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Removing built-up toxins from your body is often the first step towards feeling better and living healthier.Although you may lose some weight in the process of proper detoxification, there is a bigger benefit with detox programs. These benefits involve the overall health of your body and making sure it is functioning optimally in overstressed, over-toxic environments. Brenda Watson joins Dr. Mike to discuss safe and effective ways to detox.

If you can't properly digest food, absorb nutrients, and eliminate waste, you simply won't be optimally healthy.The Diva of Digestion, Brenda Watson, discusses how to improve the three basic systems of your digestive track: digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste. Brenda's high-energy, no-nonsense approach to bodily functions has made her a popular presenter on PBS and a frequent health expert on national television. She joins Dr. Mike to share her best tips for improving your digestive system and overall health.

Learn about two dangerous environmental toxins and how you can protect yourself and your loved ones from their damaging effects.Phthalates and triclosan are two common environmental toxins considered safe by the EPA. What the EPA seems to be ignoring, however, is that these toxins are doing irreversible damage to your body. Dr. Mike discusses what these toxins are, how they cause disease, and natural ways to protect you and your family from their toxic effects.

A concussion should not only take a student athlete off the playing field – it may also require a break from the classroom.A concussion should not only take a student athlete off the playing field – it may also require a break from the classroom, according to a new clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). In the clinical report, Returning to Learning Following a Concussion, released Sunday, Oct. 27 at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, the AAP offers guidance to pediatricians caring for children and adolescents after suffering a concussion. "Students appear physically normal after a concussion, so it may be difficult for teachers and administrators to understand the extent of the child's injuries and recognize the potential need for academic adjustments," said Mark Halstead, MD, FAAP, a lead author of the clinical report. "But we know that children who've had a concussion may have trouble learning new material and remembering what they've learned, and returning to academics may worsen concussion symptoms." Join Dr. Halstead as he explains the many complications of post-concussion in the classroom.

Do your kids constantly fight with each other? Learn how you can keep the calm in your house by encouraging sibling bonds.Nearly every parent with more than one child has experienced the frustration of sibling rivalry. Despite your best attempts to keep harmony in the family, brothers and sisters will fight over toys, tattle on one another, argue, tease, criticize or become physically abusive. You may ask yourself, "What have I done wrong? Why can't our household be peaceful?" As annoying and upsetting as this rivalry can be, it is quite normal. Some jealousy and friction between siblings is a part of growing up, although it can be worse in some families than in others. There are some things you can do, however, to reduce the conflict that arises between siblings. For instance, It is often best to let them work out their differences as long as they do so calmly. Be sure to give them their personal space and be consistent when disciplining in order to avoid feelings of favoritism. Special guest from the AAP, Dr. David Hill, MD, shares his best advice on sibling rivalry and gives you tips on how you can keep the calm in your house.

Could your family's media use be damaging to their health? Get them back on track with a media use plan.Excessive media use in children has been associated with obesity, lack of sleep, school problems, aggression and other behavior issues. A recent study shows that the average 8- to 10-year-old spends nearly eight hours a day with various media outlets, and older children and teens spend more than 11 hours per day. Kids who have a TV in their bedroom spend more time with media, for obvious reasons. Approximately 75 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds have cell phones, and nearly all teenagers use text messaging. The concern over this excessive media use is two-fold: the amount of time spent with screens is one issue, and the content they are viewing is another. On the positive side, pro-social media not only can help children and teens learn facts, but it can also help teach empathy, racial and ethnic tolerance, and a whole range of interpersonal skills. The AAP has expressed concerns about the amount of time children and teenagers spend with media, and about some of the content they are viewing. In response, the organization has released a policy statement which offers recommendations for parents. Dr. David Hill, MD, shares tips on how to take an active role in your children's media education by co-viewing programs with them , discussing values and creating a family media use plan.

From TV to smart phones, "24/7 media exposure" dominates the lives of U.S. children and families. What can you do to change the trend?From TV to smart phones and social media, the lives of U.S. children and families are dominated by 24/7 media exposure. Despite this, few children and teens actually have rules around their media use. While media by itself is not the leading cause of any health problem in the U.S., it can contribute to numerous health risks. At the same time, kids can learn many positive things from pro-social media. For nearly three decades, the AAP has expressed concerns about the amount of time that children and teenagers spend with media, as well as about the content they are viewing, In this segment of Healthy Children, Dr. Vic Strasburger, MD, discusses the updated policy statement on children, adolescents and media, and what that means for your family. He also shares tips on how you can help your kids learn from the media they are viewing.

Cleaning your house: side effects may include a healthier heart, reduced colds and flu, and even weight loss.You don't need it to be spring to give your house a good cleaning. And guess what? Doing so has more benefits than just a tidy closet. In fact, cleaning your house can be extremely healthy for you. Not only can it help with allergies and ward off colds and flu, but it can be good for your heart. Physical exertion from scrubbing floors, vacuuming, and even folding laundry can burn calories, reduce stress and get your heart pumping. And, cleaning out your pantry may not burn as many calories in the act itself; but it gives you a chance to start anew with healthy, fresh foods. Join special guest, Richard Cotton, MS, as he shares creative tips to getting healthy... simply by cleaning your house.

The leaves are falling and snow is coming. Don't dread the chores, use them as your free personal trainer.The leaves are falling, and snow is coming. You may dread the sound of those words. But instead, why not delight in them? Why not see the change in seasons as an opportunity to workout for free, while making your home area clean and tidy? Shoveling snow and raking leaves is a great form of exercise, making use of many of your muscle groups. Other activities, such as winterizing your home and yard also are great calorie burners. The next thing you know, you've gotten in shape. Richard Cotton, MS, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss all the ways you can use the coming months as a venue for improving your health, fitness and overall wellness.

