Healthy Talk

Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans. Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know: I have a history of depression and my family is moving to Montana. I've read that depression happens more in higher elevations (we're currently living in Houston). If this is the case, what can I do? There was a study published in March 2015 in High Altitude Medicine and Biology that said there is an increase of depression at higher elevations. In the study, rats were exposed to high altitude conditions (both simulated and real), and they increased depression-like behavior. Dr. Mike suggests doing a few things to help prevent depression like symptoms, such as taking tryptophan, lysine, and saffron supplements. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.

According to a recent study, eating organic food (even occasionally) has some major benefits to your health.When browsing food at your grocery store, you might have noticed the major difference in price between organic and non-organic food.This can cause you to avoid organic foods, or only buy them selectively. Fortunately, you don't have to buy all organic, all the time.According to a new study, eating organically (even occasionally) has some major health benefits.The results of this study were published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.Listen in as Dr. Mike shares more about this study and the benefits of eating organic food.

According to a recent study, eating organic food (even occasionally) has some major benefits to your health.When browsing food at your grocery store, you might have noticed the major difference in price between organic and non-organic food. This can cause you to avoid organic foods, or only buy them selectively. Fortunately, you don't have to buy all organic, all the time. According to a new study, eating organically (even occasionally) has some major health benefits. The results of this study were published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Listen in as Dr. Mike shares more about this study and the benefits of eating organic food.

Will the constant change of technology impact the way you visit your doctor?When you're feeling ill or are in need of a check-up, the typical protocol is to schedule an appointment with your doctor. More than likely, it won't be right away.What if there was a way to have access to your doctor on demand?Dr. Pat Basu joins Dr. Mike to discuss telemedicine and how the future of your doctor visits might be changing.

Will the constant change of technology impact the way you visit your doctor?When you're feeling ill or are in need of a check-up, the typical protocol is to schedule an appointment with your doctor. More than likely, it won't be right away. What if there was a way to have access to your doctor on demand? Dr. Pat Basu joins Dr. Mike to discuss telemedicine and how the future of your doctor visits might be changing.

Can you get benefits from eating flowers?Flowers are beautiful to look at and can actually be beneficial to your health. Many flowers are packed with powerful nutrients. An article posted on the Life Extension website shares the many health benefits of five flowers.RosesRose water is a common ingredient that's used in Indian and Middle Eastern food. Roses are loaded with vitamin C.MarigoldsMarigolds contain high levels of carotenoids and can help prevent macular degeneration.CalendulaCalendula contains anti-inflammatory properties.OsmanthusResearch has shown that osmanthus can reduce congestion in your throat.ChamomileChamomile has tons of antioxidants, can induce sleep and relaxation, and also has anti-cancer effects.Listen in as Dr. Mike shares these and other powerful benefits associated with flowers.

Can you get benefits from eating flowers?Flowers are beautiful to look at and can actually be beneficial to your health. Many flowers are packed with powerful nutrients. An article posted on the Life Extension website shares the many health benefits of five flowers. Roses Rose water is a common ingredient that's used in Indian and Middle Eastern food. Roses are loaded with vitamin C. Marigolds Marigolds contain high levels of carotenoids and can help prevent macular degeneration. Calendula Calendula contains anti-inflammatory properties. Osmanthus Research has shown that osmanthus can reduce congestion in your throat. Chamomile Chamomile has tons of antioxidants, can induce sleep and relaxation, and also has anti-cancer effects. Listen in as Dr. Mike shares these and other powerful benefits associated with flowers.

Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans. Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know: My eye doctor wants to add copper to my supplement regimen. He couldn't remember the name of it; can you help? Dr. Mike has found an age-related eye disease clinical study that uses copper. There were 4,000 subjects and 3,640 took a supplement with copper. Researchers found that the participants who were taking the copper supplement reduced risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 25 percent. Dr. Mike also suggests omega-3 fats and COQ10 to add to the health of your eyes. I like to refrigerate my fish oil soft gels. Sometimes I forget and leave them out. Will the condensation that forms ruin the soft gels? As long as the oils are not leaking out, then it shouldn't be a problem. However, you want to make sure that the fish oil supplement you're taking doesn't require refrigeration, because that might mean it's not the best quality and you should consider taking a different product. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.

