acid) and niacinamide (nicotinamide). Both are essential to human health and play important roles in cellular metabolism, converting the food you eat into energy.

These forms of vitamin B3 also serve as precursors for the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), which are vital for energy production, DNA repair and cell signaling.

For optimal health, I recommend taking 50 mg of niacinamide three times a day. This dosage has been shown to optimize energy metabolism and boost NAD+ levels.

The problem with taking too much vitamin B3, whether in the form of niacin or niacinamide, is that it might backfire and contribute to cardiovascular disease as demonstrated in a study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic.¹⁴ I talked more about this in my article, “Vitamin B3 Boosts Muscle Mass, Improves Glucose Control.” As for food sources, vitamin B3 is found in grass fed beef and beef liver, bananas and mushrooms.¹⁵

Vitamin B12

Also known as cobalamin, vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a role in numerous biochemical reactions and neurological functions in your body, including DNA synthesis. Your body can’t make vitamin B12 on its own, so it must be obtained via your diet or supplementation.¹⁶

According to NHANES data, about 3.6% of U.S. adults aged 19 and older have a vitamin B12 deficiency, with the rate slightly increasing to 3.7% in those 60 and older. However, vitamin B12 insufficiency is more common, affecting around 12.5% of adults aged 19 and older and 12.3% of those 60 and older. During pregnancy, vitamin B12 levels often decrease, sometimes falling below normal levels.¹⁷

Vitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in animal foods, such as grass fed beef and beef liver, lamb, organic eggs and grass fed dairy products. The few plant foods that are sources of B12 are actually B12 analogs that block the uptake of true B12, so do not make the mistake of thinking you can rely on vegan sources for all your B12 needs.

If you rarely eat the foods listed, consider using nutritional yeast. It’s high in B12 and has a cheesy flavor that works well on any number of dishes. One 16-gram serving (just over 2 tablespoons) provides 24 micrograms of natural vitamin B12.¹⁸ Advancing age diminishes your body’s ability to absorb B12 from food, so you might want to consider supplementation as you get older.¹⁹

Vitamins A and C

An estimated 51% of adults are not consuming enough vitamin A,²⁰ increasing their risk of degenerative diseases like macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in the U.S.²¹ Vitamin A is also responsible for immune system function as well as cellular growth and differentiation.²²

Vitamin A is a group of nutrients that falls into two different categories — retinoids found in animal foods and carotenoids found in plant foods. The two are chemically different and provide different health benefits, but both are necessary for optimal health. Plant foods high in beta-carotene include sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe and mangoes. Animal foods rich in vitamin A include liver, egg yolks and grass fed butter.²³

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is known for its potent antioxidant properties and role in numerous bodily functions, including tissue growth and repair, collagen synthesis, iron absorption and immune function.²⁴

A wide variety of foods are high in vitamin C, including red pepper, parsley, broccoli, kiwi, strawberries, guava, tomato and all citrus fruits. You’ll get significant amounts of vitamin C from your diet if you eat these foods on a daily basis.

In addition to dietary sources, I highly recommend keeping liposomal vitamin C in your medicine cabinet, particularly for acute viral illnesses. If I were to become acutely ill, I would take 4 grams of liposomal vitamin C every hour until feeling better, then start decreasing the dosage slowly over a few days once symptoms improve.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin with potent antioxidant properties, protecting your cells from free radical damage. It also supports the production of red blood cells, regulates your body’s use of vitamin K (which is important for heart health) and is involved in your immune function and cell signaling.²⁵ Additionally, it protects your body against damage caused by linoleic acid and estrogen.

In the U.S. alone, approximately 88.5% of the population fails to reach the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin E.²⁶ To increase vitamin E levels, eat foods rich in this nutrient, including spinach, pumpkin, asparagus, red bell peppers, tomatoes, kiwi and mango.²⁷

Some health authorities recommend vegetable oils, seeds and nuts as good sources,²⁸ but these are actually terrible due to their high LA content. Beans — another good source of vitamin E — are also problematic for many due to their high lectin content.

Supplementation is also an option to increase your levels, but it’s important to look for a real vitamin E supplement and not synthetic. What you’re looking for is “d alpha tocopherol.” I go into detail about this in “Vitamin E Helps Decrease Your Cancer Risk.”

Calcium and Magnesium

Over 40% of the U.S. population fails to meet their calcium needs through diet alone, putting them at increased risk of bone-related issues such as osteoporosis and fractures.²⁹ Calcium is also essential for muscle contraction, nerve transmission and blood clotting.³⁰

A deficiency in calcium coupled with excess phosphorus intake due to phosphate additives in processed food poses additional risk, as it disrupts your calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, which leads to calcification of the vascular system and cardiovascular problems.³¹

Some good dietary sources of calcium to increase your levels include grass fed dairy products like yogurt, milk and cheese made from animal rennet. Some vegetables contain this mineral as well, such as collard greens, spinach, turnip greens, kale, cooked taro root and bok choy.³²

Estimates suggest that over half of the U.S. population also aren’t getting enough magnesium from their diet.³³ While the minimum amount needed to avoid deficiency is about 150 to 180 milligrams per day, optimal levels are closer to 600 milligrams per day. For reference, the RDA ranges from 310 to 420 milligrams per day, depending on age and sex.³⁴

Some good dietary sources of magnesium include dark chocolate, leafy greens, potatoes (peeled and boiled) and plain organic yogurt, to name a few. Avocados are also commonly recommended as a good source of this mineral, but they’re high in monounsaturated fat (MUFAs), which harms your metabolic function if consumed in excess.

Iodine

Iodine is an essential trace mineral that plays a role in the production of thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, growth and development. Adequate iodine intake is vital for maintaining healthy thyroid function and reducing the risk of disorders such as goiter and hypothyroidism. In addition, iodine is important for healthy bone and brain development during pregnancy and infancy.³⁵

Foods that contain higher amounts of iodine include sea vegetables, such as kelp, kombu and wakame.³⁶ Kelp has the highest amount of any food and just one serving gives you four times the recommended daily allowance. Organic, grass fed butter is another good source of iodine. Iodized salt also increases your levels if you don’t avoid eating it in the mistaken belief that it’s bad for your heart.

Will Taking a Multivitamin Help with Nutrient Deficiencies?

A diet rich in whole, nutrient-dense foods is key to avoiding nutrient deficiency. However, multivitamins help address gaps if you’re not eating right or if you suspect you have deficiencies. Research³⁷ from Oregon State University found that older men who took multivitamins showed improved nutritional biomarkers compared to those who took a placebo.

In fact, some participants in the placebo group had decreased nutrition markers, indicating that diet alone might not be sufficient, particularly for maintaining vitamin and carotenoid levels.³⁸ Multivitamins also benefit memory in older adults. One study³⁹ found that daily use could improve memory performance comparable to reversing about three years of age-related decline compared to a placebo.

If you’re planning to take multivitamins, it’s generally recommended to take half your daily dose in the morning, with breakfast, and the other half with your main meal. Remember, though, that multivitamins should complement, not replace, a healthy diet.

Dietary supplements are meant to support a balanced lifestyle, not substitute for it. Consider consulting with a holistic health professional to identify specific nutrient deficiencies and tailor your supplement and food choices to address them.

• ^1, 2, 4 Lancet Glob Health. 2024 Aug 29:S2214-109X(24)00276-6
• ³ EurekAlert! August 29, 2024
• ⁵ The Institute of Functional Medicine, The Hidden Hunger: Micronutrient Deficiencies
• ⁶ StatPearls [Internet]. Vitamin D Deficiency
• ⁷ Endocrine. 2023; 79(1): 31–44
• ⁸ Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2019;189
• ⁹ Biosci Rep. 2023 Oct 31;43(10):BSR20230374
• ¹⁰ The Science Times January 31, 2021
• ¹¹ NIH Thiamin, February 9, 2023
• ¹² NIH ODS, Riboflavin
• ¹³ StatPearls [Internet]. Biochemistry, Oxidative Phosphorylation
• ¹⁴ Nature Medicine volume 30, pages 424–434 (2024)
• ¹⁵ Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Niacin – Vitamin B3
• ¹⁶ StatPearls [Internet]. Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
• ¹⁷ Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Riboflavin — Vitamin B2
• ¹⁸ USDA FoodData Central, Nutritional Yeast
• ¹⁹ The New York Times, Vitamin B12 as Protection for the Aging Brain
• ²⁰ Oregon State University, Micronutrient Inadequacies, Vitamin A
• ²¹ Front Nutr. 2022; 9: 914457
• ^22, 23 NIH ODS, Vitamin A and Carotenoids
• ²⁴ StatPearls [Internet]. Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
• ^25, 28 NIH ODS, Vitamin E
• ²⁶ USA Today, April 1, 2023
• ²⁷ HSPH, Vitamin E
• ²⁹ Oregon State University, Micronutrient Inadequacies in the US Population: an Overview
• ³⁰ StatPearls [Internet]. Physiology, Calcium
• ³¹ Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2024 Mar;44(3):584-602
• ³² Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Food Sources of Calcium
• ³³ Oregon State University, Micronutrient Inadequacies (Magnesium)
• ³⁴ National Institutes of Health, Magnesium
• ^35, 36 NIH ODS, Iodine
• ³⁷ Nutrients 2023, 15(12), 2691; doi: 10.3390/nu15122691
• ³⁸ Oregon State University June 14, 2023
• ³⁹ The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition July 2023, Volume 118, Issue 1, Pages 273-282, Results

At least according to one registered dietitian nutritionist in Los Angeles, who recently took to Fox News to lay out the risks from ultra-processed foods in the American diet.

Ilana Muhlstein said on Fox news that America’s diet is 60% ultra-processed, but that kids consume even more than that.

“With children, it’s actually over 70%. That is really wild when you think about it,” she said. “What we eat defines how our cells work, how our organs work, and we’re seeing a strong decline in mental health and well-being.”

And a recent BMJ study found that 60% of Americans’ daily calories come from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which are linked to 32 poor health outcomes, including mental, respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic issues like cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, according to Fox.

Muhlstein added: “We’re actually seeing that this next generation might be the first generation to … have a shorter lifespan than their parents due to nutrition and lifestyle factors.”

A nutritious diet boosts children’s mental well-being, behavior, and academic performance, says Muhlstein, a nutritionist and instructor of “Raising Balanced Eaters.”

While cutting ultra-processed foods entirely is unrealistic, Muhlstein advocates for reversing the typical 70/30 ratio of processed to whole foods, recommending an “80/20 rule”—80% whole foods like eggs, fish, and vegetables, and 20% indulgent foods like chips and ice cream.

For healthier options, Muhlstein suggests swapping ketchup for marinara sauce on chicken nuggets and fries, opting for chicken strips over mechanically processed nuggets, and choosing hamburgers over nitrite-laden hot dogs. Each small change reduces the overall level of food processing.

The nutritionist warns that poor eating habits won’t resolve on their own and encourages exposing kids to diverse flavors and textures early on.

The Fox News report says that sitting down for family meals—without screens—can reduce the risk of eating disorders and promote a healthy relationship with food. Just three to five family meals a week can make a positive difference, fostering better eating habits and family connection.

(Mercola)—Vitamin D has long been known for its crucial role in bone health, but it has body-wide effects and may be just as important for your mental well-being. A comprehensive systematic review examined the effects of vitamin D supplementation on various mental and neurological disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, epilepsy and neuroinflammation.¹

The findings indicate that vitamin D could play a significant role in managing these conditions. Interestingly, vitamin D receptors are present in various crucial brain regions, where it influences neuron development, growth factor production and neurotransmitter synthesis.²

This connection between vitamin D and brain function may explain its potential impact on mental health. The review, published in the journal Diseases, found that vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among individuals with mental health disorders, revealing a link between low vitamin D levels and the development or exacerbation of these conditions.³

Sun exposure is the best way to raise your vitamin D level. That said, if you’ve been eating a diet high in vegetable oils or seed oils, you need to be cautious, as these oils increase your risk of sunburn. That’s why I recommend avoiding high-intensity sun exposure unless you’ve been off these oils for at least four to six months.

Vitamin D Offers a Ray of Hope for Depression

When it comes to depression, the research on vitamin D’s effectiveness shows promising results. Several studies have found that lower levels of vitamin D are associated with more severe depressive symptoms. In fact, a meta-analysis published in The British Journal of Psychiatry revealed that low vitamin D levels were linked to a significantly higher risk of depression.⁴

Some randomized controlled trials have shown that vitamin D supplementation can lead to significant improvements in depression scores, particularly in overweight and obese individuals.⁵ The effect of vitamin D on depression could be attributed to its role as a unique neurosteroid hormone.

As a neurosteroid, vitamin D supports neurotrophic factors, provides neuroprotection and contributes to brain development. It’s also thought to influence the serotonergic system and help maintain healthy circadian rhythms, both of which are associated with mood regulation.

Epilepsy: Seizing Control with Vitamin D

Your vitamin D levels may also play a crucial role if you’re dealing with epilepsy. Research has shown that individuals with epilepsy frequently have inadequate levels of vitamin D, defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 concentration less than 20 ng/mL. Preclinical research and preliminary human data suggest that vitamin D3 may help regulate or suppress seizures through both membrane-based and genomic mechanisms.⁶

One study found that in a group of people with epilepsy, there was an average 40% reduction in seizures after subjects were given vitamin D supplementation.⁷ Notably, 38% of the participants experienced a 50% or greater reduction in their seizure frequency.

Another study demonstrated that low serum vitamin D levels were prevalent in 86.8% of the 542 people with epilepsy that were examined, underscoring the importance of regular vitamin D screening for individuals with epilepsy.⁸ This intervention could help reduce the risk of future complications and potentially improve seizure control.

Vitamin D for Bipolar Disorder and Alzheimer’s Disease

While the evidence for vitamin D’s benefits in depression and epilepsy is compelling, the results for other mental health conditions are mixed. In bipolar disorder, some studies have found elevated levels of vitamin D binding protein in patients, suggesting a potential link to inflammation.⁹ However, the impact of vitamin D supplementation on bipolar symptoms remains unclear.

