But what no longer needs further debate is the fact that breast milk is healthier than infant formula, says Dr. Joseph Mercola. Breast milk contains at least 400 nutrients which are not found in infant formula. Dr. Mercola gives mothers 7 reasons why breastfeeding is best for babies:

1. Breastfeeding boosts your baby’s immune system
   Studies show that babies who have been breastfed exclusively have better functioning immune systems and have added protection against allergies, asthma, Crohn’s disease, eczema, heart disease, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lymphoma, respiratory infections, and Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Breast milk contains antibodies and gives an infant immunity to illnesses that the mother is immune to. Also, if a baby is exposed to a germ, he/she will transfer it back to the mother while nursing. The mother’s body will then manufacture antibodies to that particular germ and transfer them back to the baby at the next feeding, Dr. Mercola explains.
2. Breastfeeding is good for your baby’s brain
   Breastfed babies tend to have higher IQs than babies fed with infant formula. An 18-year study of over 1,000 children showed that kids who were breastfed achieved more academically than kids who were formula-fed as babies. Interestingly, breastfed babies spend more time in what is called the “quiet alert” state, which is most conducive for learning, Dr. Mercola points out.
3. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity
   Breast milk contains high levels of adiponectin, a protein which affects how the body processes fat. Low levels of adiponectin have been associated with coronary artery disease, insulin resistance, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. The risk of obesity appears to be lowered the longer a child is breastfed.
4. Breastfeeding helps babies develop emotionally
   Babies need to be held. The physical act of nursing is one of the most comforting things for a newborn. Leaving a baby alone with a bottle does not make him/her feel safe or secure. Breastfeeding also stimulates the release of the hormone, oxytocin, which facilitates maternal behavior and bonding between mothers and their newborns.
5. Breastfeeding reduces the mother’s risk of cancer and other diseases
   Breastfeeding women were shown to have a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers and osteoporosis later in life.
6. Breastfeeding helps mothers lose weight faster
   Mothers who breastfeed return to their pre-pregnancy weight faster. A woman needs about 500 calories daily to produce milk and breastfeed – the equivalent of a 5-mile jog. Breastfeeding also stimulates contractions in the uterus that help it go back to its normal, pre-pregnancy size faster and reduce lower body fat.
7. Breastfeeding helps save time and money
   Mothers don’t have to prepare bottles and infant formula because breast milk is always fresh and ready to go. The economy has been tough and mothers can save some money because they don’t need to buy infant formula. Breastfed babies also tend to require fewer visits to the doctor and therefore, decreased medical expenses.

1. Blood Pressure
   Your ideal blood pressure should be about 120/80 without taking any medication. Elevated insulin is a major contributors to elevated blood pressure but anxiety, stress and tension may also contribute to this problem. If you’re suffering from hypertension, drugs should not be your first option. Seek out a health care professional who practices stress-relief methods, such as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), which is Dr. Mercola’s personal favorite.
2. Cholesterol
   Checking your cholesterol levels can be a confusing thing. One of the reasons is the big emphasis on the importance of the total cholesterol, when the more important predictor of cardiovascular risk is actually the ratio of good cholesterol (HDL) to total cholesterol.
   Dr. Mercola uses the percentage of HDL and obtain this number by simply dividing the HDL by the total cholesterol (HDL/Total Cholesterol). This number ideally should be above 24 percent. Levels below 10 percent are very dangerous and usually indicate an imminent cardiovascular problem. Some clinicians obtain this ratio by dividing the total cholesterol by the HDL (Total Cholesterol/HDL), and in this case, the numbers should be lower. A poor ratio would be any number greater than 4, with greater than 10 having serious problems.
3. Insulin
   You have about one gallon of blood in your body and there’s only one teaspoon of sugar in that gallon, Dr. Mercola explains. If your blood sugar level were increased to one tablespoon, you would go into a hyperglycemic coma and die. It’s insulin’s job to keep your blood sugar at the appropriate level. Eating grain and sugar-rich foods, however, will force your body to make more insulin. You then develop insulin resistance and eventually become a diabetic.
   You need the hormone insulin to survive but many people have far too much of it floating around, leaving them prone to chronic degenerative illness and hastening the aging process. Ask your doctor to do a fasting blood insulin test to determine your insulin levels. If you get a level above 5, it means you have to significantly reduce your consumption of grains and sugars until you lower your level.
4. Weight
   Two out of three Americans are overweight and one out of three is obese. A simple way to find out if you have a weight problem is by measuring the distance around the smallest area below the rib cage and above the umbilicus (belly button) using a tape measure. Waist circumference is the best and simplest anthropometric measure of total body fat and is better than body mass index (BMI). It is also the best indicator of intra-abdominal fat mass. Men would be classified as obese if their waist size is above 40 inches and 37 is the obesity indicator for women.
   BMI, on the other hand, is useful in determining your ideal weight. The National Institutes of Health has a simple online BMI calculator that can help you painlessly calculate your ideal weight.

Before you can truly and fully take control of your health, listen to your body; you can trust it to provide you with the clues as to what is good for you. Consult your physician for more guidance.

That’s why people dealing with chronic pain or stiffness tend to remain sedentary or reduce their activity level. But this is one of the worst things you can do to your health, Dr. Joseph Mercola warns, because inactivity will only make your muscles weaker and can actually increase your pain and stiffness.

The great thing about exercise is that there are so many different ways for you to break a sweat each day even if you are struggling with an illness or condition. Dr Mercola recommends 3 lower impact exercises that you can do even if you’re not in peak condition:

1. Walking is a great and simple way to start your exercise routine because it is very low impact and can be done at any fitness level. The faster and longer you walk, the greater the conditioning benefits. But studies show that even moderate intensity walking will help you experience improvements. Walking also gives you the added benefit of reflecting while walking alone or giving you time to bond with family or socialize with friends.
   Start at a pace that is comfortable for you and gradually increase your speed and distance as much as possible. Walking regularly over a long period of time can help reduce your risk of diabetes, stroke, and osteoporosis. It is also useful in dealing with arthritis, depression, and hypertension. Walking can even help you burn the same amount of calories per hour as running.
2. Tai Chi, a Chinese martial art, helps you work out your entire body through a series of slow movements. It’s easy on your body but still provides many health benefits. Studies show that tai chi stimulates your central nervous system, help with digestion and waste elimination, lowers blood pressure, relieves stress, and tones your muscles. In a study published in the September 2003 Journal of Rheumatology older women suffering from osteoarthritis performed tai chi exercises for 12 weeks and experienced major improvements in their arthritic symptoms, balance, and physical functioning.
   Also, according to traditional Chinese medicine, tai chi helps to channel chi, or intrinsic energy, through your body’s energy meridians.
3. Yoga refers to traditional Indian mental and physical disciplines that are not only physically beneficial but also helps improve your mood. Yoga involves gentle exercises designed to soothe joints and muscles along with improving your other body systems and organs. Yoga trainers often offer routines that are specifically aimed at addressing certain conditions such as arthritis or back pain, so you can choose a type of yoga that you feel would benefit you the most.  A preliminary study conducted by researchers at the Temple University’s Gait Study Center reveals that by doing a specific type of yoga (Iyengar), women over 65, experienced better balance and stability, faster stride, and improved single-leg stance, which helps prevent falls.
   Yoga is also popularly used as a natural form of pain relief because it is believed to help regulate the brain’s pain center and its attention to breathing is calming and reduces tension, which can help with pain management.
   Start out slowly and gradually ease your way into more challenging routines.

Don’t take your back for granted because almost everything you do requires this body part, says Dr. Joseph Mercola. Back pain is not caused by a single activity or accident; back problems occur due to the accumulation of the effects of various factors, like your diet, posture and how you deal with stress.

