Health

We often assume that if a doctor prescribes a medication, the only thing we need to worry about is the primary condition it treats. For over two decades, I lived by this assumption. Diagnostic: High Blood Pressure. Prescription: Atenolol 100 and Triamterene-H. Later, Levothyroxine for my thyroid, and eventually Allopurinol and Atorvastatin. I was “managed.” But management isn’t always the same as health. About ten years into my journey with hypertension, I faced a new challenge: high blood glucose. It was a shock. The doctor prescribed Metformin and Gliclazide. For a while, things were under control, especially after I managed to lose a few kilograms and cut sugary foods from my diet. But then, despite my efforts, my numbers spiked again; my A1C hit a staggering 14.2. ...

As developers, we often treat our bodies like hardware that just needs caffeine to keep running. We pull late-night sessions, work in dimly lit rooms, and stare at blue-light-emitting screens for 12 hours a day. We optimize our CI/CD pipelines, our database queries, and our bundle sizes, but we often ignore the most critical piece of infrastructure in our stack: our own biology. Our brains aren’t just processors; they are biological organs governed by a 24-hour internal clock known as the circadian rhythm. This rhythm dictates everything from our core body temperature to our hormone production and, most importantly for us, our cognitive performance. ...

Conditioned taste aversion, sometimes called the Garcia effect in honor of John Garcia who first described its unusual properties, is a powerful and fascinating form of learning. It is not only an interesting phenomenon in behavioral science, it also matters a great deal in medicine, nutrition, oncology, pediatrics, and everyday life. This long-form post explains what conditioned taste aversion is, how and why it happens, how to recognize it, the problems it can cause, ways to prevent and manage it, how it differs from allergies and other food-related issues, and where to look for more detailed scientific and clinical information. ...

When it comes to increasing indoor humidity, most people think of a humidifier. But what if a couple of houseplants, like the Spathiphyllum (peace lily) or the Ficus elastica (rubber plant), could compete? Let’s dive into a fun comparison to see how these popular houseplants stack up against a common cool mist humidifier! 🌿💧 The Competitors Cool Mist Humidifier Our modern champion in the battle for indoor humidity! It’s efficient and effective for boosting indoor air moisture quickly. ...

Probiotics, live beneficial bacteria and yeasts, offer significant health benefits across various stages of life. From infancy to old age, probiotics can support digestive health, boost the immune system, promote mental well-being, and even help with skin health. But how does their role evolve as we age, and which probiotics should be taken at different life stages? Infants (0-2 Years) Probiotics for Infants Infants, especially those born via cesarean section, can benefit greatly from probiotics. During a natural birth, babies are exposed to beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium from the mother’s birth canal, which plays a crucial role in establishing a healthy gut microbiome. Babies born via C-section may miss out on this initial exposure, leading to a less diverse gut microbiome. ...

Candidiasis is an infection caused by an overgrowth of Candida, a type of yeast that naturally exists in the body. When Candida grows uncontrollably, it can lead to various health issues, including oral thrush, vaginal yeast infections, and systemic infections. Probiotics, beneficial bacteria that support gut health, can play a crucial role in managing and preventing Candidiasis. This post explores how probiotics help with Candidiasis, their mechanisms of action, and specific strains that offer the most benefit. ...

Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to a typically harmless substance, such as pollen, dust, or certain foods. Probiotics, especially certain strains, can help regulate immune responses and alleviate allergic symptoms by influencing the balance of gut bacteria and modulating inflammation. Read before: Unlocking the World of Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Postbiotics: The Complete Guide 1. Regulating the Immune System Probiotics play a significant role in modulating the immune system, which is critical in managing allergies. In allergies, the immune system tends to skew towards a Th2-dominant response, leading to an overproduction of antibodies like IgE, which trigger allergic reactions. Probiotics, especially strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium longum, can shift the immune response towards a Th1-dominant response, which reduces the production of IgE and thus alleviates allergic symptoms. ...

In recent years, the terms prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics have gained widespread attention in discussions about health and well-being. These compounds, derived from food and supplements, play a significant role in maintaining gut health and extend benefits to multiple bodily systems. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore what each one is, their categories, the range of health benefits they offer, sources for each, and how they help with common health issues such as allergies, candidiasis, and lactose intolerance. ...

What is Molybdenum? Molybdenum is a chemical element with the symbol Mo and atomic number 42 which is located in period 5 and group 6. The name is from Neo-Latin molybdaenum, which is based on Ancient Greek Μόλυβδος molybdos, meaning lead, since its ores were confused with lead ores. Why Molybdenum Is an Essential Nutrient You may not have heard of the trace mineral molybdenum, but it is essential to your health. ...

I’ve been reading an article from medicalnewstoday.com and I found this part interesting: A team of cardiologists wrote an article stating that eating foods with saturated fat does not clog the arteries, as people once believed. They contend that the “fat free” movement caused higher intakes of carbohydrate foods, including sugars. This might explain why rates of heart disease have increased. Here is the link to the article mentioned above from BMJ Journal: Saturated fat does not clog the arteries: coronary heart disease is a chronic inflammatory condition, the risk of which can be effectively reduced from healthy lifestyle interventions