Healthy Talk

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:

In Life Extension's recent dopamine article, dopamine is called the "feel good" neurotransmitter. But, I've heard you say that serotonin is this feel good neurotransmitter. Which is it?

Actually, there's really no such thing as a feel good neurotransmitter. It's just a catch phrase used in medicine. However, Dr. Mike remembers learning in med school that serotonin influences more mood balance than any other transmitter. So, that's why Dr. Mike mentioned it as the feel good neurotransmitter.

Doctors are still leaning, as the brain is very complex. For example if a patient is taking Prozac for depression and it doesn't work, it may be because the human body's neurotransmitters are so complex. It doesn't mean that drug might not benefit someone else.

All of the neurotransmitters, like dopamine, serotonin, Gaba, and glutamine, work together and influence each other. So, there's really not just one feel good neurotransmitter.

Can you help me prioritize all of the different brain supplements on the market? I'm 60 and my memory is getting really bad.

Just given that information, Dr. Mike suggests the following:

If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at [email protected] or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.

Eczema is a condition where your skin becomes inflamed, resulting in red rashes, chronic itching, and dry skin.

According to the National Eczema Association, there are over seven types of eczema, and over 30 million Americans have this condition.

New research is suggesting that eczema often can lead to asthma.

Asthma occurs when you have inflammation in your air passages that results in the narrowing of the airways that transport oxygen from your nose and mouth to your lungs. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, and tightness in the chest.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the current number of adults suffering from asthma is 18.7 million.

Can controlling asthma help with your eczema outbreaks?

Listen in as Dr. Cheryl Eberting shares the correlation between asthma and eczema.

During times of stress or certain times of the year, you may begin to notice your skin becoming dry, blotchy, and itchy.

Even though individuals are often prone to dry skin in the winter, if you've noticed red splotches all over your body, you might have eczema.

Eczema is a general term used to describe a number of different skin conditions.

What are the common misconceptions about eczema?

Listen in as Dr. Cheryl Eberting shares the misconceptions of eczema and how you can help treat it.

One of the downsides to aging is cognitive decline.

It may slowly start to happen... you forget where you put your Smartphone, you can never find your car keys when you need them, and you have "brain farts" and forget the name of something (or someone) you used to know so well.

However, research has found that eating a healthy diet, doing mental exercises (like crossword or Sudoku puzzles), and taking certain supplements can help keep your mind mentally sharp.

What are the benefits of enhancing your brain dopamine levels?

Listen in as Dr. Mike shares how you can stay mentally sharp as a tack.

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 a 56-year-old woman and I have a nine centimeter fibroid on my uterus. I still have regular menstruation and it isn't hurting, but it bleeds a lot. I have little iron in my body. What are your thoughts on having an operation? Or, should I wait until I'm done menstruating and hope the fibroids disappear with less estrogen to feed it? Are there other possibilities?

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths in your uterus. There are many theories on why this happens, but no one knows for sure. Many doctors believe it's some kind of hormonal imbalance between estrogen and progesterone.

In Dr. Mike's opinion, since it's just one fibroid, you shouldn't jump to surgery. He thinks that you should try taking progesterone to help balance out your hormones. He also suggests uterine artery embolization. This is when you block off your uterine artery that's feeding the fibroids. The third option would include a myomectomy, a surgery that cuts out that one fibroid.

However, he suggests talking with your doctor before trying this (or any) option.

I just borrowed a DVD of yours from the library and I noticed the awesome color of your hair. How can I get mine like that?

Dr. Mike recommends taking Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an anti-aging hormone made naturally in your body, as well as melon and onion extracts, black sesame, and amaranth.

If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at [email protected] or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.

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 been struggling with weight loss. I have gained 44 pounds in a year. I have a job that works me 12 hours a day, 60 hours a week. I usually grab what I can to eat because I'm so hungry when I get a chance to eat. Is there a way to try to lose weight with healthy foods that are simple to cook?

Dr. Mike thinks it's great you're looking for healthy options to help you lose weight. At the end of the day, it's going to be the lifestyle choices that have the most affect on your health.

Some of Dr. Mike's healthy food suggestions include: nuts and seeds, seafood, vegetables, grains, herbs and spices, and legumes.

Some of the healthiest vegetables to eat for weight loss are: asparagus, beets, bok choy, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, collard greens, eggplant, kale, leeks, olives, sea vegetables, squash, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tomatoes, and turnip greens.

As far as the seafood options, cod, salmon, sardines, and fatty tunas are great. For the nuts and seeds: almonds, cashews, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts.

Beans and legumes: chickpeas, lima beans, lentils, black beans, kidney beans, white beans, and navy beans. For grains: barley, buckwheat, rye, millet, and quinoa. Herbs and spices: basil, cilantro, cumin, sage, rosemary, oregano, and turmeric.

If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at [email protected] or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.

Cilantro, an herb known for its health benefits and heavy metal detoxification, can be found in many popular Spanish, Chinese, and Indian cuisines.

Due to the presence of a multitude of compounds, cilantro displays a wide range of therapeutic effects.

It has antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-anxiety, anti-epileptic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, neuro-protective, and diuretic properties.

However, this herb seems to be either cherished or just as equally hated. How can you add cilantro into your diet, especially if you don't particularly like the taste?

Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the amazing powers and benefits of cilantro, as well as simple ways to incorporate it into everyday dishes.

There is a chance you can get the flu anytime of the year, but peak season is between October and February.

Some doctors highly recommend getting the flu shot in order to keep you protected from falling ill.

However, in 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a statement that the 2014-2015 flu vaccine wouldn't be as effective against a certain strain of the influenza virus.

Could that happen again this year?

Listen in as Dr. Jim Roach shares strategies to help protect yourself against the flu.

Echinacea is an herb that's used to fight infections like the common cold and other respiratory infections.

According to a recent study, echinacea may also help to fight symptoms of the flu. Having the flu can be miserable, and the symptoms can knock you on your butt for weeks.

How can echinacea help fight the flu?

Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the latest study on echinacea and how it can help shorten the duration of the flu and common cold.

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 just worry about my mother. She's really sick and has been to a lot of doctors and they say "try this, try this." She's been up and down, at times with depression and anxiety, etc. She did a total 180 in the last 10 years, she seems worse and worse. She doesn't want to go out, or clean herself. I just thought you might have some direction?

Dr. Mike wants you to understand that he's here to just give information and some ideas that can help. The best advice Dr. Mike can give is to have your mom find a psychiatrist or psychologist that she's comfortable with and can work with to get better.

Even though it may be tough, it's extremely important to get your mom outside in the sunlight exercising. Research has shown that exercise is just as good as (or better than) medication. From a nutritional perspective, you may want to consider Tryptophan, wild green oat extract, saffron extract, and light box therapy.

If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at [email protected] or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.