health

Fluoride plays an important role in protecting teeth against cavities. It's found in most toothpastes. But the reason it protects our teeth is that it is an extremely reactive element. It doesn't just destroy bacteria but also damages our own cells. Many studies have linked excessive levels of...

How was wondering if there was any substantial difference in alcohol consumption between British regions and whether they was some truth to the stereotype of the Scots drinking a lot of spirits like whisky. Well it seems to be true recording to this scientific study: Regional alcohol...

I've discussed before (notably here) the difference between American and European food, and in particular how so many food additives, hormones and chemicals typically found in food in the US is banned in Europe and even in countries like China. Here is a video about American food products banned...

Here is another way artificial intelligence could soon revolutionise healthcare. The Economist: AI offers an intriguing new way to diagnose mental-health conditions In summary: AI tools are being developed to diagnose mental-health conditions by analyzing speech patterns, which can detect...

For years type 2 diabetes has been associated with high sugar consumption. But a new meta analysis from Cambridge University involving 2 million people worldwide now shows that the culprit is also processed meat (like bacon, ham, salami and sausages) and unprocessed red meat (e.g. beef, lamb...

I mentioned food swamps in another thread about American supermarkets. Here is an interesting article that explains the phenomenon. New study at the Georgia Cancer Center sheds light on the danger of “food swamps” "Food deserts have become a relatively common term referring to areas where...

This is worrying.

When writing about dangerous chemicals found in American fast food, it made me wonder why so many people eat that kind of junk food on a regular basis. I am in my 40s and I have always known since my childhood that junk food like McDonald's is bad for health. It's common knowledge in Belgium...

This is the conclusion of an American study published in October 2021. I am not surprised. That's not really news. I read before about the plastics McDonald's or KFC put in their nuggets for a Subway's in their sandwiches to "add cohesion" to the ingredients. That's why I almost never eat in...

If true, that would be terrible news for the world as a whole. Brain fog, poor memory and lower IQ would significantly affect the economy, reduce scientific research, and more generally cause a diminution of well-being and productivity. It could also lead to the election or worse politicians...

About 80% of the food you find in supermarkets is ultra processed. This includes all breakfast cereals, the vast majority of frozen and ready dishes, juices and sodas, biscuits/cookies, snack bars, breadsticks, cakes and industrial breads, and many more things. The food in fast food restaurants...

If anyone ever doubted that plastic pollution could affect their health, this could make them think again. If the accumulation of microplastics in the body really does cause or amplify diseases, then we have a problem on a global scale that is only going to get worse with time, as the quantity...

The Local : Spanish bank launches account that pays you interest if you run or walk "Spanish bank Abanca has launched a savings account that rewards customers with interest for running and walking — as long as they meet their daily step targets. The B100 'Healthy Banking' account pays...

This map is based on the data from the CIA World Factbook as reported on Wikipedia. The percentages indicated for the increase of decrease in obesity rates are the difference between the rates for 2016 and for 2024. For example, in the United Kingdom the rate decreased from 27.8% in 2016 to...

I have just made this map to visualise which countries were the most affected by COVID-19. It is based on data from the World Bank Group published on Wikipedia. The eastern half of Europe, as well as India and most countries on the American continent (including the US, but not so much Canada)...

The popularity of meat substitutes has been soaring in the last few years. Meat alternatives are hailed as healthier and more eco-conscious choices. These include vegan burgers (patties), vegan sausages, vegan bacon, vegan chicken, which typically use proteins from soybeans or peas. Other...

It will come as no surprise to anybody that there are more fat people in the US than in any other developed country. It's not a new phenomenon, but it keeps getting worse year after year. 20 years ago I was already shocked that one third of Americans were obese. Now the latest data points to...

I have made maps showing the death rate from various types of cancer in and around Europe. Some types of cancer are clearly linked to the lifestyle. Lung cancer rates do not only depend on the percentage of smokers, but also on air quality. As you can see here, the Balkans have the worst...

Vaccination is a topic that is as likely to divide people and families as politics and religion. It has been exacerbated by the Coronavirus pandemic, but the rift was already present long before in some countries. According to Our World in Data, 33% of French people don't believe that vaccines...

Here is the study. Nature Genetics: Identification of LZTFL1 as a candidate effector gene at a COVID-19 risk locus Abstract The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused millions of deaths worldwide. Genome-wide association studies...