Category: Educational

We have a serious plastic problem

December 13, 2018

Findings from a recent study examining over 100 sea turtles of all seven species, across the Atlantic, Pacific and Mediterranean oceans, are rather disturbing. Published in the journal Global Change Biology, the study was conducted by researchers from the University of Exeter, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and Greenpeace Research Laboratories, a CNN article said. Over 800 synthetic particles were … More We have a serious plastic problem

Could this gene prevent weight-gain while eating as much as you like?

December 9, 2018

Hang on to your hats, folks; an article via MedicalXpress discusses a topic some of us often dream of – a gene that could protect from obesity while consuming as much food as desired. When RCAN1, a single gene, was removed in mice, and the same mice were given a diet high in fat, they … More Could this gene prevent weight-gain while eating as much as you like?

A majority of Americans are lying to their doctors

December 8, 2018

Have you ever withheld information from your physician that you knew you probably should share? Well, apparently Americans do so frequently. “Between 60 and 80 percent of people admit they avoid telling their doctor details that could be relevant to their well-being,” a MedicalXpress article states. A study conducted by senior researcher Angela Fagerlin, chair … More A majority of Americans are lying to their doctors

A solution for gluten?

December 5, 2018

An article from EMBO, re-sourced by Eurekalert, offers some potentially promising news for those of us who are intolerant to gluten, or, more seriously, celiac. Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that can seriously damage the intestinal system, can appear in genetically pre-disposed people, however, it is triggered via environmental factors, the article explains. “When people … More A solution for gluten?

Skin cancer is (very much) on the rise

December 4, 2018

An article from Queen Mary University of London reports some rather alarming findings pertaining to skin cancer. Data originating from the UK skin cancer database has unveiled that there are over 45,000 “cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCC) every year in England, 350 per cent more than previous estimates suggested,” the article states. Squamous cell carcinoma … More Skin cancer is (very much) on the rise

How prevalent are eating disorders amongst youth?

November 30, 2018

An article published via Eurekalert discusses a study conducted by Jama Pediatrics in an attempt to understand how common eating disorders are amongst children. Upon initial thought, most of us likely assume that eating disorders and children and two things that are not intended to be affiliated with each other. The Jama Pediatrics study, however, … More How prevalent are eating disorders amongst youth?

Addressing sexual assault amongst elders

November 27, 2018

An article posted on The Conversation addresses a difficult topic to tackle; sexual abuse and assault towards elderly people, specifically women. A disheartening topic for sure, but also one that demands recognition and acknowledgement in hopes of preventing these occurrences from occurring. The article outlines research that was published in Legal Medicine that looked at 28 forensic medical … More Addressing sexual assault amongst elders

Social media impacts how we see our bodies, but not in a good way

November 18, 2018

The relationship between social media and body image is one I have revisited on several occasions, on here, on a project I did for university, and for one I completed in college. Despite my frequency in dabbling with this topic, it continues to spark conversation. And not in a good way. An article from York … More Social media impacts how we see our bodies, but not in a good way

Kavanaugh vs. Blasey Ford aftermath

November 13, 2018

Remember the whole Brett Kavanaugh, Christine Blasey Ford situation in which Blasey Ford, despite her decision to come forward with her sexual assault testimony against Kavanaugh, was silenced by Kavanaugh’s successful entry to the Supreme Court? After Kavanaugh was voted into the Supreme Court, Blasey Ford began to encounter harassment and death threats for her … More Kavanaugh vs. Blasey Ford aftermath

A rise in reports of sexual assault

November 11, 2018

“Statistics Canada says police-reported sexual assault cases went from 59 per day to 74 in three months.” This statement comes from a CBC article released Thursday. The article explains that despite a spike in reported assaults, an increase in criminal charges hasn’t occurred. “After sexual assault allegations against movie executive Harvey Weinstein first surfaced in October 2017 … More A rise in reports of sexual assault