What are the top three things you can expect when eating a paleo diet?A few years ago, going paleo was the latest trend in dieting. Even though the modern day paleo diet isn't as strict as the diet followed by your cave men and women ancestors (since you're allowed to eat healthy carbs like sweet potatoes), it might be the healthiest choice in eating. Eating paleo the right way has major health benefits. For example, removing processed foods from your diet can help resolve autoimmune disorders, blood sugar disorders like diabetes, and even help fight depression. What are the top three things you can expect when eating a paleo diet? Paleo cardiologist, Dr. Jack Wolfson, shares the three things to expect when following a paleo diet.

The modern day paleo diet is a little less strict than what your ancestors followed years ago.The paleo diet is also known as the "hunter-gatherer" diet and is similar to the way your ancestors ate centuries ago as cave dwellers. But, in today's unhealthy and toxic food world, is today's paleo diet as healthy as the paleo diet from years ago? Dr. Jack Wolfson joins Dr. Mike to discuss today's paleo diet and how it differs from the paleo diet of years ago.

Is parabiosis the answer to preserving your youth?It seems like everyone is trying to find the secret to aging. Through skin creams, serums, foods, and supplements, the hunt for the fountain of youth has been ongoing for many years. However, what if science could transfer hormones, stem cells, and growth factors from young people to older people in order to preserve youth? Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the latest research on the fountain of youth, including the science of parabiosis.

Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans. Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know: Have you heard or used apitherapy for arthritis? It sounds interesting, but I'm not sure if it's based off of science. Apitherapy is the medical use of bee products like honey, pollen, beeswax, and bee venom. Fortunately, there is some evidence showing that bee venom has been used for centuries. There's also research showing that bee stings improve symptoms of osteoarthritis, as well as bee venom and acupuncture to relieve arthritis pain. There's some growing research on both apitherapy and stem cell therapy to help ease arthritis. My mom is in the hospital with a kidney infection. Her doctors are measuring her urine. They tell me her output is normal, but it's not a lot. What's a normal urine output? A healthy person makes about one mL of urine every minute. So, in about one hour you should have about 60 mL. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.

Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans. Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know: I'm confused. During your show on anxiety, your friend says to say "no" to anxiety but then later goes on to say to accept the anxiety. Which is it? Dr. Mike sees the confusion. What the guest meant was that when she felt anxiety coming on, if she tried to fight it, it would be worse. Saying "no" to anxiety isn't a denial of the anxiety; it's saying no to the panic and not letting it take over. I never know what to think about ascorbic acid (vitamin C). On one hand, you have people that devote their lives to it and other fitness gurus that are against it and only want people to take a whole food form of ascorbic acid. What are your thoughts? To Dr. Mike, it doesn't really matter; it's all vitamin C and you need at least 2,000 mg a day. However, Dr. Mike thinks it's best to get your vitamins from whole foods, if you're able. You hear everyday how we are using hand sanitizers too much. They say it will alter your microbiome, they bring up triglycine as an invasive antibacteria. I use ethyl alcohol in the form of Purell. I think the idea is that we need the bacteria on our hands for our gut microbiome. I don't think I need the bacteria from the Walmart shopping cart, or the bacteria from the airplanes. I have no problem from the bacteria from the dirt in my garden, my dogs, my family. Should people stop using antibacterials if you already take probiotics? Can hand sanitizer alter gut bacteria? Dr. Mike does think we, as a society, do oversanitize. The immune system is really based on the concept of hormesis, which is the theory that a little bit of a stressor goes a long way and it stimulates protective processes in your body. So, in this case, if you oversanitize, you're dampening the needed stimulus for your immune system. A little bacteria isn't a bad thing. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.

What's does it mean to have a happy place?When life gets overwhelming, chaotic, and stressful, you might feel more than just a little on edge. Trying to find an oasis where you feel relaxed can be difficult, but it's crucial for your health. A happy place, no matter where that may be, is indeed a warm, stress-free, and blissful place. Having a place like this allows you to disconnect and take time for yourself. Co-Founder and Editorial Director of Live Happy LLC, Deborah Heisz, shares how you can find your happy place, as well as why it is so important to be able to escape once in a while.

Family bonding is just one of the many wonderful "side effects" of traveling with your kids.When life seems to be getting a little draining, traveling sounds like a great way to "escape." Traveling with children may seem like a stressful task, but it doesn't have to be. In fact, it may surprise you to know there are some benefits to getting away as a family. Put a pause on your non-stop, chaotic life and enjoy simple moments with your family through maximizing your down time, disconnecting and taking time to reflect. What are the health benefits of traveling with kids? Co-Founder and Editorial Director of Live Happy LLC, Deborah Heisz, joins Dr. Mike to discuss the benefits of traveling with kids.