Get answers to the health questions everyone's asking. Our experts give you the information you need to feel good and make the best decisions for your brain and...
Microplastics are everywhere – they’re in the air, in the water and in our bodies.There’s plenty of evidence for that, but it’s still unclear what effects these microplastics are having on our health.Norman and Tegan unpack what we do and don’t know about these tiny specs of plastic, and what you might be able to do about them.References:Ingested microplastics: Do humans eat one credit card per week?A review of the endocrine disrupting effects of micro and nano plastic and their associated chemicals in mammalsAssociation of mixed exposure to microplastics with sperm dysfunction: a multi-site study in China First evidence of microplastics in human ovarian follicular fluid: An emerging threat to female fertilityMicroplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events | New England Journal of MedicineBioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains | Nature MedicineChewing Gum Releases Hundreds of Microplastics In Your Mouth, Study Finds
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Is daylight saving time bad for us?
This week parts of Australia are preparing to wind back their clocks to mark the ending of daylight saving time.For a long time the country has been divided about the positives and the negatives of changing the clocks twice a year.Norman and Tegan look into the health effects of this shift – from the impact on sleep to medical procedures and road accidents.References:Basic concepts and unique features of human circadian rhythms: implications for human health | Nutrition Reviews | Oxford AcademicAre Daylight Saving Time Changes Bad for the Brain? | Cerebrovascular Disease | JAMA NeurologyDaylight Saving Time and Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Meta-AnalysisDaylight savings time transitions and risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: An interrupted time series analysisEmbryo transfers performed during daylight savings time led to reduced live birth rates in older patients | Journal of Assisted Reproduction and GeneticsDaylight saving time as a potential public health interventionDoes lowering evening rectal temperature to morning levels offset the diurnal variation in muscle force production?
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Do glasses make your eyesight worse?
If you're short-sighted or long-sighted, have astigmatism or double vision, you now live in a world where glasses can help you out.But there's a misconception hanging around that wearing spectacles weakens your eyes over time, and so some people avoid getting their vision checked.Norman and Tegan focus in on how glasses work and the long term impacts of wearing them.References:When time outside doesn't slow short-sightedness - the Health ReportThe history of spectacles - the College of OptometristsTo Correct or Not Correct? Actual Evidence, Controversy and the Questions That Remain OpenUndercorrection of myopia enhances rather than inhibits myopia progressionInterventions to slow progression of myopia in children - Cochrane Review
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Don't sweat it? Conventional vs natural deodorants
We haven’t always suppressed our sweat or our natural body odour, but in many cultures now it’s expected we’ll all try to smell our best.You might be seeing more ads for ‘natural’ deodorants that promise to keep you fresh without any harmful ingredients.Norman and Tegan talk through those ingredients, and whether they carry any risks.References:The specific biochemistry of human axilla odour formation viewed in an evolutionary contextUse of Aluminium in Antiperspirants - Australian Department of HealthAntiperspirants/Deodorants and Breast Cancer - National Cancer InstituteAntiperspirants - National Kidney FoundationHow Advertisers Convinced Americans They Smelled Bad - Smithsonian Magazine
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How much protein do you REALLY need?
Protein is having its moment — walk any supermarket aisle and you'll find product after product boasting its protein content. Do you need to be loading up on protein through powders or processed foods, or can you meet your goals with whole foods?Norman and Tegan unpack why protein is important and how much you need each day. References:Protein - Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New ZealandTips to boost protein in your diet from Dietitians AustraliaHow much protein can the body use in a single meal for muscle-building? Implications for daily protein distributionAssociation between dietary protein intake and risk of chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Get answers to the health questions everyone's asking. Our experts give you the information you need to feel good and make the best decisions for your brain and body.
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