Archive
Muscles Over Time: How to Stay Strong as You Age
When COVID hit, I, like all gym enthusiasts, needed to rethink my approach to exercise. Free weights and other equipment, which I suddenly no longer had access to and could neither afford nor spatially accommodate in my home, had dominated my workout regimen.
See the Difference: How Diet Impacts Your Eye Health
When people, including myself in the past, consider vitamin and mineral supplements, they typically do not associate them with vision care. Yet, studies have demonstrated the clinical benefits of nutrients in slowing, preventing, and improving various eye diseases and conditions, including macular degeneration, dry eye, night blindness, and cataracts (more on these below). I find it surprising that eye exams do not discuss the role of a healthy diet in vision care. At least none I’ve been to.
The Silent Link Between Hypertension and Memory Loss You Need to Know
In January 2022, my partner had what our family doctor at the time thought to be a mini stroke. He put in a request for a CT scan, which, due to the sad state of Canadian health care, took place in the early fall of 2024. To the relief of my partner and me, there was no evidence of a mini stroke, and, to my own private relief, there was also no evidence of Alzheimer’s. Prompted by my partner’s seemingly escalating absentmindedness, this possibility had been a nagging concern.Yet the news was not entirely good. Longstanding hypertension had left its mark.
The Power Nap: A Secret Weapon for Sharper Thinking The Science Behind an Effective Nap
On a winter afternoon in New York City, on the ninth floor of an office building, a strategy consultant closes his eyes. Five, ten, fifteen minutes pass. He’s not fully asleep, but he’s no longer working either. Lightly dozing, he awakens, sits up, adjusts his glasses, and returns to his screen. He hasn’t wasted his time — he’s taken a strategic nap.
The Unspoken Risk of Foregoing the Shingles Vaccine
When people hear “shingles,” they usually think of a painful rash on the torso. But what many don’t realize is that shingles can also strike the face and eyes—with serious, and sometimes permanent, consequences. In fact, shingles can lead to blindness if it involves the eye, a condition known as herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO).
CHRONIC PAIN: A SILENT EPIDEMIC
Chronic pain presents a significant global challenge, with striking statistics even in the most advanced healthcare systems. More than 25% of the population is affected by this condition, highlighting the widespread impact and urgency of addressing it.
Hidden in Plain Sight: The Surprising Ways Aluminium Enters Your Diet
I can’t remember how many years ago it was, several is my best estimate, when I first read the ingredients listed on the bottle of the over-the-counter heartburn medication I was taking and saw the word aluminium. The word struck me as memorably odd because, up until that moment, my strongest association with it was as the primary metal used in the construction of storm doors. Even without a warning label prompting concern, I wondered if aluminium was something people should be ingesting.
Detox Myths Busted: Your Liver’s Got This!
While the popularity of detox diets is undeniable, it’s important to approach their claims with a balanced perspective. Some benefits people report, such as increased hydration or eating nutrient-dense foods, can indeed support overall well-being. However, there’s limited scientific evidence to back extreme detox regimens for long-term health benefits. In fact, these regimens can sometimes result in nutrient deficiencies or dehydration.
The Quiet Art of Calming Down: Tiny Habits for Turbulent Days
The morning unravelled with the precision of chaos. My toddler was in tears — betrayed, it seemed, by a microscopic blemish on her school uniform. My teenager, ever the strategist, was mounting a compelling case against her own education, invoking logic, ethics, and fatigue. I hadn’t had coffee.
Gut Check: Why Your Digestive Health Matters More Than You Think
At the risk of oversharing, I started having intestinal issues around the age of twelve, and the threat of flare-up has plagued me ever since. Back then, there wasn’t a name for it, or at least I wasn’t aware of the name, but somewhere along the way, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) slipped into the lexicon, and the definition seemed to fit. I won’t drag you through the details, but some bouts were horrendously painful. So, it was and, seemingly, would always be, until I stumbled upon a remarkable preventative measure: eat salad. Not even every day. Just regularly. That was all it took. Such was the sad state of my diet.