For schizophrenia, the relationship with vitamin D is even more complex. Although vitamin D deficiency is common in individuals with schizophrenia, studies have not consistently shown benefits from supplementation.

When it comes to neuroinflammation, animal studies have demonstrated promising results, with vitamin D therapy shown to reduce inflammation in rat models of traumatic brain injury.¹⁰ Additionally, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.¹¹

Vitamin D and Mental Health: New Insights

Recent research presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s annual NUTRITION meeting also shed light on the relationship between vitamin D levels and mental health, particularly depressive symptoms. Dr. Jacqueline A. Vernarelli, associate professor at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, and her research partner, Kayla D. Champagne, analyzed data from 4,641 adults who participated in the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES) survey.¹²

Their findings revealed a significant connection between vitamin D levels and mental health outcomes. Adults with lower levels of vitamin D in their blood exhibited more depressive symptoms, while those with depression had significantly lower intake of vitamin D compared to adults without depression.

This large-scale study provides compelling evidence for the importance of maintaining adequate vitamin D levels for your mental wellbeing.

The researchers suggest that public health messaging encouraging the consumption of vitamin D-rich foods could be an essential dietary strategy to support mental health, although sensible sun exposure is the ideal way to boost your vitamin D levels — and supplementation may be necessary for some people, especially during winter months or for those with limited sun exposure.

In addition to its impact on mental health, the study also uncovered a link between vitamin D levels and physical functioning. Higher serum vitamin D levels were associated with improved physical performance.¹³ This means addressing vitamin D deficiency offers not only benefits for mood improvement but also for enhanced physical capabilities and overall quality of life.

Vitamin D May Reduce Lifetime Depression Risk in Those Who Are Deficient

Recent research has employed a powerful technique called Mendelian randomization to investigate the causal relationship between vitamin D levels and mental health outcomes.¹⁴ This method uses genetic variants associated with vitamin D levels as proxies to assess the impact of vitamin D on various conditions. A large-scale study using data from 333,025 participants in the UK Biobank found intriguing results.

While there was no strong evidence for a linear relationship between vitamin D levels and conditions like fibromyalgia, clinical fatigue or chronic widespread pain across the entire population, the study revealed a potential threshold effect for depression.¹⁵

Specifically, individuals with the lowest levels of genetically-predicted vitamin D showed a reduced risk of probable lifetime major depression when their vitamin D levels increased. The genetic approach helps overcome limitations of observational studies, providing more reliable evidence for a causal link between vitamin D and depression in those with low levels.

Vitamin D’s Complex Role in Brain Health

The relationship between vitamin D and mental health is multifaceted. Vitamin D receptors are present in various brain regions, indicating its importance in neurological function. Additionally, vitamin D has been observed to have anti-inflammatory effects in the brain, potentially preventing oxidative damage to nervous tissue.

Some studies have even suggested a connection between vitamin D and the gut microbiome,¹⁶ which is increasingly recognized for its role in mental health. These diverse mechanisms highlight why addressing vitamin D deficiency could be particularly important for your brain health, especially if your levels are low.

However, the complexity of these interactions also explains why the effects of vitamin D supplementation may not be uniform across all individuals or all mental health conditions.

Vitamin D Deficiency: A Hidden Risk Factor for Depression

A large-scale study analyzing data from 15,156 U.S. adults also found that vitamin D deficiency is significantly associated with an increased risk of depression.¹⁷ Specifically, individuals with adequate vitamin D levels were about 24% less likely to experience depression compared to those who were deficient. This finding held true even after accounting for various factors like gender, race, education and marital status.

The implications are clear: maintaining healthy vitamin D levels could be an effective strategy for safeguarding your mental health. Vitamin D influences mood through several mechanisms, including regulating calcium levels in brain cells.

Contrary to popular belief, the study revealed that younger adults may actually be at higher risk for vitamin D deficiency than older individuals. For every 20-year decrease in age, the likelihood of vitamin D deficiency increased by 37.1%.¹⁸ This unexpected finding challenges previous assumptions and highlights the importance of vitamin D awareness across all age groups.

Younger people’s higher metabolic rates and potentially greater physical activity levels might contribute to their increased vitamin D needs. However, when it comes to depression, the study confirmed that risk does increase with age. For each 20-year increase in age, the prevalence of depression rose by 9.2%.¹⁹

This age-related increase in depression risk may be attributed to various factors, including physiological changes in the brain, accumulated life experiences and increased social isolation among older adults. These findings underscore the complex interplay between age, vitamin D status and mental health.

Vitamin D’s Impact on Specific Mental Health Conditions

While depression has been the primary focus of vitamin D research in mental health, studies have revealed its potential influence on other conditions as well.²⁰ For instance, vitamin D deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of schizophrenia, with some research suggesting that prenatal vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor. In bipolar disorder, lower vitamin D levels have been observed.

Anxiety disorders have also shown a potential connection to vitamin D status, with some studies indicating that supplementation may improve anxiety symptoms.²¹ Interestingly, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well.

In neurocognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s, low vitamin D levels correlate with a higher degree of cognitive impairment,²² underscoring the wide-reaching impact of vitamin D on various aspects of mental health.

By taking proactive steps to maintain optimal vitamin D levels and adopting a healthy lifestyle, you can help reduce your risk of depression and other mental health conditions and support your mental health throughout your lifespan.

Natural Sunlight: The Optimal Source of Vitamin D

Obtaining vitamin D through proper sun exposure is highly recommended, as it offers benefits beyond just vitamin D production. In fact, higher vitamin D levels may indicate healthy sun exposure, which could be responsible for many health benefits attributed to vitamin D, including reduced cancer risk and increased longevity.

Regular sunlight exposure also boosts melatonin production, a powerful anticancer agent.²³ That said, while sun exposure is essential for vitamin D production and health, it can also be harmful if you’re not careful. The key is understanding how to protect yourself while still reaping the benefits. So, let’s talk about some strategies that can help you do that.

If you’ve been eating a diet high in vegetable oils or seed oils, you need to be extra cautious with sun exposure. These oils are rich in linoleic acid (LA), an omega-6 fat that is highly prone to oxidation when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. When sunlight interacts with skin containing these oils, it causes the oils to break down, leading to inflammation and DNA damage.

That’s why I recommend avoiding sun exposure unless you’ve been off these oils for at least four to six months. Your individual physical characteristics also influence your relationship with the sun. Skin color, determined by melanin content, is a prime example.

Melanin acts as a natural sunscreen, meaning darker-skinned individuals require more sun exposure to produce the same amount of vitamin D as those with lighter skin. This biological variation emphasizes the need for personalized approaches to sun exposure.

Body composition, particularly fat percentage, is another crucial factor. Adipose tissue can store fat-soluble compounds, including oxidized vegetable oils. Individuals with higher body fat may therefore need to be more cautious, as these stored oils can prolong the risk period even after dietary changes.

The best way to assess your sun exposure, especially if you have a history of consuming vegetable oils, is to monitor your skin for any signs of redness or burning. This simple “sunburn test” considers the time of year, skin type and more. If you don’t notice even the slightest hint of pink on your skin, it’s a good sign that your sun exposure was within a safe range. Always aim to avoid sunburn, as it indicates overexposure.

As you lower your body’s stores of LA, your risk of sunburn and skin cancer decreases dramatically. However, it’s still important to be mindful of your sun exposure, especially during the transition period. As you begin reducing vegetable oils in your diet, avoid peak sunlight hours, which are typically an hour before and after solar noon.

In most of the U.S. during summer, this means staying out of direct sun from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time, or 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Standard Time. Over time, as your body detoxes the accumulated seed oils, you can gradually increase your time in the sun. Eventually, you will be able to enjoy an hour or more of peak sunlight hours.

Remember, everyone’s skin is different, so listen to your body during this adjustment period. The key is to never let your skin burn. Sunburn is a sign of damage, so if you notice any redness, seek shade at once. By being mindful of your sun exposure, you’re taking an important step in caring for your health.

Tips for Safer Sun Exposure

If you do need to spend time in the sun before your body has fully cleared out seed oils, there are some protective strategies you can implement. One of my favorite recommendations is astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant found in certain marine life. Taking 12 milligrams of astaxanthin once a day can help increase your skin’s resistance to sun damage. It works by neutralizing free radicals and reducing inflammation. This gives your skin extra protection against UV radiation.

Another helpful tool in your sun-protection arsenal is niacinamide cream. Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, has been shown to help protect against UV-induced DNA damage when applied topically. It can also improve your skin’s barrier, making it more resilient to stressors like sun exposure. I’ve seen patients have remarkable success with applying niacinamide cream before sun exposure.

Here’s a tip that might surprise you. Taking a baby aspirin 30 to 60 minutes before sun exposure could lower your risk of skin cancer. Aspirin prevents the LA in your skin from turning into harmful compounds called OXLAMs (oxidized linoleic acid metabolites). These OXLAMs are a primary contributor not just to skin cancer but to many types of cancer. By inhibiting their formation, aspirin can provide an extra layer of protection against sun damage.

Molecular hydrogen (H₂) offers another layer of protection against sun damage and mitigates the harmful effects of vegetable oils. This remarkable molecule works at the cellular level, effectively reducing oxidative stress by neutralizing harmful free radicals, with a particular affinity for the highly reactive hydroxyl radical. H₂‘s unique properties allow it to penetrate cell membranes easily, directly targeting sources of inflammation and oxidative damage.

Importantly, it does this without interfering with beneficial reactive oxygen species (ROS), maintaining the body’s delicate oxidative balance. Beyond this protective role, molecular hydrogen also provides other benefits, including increased energy levels, and enhanced recovery. This makes H₂ a valuable tool in your arsenal for supporting cellular health, especially when facing environmental stressors like sun exposure or dietary challenges from vegetable oil consumption.

If you can’t get enough sun daily, vitamin D supplements may be necessary. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent globally, affecting 40% to 100% of the population.²⁴

The current definition of deficiency (less than 20 ng/mL) has been shown to be inadequate for good health and disease prevention, suggesting an even higher prevalence of suboptimal vitamin D levels. To determine your ideal sun exposure or supplement dosage, it’s crucial to measure your vitamin D levels twice a year.

After testing, adjust your sun exposure or vitamin D3 supplementation accordingly. Retest in three to four months to ensure you’ve reached your target level. The optimal range for health and disease prevention is 60 to 80 ng/mL (150 to 200 nmol/L), with sufficiency starting around 40 ng/mL (100 nmol/L in Europe). Regular testing and adjustments will help you maintain ideal vitamin D levels for your health.

• ^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11} Diseases. 2024 Jun; 12(6): 131
• ^12, 13 Healio July 9, 2024
• ^14, 15, 16 Transl Psychiatry. 2024; 14: 274
• ^17, 18, 19 BMC Psychiatry. 2023; 23: 534
• ^20, 21, 22 Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Dec; 59(12): 2056
• ²³ YouTube, The Joe Cohen Show, Episode 1, October 25, 2022, 4:00
• ²⁴ Endocr Pract. 2021 May; 27(5): 484–493, Introduction

(Mercola)—You’ve likely heard that high cholesterol is bad for your health, however cholesterol is found in nearly every cell of your body and is vital for optimal functioning. If you have too little, your risk of health problems increases, including all-cause mortality.

Research published in Frontiers in Endocrinology found a revealing link between low total cholesterol (TC) levels and increased mortality risk in those aged 85 and above.¹ This research challenges the conventional dogma that lower cholesterol is always better, especially for older adults.

The study, which analyzed data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, found that individuals with TC levels below 3.40 mmol/L (131 mg/dL) had a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to those with higher levels.² In fact, the mortality risk increased by 12% for every 1 mmol/L reduction in TC.³ These findings suggest that maintaining higher cholesterol levels may benefit longevity in your later years.

Why Low Cholesterol Is Harmful in Late Life

Cholesterol, often misunderstood as merely harmful, plays several crucial roles in maintaining bodily functions. This waxy substance serves as a fundamental building block for cell membranes, providing structural integrity and fluidity. It acts as a precursor for various essential hormones and is vital in the production of vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight, contributing to bone health and immune function.

In your digestive system, cholesterol aids in the formation of bile acids, which are necessary for the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins. Further, cholesterol is integral to myelin sheath formation, enhancing nerve signal transmission throughout your body. A balanced amount of cholesterol is indispensable for optimal health and plays a protective role as you age.

As for why low cholesterol increases risk of all-cause mortality in older adults, low TC levels may compromise cell function and increase your vulnerability to infections and other health problems. Additionally, cholesterol helps regulate inflammatory markers in your body. With lower TC levels, you might experience enhanced inflammation, which is associated with numerous age-related diseases.

The study found the protective effect of higher cholesterol is independent of nutritional status or chronic health conditions, suggesting a direct biological link between TC levels and longevity in advanced age. The researchers explained:⁴

“Although the biological pathways that link TC to mortality are poorly understood, several mechanisms may explain this inverse association. For example, blood lipids, which are an important component of cell membranes, may affect cell electrophysiology by modulating the distribution and function of some ion channels.

Low TC levels may contribute to the pathogenesis of some common diseases in older people, such as atrial fibrillation. Another potential mechanism is that TC may regulate inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and attenuate the biological response to inflammation. Therefore, individuals with low TC levels may be more vulnerable to physiological disorders because of enhanced inflammation.”

The study identified an optimal range for TC levels in those aged 85 years and over. Participants with TC levels between 3.40 and 4.39 mmol/L (131 to 170 mg/dL) and those with levels at or above 4.39 mmol/L (170 mg/dL) had significantly lower mortality risks compared to those with levels below 3.40 mmol/L.⁵

“Our findings contribute to the growing body of evidence challenging the ‘lower is better’ paradigm for cholesterol levels in older adults,” the researchers noted, proposing that the optimal TC range for older adults might lie between 3.40 and 5.18 mmol/L (131 to 200 mg/dL).⁶

Low Cholesterol Linked to Increased Diabetes Risk

Another important study of 3.26 million Chinese adults aged 65 and older also revealed the importance of properly optimizing your cholesterol. It found low cholesterol levels are associated with a higher risk of diabetes.⁷

The researchers observed a J-shaped relationship between total cholesterol and diabetes risk. This means that both very low and very high cholesterol levels were associated with increased diabetes risk, with the lowest risk occurring at moderate levels. Specifically, TC levels below 4.04 mmol/L (156 mg/dL) were linked to higher diabetes odds. This “cholesterol paradox” could further explain why low cholesterol contributes to increased mortality in late life.

