What's That Rash?

'Tis the season to indulge. As you sit down with family and friends, an age-old debate might arise: does drinking a single glass of red wine make you healthier?In this episode first published May 1, 2024, Norman and Tegan try to find out the answer once and for all. References: The French paradox: Lessons for other countriesModerate Wine Consumption and Health: A Narrative ReviewHealth Effects of Red Wine Consumption: A Narrative Review of an Issue That Still Deserves Debate

You might have seen those robot-looking red light masks being sold for skincare purposes. You might have thought — looks technological, but does it work?It's not just red light. There are a spectrum of health claims from infrared to ultraviolet.Norman and Tegan go through the rainbow to assess where there's evidence, and where there's not. References:Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy: A Review of Recent Progress and Their Target Molecules for Cancer TherapyEffect of NASA Light-Emitting Diode Irradiation on Wound HealingVisible Red Light Emitting Diode Photobiomodulation for Skin Fibrosis: Key Molecular PathwaysUtilization of light-emitting diodes for skin therapy: Systematic review and meta-analysisPhotodynamic Therapy Using HMME for Port-Wine Stains: Clinical Effectiveness and Sonographic AppearanceEffect of Blue Light on Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic ReviewThe efficacy of violet light in the treatment of acneFeatured review: What are the benefits and risks of light therapy for treating atopic eczema?Light therapy for preventing seasonal affective disorder

Life can be exhausting, and while a nap might be in order, it’s rare you’ve got time to take one.Caffeine can come to the rescue, but you might not be a fan of tea of coffee. Energy drinks are an alternative, but are they any good for you?Norman and Tegan explain what modern energy drinks contain, and what the ingredients do.What's That Rash? is on YouTube! Subscribe to ABC Science to watch the podcast. References:Prevalence and Amounts of Common Ingredients Found in Energy Drinks and ShotsInternational society of sports nutrition position stand: energy drinks and energy shotsConsumption of energy drinks by children and young people: a systematic review examining evidence of physical effects and consumer attitudesEnergy Drinks and Their Adverse Health Effects: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysisA randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial of a decaffeinated energy drink shows no significant acute effect on mental energyTaurine deficiency as a driver of agingThis scientist treated her own cancer with viruses she grew in the lab

Many people live sedentary lives, sitting in an office all day then coming home to sit on the couch all night.What are the health harms of too much sitting? And do they compare to smoking as some headlines claim?Norman and Tegan settle in to explain the risks, and what you can do to avoid them.What's That Rash? is on YouTube! Subscribe to ABC Science to watch the podcast. References:Evaluating the Evidence on Sitting, Smoking, and Health: Is Sitting Really the New Smoking?Trends in Self-Reported Sitting Time by Physical Activity Levels Among US Adults, NHANES 2007/2008–2017/2018Recent Trends in Sedentary Time: A Systematic Literature ReviewSedentary behaviour and health in adults: an overview of systematic reviewsAround 10,000 steps a day may counteract health risks of high sedentary time

We live in a world full of influencers pushing us products promising to keep us looking bouncy and youthful forever. Collagen is a hugely important protein that does play a role in plumping up our skin — as well as supporting muscles, bones and connective tissues. Norman and Tegan find out how effective collagen supplements are in skin care, and which kind you should look out for if you want to see results.  What's That Rash? is on YouTube! Subscribe to ABC Science to watch the podcast. References:Decreased Collagen Production in Chronologically Aged SkinEffects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisEffects of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging: a systematic review and meta-analysisOral Collagen Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Dermatological ApplicationsThe impact of collagen protein ingestion on musculoskeletal connective tissue remodeling: a narrative review 

These days, our mobile phones are rarely far away. Whether it’s in your hand, your pocket, or under your pillow at night.Mobiles do emit radiation in order to connect to phone towers, which enables us to stay in contact with people and the internet.But is that radiation doing us harm?Norman and Tegan talk through the facts – what we do know, don’t know and suspect about our tech companions.What's That Rash? is coming to YouTube! Keep an eye out for the video version of this episode on ABC Science. References:National Cancer Institute - Cell Phones and Cancer RiskMobile phone use and incidence of brain tumour histological types, grading or anatomical location: a population-based ecological studyHas the incidence of brain cancer risen in Australia since the introduction of mobile phones 29 years ago?5G: the new generation of the mobile phone network and health

Why are people with arthritis being told to stop eating potatoes, tomatoes and egg plants?Vegetables in the nightshade family have been under scrutiny for decades, but the fad of cutting them out of our diets has seen a recent resurgence.Norman and Tegan investigate where all this shade comes from, and whether there's any evidence to support it.References:Deadly Nightshade: A Botanical BiographyFlavonoids, alkaloids and saponins: are these plant-derived compounds an alternative to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis? A literature reviewRisk assessment of glycoalkaloids in feed and food, in particular in potatoes and potato-derived productsα-Solanine attenuates chondrocyte pyroptosis to improve osteoarthritis via suppressing NF-κB pathwayAntioxidants in Potatoes: A Functional View on One of the Major Food Crops Worldwide

