DrWadeMcKenna

02/05/2026

Don’t underestimate the brain-gut connection.

02/05/2026

Sleeping n**e helps boost metabolism by promoting the creation of brown fat, a type of fat that burns calories to generate heat and keep your body warm. This effect is triggered by the cooler body temperature achieved when sleeping without clothes. The process, known as thermogenesis, increase your metabolic rate during sleeping without leading to calorie expenditure and weight loss support.

Sleeping naked improves sleep by helping regulate your body’s core temperature, leading to deeper, more restful sleep and fewer awakenings. Without clothes, your body can cool down more effectively, which is essential for triggering sleep and maintaining your natural circadian rhythm. This cooler temperature also promoted the release of sleep-inducing hormones and can help you fall asleep faster.

Sleeping naked improves skin health by allowing it to “breathe”, promoting better air circulation, which reduces heat and moisture buildup that can cause irritation, acne and infections. The practice also supports a cooler body temperature which helps regulate the sleep cycle and actually boost the production of anti-aging and growth hormones essential for skin repair and regeneration.

Sleeping naked reduces the risk of yeast infections by promoting airflow, reducing moisture and warmth, creating a cooler, less hospitable environment for the fungus that causes infections.

Additionally, sleeping naked can improve male fertility by keeping the testicles cool, which is essential for healthy s***m production. Since the te**es require a lower temperature to maintain optimal s***m quality and count, removing underwear allows for better airflow and a reduction in scrotal heat. Research shows wearing tight fitting underwear especially increases scrotal temperature, which negatively impacts s***m count, motility and quality.

References: Temperature-acclimated brown adipose tissue modulates insulin sensitivity in humans. Lee P, Smith S, Linderman J, Courville AB, Brychta RJ, Dieckmann W, Werner CD, Chen KY, Celi FS. Diabetes. 2014 Jun 22. pii: DB_140513. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 24954193

02/05/2026

Magnesium Deficiency Linked to Heart Failure

Dr. David Brownstein, M.D., writes:

Heart failure is increasing at epidemic rates for men as well as women, who for the first time represent a large proportion of new cases. As reported in the Journal of the American Heart Association, scientists researched the link between magnesium intake and heart failure in a cohort from the Women’s Health Initiative.

The 97,725 women who were studied were given a validated food questionnaire and separated into quartiles based on dietary and supplemental magnesium intake, and researchers correlated the association between magnesium intake and heart failure. The scientists found that (comparing highest to lowest) low magnesium intake was associated with an 81% increase in heart failure, as well as low heart ejection fraction.

When I began my medical training, I saw very few heart failure patients. It just wasn’t a common illness. Today, things are different, with much younger patients being diagnosed.

There are many reasons for this, including being overweight, nutritional deficiencies, toxicities, and statin use.

A deficiency of magnesium is detrimental to all the muscles in the body, including the heart. Magnesium is woefully deficient in most people’s diet. I have been recommending magnesium supplements for more than 25 years. Magnesium deficiency can easily be diagnosed via a red blood cell magnesium blood test or hair mineral testing.
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Dr. David Brownstein, M.D., editor of the Natural Way to Health newsletter, is a board-certified family physician and one of the nation’s foremost practitioners of holistic medicine. In addition to his practice, Dr. Brownstein has lectured internationally to physicians and is the author of six very popular books.

02/04/2026

For the first time in decades, the Dietary Guidelines acknowledge something many of us have been saying for years: Ultra-processed foods play a central role in chronic disease.

This is a meaningful shift, but it also raises an important question: Are we ready to rethink the foundation of our food system, or are we just naming the problem without addressing it?

I break down what this change really means, and what’s still missing, in my latest blog post: https://drperlmutter.com/dr-perlmutters-views-2025-2030-dietary-guidelines-americans/

02/04/2026

A 2022 meta-analysis of 37 randomized trials found that berberine lowered glycated hemoglobin (A1c) by 0.63% and fasting glucose by 0.82 mmol/L, with consistent results across diverse patient groups

Earlier researchers also highlighted how berberine lowers blood sugar and harmful blood fats while also reducing liver fat and markers linked to kidney damage

Berberine limits fat cell development and dampens inflammation as well, effects that may support weight control and improved insulin sensitivity

In a 13-week randomized study, researchers showed that berberine’s blood sugar-lowering abilities are on par with the effects of the diabetes drug metformin

Clinical studies support taking 500 mg of berberine with meals up to three times daily, starting with lower doses and increasing gradually; however, there are safety precautions to keep in mind

Berberine did not increase the risk of adverse events or hypoglycemia. In fact, the risk of hypoglycemia was lower compared to some conventional drugs, likely because berberine's insulin-stimulating effect is glucose-dependent

About one-third of patients reported mild digestive issues like bloating or diarrhea, mostly in the first few weeks. No liver or kidney damage was observed. The researchers noted that reducing the dose from 500 to 300 mg per dose helped most patients tolerate it better

02/03/2026

Vitamin D and magnesium work together to regulate muscle contraction, energy production, bone strength, and recovery, forming a nutrient pairing that determines how effectively your body responds to training

Research consisting of professional and Olympic sports shows widespread vitamin D and magnesium deficiency, which raises injury risk, slows recovery, weakens strength, and reduces endurance through impaired calcium and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) function

Magnesium deficiency often hides behind normal blood tests, disrupts cellular energy production, worsens fatigue and cramps, and increases soreness, especially in endurance athletes training hard or in hot environments

Endurance exercise increases magnesium needs by shifting the mineral into working muscles and increasing losses through sweat and urine

Supplementing magnesium and vitamin D together improves strength, endurance, recovery, and soreness within weeks, particularly in athletes starting deficient or training at high volumes, without increasing workout intensity

Daily magnesium need is 400mg. Best types are glycinate, taurate and threonate. During heavy training needs can increase but follow sound personal medical advice before adding more mg to your daily intake

Daily Vitamin D can vary based on individual needs and lifestyle. Ask your doctor for a "Vitamin D, 25-OH" blood test to confirm and track levels. Most people need 2000-5000 units daily of D3 taken with a meal with some level of fat content for adequate absorption

01/07/2026

Ultraprocessed foods alter DNA methylation patterns, silencing protective genes and activating harmful ones, creating cellular dysfunction that begins before visible health problems appear in both adults and children

A study of 30 adult women revealed those consuming 45% of their daily calories as ultraprocessed foods showed hypomethylation in 80 genome regions, affecting genes linked to fat storage, insulin sensitivity, and cancer progression

Research on 3,152 European children found that ultraprocessed food consumption caused consistent DNA methylation changes affecting thyroid function, liver health, DNA repair, and stress-response genes

Methylation changes occur even in healthy-weight individuals, demonstrating that genetic damage accumulates years before traditional metabolic markers like blood sugar, cholesterol, or body fat show problems

Breaking ultraprocessed food addiction requires restocking your pantry with whole foods, adding protein and fiber to meals, reading ingredient labels carefully, and building supportive communities focused on healthier eating

01/06/2026

Brominated flour, commonly enriched with potassium bromate, is a serious health hazard that has been banned in Europe, Canada, and other nations but remains legal in the U.S. due to lax FDA regulations. Potassium bromate acts as a dough conditioner to make bread rise higher and appear fluffier, but it breaks down into bromate ions—a known carcinogen linked to kidney, thyroid, and gastrointestinal cancers in animal studies. Research shows bromate damages DNA through oxidative stress, creating free radicals that mutate cells and promote tumor growth. Even trace amounts are dangerous: the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as a Group 2B carcinogen ("possibly carcinogenic to humans") due to evidence of kidney and thyroid tumors in rodents.

Beyond cancer, brominated flour disrupts thyroid function by competing with iodine—a critical nutrient for hormone production. Bromine, a halogen like iodine, hijacks iodine receptors in the thyroid, leading to hypothyroidism, goiter, and metabolic dysfunction. This iodine-blocking effect is exacerbated by the fact that bromine bioaccumulates in tissues, as shown by studies detecting polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in human breast milk at increasing levels over time . The thyroid disruption is particularly harmful to children, whose developing brains and bodies rely on thyroid hormones for growth and cognitive function.