Profile: Robert Pickton

November 10, 2018

Arguably Canada’s most famous serial killer, Robert Pickton was born Oct. 24, 1949. He and his brother, David, owned a pig farm in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, nearly 20 miles east of Vancouver. In 1996, the brothers registered their farm with the Canadian government. The “Piggy Palace Good Times Society” claimed to “organize, co-ordinate, manage and … More Profile: Robert Pickton

Here’s to women

November 1, 2018

The other evening, around the dinner table, my mom, sister and I got into a discussion pertaining to just how incredible women are. Specifically, how women are absolute troopers for going to work with a smiling face, through menopause and PMS and menstruation and all of the other joys the female body has to offer. … More Here’s to women

No pain, no gain: how pain impacts us differently

October 30, 2018

Pain, although inevitable, is an interesting thing to me, personally. I find it quite fascinating how pain, experienced anywhere on our bodies, or in our minds, can be transmitted to our brain and cause it to signal the pain to our consciousness. Probably not the textbook definition of how pain is processed, but close enough. … More No pain, no gain: how pain impacts us differently

Profile: Keanu Reeves

October 23, 2018

Keanu Reeves is one dude I would love to go for a coffee with. He really does seem like such a genuine, down-to-earth kinda guy, hence why I wanted to do a profile post about him. Reeves, born Sept. 2, 1964, us a Canadian actor, producer, director and musician, believe it or not. He’s appeared … More Profile: Keanu Reeves

It’s healthy to sleep with your pup

October 20, 2018

A recent Phys.org article will have dog lovers rejoicing. A University of Alberta study has cultivated results that suggest sleeping with a dog could benefit chronic pain sufferers. The findings contradict other medical advice that recommends sleeping without a dog for people who experience long-term pain. “A small study published earlier this year of people … More It’s healthy to sleep with your pup

Bad news: mammals literally can’t evolve fast enough to avoid extinction

October 18, 2018

We’re all relatively aware that our world and the environment is going (or, in some cases, has gone) to poop. Some are more aware than others, but a recent Phys.org article outlining findings from Aarhaus University has me questioning just how aware we really are. The article explains how us humans are abolishing animal and … More Bad news: mammals literally can’t evolve fast enough to avoid extinction

Studying ancient poop

October 17, 2018

If you were to read the title of this post and immediately close the tab, I wouldn’t blame you. It’s a bit odd for sure, but rest assured, this information is entirely scientific and comes from a reputable source; a Phys.org article. The article reports that researchers from the University of Oxford in the zoology … More Studying ancient poop

Is too much sleep bad?

October 12, 2018

I absolutely love sleep, and to be fair, who the heck doesn’t? It’s like a temporary escape from reality in which all worries and stressors are forgotten. That being said, too much sleep can, unfortunately, be rather bad. A Eurekalert article describes how results from the world’s greatest sleep study suggest that folks who sleep between … More Is too much sleep bad?

#WorldMentalHealthDay

October 11, 2018

Oct. 10, yesterday, was 2018’s #WorldMentalHealthDay. The following information is from an Ontario government release that was issued on #WorldMentalHealthDay: “Up to 30 per cent of Ontarians aged 15 and up experience a mental health or addictions issue. About one in five children and youth in Ontario have a mental health challenge. It’s estimated that … More #WorldMentalHealthDay

Too much vitamin A?

October 10, 2018

A Medical Press article snagged my interest when I stumbled across it a few days ago as it warns of the damage of consuming too much vitamin A. The article references a study published in the Journal of Endocrinology that suggests an overload of vitamin A could diminish bone thickness and density, which could, in turn, increase … More Too much vitamin A?

Have ‘gluten-free’ options made things worse for celiacs?

October 7, 2018

A study from a new Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics has explored how the expansion of the gluten-free food industry in terms of available options has impacted persons diagnosed with celiac disease. The study surveyed 17 celiac adults in Canada and found that participants referred to the booming gluten-free industry as a “double-edged sword.” Why? Despite … More Have ‘gluten-free’ options made things worse for celiacs?