The Big Reason Marijuana Makes People So Hungry – Health Digest
“It’s like pressing a car’s brakes and accelerating instead,” said Tamas Horvath, lead author of a 2015 rodent study published in Nature, during a press release (via PBS). The research paper explains that natural cannabinoid receptors in our brain help keep our food intake in check. A specific group of neurons, known as POMC neurons, […]
Why You Crave Thanksgiving Dessert (Even When You’re Beyond Full) – Health Digest
You’ve eaten your fill of mashed potatoes and gravy. Your belt has become undone, and you’re basking in the glory of a stomach filled with fantastic food. However, when you hear the word dessert, your interest is piqued due to sensory-specific satiety. Professor Len Epstein explained this phenomenon to Live Science: “Part of the reason why […]
Why We Hear Noises In Our Dreams – Health Digest
While outside sources can contribute to the sounds you hear during sleep, they can also be part of your echoic memory (sound memory). According to WebMD, echoic memory is stored in the brain’s long-term memory. Per research published in the journal Sleep, 53% of dreams can be traced to past memories, so talking to your sister […]
What Happens To Your Cholesterol When You Eat Lots Of Peanut Butter – Health Digest
Three types of fats can be present in different foods. Trans fats, also known as partially hydrogenated oils, are processed oils that are solidified. You’ll find trans fats in fried foods, baked goods, and some of your favorite pie crusts. Because trans fats can raise your LDL cholesterol, the American Heart Association suggests nixing trans […]
What It Means When You’re Craving Exercise – Health Digest
Melissa Ertl, Ph.D., is a psychologist and postdoctoral research fellow at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She defines exercise addiction as the “craving of physical activity that results in extreme exercise that significantly interferes with important activities, occurs at inappropriate times or in inappropriate settings, or occurs despite […]
Don’t Take Ibuprofen If You Have This Common Illness – Health Digest
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, taking ibuprofen when you have chickenpox has been shown to increase the risk of serious skin infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis (per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). A study published in the Italian Journal of Pediatrics in 2021 found that ibuprofen is associated with severe necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) […]
How Giving Into Your Craving Could Help Heal Your Relationship With Food – Health Digest
Before you reach for that cheesecake, it’s important to be curious about what might be underlying your craving. According to Healthline, food cravings can sometimes point to perfectionism or a need for control over your life. Sit with the food craving and investigate it, practicing mindfulness techniques and inquiring what other images or memories come […]
If You Lose Weight Too Quickly, This Is What Happens To Your Body – Health Digest
Severely restricting your calorie intake puts you at risk of electrolyte imbalances, which can impact heart and muscle function. WebMD explains that electrolytes are minerals, such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and sodium, that carry electric charges when dissolved in liquid, such as your blood. Electrolytes play a vital role in many processes, including regulating your […]
What Happens To Your Eyes When A Bright Camera Flashes – Health Digest
Generally speaking, the effects of a bright camera flash on our eyes are short-lived. Experts at Optimax Eye Surgery note that it would likely take anywhere from 30 to 100 seconds of prolonged light exposure to put us at risk for eye damage. Because the flash of a camera lasts less than one second in […]
Why You Shouldn’t Start A Diet Right After Vacation – Health Digest
Certified personal trainer Daniel Masters thinks the best time to start a diet is today, but the how matters too, per Master Fitness. There’s no need to completely cut out everything you like to eat. “Every time you cut something out completely and go ‘cold Turkey’ you’re putting a lot of strain on your body,” Masters […]