Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Health Risks”
There are certain age-old debates that are challenging to get to the bottom of, like, does pineapple belong on pizza? Or what came first, the chicken or the egg? One dispute that science can help us understand is one of nature vs. nurture. When you think of your health and wellbeing, try to imagine all of the factors that come together to support the …
As a doctor in training, night shifts are a consistent part of life. This gets especially difficult for someone who is into optimizing their health. The World Health Organization classifies night shift work as a ācarcinogenā. Circadian rhythms dictate specific times at which we are physiologically optimized for performance in different domains. Itās hard to stay alert and productive at night as …
In a world where anti-depressants are fast becoming as common as Tylenol, it’s refreshing to run into a culture, an entire population or Blue Zone if you will, that possesses joy as a palpable entity. The Carioca spirit, or “joie de vivre” of the local Rio de Janeiro population, is not only infectious but palpable. It’s something even those living here for …
Sitting is the New Smoking According to recent research from a new cadre of public health advocates, sitting for extended periods throughout the day is an independent risk factor for chronic disease such as heart disease – even with allotments for exercise.Ā Sitting down too much, for too long, is bad for our health. The typical American work day looks pretty much like …
Tic-Toc. Lub-Dub. Buzz. Whatās the sound of your metronome? What keeps your beat? Guides your rhythm on a daily basis? For mothers it might be a childās cry that guides them from one moment to the next. For a rural farmer in an isolated region, the rise and fall of the sun. For you? For me? For many of us, the beat-setter …
Did you plan your day today? Ā If so, you probably found time for that healthy snack, a light jog, or to enjoy the evening with your loved ones. Sometimes we get caught in a trap of poor day-planning, and that can lead to vicious cycles. When we forget to eat a square breakfast or lunch, for example, we might reach for calorie-dense …
It wasnāt long ago that a surgeon might stroll into the operating room with a lit cigarette in tow, as some lauded nicotineās beneficial effects on focus and attention, but the CDC now considers tobacco use the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. Trans fats used in fast foods were considered a healthy alternative to saturated fats, until further research linked them …
Neurogenesis: neuĀ·roĀ·genĀ·eĀ·sis(nur’É-jÄn’Ä-sÄs, nyur’-) n.Formation of nervous tissue. As recently as 10 years ago, scientists and medical professionals thought it was impossible for human beings to grow new nerve cells. Research from institutions including UC Berkeley, UC San Diego and UCLA are showing that good olā sleep helps promote a healthy amount of neurogenesis. This includes areas like the āhippocampusā which are essential …