The findings even held true for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, often labeled as the “bad” cholesterol. The study found a similar J-shaped relationship between LDL cholesterol levels and diabetes risk. LDL cholesterol levels below 2.33 mmol/L (90 mg/dL) were associated with higher diabetes odds. For every 1 mmol/L increase in LDL cholesterol below this threshold, there was a 12% decrease in diabetes risk.⁸

This again challenges the “lower is better” approach to LDL management, especially for older adults. The protective effect of moderately higher LDL cholesterol levels could be another piece of the puzzle in understanding increased late-life mortality associated with low cholesterol — your body needs a certain level of LDL cholesterol for optimal health throughout life, including in your later years.

The Protective Role of Cholesterol in Brain Health

Maintaining adequate cholesterol levels is also crucial for your brain health, especially as you age. Cholesterol plays a vital role in the production and maintenance of cell membranes in your brain and is essential for the formation of lipid rafts, specialized regions in cell membranes that are crucial for synaptic function and plasticity.⁹

These processes are fundamental for learning and memory. When your cholesterol levels are too low, it can disrupt these lipid rafts, potentially affecting your memory consolidation and cognitive function. Additionally, cholesterol is necessary for myelin production, the protective sheath around nerve fibers that enables efficient signal transmission in your brain.

Low cholesterol levels might interfere with the repair and regeneration of myelin, leading to impaired information processing and potentially contributing to cognitive decline. Further, research indicates that women have a higher lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to men, and cholesterol levels may play a role in this difference.

The study focused specifically on post-menopausal women, finding that those with total cholesterol levels below 153 mg/dL had a significantly higher risk of developing dementia.¹⁰ Even women with cholesterol levels above 201 mg/dL had a reduced risk of developing dementia compared to those with the lowest levels.¹¹

This suggests that maintaining adequate cholesterol levels may be particularly important for cognitive health in post-menopausal women. The researchers explained several reasons why low cholesterol may increase dementia risk in this population:¹²

“In neurons, lipid rafts are … believed to be involved in synaptic function and plasticity, which are essential for learning and memory processes. Low cholesterol caused by drugs or toxins may disrupt lipid rafts, subsequently affecting memory consolidation and cognitive function and finally resulting in dementia.

In addition to lipid raft disruption, demyelination caused by low cholesterol levels might also be another important factor that interferes with the regeneration of myeline; therefore, signal (information) transformation and consolidation become disrupted.

Several factors including hyperglycemia, hypertension, toxins, infections, and many other factors that induce free radicals, oxidation, and the inflammation of myeline results in the aging process or the destruction of myelin. In this situation, a higher cholesterol level might be a rate-limited process for repairment and remyelination.

Without intact functional lipid rafts and myeline, information in the brain for conduction, consolidation, or plasticity is not possible.”

Link Between Low Cholesterol and Blood Cancer Risk Unveiled

Recent research from the UK Biobank study has also uncovered an unexpected relationship between low cholesterol levels and an increased risk of plasma cell neoplasms, including multiple myeloma.¹³

This large-scale study followed 502,507 participants for up to 14 years, revealing that individuals with lower levels of total cholesterol, LDL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and apolipoproteins had a higher likelihood of developing these blood cancers.¹⁴ While the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, this research points to the complex role of cholesterol in cellular health and immune function.

In the context of blood cancers, cholesterol appears to have protective effects. Higher levels of HDL and its associated apolipoprotein A have been linked to reduced inflammation and improved immune cell function. These lipids can regulate cancer cell proliferation and modify the function of macrophages and other immune cells.¹⁵

Additionally, cholesterol is crucial for the homeostasis of your hematopoietic system, which produces blood cells. The study suggests that very low cholesterol levels might disrupt this delicate balance, potentially increasing the risk of malignant transformations in plasma cells.¹⁶

The study found that the relationship between cholesterol and plasma cell neoplasms was particularly pronounced in males and individuals over 60 years old. The use of cholesterol-lowering medications didn’t reduce the risk of these blood cancers, suggesting that artificially lowering cholesterol levels does not provide the same protective effects as naturally occurring higher levels.

Statin cholesterol-lowering medications are among the most-prescribed drugs in the U.S., but the number of people taking them may soon decline significantly. Based on previous guidelines, 45.4 million adults meet the criteria to take statin drugs, but if updated guidelines from the American Heart Association are adopted, this will drop to 28.3 million.¹⁷

Optimizing Cholesterol Levels for Overall Health

Maintaining optimal cholesterol levels involves more than just focusing on the numbers. Your gut health plays a significant role in this complex equation. Oxygen-intolerant bacteria, which thrive in an oxygen-free gut environment, are vital for converting plant fibers into beneficial fats. However, modern lifestyle factors can disrupt this delicate balance, potentially leading to a shift toward oxygen-tolerant bacteria that produce more potent endotoxins.

This shift can have far-reaching implications for your health. Endotoxemia, often resulting from this bacterial imbalance, is a significant underlying cause of septic shock — a condition that may be more prevalent than commonly recognized.

In fact, it could be a leading cause of death, surpassing even heart disease and cancer in some estimations. Many cases of heart disease or heart failure might actually be triggered by endotoxemia, underscoring the interconnectedness of your gut health and cardiovascular system.

To truly optimize your cholesterol levels and overall health, it’s essential to look beyond conventional metrics and instead consider the following tests for a more comprehensive understanding of your heart disease risk:

• Omega-3 index
• HDL/total cholesterol ratio
• Fasting insulin level
• Fasting blood sugar level
• Triglyceride/HDL ratio
• Iron level

This personalized approach, combined with strategies to improve mitochondrial function and maintain a healthy gut ecosystem, offers a more holistic path to cardiovascular health. By addressing these underlying factors, you can naturally optimize your cholesterol levels while supporting your overall well-being.

• ^{1, 2, 3, 5} Front. Endocrinol, 12 June 2024
• ^4, 6 Front. Endocrinol, 12 June 2024, Discussion
• ^7, 8 Lipids Health Dis. 2024; 23: 167
• ^9, 10, 11 Nutrients. 2023 Oct; 15(20): 4481
• ¹² Nutrients. 2023 Oct; 15(20): 4481, Discussion
• ^13, 14 Cancer Med. 2023 Nov; 12(22): 20964–20975
• ^15, 16 Cancer Med. 2023 Nov; 12(22): 20964–20975, Discussion
• ¹⁷ JAMA Internal Medicine June 10, 2024

But what do we do if we have to bug out? What if the situation gets so bad that we have to walk (or run) miles at a time, defend ourselves against thugs, carry enough water to get to the next supply, or anything else that requires a certain degree of physical fitness? We can’t run down to the gym and become buff in a matter of hours. Considering the state of the nation and the world, we need to be physically ready for whatever is to come and we need to do it as soon as possible.

