Most people define processed food as obvious junk like candy, soda, and fast food, but that definition misses a critical category: foods marketed as healthy that are still highly processed. Think strawberry Greek yogurt, protein bars, plant milks, Chipotle bowls, and granola. If a food has a long ingredient list, including seed oils, added sugars or syrups, "natural flavors," or health buzzwords, it's processed, regardless of how it's marketed. The food industry didn't make food healthier; they made marketing better. Here's a useful guideline I share with patients: if it comes in a bag or a box, minimize it. Obviously, there are exceptions, as some real whole foods can be packaged this way, but this simple heuristic helps cut through the confusion created by health claims and wellness marketing. Real food doesn't need a label claiming it's good for you. The best nutrition comes from foods you could theoretically hunt, gather, grow, or raise yourself. This doesn't mean you can never eat anything processed, but understanding that many "health foods" are still processed helps you make more informed choices about where to spend your dietary budget. When most of your diet comes from actual whole foods, the occasional processed item matters less.

Coffee lovers have more reason to celebrate their daily ritual. Researchers using advanced molecular analysis discovered several novel diterpene esters in roasted Arabica coffee beans that exhibit significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with some compounds showing even stronger effects than common anti-diabetic drugs in laboratory testing. The study, published in Beverage Plant Research, identified three new coffee compounds (named caffaldehydes A, B, and C) along with three additional trace compounds. Alpha-glucosidase is a key enzyme involved in breaking down carbohydrates into glucose, so inhibiting this enzyme can help regulate post-meal blood sugar spikes, a mechanism similar to prescription medications used for type 2 diabetes. The diterpenes work through multiple pathways, including stimulating insulin secretion and increasing glucose uptake in cells. What makes this particularly interesting is that these beneficial compounds form during roasting, which may explain why moderate coffee consumption has been associated with reduced diabetes risk in numerous epidemiological studies. Coffee has to be mold-free and organic (chemical-free). That is why we recommend Organo coffee: it contains no mycotoxins and is organic. In addition, it contains reishi mushroom, which is a powerful food that helps prevent cancer. Finally, Organo coffee is alkaline, which does not promote disease. You can get it here: https://drserge.myorganogold.com/

Can someone please inform me of what skin oil you recommend for dry skin? I had baby oil tested and it was okay for me, but is there a much higher quality skin oil that you recommend?

1. Help Heal Wounds and Burns For minor cuts, scratches, and burns, honey can be applied topically to help speed healing. Honey acts as a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent and is known to lower prostaglandin levels while elevating nitric oxide end products, processes that help explain honey's wound-healing powers. Honey's unique formulation, including its acidity, hydrogen peroxide content, osmotic effect, and antioxidants, is responsible for a number of beneficial processes that stimulate and promote wound healing, such as: - Enhanced tissue growth - Increased epithelialization - Reduced scar formation - Stimulation of immunity Honey is so potent that, in a study of critically ill children with pressure injuries, the use of a Manuka honey dressing or gel reduced wound-healing time compared with standard care. In fact, the children treated with honey were 1.9 times more likely to have their wounds completely healed than those who received only standard care. 2. Soothe Coughs and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections Honey is regarded as highly beneficial for soothing irritating coughs in the ancient Indian medical system known as Ayurveda. Hippocrates also used honey for coughs. Modern research supports this use, with honey found to relieve cough symptoms more effectively than no treatment, placebo, or the antihistamine diphenhydramine. It also reduces cough duration more effectively than the asthma medication salbutamol. A systematic review and meta-analysis also found that honey was superior to usual care in improving symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, including reduced cough frequency and severity. Among children with upper respiratory tract infections, honey was as effective as the over-the-counter cough medication dextromethorphan and superior to no treatment for nighttime cough relief. Furthermore, parents rated honey more favorably than cough syrup, leading researchers to conclude that "Honey may be a preferable treatment for the cough and sleep difficulty associated with childhood upper respiratory tract infection."

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have dominated health headlines, but new research reveals an important caveat. A comprehensive meta-analysis examining data from multiple clinical trials found that weight regain begins as early as eight weeks after stopping these drugs, with participants regaining approximately 60% of their lost weight within a year. Metabolic benefits (improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar) also reverted to pretreatment levels. The mechanisms driving this rebound include increased appetite, reduced energy expenditure, and hormonal changes that favor weight restoration. From a Functional Medicine perspective, this isn't surprising. These drugs don't address the root causes of weight gain; they manage symptoms. When you remove the medication, the underlying metabolic dysfunction remains. This doesn't mean GLP-1 drugs have no role to play, but the evidence suggests that people will need to take them indefinitely to maintain benefits. Given the novelty of these medications, some preliminary evidence of adverse effects, and uncertainty about long-term risks, they're not the magic bullet they've been made out to be. For sustainable results, addressing the foundational factors (diet quality, sleep, stress, movement, and gut health) remains essential.