Pets and music may not sound like they go together. Surprisingly, they both hold enormous benefits for your heart.If you have pets, you know that your furry friends can help reduce stress, make you smile and get you moving. But did you know they can also be good for your heart? What about music? You know that it can make you smile, cry and dance around. It, too, can be an incredible heart health booster. Melanie Cole, MS, and sports cardiologist John Higgins, MD, share the benefits of pets and music -- not just on your heart health, but your overall wellness too.

Did you know that there might be financial incentives to losing weight? That's right, you might actually be able to save money by dropping pounds.There are plenty of health incentives to losing weight... reduced risk of heart disease and other deadly conditions, more energy, better sleep, just to name a few. But what if you could reap financial incentives for shedding extra pounds? If you have 30 or more pounds to lose, there are financial benefits for which you may be eligible. Before you jump into a diet and exercise regimen, however, you need to consider safety. For instance, if you are overweight or obese, certain exercises may be dangerous for you to perform right off the bat. Slow and steady is the way to start, until you develop more athleticism and endurance. Special guest and sports cardiologist, John Higgins, MD, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the safest ways to exercise if you have more than 30 pounds to lose, as well as the incredible financial incentives waiting for you.

More than 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths are caused by drowsy driving each year. It is even considered to be more dangerous than drunk driving.If you have a long car trip planned but feel like you're too tired to drive, you shouldn't be getting behind the wheel. Driving drowsy can make you less attentive, slow your reaction time and affect your ability to make quick decisions. Recent research has shown that drowsy driving causes even more damage than drunk driving. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Association, more than 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths are caused by drowsy driving annually. Most of these accidents occur between the hours of 1-6 am, since your internal clock isn't fighting you to stay awake. The National Sleep Foundation conducted a poll and found that 60 percent of adult drivers say they have driven while they've felt drowsy. More than a third reported they have fallen asleep behind the wheel, with four percent of those resulting in a car accident, or an "almost" accident. Epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and part of CDC's Sleep Health Program, Dr. Anne Wheaton, PhD, discusses why you shouldn't drive drowsy and shares some tips to stay awake if you absolutely need to drive.

There's a reason why these garments were left behind. Wearing corsets can cause acid reflux, trouble breathing, and even bruise internal organs.There have been many diet ideas over the years... some cut your calorie intake, others all but eliminate carbohydrates. Some diets have you drinking nothing but lemonade and cayenne pepper for days. But a new weight loss trend has emerged: wearing a corset. Dating back several centuries, corsets were once described as an indispensable way to show the beauty of the female figure. But there's a reason why these garments were left behind. Wearing corsets for long periods of time may cause acid reflux due to the pressure put on your stomach, trouble breathing from the pressure put on your diaphragm and lungs, and can even bruise your internal organs. The real reason why celebrities like Jessica Alba swear by this corset diet is because the pressure on your body causes you to feel fuller than you really are, causing you to consume fewer calories, which in turn will make you lose weight. Not so fast.  After you're done wearing a corset, your body and diet will go back to normal, which can contribute to weight gain.  Board certified in internal medicine, and a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Medical Association, Dr. Keri Peterson, MD, discuss why the corset diet is more harmful than beneficial, as well as healthier alternatives for weight loss.

Every day, one in four Americans will visit some type of fast food restaurant. As a nation, we spend more than $110 billion annually on fast food.Fast food's main purpose is to be a quick alternative for you when you don't have any time to make a meal for yourself. Or, at least that used to be its main purpose. Unfortunately, this way of eating is quickly becoming the rule, rather than the exception. And, research is finding that your health is suffering as a result. Researchers looked at chicken nuggets from two national food chains to determine what you were actually consuming. They found that chicken meat was not the main ingredient (pause for shock), and that fat made up an equal or greater portion of the nuggets than real meat. Besides the gross factor, you have to also consider the numbers... the numbers on the scale, your blood pressure numbers, your cholesterol numbers. Consider this: a Wendy's morning melt Panini with sausage contains 650 calories and is equivalent to the saturated fat in 37 of Wendy's chicken nuggets. Eating a Dunkin Donuts coffee cake muffin also racks up 650 calories, and is equal to eating five bowls of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. The trend is not slowing down, either. Every day one in four Americans will visit some type of fast food restaurant, and as a nation we will spend more than $110 billion annually on fast food. On top of that, more than 40 percent of American meals are eaten outside the home. Nutritionist and Health Educator, Cynthia Sass, MPH, MA, shares five healthy alternatives to eating fast food when you're pressed for time.

Americans eat about 24 pounds of candy each year. But do you really know what you're eating?Kids aren't the only ones who get excited about candy. Come on, admit it... you get just as thrilled to eat their leftover candy from Halloween night. In fact, Americans eat approximately 24 pounds of candy every year. But do you really know what exactly you're eating? Unfortunately, today there are so many more ingredients mixed into candy than the days of old when you could actually pronounce the ingredients in your chocolate bar. For example, the infamous candy corn contains Blue No. 1, which is a synthetic dye used in soaps, shampoos and other cosmetics. Candy corn also contains Yellow No. 5, a dye that's found in DayQuil, wax that's used to polish your car and fortune cookies. M&M's, one of the highest selling chocolate candies, have the ingredient Yellow No. 6 that has been linked to hyperactivity in small children. Just because certain candies have ingredients that you should eat with caution, it doesn't mean there aren't any that are safe. When buying, or before digesting your candy, look at the label to make sure it's a safe candy. A good rule of thumb is this: if you wouldn't eat it, would you let your children? Registered Dietitian, spokesperson and media personality with a private practice in New York City, Keri Gans, shares what's really inside your candy wrapper, as well as some of the better candies to eat.