Talk Healthy Today

Lack of shut-eye is taking its toll on professional relationships, family life and public safety.Millions of Americans aren't getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night, and their lack of shut-eye is taking its toll on professional relationships, family life and public safety. It’s even putting a damper on their sex lives, according to a Sleep in America poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF). If you’re one of them, you know the price insomnia can take on your life. But, chronic sleeplessness can also significantly impact your health. When you sleep soundly, your body is able to repair muscles, release hormones, bolster immunity and energize your cells. Getting enough sleep affects the ability to concentrate, as well as mood and even weight. It also affects how your body ages. Cheryl Myers, RN, teams up with Dr. Jeff to give you some effective tips for falling asleep (and staying asleep) naturally.

Inflammation is not something you can see or feel, yet it can quietly simmer inside your body for years.It’s not something you can see or feel, yet it can quietly simmer inside your body for years. When it does eventually appear, you probably won’t make the connection between this insidious condition and the diagnoses of heart disease, diabetes or cancer. The “it” is inflammation, the body’s natural response against injury and infection. When the inflammatory response functions as it should, it helps to heal. But if it gets out of control, it can wreak widespread havoc on your health. Health expert Cheryl Myers joins Dr. Jeff to discuss the many ways low-level inflammation can undermine good health and the easy things you can do to keep this invisible threat in check.

Discover how you can relieve TMJ pain and improve joint function naturally.Most of us have experienced a jaw that “pops” when we yawn. Imagine having pain and even stiffness every time you open your mouth. That’s what people with TMJ problems experience (formally known as temporomandibular joint disorders). Dr. Jeff shares the low-down on how the temporomandibular joint works, as well as what can go wrong with this critical joint that connects your jawbone to your skull. Plus, he discusses the many ways you can help relieve the pain and improve joint function naturally, including dietary supplements and relaxation techniques.

When foot problems strike, it’s often all you can think about.Your feet are probably the most used and abused parts of the body, and they are likely the most neglected. But, when foot problems strike, it’s often all you can think about. From foot pain to ingrown toenails and athlete’s foot, Dr. Jeff gives listeners the 411 on the causes of common foot complaints, as well as natural ways to help you ease the discomfort and get back on your feet fast.

Discover all-natural ways to lower your risk of cancer.Cancer. For most people, it’s a word that’s all-too-familiar. Likely you know someone who has been diagnosed with some form of the disease. Or, perhaps you have waged a personal battle against the Big C. The news isn’t all grim. Naturopath Cheryl Myers joins Dr. Jeff for an enlightening discussion on all-natural ways to lower your risk of cancer; from smart dietary choices and adopting healthy habits to the best supplements. When it comes to cancer, there are no guarantees. But, being proactive about prevention may just give you the edge you need.

While there’s nothing you can do to stop the accumulation of candles on your birthday cake, how you age is largely within your control.Growing older. It’s an inevitable part of life. While there’s nothing you can do to stop the accumulation of candles on your birthday cake, how you age is largely within your control. Healthy aging means continually reinventing yourself, finding new things you enjoy, adopting healthy habits, and staying physically and mentally active. And, dietary supplements can play a key role in aging well. What should you be taking? Integrative health guru Cheryl Myers joins Dr. Jeff to help you navigate your local health food store and put together a plan that will help you thrive with each passing birthday.

If you suffer from restless leg syndrome (RLS), sleep can become just a dream.All you want is a good night’s sleep. But, if you suffer from restless leg syndrome (RLS), sleep can become just a dream. Many people with RLS say that, when they sit or lay down, it can feel like there are bugs crawling around inside their muscles. Others complain of pain, tingling, tightness, itching, aching, and burning sensations in their legs. Sometimes, the feeling defies description. More often than not, the only way sufferers can find relief is by moving their legs, and this can go on all night long. Join Dr. Jeff as he explains this frustrating condition and offers up natural nutritional solutions to ease the discomfort.

When a headache strikes, it can feel like your brain is caught in a vise grip.When a headache strikes, it can feel like your brain is caught in a vise grip. And, while 40 million Americans suffer from at least one headache a week, if it’s your head that’s pounding, you don’t find much comfort in numbers. From sinus headaches to migraines, Dr. Jeff discusses the 411 on the different types of headaches, as well as how everyday factors like stress, eating certain foods, and even the weather can trigger that pounding pain. He also shares some great tips on ways to head off a headache and steps you can take for those unavoidable episodes.