Tens of millions of Americans are overweight and/or have health issues that are correctable. Now is the time to correct them. Why? Because if the crap hits the fan, the last thing anyone should want to be is victimized solely because they couldn’t lay off the Big Macs.

Never in our lifetimes have we, as a nation, been as close to catastrophe as we are today. That may be challenging for some to see because we often tend to judge the trajectory of our country based on the events unfolding around us in the moment. But those who are seeing threats and looking ahead to even worse scenarios likely realize that very bad times may be ahead.

Unfortunately, some of the existential threats we face can come in the very near future. Some can be sudden. For example, if there is an economic collapse prompted by a massive cyberattack on one of many vulnerable systems, we won’t have years, months, or even weeks to react. It’s possible that we’ll have mere days to get situated to weather the turmoil that will arise.

That’s not fearmongering. That’s a realistic assessment. And while I never encourage people to be guided by terror, I strongly believe that preparing for possible events is not only fruitful in case of catastrophe but can also relieve stress and improve quality of life today.

But all the food you have in your prepper pantry is worthless if you’re forced to vacate your home permanently. All the money in the bank will be meaningless if fiat currencies collapse or the banking system is compromised. As unnerving as it may be for some of us to imaging living on the go, we have to consider the possibility and prepare accordingly. That means being at the highest level of physical fitness that our age and health situation allows.

There are those who simply cannot get healthier. Perhaps they have conditions that prevent them from being active, eating well, or regulating their body’s algorithm. For those with uncorrectable mobility issues or who require access to ongoing treatments or medications, now is the time to research alternatives. There’s no guarantee that the pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals will be accessible or even operational. If you can’t run down to CVS tomorrow, do you have a plan? Perhaps you can stockpile certain chronic medications. Are there alternative treatments that you can implement in case of extended emergencies?

As for those who CAN get healthier, don’t wait. Procrastination is the most common murderer of good health intentions. Upon reading this article, it’s time to make a concerted effort to improve you health condition. Not tomorrow. Not in an hour. If you’ve made it this far into the article then you’re likely motivated to prepare. Your best changes of success will come if you commit to healthy lifestyle changes now.

And by “now,” I mean literally right now.

Do you need to lose weight? Build muscle? Improve mobility? Increase stamina? Chances are strong that the answer is “yes” to at least some if not all of those questions, not to mention the dozen other major healthcare questions that you need to answer for yourself. Commit today — RIGHT NOW — to staring the journey to improving your health. If you try your best, then you can more confidently prepare for the future, whether it’s dark or bright.

All of this was the preface to an article I wanted to share from Natural News. Just putting it out there without trying to encourage people to practice it just didn’t feel sufficient.

Before we get to the article, I wanted to highlight one of my sponsors, Jase Medical. They can help you stock up on long-term storage meds. Whether you want to stockpile antibiotics or get ahead on your supply of chronic medications, Jase can help. Use promo code “Rucker10” for $10 off.

Prepper Fitness: 10 Tips to Kickstart Your Fall Transformation

As a prepper, you should prioritize your overall health and fitness. This is important if you want to be strong enough to lift supplies, accomplish physically taxing chores around your homestead, or run fast if SHTF.

Even if disaster doesn’t strike, being physically active can do wonders for your health. Here are some tips to help you start or continue your exercise regimen as fall begins. (h/t to HuffPost.com)

Figure out your fitness goals

Start by figuring out your main fitness goals, then write them down. Do you want to improve your flexibility or your strength? Figuring out why you want to lose weight or become fit can help you stay committed and motivated to reach your weight loss goals.

Commit to your exercise regimen

According to research, people who make a public commitment are more likely to follow through with their goals. Telling your family and friends about your fitness or weight loss goals will help you stay accountable. The more people you share your fitness goals with, the greater the accountability.

Be safe and alert when exercising outdoors

Shorter days mean dark mornings and evenings, but this shouldn’t discourage you from an outdoor exercise regime. If you decide to exercise outdoors, wear the proper gear so you can stay safe. Wear reflective workout clothes and bring a flashlight to illuminate your path.

If you have a bike, invest in headlights and blinking tail lights and avoid heavy traffic roads. If you prefer an early morning or evening exercise routine, walk, jog or run at designated paths or go to the local school track.

Appreciate the beautiful fall foliage while exercising

Exercising will feel less like work if you are doing something you enjoy. When exercising during fall, try to relish the cooler weather and take advantage of outdoor activities before it gets too cold and you need to work out at home.

Try researching park trails nearby and go on hikes or go on a bike ride. If you want to try activities that are fun for the whole family, go apple picking or pumpkin gathering with your kids so you can also burn calories while creating lasting memories.

Wear several layers to stay warm

The change in season also means a change in climate. Depending on where you live, temperatures could gradually decrease or drastically dip. Remember this while you’re planning outdoor activities.

You can also invest in breathable, moisture-wicking clothing. While you may feel chilly at the start of your routine, your body will quickly warm up once your blood starts pumping so you don’t want to overdress either. If you want to go on cold morning runs, wear a hat to help insulate your head where you lose the most heat. (Related: Prepper fitness: 5 Easy exercises that can help you SURVIVE during emergencies.)

Use the right gear

You don’t need to break the bank when it comes to fall fitness. Working out at home means you can challenge your muscles with your own body weight. But you might want to consider some useful items, such as hand weights or resistance bands.

Try new activities

If your typical exercise routine is getting boring, you can try new sports and activities like swimming or boxing.

Exercise at home

If you’re too busy for an outdoor exercise routine, you can work out at home or somewhere in your homestead. Set aside at least 15 or 20 minutes every day, which is enough for a quick workout.

When you have less than half an hour of free time, get in a quick workout and do aerobics in your living room or go on a walk around the neighborhood.

Get a bike and try cycling

If you want to try something more challenging, start cycling. New bicycle models are usually released in September and dealers will sometimes offer discounts because they don’t want old models in their showrooms.

Bike manufacturers make updates to new models. However, in some cases, these updates are minimal, so buying an older model is the better choice.

Buy fall produce for less

If you don’t have a home garden, you can still enjoy tasty and nutritious meals by purchasing fall produce at lower prices.

Visit grocery stores and farmers’ markets for fresh fruits and vegetables such as apples, figs, pears, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and winter squash. In-season produce is very flavorful and cheaper than other options.

Alternatively, you can stock up on freeze-dried fruits and vegetables so you have access to your favorite produce year-round.

Where to buy supplies for your fall prepping needs

The Health Ranger Store is committed to helping you stay fit and healthy while you prep this fall.

That’s why we’re proud to introduce nutritious items like Freeze-Dried Organic Apple, Freeze-Dried Organic Whole Blueberries and Freeze-Dried Organic Mango Diced. Stock up on these items or use them to make healthy and delicious snacks you can enjoy this fall or year-round.

Organic apples are rich in essential nutrients and antioxidants that support overall health and well-being. The Health Ranger Store wants to help you experience the full nutritional benefits of organic apples, which is why we’re bringing you freeze-dried, organic, diced apples in long-term storable #10 cans.

