Most of us are on a diet of some sort. The exact nature may vary, depending on what is fashionable at the moment. But chances are that we all modulate our food and nutrition. What does dieting do to your muscles? Your muscles are metabolically active. They require energy simply
This year, I have encountered a surprising number of people who have got Chikungunya. Chikungunya is a viral disease resembling dengue, transmitted by mosquitoes and endemic in East Africa and parts of Asia. If you don’t know anyone who has been inflicted, thank your stars. The pain, fatigue and
I spoke to someone yesterday. He is fifty-nine, diagnosed with osteoporosis. He was advised to not undertake any form of physical activity or exercise, lest he break a bone. So, should you stop exercising if you have osteoporosis? Let me disclaim first, so that there is no misunderstanding. Each person’
Your body has two broad kinds of muscle fibre. Fast twitch and slow twitch. We use both in our everyday lives, perhaps without noticing. What role do different muscles play? The body, designed over years, built capacity for varying needs. To sprint and escape from a predator. To throw a
But he can eat anything, and he never puts on weight. There has to be something wrong with my metabolism. Or genes. Or hormones. Or my stars. Have you felt this about someone? If you have, listen in. Let me use my example. A few weeks ago, I found myself
If you are chasing big ideas in health, among the most powerful ideas is that your genes are not your fate. You may have inherited your genes, but how they behave is in your hands. It is called epigenetics or gene expression. Your lifestyle, your sleep, your stress, and especially
It is extremely likely that you ate a tomato in some form in the past one week. Tomatoes are ubiquitous. But did you know just how amazing tomatoes are for you? Little wonder, then, that across the world, tomatoes are a part of our cuisine. Tomatoes contain potassium. A single
The adrenal gland sits quietly above the kidneys. It is tiny, but it regulates one of the most important processes in the body. Blood pressure. The adrenal gland acts as both a sensor and a regulator, constantly adjusting hormonal signals to keep that system in balance. It detects subtle changed
If you are someone that has gone through life without thinking of your spine, you are among the fortunate ones. We assume that our spine will support us. Until it doesn't. One outcome of your neck wearing out is cervical spondylosis. Cervical spondylitis is essentially wear and tear
If you are chasing good health, it is hard to throw a rock and not hit gut health. Among the many factors that affect gut health, one important one is butyrate. So what is butyrate and how does it affect you? Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid that your gut
I have written several times about belief in the past. To revisit, beliefs shape our thoughts and actions. But we have to ask, how did our beliefs form in the first place? What was the role of memory in forming beliefs? Memories form in several phases. I am simplifying but
Most of us know vitamin D as the sunshine vitamin. We imagine sunlight on our skin producing this vital nutrient. But did you know that without your kidney you would never have enough? When sunlight touches the skin, it triggers the production of a substance called cholecalciferol or vitamin D₃