Category: Fitness
Castor oil is all the rage among health influencers – what you need to know about this alternative remedy
Castor oil, which was once used by fascists in Italy as punishment because of its quick-acting laxative effect, is now a weight-loss trend on TikTok. Not drinking it, but rubbing it on your belly.
Influencers are also pouring it in their belly buttons and wrapping towels soaked in it around their midriff. They claim it can melt belly fat and help with bloating.
Health News Headlines
Measles cases triple – 400 million have had long covid – Pesticides on fruits and vegetables.
Food and exercise can treat depression as well as a psychologist – and it’s cheaper
Previous studies have found “lifestyle” therapies are effective for depression. But they have never been directly compared with psychological therapies – until now.
Why Millions Are Trying FDA-Authorized Alternatives to Big Pharma’s Weight Loss Drugs
Dry industry officials estimate that several large compounding pharmacies are provisioning up to 2 million American patients with regular doses of semaglutide, the scientific name for Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus formulations, or tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro.
Walking can prevent low back pain, a new study shows
Walking not only prevents recurrence of low back pain, it also delivers many other health benefits, including better heart health, improved mood and sleep quality, and reduced risk of several chronic diseases.
Why you shouldn’t be afraid to start running after middle age
Alister Hart, UCL As someone who started marathon running in mid-life, I know how many aches and pains (and doubts) you can have if you take on the challenge to start running at an older age. But as an orthopaedic…
Stop asking me if I’ve tried keto: Why weight stigma is more than just being mean to fat people
Fat stigma can take the form of overt discrimination, but it is often insidious, pervasively entrenched into our society and environment.
What is metabolism? A biochemist explains how different people convert energy differently − and why that matters for your health
Simply put, a primary role of metabolism is to convert chemical energy into electrical energy and back into chemical energy. How this energy is transferred throughout the body might play a central role in determining whether you’re sick or healthy.
Drugs like Ozempic won’t ‘cure’ obesity but they might make us more fat-phobic
Ironically, while fat people are told they need to lose weight for their health, they are also shamed for “cheating” or taking shortcuts by using medication.
Considering taking a weight-loss drug like Ozempic? Here are some potential risks and benefits
As they’ve grown in popularity, we’ve also heard more about the potential side effects – from common gastrointestinal discomforts, to more serious mental health concerns.
Heart rate zones aren’t a perfect measure of exercise intensity, but regularly getting your heart pumping is still important for fitness
With varying guidelines around heart rate zones and conflicting evidence on the potential benefits of training in each zone, exercisers may be left wondering what to do.
Millions of older people don’t get enough nutrients – how to spot it and what to do about it
Weight loss in older adults is a key sign of malnutrition that needs to be addressed – but it can be easily missed, especially when many older adults associate the idea of thinness with good health. But clothing that’s too loose or a watchstrap that floats on the wrist are all warning signs of undernourishment.
Running or yoga can help beat depression, research shows – even if exercise is the last thing you feel like
We found walking, running, strength training, yoga and mixed aerobic exercise were about as effective as cognitive behaviour therapy – one of the gold-standard treatments for depression.
How much weight do you actually need to lose? It might be a lot less than you think
Losing just 5–10% of our body weight – between 6 (~13 lb.)and 12kg (~26 lb.) for someone weighing 120kg (~264 lb.) – can significantly improve our health in four key ways.
Your body already has a built-in weight loss system that works like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro – food and your gut microbiome
Specialized bacteria in your lower gut take the components of food you can’t digest like fiber and polyphenols – the elements of plants that are removed in many processed foods – and transforms them into molecules that stimulate hormones to control your appetite and metabolism.