Dr Oz: Ubiquinol, Coconut Oil, L-Arginine: Dr Mercola Alternative Health

Dr Oz brought Dr Joseph Mercola back on the Doctor Oz Show today.  In case you missed the original show with Dr Mercola last year, here is the recap: Dr Oz & Dr Joseph Mercola.  Today’s segment was called “The Man Your Doctor Doesn’t Want You to Listen To: Joe Mercola.”  Dr Mercola is one of the most influential figures in Alternative Health and is a true pioneer in the area of Holistic Treatments.  He says things like “more drugs do not mean better care” and he has been described in the past as controversial, a game changer, and a quack.  The fact is, Dr Joe Mercola is a best-selling author and the creator of the fourth largest medical website in the world.  He has also brought certain things to the nation’s attention like the importance of Vitamin D and the dangers of high fructose corn syrup.  Before I recap this entire segment though, do not forget to check out what Dr Mercola told Dr Oz was the #1 Supplement You’ve Never Heard of That You Should Be Taking

Dr Oz: Why is Dr Joseph Mercola Controversial?

Dr Mercola began to embrace Alternative Medicine in the early 1990’s when he treated a child who had severe diarrhea with  medicines that did not work.  After that experience, he went back to the basics of a healthy diet and exercise and has been able to change people’s lives.  Dr Joe Mercola is so health conscious that he even tests his blood once a week.

Dr Oz asked Dr Mercola why the medical community is so up in arms about you?  Mercola said that his approach focuses on helping people understand that they can take control of their health by making lifestyle changes, whereas the tradition medical establishment’s model is fixated on magic pills that do not address the root causes of health problems.  Dr Oz pushed further by asking his guest what makes everyone so angry with him.  Dr Mercola said that all truths can be divided into three stages: 1. Ridicule, 2. Violently Opposed, and 3. Accepted as Self Evident.

Dr Mercola’s Supplements Review:

Dr Oz said that some people say that since he profits from selling supplements on his website that many people think he just says what is convenient to boost his sales.  Dr Oz said that he intentionally does not sell products because he does not want people to think that he is selling things or promoting things just to make money.  Dr Mercola responded by saying that he only sells natural products on his website.  The first three years, Dr Joe Mercola sold nothing on his website and he said it cost him $500,000 in expenses to run his website, so he could not keep up with those expenses.  His options were to stop producing the website and newsletter, accept advertising, or sell his own products.  He did not like selling ads on his site because he felt it might conflict with his recommendations, so he chose to sell his own supplements.  Dr Joseph Mercola said that there is another important distinction which is that nobody has ever died by taking his supplements, whereas around 250,000 people per year die from prescription medicine or un-necessary surgeries or procedures.

Dr Oz: Dr Joseph Mercola’s Alternative Medicine Breakthroughs

Dr Oz said that Dr Mercola has been called the Medicine Guru in the past, because he always has the latest breakthroughs in Alternative Medicine.  Here are some of the latest things he suggests that people either try or keep on their radar to consider using in the future:

Dr Oz: Coconut Oil & Dr Mercola

Dr Mercola said that Coconut Oil may be helpful in the treatment of and, even more importantly, the prevention of Alzhemiers Disease.  Coconut Oil can be used by your brain as an alternative fuel source to feed your brain as other neurons die and start to starve your brain.  Dr Oz asked him how much Coconut Oil to eat every day and Dr Joe Mercola said that you normally eat 1-3 tsp a day, but in some of the studies people were eating far more Coconut Oil (like 3 TB for example).

Dr Oz: Ubiquinol & Dr Mercola

Dr Joseph Mercola said that CoQ10 has been popular for years, but Ubiquinol is the oxidized version of CoQ10 and is easier for your body to absorb (especially if you are over 30 years old).  Mercola said that if you are under the age of 30, your body can convert CoQ10 pretty well, but as you age it becomes especially important to take Ubiquinol instead.  Dr Joe Mercola said that in Europe, it is mandatory for a doctor to prescribe Ubiquinol if he is prescribing Statin Drugs, so definitely consider taking this if you are on Statin Drugs.  Dr Oz’s show said that the correct daily dose of Ubiquinol is 100 mg / day.

Dr Oz: L-Arginine & Dr Mercola

The final Alternative Medicine Breakthrough that Dr Mercola spoke about was L-Arginine, which is an amino acid that is part of a protein and helps to open up blood vessels.  If you have bad blood circulation or high blood pressure, you should think about taking 1000 mg per day of L-Arginine.

Dr Joseph Mercola told Dr Oz that all of these Alternative Medicine Breakthroughs have to be taken along with making lifestyle changes.  Everything always goes back to a healthy diet and exercise!