Health Ranger Select Freeze-Dried Organic Diced Apples are made from fresh, high-quality apples that are grown under strict organic standards without the use of synthetic pesticides. Our freeze-dried apple pieces are non-GMO, certified Kosher and organic and are thoroughly lab-tested for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbes. Eat them as a snack, sprinkle them onto cereals, or rehydrate them by soaking them in water.

Organic blueberries are considered one of the most nutritious and antioxidant-rich fruits in the world.

Health Ranger Select Freeze-Dried Organic Whole Blueberries can be stored for up to 10-15 years, depending on storage conditions. Store the product in a dark, cool, low- are also full of essential nutrients, making them a healthy snack you can enjoy all year round. They have been carefully freeze-dried to preserve the taste, texture and nutrients of fresh produce without chemical preservatives. You can eat them directly or reconstitute them by adding water.

Health Ranger Select Freeze-Dried Organic Whole Blueberries contain no gluten or GMOs and have undergone extensive lab testing for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbiology. They are also vegan, non-China and certified Kosher and organic.

Lastly, you can try Freeze-Dried Organic Mango Diced (10.5oz, #10 can) (2-Pack) from the Health Ranger Store.

Freeze-Dried Organic Mango Diced must be stored in a dark, cool, low-humidity location so it can last for an extended duration. Note that heat, humidity and light will degrade all storable foods.

Our freeze-dried mango pieces are grown in Mexico under strict organic standards. You can enjoy them as a snack or rehydrate them before adding them to desserts or other dishes by soaking them in water.

Visit Health Ranger Store and Brighteon Store to find more prepping products. You can also visit MensFitnessFocus.com to read more tips for improving your fitness before SHTF.

Click on this link for a tasty recipe for homemade Apple Cinnamon Protein Muffins that you can enjoy before or after your fall workouts.

Watch this video to learn why Organic Mangoes are an excellent source of nutrition. This video is from the Health Ranger Store channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

• Emergency preparedness: Foods to stockpile for any situation.
• Study: Betalains in beets can help reduce fatigue and boost athletic performance.
• Prepping 101: 4 Essential tips for new preppers.
• Boosting your flexibility can help you live longer, study finds.

Sources include:

• HuffPost.com
• Healthline.com
• HealthRangerStore.com 1
• HealthRangerStore.com 2
• HealthRangerStore.com 3
• HealthRangerStore.com 4
• HealthRangerStore.com 5
• Brighteon.com

• I recently spoke at the Ron Paul Institute, sharing how modern medicine is heavily influenced by pharmaceutical companies, leading to an overreliance on prescriptions rather than addressing root causes of disease. This approach has resulted in poor health outcomes despite high health care spending
• I shared an overview of my new book that comes out next month, Your Guide to Cellular Health, which is now available for preorder on Amazon
• Three major threats to cellular energy production include consumption of seed oils, exposure to plastics containing endocrine disruptors and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from wireless technologies. These factors disrupt mitochondrial function
• Gut health is intricately linked to mitochondrial function. Damaged mitochondria cannot properly remove oxygen from your intestines, allowing harmful bacteria to flourish and produce endotoxins that further compromise health
• Despite current health challenges, future developments, including AI-powered health guidance systems and a growing movement toward understanding and addressing the true causes of disease, offer hope

(Mercola)—I recently had the privilege of speaking at the Ron Paul Institute, addressing a room full of courageous individuals who are standing up for truth and freedom in these challenging times. It was an honor to share my insights and passion for health with such an engaged audience.

You can listen to my speech in its entirety above, as I share the culmination of my decades of research into the true causes of disease and premature death, along with groundbreaking insights that can transform your health and longevity.

The Courage to Stand Up for Truth

I began by acknowledging the bravery of those in attendance. As an example, I highlighted Mike, the event’s recording technician, who lost his job for refusing to take the COVID jab. This kind of courage is exactly what we need more of in society today.

For over 50 years, I’ve been passionately pursuing the truth about health and technology. This journey has led me to write 18 bestselling books and build one of the world’s largest natural health websites. However, my work has also made me a target of the mainstream media and medical establishment.

As I shared with the audience, the biggest honor I ever achieved in my life was being named the No. 1 source of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. While said somewhat tongue-in-cheek, this “honor” underscores how threatening truthful information is to those controlling the narrative.

The Corruption of Modern Medicine

Let me be clear: modern medicine has been hijacked. It’s controlled primarily by pharmaceutical companies and has been thoroughly corrupted, tracing back to the influence of John D. Rockefeller. Medical schools teach doctors to follow rigid protocols focused on diagnosing conditions and prescribing medications or surgical interventions, without addressing the true, foundational causes of disease.

Society is now so reliant on pharmaceuticals that 6.3 billion prescriptions are filled every year in the U.S. That’s 17 prescriptions per year for every American.¹ These pharmaceuticals are not improving public health, however. Despite spending $4.5 trillion annually on health care,² the U.S. has some of the worst health outcomes among developed nations.

The Unified Theory of Cellular Health

The core of my speech focused on what I call the unified theory of health. This theory, which I’ve developed over decades and detail in my upcoming book “Your Guide to Cellular Health,” explains why people get sick and die prematurely.

The fundamental issue is that your cells are not producing enough energy. This energy, in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), is critical for every function in your body. Without energy, your cells can’t repair and regenerate themselves.

Our bodies produce energy through a fascinating process that starts with the sun. The sun’s energy is converted into chemical bonds in our food, which we then break down and transport to our cells. Inside our cells, we have these incredible structures called mitochondria — they’re like tiny power plants.

These mitochondria produce ATP, which is basically the energy currency of our bodies. To give a sense of scale, a healthy person produces about 200 million quadrillion ATP molecules per second — that’s a two followed by 21 zeros. If you were to weigh all the ATP molecules you produce in a day, it would be roughly equivalent to your body weight. However, that’s if you’re healthy. In reality, most people are only making half their body weight in ATP daily.

The Three Major Threats to Cellular Energy

So why aren’t we producing enough energy? There are three primary factors decimating our cellular energy production:

1.Seed oils (vegetable oils) — I cannot overstate the damage caused by the consumption of processed seed oils, which are ubiquitous in the modern diet. These oils, high in linoleic acid, wreak havoc on your mitochondria. I even called out the catering at the event itself, noting that nearly everything served was damaging to mitochondrial health — including alcohol, which is a mitochondrial poison.

2.Plastics — The proliferation of plastics in our environment is another major threat. I shared a startling projection. By 2060, it’s anticipated that we will be producing 1.3 billion tons of plastic annually.³

These plastics last for hundreds of years and are incredibly dangerous because they disrupt our hormonal systems, particularly by activating estrogen receptors. This leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and contributes to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, obesity and other chronic diseases.

3.Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) — The rapid increase in EMF exposure from wireless technologies is the third major threat to your cellular health. EMFs, like seed oils and plastics, increase calcium ion concentrations within your cells, leading to the production of damaging free radicals.

The Gut-Mitochondria Connection

Another critical piece of the health puzzle is the relationship between mitochondrial function and gut health. When mitochondria are damaged, they can’t properly remove oxygen from your intestines. This allows harmful bacteria to flourish, producing endotoxins that further damage your health.

