Yes, Dr. Mercola is controversial. But his top 10 strategies for a healthier life seem heavily rooted in common sense.

One reason for Dr. Joseph Marcela’s strong appeal—whether you view him as a visionary or a quack—is that much of what he advocates is based on common sense and good science. On his site, for example, you can get his primer on proper hand washing to avoid spreading or catching the flu. Dr. Mercola also encourages you to spend time in the sun, but also warns not to get a sunburn. He even suggests a way to cover up that allows enough sun to get through without damaging your skin. How about sunscreens? According to Mercola, “loaded with toxic chemicals.” And yes, he does sell a “natural” sunscreen (with green tea) on his website.

When asked why the FDA has been on his case, he laughs, “It’s a very simple answer. There are enormous sums of money involved. There’s this huge collusion between government and industry. They leverage the federal regulatory agencies against us to make us look like we’re breaking the law.”

So, whether you view Dr. Mercola as a visionary or a quack, his Top 10 Tips for a roadmap to healthier living seem pretty sensible, straightforward and non-controversial.

More from Dr. Mercola here: