What's That Rash?

You might've heard of the blood type diet popularised in the 90s off the back of a best-selling book.It’s based on the theory that blood types emerged at different times in history, when our ancestors had very different diets.So does that mean certain foods are better for an A-, an AB+ or even an O-?As Norman and Tegan explain, it’s a complicated story.References:Blood type diets lack supporting evidence: a systematic reviewBlood Type Is Not Associated with Changes in Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Response to a Plant-Based Dietary InterventionGenetically Determined ABO Blood Group and its Associations With Health and DiseaseThe Role of ABO Blood Type in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review

There are MANY books out there on habit formation. Are they all saying the same thing?Some habits are more complicated than others. Some habits require us to untangle one automatic set of behaviours and replace them with another.It can be a long process — much longer than the 21 days that's often promised.  Norman and Tegan tell us how to form a new habit, in far less than 300 pages, so you can get started. ReferencesNeurobiology of habit formationHow the brain controls our habits - MITBridging the gap between striatal plasticity and learningBasal ganglia and beyond: The interplay between motor and cognitive aspects in Parkinson’s disease rehabilitationYou are what you repeatedly do: Links between personality and habitHow are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real worldHow does habit form? Guidelines for tracking real-world habit formationThe role of habit in compulsivityGoal-Directed and Habitual Control in Human Substance Use: State of the Art and Future Directions

'Tis the season to indulge. As you sit down with family and friends, an age-old debate might arise: does drinking a single glass of red wine make you healthier?In this episode first published May 1, 2024, Norman and Tegan try to find out the answer once and for all. References: The French paradox: Lessons for other countriesModerate Wine Consumption and Health: A Narrative ReviewHealth Effects of Red Wine Consumption: A Narrative Review of an Issue That Still Deserves Debate

You might have seen those robot-looking red light masks being sold for skincare purposes. You might have thought — looks technological, but does it work?It's not just red light. There are a spectrum of health claims from infrared to ultraviolet.Norman and Tegan go through the rainbow to assess where there's evidence, and where there's not. References:Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy: A Review of Recent Progress and Their Target Molecules for Cancer TherapyEffect of NASA Light-Emitting Diode Irradiation on Wound HealingVisible Red Light Emitting Diode Photobiomodulation for Skin Fibrosis: Key Molecular PathwaysUtilization of light-emitting diodes for skin therapy: Systematic review and meta-analysisPhotodynamic Therapy Using HMME for Port-Wine Stains: Clinical Effectiveness and Sonographic AppearanceEffect of Blue Light on Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic ReviewThe efficacy of violet light in the treatment of acneFeatured review: What are the benefits and risks of light therapy for treating atopic eczema?Light therapy for preventing seasonal affective disorder