A thriving intestinal ecosystem encompasses a wide range of microorganisms that collaborate to safeguard your health. Cultivating beneficial oxygen-intolerant bacteria, including key species such as Akkermansia, enhances your gut’s defense mechanisms and creates an environment conducive to overall well-being.

These advantageous bacteria break down dietary fibers to generate short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate. Butyrate serves as nourishment for your colon’s epithelial cells, fortifying the intestinal barrier. SCFAs also encourage mucin production, establishing a protective layer against harmful bacteria.

A decrease in oxygen-intolerant bacteria results in heightened intestinal permeability, commonly known as leaky gut. This condition allows toxins, partially digested food particles and harmful microbes to penetrate your bloodstream, initiating systemic inflammation and long-term health complications.

Oxygen-intolerant bacteria play a crucial role in transforming indigestible plant fibers into beneficial fats. They flourish in an oxygen-free environment, which necessitates sufficient cellular energy to maintain. However, the factors mentioned above — seed oil consumption, exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in plastics and EMFs — hinder this energy production, making it challenging to sustain the ideal oxygen-free gut environment.

Further, in my opinion, a primary cause of death is endotoxemia leading to septic shock. This occurs when endotoxin is secreted by facultative anaerobes, also referred to as oxygen-tolerant bacteria, which should not be present in your gut.

These pathogenic bacteria produce a highly potent form of endotoxin, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which triggers inflammation if it crosses your compromised gut barrier into systemic circulation. Consequently, leaky gut or an imbalanced microbiome is one of the fundamental causes underlying all diseases.

The Path Forward: We Will Win

Despite the grim picture painted by these health threats, we will ultimately prevail in this battle for health freedom and truth. Regarding the censorship and suppression I and many others have faced from tech giants like Google, their power is waning. In a lawsuit, the U.S. Department of Justice declared Google a monopoly,⁴ and there’s going to be an avalanche of additional lawsuits against them.

This creates an opportunity for new, more ethical technologies to emerge. I’m at the forefront of developing AI tools that will revolutionize how we access and interact with health information.

This system will leverage cutting-edge technology to make personalized, evidence-based health guidance accessible to billions of people around the world. I’m particularly excited about the AI-powered system we’re developing that will allow individuals to engage in real-time, personalized conversations about their health, drawing from the vast body of scientific literature.

This technology has the potential to revolutionize not just health care, but education as a whole. It’s a one-to-one, individualized approach that will transform how we learn and understand complex information. I want to emphasize how crucial it is for you to take control of your own health. This starts with understanding what you’re putting into your body, particularly through diet.

A Movement for True Health

My speech at the Ron Paul Institute was an opportunity to share the culmination of my life’s work in health and technology. The enthusiasm and engagement from the audience reinforced my belief that we are on the cusp of a health revolution.

By understanding the true causes of disease — particularly the threats to our cellular energy production — and leveraging new technologies to spread this knowledge, we can create a world where vibrant health is the norm, not the exception.

I left the event more motivated than ever to continue this fight for health freedom and truth. Together, we can and will transform the landscape of health and medicine, empowering individuals to take control of their well-being and live life to its fullest potential.

Our goals are ambitious. We’re not just talking about health care — we’re talking about replacing plastics with biodegradable alternatives, destroying industrial agriculture and completely transforming our food system. Because at the end of the day, food is medicine. Remember, knowledge is power, but only when it’s applied.

Take what you’ve learned here, dive deeper into the resources I’ve mentioned and start taking control of your health today. Also, keep an eye out for my book “Your Guide to Cellular Health,” which will be released in October. Together, we can create a healthier, more vibrant world — one person, one cell, one mitochondrion at a time.

The Revolutionary Path to Healing and Longevity

“Your Guide to Cellular Health: Unlocking the Science of Longevity and Joy” is not just a manual — it’s your passport to a revolution in personal wellness. This comprehensive guide will empower you with life-changing knowledge to help unlock your body’s innate healing abilities and achieve lasting vitality. This isn’t about quick fixes or temporary solutions. It’s about fundamentally transforming your health at its very foundation — your cells.

One of the many paradigm-shifting concepts that I explored in-depth throughout the book is a revolutionary approach to carbohydrate consumption that may challenge your preconceptions. In the follow section, I’ll give you a glimpse of this groundbreaking content.

Keep in mind that this represents only a fraction of the innovative strategies and insights waiting for you in the full text. Let this serve as a tantalizing preview of the transformative knowledge you’ll learn in this book.

Carbs Made Simple: A Color-Coded System to Guide Your Gut Health Journey

The method that I discuss in my book ranks carbohydrates based on their impact on your biology, specifically in relation to your gut health. This approach recognizes that the traditional complex vs. simple carb dichotomy likely does not tell the whole story when it comes to individual health outcomes.

Instead, it suggests that the relationship between your gut health and carbohydrate metabolism could be key to unlocking improved overall wellness. It’s not about following a one-size-fits-all diet, but rather about understanding how your unique gut biology interacts with different types of carbohydrates.

Surprisingly, for many people, this approach favors simple carbs over complex ones. This is because they usually have less-than-optimal gut health. If you have a compromised gut system and you consume complex carbs, the fiber and prebiotics in these carbs can feed oxygen-tolerant gut bacteria and worsen your symptoms.

The following chart breaks down several types of carbohydrate sources and how they fit into this plan. We can categorize them into three groups: green, yellow and red.

In the green category are the most easily digestible simple carbs that provide quick energy without overtaxing your compromised digestive system. You will focus on these carbs initially, because simple carbs provide a quick energy boost for your cells and mitochondria. It’s like giving your body’s energy factories an immediate fuel injection, while allowing your gut to rest and heal at the same time.

Next is the yellow category, which includes carbs that offer more nutrients and fiber compared to the green category, yet are still relatively easy on the digestive system. Finally the red category, the most complex carbs, offers many health benefits but can be challenging for a compromised gut to handle.

So how can you begin implementing this approach? If you have severely compromised gut health, start with pure sugar water. This is a temporary measure to jumpstart the healing process. Mix one-half pound, up to a full pound, of pure dextrose (glucose) into a half gallon of water and sip it slowly all day. Don’t drink more than an ounce at a time to avoid spiking your insulin.

Once your gut health has improved, you can switch your primary carb source to whole foods. More than likely, you’ll also need to eat more frequently than you’re used to during this transition to avoid hypoglycemia. Eating every three to four hours, with snacks throughout the day, is crucial when relying on simple carbs for energy.

As your mitochondrial energy production continues to improve and your gut starts to heal, you will begin the transition back to complex carbs. This is a slow and steady process — don’t rush it.

Once you’re able to include more complex carbohydrates in your diet, you’ll start to notice significant benefits. You’ll be able to extend the time between meals to between four and six hours, and many people find they can comfortably switch to a three-meals-a-day approach. This is because complex carbs digest more slowly, providing a steady stream of energy.

• ¹ Demography. 2023 Oct 1; 60(5): 1549–1579
• ² American Medical Association July 9, 2024
• ³ Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) June 3, 2022
• ⁴ Ars Technica September 9, 2024