Atherosclerosis is a slowly developing condition that can damage your arteries, eventually setting you up for a heart attack or stroke.Atherosclerosis is sneaky. It’s a slowly developing condition that can damage your arteries, eventually setting you up for a heart attack or stroke. Board certified nutritionist and clinical pharmacist James LaValle joins Dr. Jeff to help listeners understand how atherosclerosis develops and why it can be such a deadly health threat. He also teases out the hereditary and lifestyle factors that can put you at risk. But, it’s not all bad news. According to LaValle, making some simple lifestyle swaps can reduce your risk of atherosclerosis and enhance your overall cardiovascular health.

What are some lifestyle changes you can make now to avoid heart disease later?James LaValle joins Dr. Jeff Burke with easy ways to prevent and possibly even reverse atherosclerosis; from picking the right foods to adopting a healthy exercise program. He also discusses other lifestyle changes that can have a positive impact on blood pressure, including targeted nutrients such as aged garlic extract and coenzyme Q10. Studies show that CoQ10 can help prevent plaque formation that causes arteries to become narrowed and stiff.

It’s that time of year again when kids groan and parents secretly cheer.It’s that time of year again when kids groan and parents secretly cheer. Going back to school brings a flurry of activity: school shopping, orientations, organizing carpools, getting to know new teachers, and trying to mesh school, work, and extra-curricular activity schedules. But, the back-to-school season also brings concerns about our kids’ health. Dr. Diane Angela Fong, ND, provides parents the real scoop on keeping kids healthy as they head back to class. From common bugs that seem to spread across campuses like wildfire to student stress and lack of sleep, discover the health factors that can undermine student performance.

Dr. Diane Angela Fong joins Dr. Jeff to share easy survival tips for parents as kids head back to school.Dr. Diane Angela Fong joins Dr. Jeff to share easy survival tips for parents as kids head back to school. From the simple acts of hand washing and coughing in your sleeve to managing the stress of too much homework or an overscheduled activity calendar, Dr. Fong offers practical ways for kids to thrive. She also discusses how homeopathic and naturopathic remedies can keep many common childhood illnesses at bay. Plus, learn simple ways to circumvent that school lunch lady with healthy ideas to fuel all that learning.

Are senior moments really part of the normal process of aging?Oh, those senior moments. Yes, they can be frustrating, but are they really part of the normal process of aging? To a certain extent, they are. Here’s why: as we age blood flow to the brain decreases, causing our brain to utilize oxygen and protein less efficiently. In addition, aging brain cells don’t communicate with each other as well as they once did, making it harder for the brain to process thoughts, retain short-term memory, and create new cells. But, having an occasional memory lapse or needing more time to process new information doesn’t always mean that your brain is suffering from old age. Brenda Fonseca from Kemin Human Nutrition and Health joins Dr. Jeff to discuss how aging impacts cognition and memory, as well as other factors that can temporarily knock us off your mental edge.

Memory lapses can occur at any age, but we tend to get more upset by them as we get older because we fear they’re a sign of dementia, or loss of mental acuity.Maybe you’ve gone into the kitchen and don’t remember why, or you can’t recall a familiar name during a conversation. You may have even missed an appointment because it slipped your mind. Memory lapses can occur at any age, but we tend to get more upset by them as we get older because we fear they’re a sign of dementia, or loss of mental acuity. Dr. Jeff welcomes researcher Brenda Fonseca to discuss the nutrients that can foster brain health, as well as healthy habits that can help to boost your memory and brain power at every age.

Do you suffer from seemingly random gastrointestinal problems, skin outbreaks, headaches, joint pain, or mood swings?Do you suffer from seemingly random gastrointestinal problems, skin outbreaks, headaches, joint pain, or mood swings? Have your doctors looked for a cause, only to come up empty? Have some even suggested that it’s “all in your head"? Rest assured, it’s not. Instead, you may be suffering from a food sensitivity. Tune in as Dr. Jeff welcomes Roger Deutsch, the man behind the Alcat Food Sensitivity Test, to discover how food can illicit an adverse immune response in some people. Learn how food sensitivities can affect your health and even your weight. And, get clued in on the difference between a food sensitivity, a food intolerance, and a true food allergy... and how you can find out where you fit.