Preventing back pain is easier than treating it. Here are Dr. Mercola’s simple steps for beating back pain:

1. Exercise and physical activity will help strengthen the muscles of your spine. Build up your abdominals to avoid back pain. Always do some stretching and warm-ups before engaging in strenuous physical activity. Exercising will also help you maintain a healthy weight, which is a factor in preventing all kinds of illnesses and discomforts.
2. Optimize your vitamin D levels to prevent the softening of the bones that often lead to lower back pain
3. Keep your weight spread evenly on your feet when standing. Don’t slouch when standing or sitting to avoid putting stress on your back muscles.
4. Always support your back. Don’t bend over awkwardly. Protect your back while lifting – this activity, along with carrying, puts the most stress on your back.
5. Sleep in a firm bed, sleep on your side to reduce curving of your spine and stretch before you get out of bed.
6. Use chairs or car seats that offer good lumbar support. Switch positions often while sitting, walk around a bit and do some light stretching to relieve tension.
7. Wear comfortable shoes. For the ladies, it would be good to not wear heels most of the time.
8. Drink plenty of water to enhance the height of your intervertebral disks. And because your body is composed mostly of water, keeping yourself hydrated will keep you fluid and reduce stiffness.
9. Quit smoking as it reduces blood flow to your lower spine and your spinal disks to degenerate.

As a hormone, oxytocin has powerful, health-promoting properties which start from the moment you are born. Oxytocin is released during childbirth, stimulating the contractions which guide the baby through the birth canal toward delivery. It also promotes the release of milk during breastfeeding and facilitates maternal behavior and bonding between new mothers and their infants, Dr. Joseph Mercola explains.

Only three percent of all mammals are able to form lasting monogamous relationships. This tiny list includes bats, beavers and a few other rodents, certain foxes, a few hoofed mammals, otters, and some primates, including humans.

The Three Stages of Love

Researcher Helen Fisher, author of Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love, defines three stages of love, each marked by hormones which influence your behavior and feelings:

1. Lust – In this stage, both men and women are driven by the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. This occurs from a few weeks to a few months.
2. Attraction – During this time, the initial lust progresses towards a desire for a specific partner. Romance and commitment develop as the neurotransmitters adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin are at work.  Attraction usually lasts a year to three years.
3. Attachment – Oxytocin and a similar hormone, vasopressin, are at work in this final and most important stage. Oxytocin is released by both men and women during sexual intercourse and steadily strengthens the feelings of attachment and closeness. The bonding which occurs is necessary for a long-term relationship.

Love can start in any one of these stages, Fisher explains. Some people have sex with a new partner and fall in love after. Some fall in love first before becoming more intimate. Others develop a deep feeling of attachment first, then experience romance and mutual sexual attraction.

Studies suggest that the location of receptors for oxytocin and vasopressin, makes all the difference when it comes to long-term social bonding and monogamy, Dr. Mercola points out. The more receptors you have in your brain associated with reward and reinforcement, the more likely you are to fall in love and remain monogamous.

How to Experience the Health Benefits of Oxytocin

Oxytocin’s health benefits stem from its ability to counteract stress. The more oxytocin your pituitary gland releases, the better your ability to handle stressful situations, as it decreases the levels of cortisol and other stress hormones and lowers your blood pressure during moments of anxiety.

This hormone has also been found to reduce the cravings for alcohol, drugs and sweets.

Dr. Mercola believes that oxytocin likely contributes to why people with pets recover faster from illness, why couples live longer than singles, and why support groups work for people with addictions and chronic diseases.

But he is strongly against the use of artificial forms of oxytocin because synthetic hormones can seriously harm you. An exception to this would be in the case of a difficult delivery and labor is not progressing smoothly.

Cultivating warm, loving, intimate relationships, no matter what stage of life you’re in, is the best way for you to facilitate the natural release of oxytocin in your body.

Touch, positive interactions and psychological support are known to increase oxytocin. Here are some tips on how you can experience the benefits of the love hormone:

• Take care of a pet
• Hold hands, hug and kiss more
• Give and receive a backrub
• Nurture others
• Get a massage
• Practice mind-body therapies like breathing exercises and yoga

Having healthy relationships contribute to a healthier you. This is something for you to ponder on this Valentine’s Day.