• Most infant formulas in the U.S. contain added sugars instead of natural lactose, with formula-fed infants consuming up to 60 grams of added sugars daily (equivalent to two soft drinks)
• Out of 73 formulas examined in 2022, researchers found only five contained mainly naturally occurring lactose, and those are no longer available in the U.S. market
• Added sugars in formula may increase risks of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and preference for sweet foods, while lacking the health benefits of lactose found in breast milk
• Unlike adult food products, U.S. regulations don't require added sugars to be reported on infant formula nutrition labels, leaving parents unaware of sugar content
• Researchers recommend requiring formula companies to produce products containing only naturally occurring lactose and removing societal barriers to breastfeeding

• Depression affects more than 280 million people worldwide. Many patients do not fully respond to first-line medications or experience adverse side effects. This makes dietary influences on mood increasingly important
• Regular citrus consumption is linked to a 22% reduced depression risk by increasing beneficial gut bacteria like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which supports neurotransmitter production
• Citrus contains naringenin, formononetin, and hesperidin — plant compounds that nourish gut bacteria and influence the biochemical pathway responsible for neurotransmitter balance
• Ultraprocessed food consumption increases depression risk by 49%, with artificial sweeteners and processed snacks being particularly harmful to gut health and brain function
• Improving gut health requires removing vegetable oils, reducing endocrine disruptors and electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure, optimizing carbohydrate intake, and considering beneficial bacteria supplements

• Introducing a wide variety of plant-based foods after age one speeds up gut microbiome maturity, helping your child build better digestion and stronger immunity early on
• Children who consume diverse plant fibers develop higher levels of beneficial bacteria like Faecalibacterium and Bacteroides, which reduce inflammation and protect the gut lining
• Between 12 and 18 months is the most important window to introduce a range of solid foods, laying the groundwork for a healthy, adult-like gut by age 2
• Local, fiber-rich foods like millet, banana, and rice work best in supporting gut health — expensive superfoods are not necessary for strong gut development
• Restrictive or processed replacement foods damage gut bacteria balance, but breastfeeding combined with diverse, real foods builds a more resilient, long-term gut foundation

In this interview, Dr. Eric Pinnar, a hernia surgery specialist from Jacksonville, Florida, discusses why hernias matter, how to choose a surgeon, what surgery options exist and how to recover the right way.

In this interview,  Alexis Cowan, Ph.D., a molecular biologist from Princeton, uses her deep knowledge of molecular biology, particularly her passion for light, circadian rhythms and mitochondrial health, and offers a fresh perspective on optimizing your well-being.

• Modern lifestyles have drastically reduced your body's ability to produce cellular energy. Humans now generate 75% less adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the currency of cellular energy, than a century ago
• Modern diets are filled with ultraprocessed foods, excessive sugar and harmful vegetable oils, which has led to widespread nutrient deficiencies despite consuming sufficient calories
• Sedentary lifestyles have become the norm. One-third of Americans spend more than eight hours a day sitting; this increases the risks of diabetes, heart disease and cognitive decline
• Environmental toxins, including agricultural chemicals and endocrine disruptors from plastics, have infiltrated food, water and air. These toxins put you at risk of hormonal and metabolic disruptions
• To reverse chronic illness caused by modern living, you need to address their root cause at the cellular level through lifestyle changes, rather than relying on prescription medications that only mask symptoms

• Gardasil's ability to prevent cervical cancer is being questioned, with experts citing a lack of long-term studies proving reduced cancer rates
• While Gardasil targets specific HPV strains, concerns exist that it allows for the emergence of other harmful strains, thus canceling the vaccine’s intended benefits
• Reports of severe side effects, including heart complications and even deaths, raise serious safety concerns, warranting caution
• The vaccine's aggressive marketing, despite the proven effectiveness of regular pap smears, suggests Gardasil's benefits have been exaggerated while risks have been downplayed
• Lawsuits alleging that Merck concealed risks and overstated Gardasil's efficacy are underway, casting doubt on the company's transparency and raising trust issues regarding pharmaceutical marketing

• Contrary to conventional belief, research shows menopausal women often experience estrogen dominance rather than deficiency, with high estrogen levels in tissues despite lower blood measurements
• A 2024 study revealed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) dramatically increases estrogen in fat tissues, creating a hormonal environment heavily skewed toward estrogen relative to androgens
• Optimal hormonal health depends on the ratio between progesterone and estrogen, with many menopausal women showing ratios indicative of estrogen dominance even without HRT
• Estrogen has a dual nature: essential for many bodily functions but problematic when in excess; increased exposure to environmental factors, like linoleic acid in seed oils and endocrine-disrupting chemicals in microplastics, raise estrogen levels
• Managing menopause naturally involves tracking prolactin levels, eliminating seed oils, avoiding estrogen-mimicking chemicals in everyday products and considering natural progesterone supplementation

• A large study found that individuals with dementia who took antidepressants lost cognitive function at nearly twice the expected rate compared to non-users
• Dementia patients on higher doses of antidepressants experienced faster mental decline, increased hospitalization rates, fractures and even higher mortality risks than those on lower doses
• A separate meta-analysis found that individuals taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) had a 75% greater chance of developing dementia, and those on tricyclic antidepressants had double the risk
• Research suggests that, compared to women, men taking antidepressants are at an even higher risk of developing dementia earlier and at a more rapid pace
• Antidepressants alter neurotransmitter balance, interfere with your brain’s ability to remove toxic proteins, and accelerate brain cell damage, leading to memory loss and cognitive impairment

• UTIs are one of the most overdiagnosed conditions in U.S. medicine, especially in seniors who often receive antibiotics without showing any infection symptoms
• Even in hospital settings, studies show overdiagnosis rates as high as 85% in some states, with three-quarters of patients labeled with UTIs lacking matching symptoms
• Many urine tests used to diagnose UTIs, such as checking for cloudy appearance or bacteria alone, are unreliable and often lead to unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions
• Bacteria in the urine without symptoms is common in older adults and catheter users, yet it’s frequently mistaken for infection and overtreated
• You can reduce your UTI risk by eliminating CAFO meats, especially CAFO chicken, which often contain UTI-causing E. coli, practicing better hygiene, using methylene blue, optimizing sun exposure, and grounding in the ocean to support cellular energy