The U.S. continues to allow bromated flour despite decades of evidence linking it to organ toxicity. In rats, potassium bromate causes renal tubular hyperplasia (a precancerous kidney condition) and adenoma-like gene expression patterns at high doses. Humans exposed to bromate through contaminated water have suffered permanent hearing loss and neurological damage. California recently banned potassium bromate (effective 2027) after studies confirmed its carcinogenicity, but the FDA still classifies it as "safe" under the GRAS loophole, which lets companies self-certify additives without independent testing.

Bromated flour also contributes to the "bromine dominance" epidemic, where bromide overload from food, flame retardants, and pesticides displaces iodine, worsening deficiencies linked to fibrocystic breast disease, ovarian cysts, and hormone imbalances. The U.S. replaced iodine fortification in bread with bromate in the 1970s—a timeline that correlates with rising thyroid disorders and breast cancer rates. Unlike the EU, which follows the precautionary principle, the FDA waits for definitive harm before regulating, leaving consumers exposed.

For safer alternatives, choose organic, unbromated flour or brands like Pepperidge Farm that explicitly avoid potassium bromate. To detoxify bromide, increase iodine intake through seaweed or supplements, and prioritize filtered water to avoid bromate contamination from ozonation.

For further research on avoiding toxic additives, explore resources like [NaturalNews.com](https://NaturalNews.com) or [BrightAnswers.ai](https://BrightAnswers.ai).

**Related Books from BrightLearn.ai (all books are free to read and download):**

12/16/2025

Eggs are one of the best foods to incorporate into your diet.

They’re rich in fat-soluble vitamins, healthy fats, and essential nutrients like choline, which is very important for your overall health.

Choline helps prevent fatty liver disease and rid your body of excess cholesterol.

It's also essential for nerve and brain health—it even helps improve your mood and memory.

Keep in mind that the majority of choline in eggs is found in the yolk, so eating the whole egg is best!

12/13/2025

A little peptide therapy can be a big help too for healthy aging.

So many people slather on loads of serum and consume anti-aging drinks daily, yet studies have revealed the greatest strategy for “anti-aging” is actually strength training. Strength training rejuvenates aging skin, brain, bones and muscles by stimulating cellular repair mechanisms, enhancing tissue structure, modulating hormones and cytokines, and reducing chronic inflammation. These effects collectively reduce biological age by maintaining cellular health markers like telomere length and mitochondrial function.

To elaborate, strength training rejuvenates skin by increasing the thickness of the dermis, which naturally thins with age. It boosts the expression of genes that produce components of the dermal extracellular matrix (ECM), such as collagens and biglycan (BGN), which are crucial for skin elasticity and firmness. Strength training also helps lower the circulating levels of pro-inflammatory factors, such as CCL28 and CXCL4, which are linked to skin aging and degradation of the ECM. Additionally, increased circulation from strength training delivers essential nutrients and oxygen to skin cells, supporting their repair and overall health.

Strength training helps the bones because it is a weight-bearing activity that applies mechanical stress (tugging and pushing) to bones. This mechanical load triggers bone-building cells called osteoblasts to synthesize new bone tissue, leading to increased bone mineral density and strength. Regular strength training also slows age-related bone loss, helping to prevent conditions like osteoporosis and reducing the risk of fractures.

Strength training directly combats age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) by stimulating muscle fibers to maintain or increase muscle mass and strength. Exercise activates muscle stem cells, known as satellite cells (SCs), which repair damaged muscle fibers and add myonuclei, facilitating muscle growth (hypertrophy) and regeneration. Strength training also enhances mitochondrial biogenesis and function in muscle cells, reversing age-related mitochondrial decline and improving muscle energy potential and oxidative capacity.

PMID: 37353523, 39596838

12/13/2025

12/13/2025

We tend to believe healing requires huge life changes, but your body responds to the smallest shifts.

Little choices compound. Keep choosing them.