Health

Halay Alex/Shutterstock The relationship between chewing gum – both the sugary and the non-sugary kind – and whether chewing gum might prevent conditions like gum disease, bone loss around teeth, and caries, was studied in research published in the Journal of the American Nutrition Association in early 2024. The researchers used data from people who were enrolled in a large population-based study between 2013 and 2019. In addition to reporting on their oral health, participants were also asked questions about their diet, weight and waist circumference – the size of their waistline. Analysis of the data showed no relationship between chewing gum and oral health. However, out of the of 15,178 participants in the study, 2.4% reported to chew gumContinue Reading

The interest in psychedelics is growing both in scientific circles and among the public. These are powerful substances capable of altering perception, mood and various mental processes. They also show promise for treating a wide range of mental health disorders. However, for their use to be safe and effective, it’s important to understand how they interact with different mental health conditions. This is especially true for personality disorders. A personality disorder is a type of mental disorder involving rigid and unhealthy patterns of thinking, functioning and behaving, which significantly affect a person’s life. Understanding their interaction with psychedelics is crucial. These substances can deeply influence mental states. They can worsen or improve symptoms in ways unique to these disorders. InContinue Reading

Many traditional Japanese foods are high in vitamins and minerals which may help to keep the brain healthy. Nishihama/ Shutterstock Cognitive decline and dementia already affect more than 55 million people worldwide. This number is projected to skyrocket over the next few decades as the global population ages. There are certain risk factors of cognitive decline and dementia that we cannot change – such as having a genetic predisposition to these conditions. But other risk factors we may have more power over – with research showing certain modifiable lifestyle habits, such as smoking, obesity and lack of exercise, are all linked to higher risk of dementia. What role nutrition plays in preventing cognitive decline and dementia has also been theContinue Reading

_C butyricum_ ferments foods, such as wholegrains, in the gut to produce butyrate. Pixel-Shot/ Shutterstock Our friend here, Clostridium butyricum (also known as C butyricum), is one of the hardest working microbes living in our gut. Without it’s exhaustive work, we might find ourselves constantly feeling a little under the weather. C butyricum is a microbe that lives in the soil as well as our gut. It’s commonly found in vegetables and sour milk. This microbe prefers to grow in environments lacking oxygen and exists in a mutualistic relationship with the human host – meaning the human body helps it to grow and survive, and in return it provides our body with benefits. C butyricum has been so named becauseContinue Reading

Women with a history of premenstrual disorders were found to be five times more susceptible to developing perinatal depression. arthierry/ Shutterstock Changes in mood are a common experience for many women throughout their reproductive years. Menstruation, pregnancy and menopause are all punctuated by hormonal fluctuations – and these fluctuations can affect a person’s mood. But for the millions of women who have a premenstrual disorder, such as severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), these mood changes can be far more severe than normal. Symptoms are typically confined to the days before menstruation – yet the chronic and cyclical nature of premenstrual disorders, particularly PMDD, can profoundly affect a person’s life. Premenstrual disorders manifest through a range ofContinue Reading

STSS is caused by group A streptococcal bacteria. Dragon Claws/ Shutterstock There has been a sharp increase in the number of people in Japan suffering with the rare but dangerous bacterial condition, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). According to reports, cases of this potentially fatal strep A illness have more than tripled in Tokyo compared with this time last year. While experts aren’t entirely certain why cases have risen so sharply to record levels, many believe it could be due to people being less vigilant about protecting themselves from infection after COVID measures were dropped. Many countries, including the UK, have seen a similar increase in illnesses caused by strep A bacteria in the post-lockdown period – highlighting the continuedContinue Reading

With the Women’s Six Nation’s Championship underway, there is mounting public concern regarding the risk of injuries to players. In recent years there has been a significant rise in the number of women playing rugby. Women now make up one-quarter of the global rugby playing population. But despite the fact that there are similar injuries in both men and women’s rugby, female players need their own injury prevention strategy. There is evidence to suggest that gender differences may influence injuries in team sports in general. Research shows that lower neck strength may predispose female rugby players to concussion. Research has shown that females have greater head acceleration in response to an applied force than males, which could predispose them toContinue Reading

_K pneumoniae_ is the most common cause of hospital-aquired pneumonia. AnaLysiSStudiO/ Shutterstock Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common species of bacteria found in our bodies – and may even be lurking in your gut, mouth or nose right now. But it’s also a notoriously harmful bacteria that can make us very ill. It’s the most common cause of hospital-acquired pneumonia in the US and the second most frequent cause of urinary tract infections worldwide, after Escherichia coli (E coli). If it infects wounds or enters the bloodstream, K pneumoniae can cause bloodstream infections and sepsis. So how can K pneumoniae live harmlessly among the rest of the microbiome in some of us, yet cause disease in others? Understanding this may holdContinue Reading

Leftovers should only be stored in the fridge for a maximum of two days. Halfpoint/ Shutterstock Eating leftovers can be a great way to save money, diversify your cooking repertoire and reduce food waste. But eating leftover food can also be risky as these foods have already been exposed to bacteria in the environment. If you haven’t stored and re-heated leftovers correctly, you could be putting yourself at risk of potentially life-threatening food poisoning. That doesn’t mean you should start avoiding leftovers, however. By following the the correct food safety practices, you can ensure you avoid harm when eating leftovers. How quickly should leftovers be refrigerated or frozen? Bacteria exist everywhere in our world, including in kitchens – and theContinue Reading

Bella Baxter's brain transplant in Poor Things. Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo The neurosurgeon Sergio Canavero announced in 2015 that he could soon be capable of performing the world’s first human head transplant procedure. This would mean that it would be possible to remove someone’s head, and graft it onto the neck and shoulders of another person. As of yet, this has only been performed on cadavers and not on living humans. But suppose you want to keep the face that you’ve already got? Or have grown tired of the body you inhabit? Could it ever be possible to switch brains between bodies instead? Emma Stone recently won her second Oscar for her performance in the brilliantly surrealContinue Reading