We've been searching for a fountain of youth for millennia. How can we not only live longer, but live healthier for longer?Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is the latest anti-ageing candidate under the microscope.Norman and Tegan explain what it is, and whether supplements promising to boost NAD actually do what's advertised on the bottle.References:NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageingNAD+ in Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative DisordersWhat is really known about the effects of nicotinamide riboside supplementation in humansDietary Supplementation With NAD+-Boosting Compounds in Humans: Current Knowledge and Future DirectionsThe use of a systems approach to increase NAD+ in human participantsSpecific ablation of Nampt in adult neural stem cells recapitulates their functional defects during aging

Vampires and werewolves and zombies, oh my! Where did all these monsters come from?Undiagnosed medical conditions might have fuelled the mythology behind some of these creatures.Norman and Tegan delve into why vampires drink blood, why werewolves howl at the full moon and how a hex might have its intended effect.References:ABC's FrankenScience: Can Vampires Get Syphilis? and Witchcraft or Just a Placebo?All in the Mind: What's behind a paranormal experience?Porphyria and Vampirism—A Myth, SensationalizedMoon and Health: Myth or Reality?The undead in culture and scienceReversibility of apoptosis in cancer cellsMedical practice and placebo response: an inseparable bond?

It’s hay fever season, and as you sniffle away next to an air purifier, you might be wondering why we haven’t cured such a common ailment.Allergic rhinitis, as it’s scientifically known, has plagued people for generations. It's thought up to 24 per cent of Australians suffer from it.Norman and Tegan run through what hay fever is, how we identified it and what can be done to treat it. References:Allergic Rhinitis: A ReviewO Rose thou art sick… history of allergic rhinitisI’m considering allergen immunotherapy for my hay fever. What do I need to know?Ingestion of honey improves the symptoms of allergic rhinitis: evidence from a randomized placebo-controlled trialThe Potential use of Honey as a Remedy for Allergic Diseases: A Mini ReviewCan you adapt to allergies or does the dog have to go?

Many of us are disconnected from nature – we live in cities, work in offices, exercise indoors.There is a hypothesis that our disconnection from the earth itself – the ground – is causing a range of illnesses.But the people selling this hypothesis are also trying to sell you a range of expensive products.Norman and Tegan debunk a pseudoscience that has been gaining traction.References:Electrical Grounding Improves Vagal Tone in Preterm InfantsAssociations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavour enhancer that often gets a bad wrap.You might know someone who swears it makes them sick, or you yourself might steer clear of foods unless they have that 'no added MSG' label.Norman and Tegan explain why the bad PR around MSG has more to do with shonky research and misconceptions than the ingredient itself.References:MSG in food - Food Standards Australia and New ZealandA review of the alleged health hazards of monosodium glutamateMonosodium glutamate sensitivity in asthmaChinese-Restaurant Syndrome - New England Journal of Medicine

If you've found yourself in a particular corner of health and wellness TikTok, chances are you've heard all about cortisol.Influencers might be urging you to massage your face, stuff your mouth full of dates and even supplement your diet with sea moss.Norman and Tegan explain why some of that MIGHT make you healthier, but not in the way that you think. ReferencesForgotten episodes of the birth of cortisoneThe effects of exercise intensity on the cortisol response to a subsequent acute psychosocial stressorSignalling cognition: the gut microbiota and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

If you've ever complained about a bad night's sleep, you might've been urged to take melatonin. It's a hormone our bodies naturally produce, and also a supplement that many claim can cure insomnia and leave you better rested. But Norman and Tegan tuck into all the reasons we shouldn't be taking melatonin lightly. ReferencesWhat do we really know about the safety and efficacy of melatonin for sleep disorders?Is melatonin safe for children?Quantity of Melatonin and CBD in Melatonin Gummies Sold in the USClinical trial on the effect of regular tea drinking on iron accumulation in genetic haemochromatosis

Iron deficiency is incredibly common, especially in menstruating women.But this mineral is vital. Our bodies use iron to make haemoglobin, which carries oxygen to our cells.Norman and Tegan take us through what it means to have adequate iron levels, and what it takes.ReferencesA Review of Nutrients and Compounds, Which Promote or Inhibit Intestinal Iron AbsorptionIntermittent iron supplementation for reducing anaemia and its associated impairments in adolescent and adult menstruating womenThe yersiniabactin transport system is critical for the pathogenesis of bubonic and pneumonic plague

It's a tale as old as time – as you age, hangovers hit harder. The tolerance of your youth wastes away.There's no doubt that any alcohol consumption is bad for you. But that doesn’t mean people aren't drinking.Norman and Tegan explain what alcohol is doing to the body, and why the after effects get harder to cope with as you get older.ReferencesThe Assessment of Overall Hangover SeverityAldehyde dehydrogenase isozyme variation and alcoholism in JapanEndogenous formation of 1-propanol and methanol after consumption of alcoholic beveragesUnderstanding trends in Australian alcohol consumption—an age–period–cohort modelThe Alcohol Hangover Research Group: Ten Years of Progress in Research on the Causes, Consequences, and Treatment of the Alcohol Hangover

We get a LOT of questions about sleep – on everything from cheese dreams to sleep farts.Why do you jerk awake as you're drifting off? Why are you itchy as soon as you get into bed?Norman and Tegan snooze through some sleep-related questions in this rapid-fire special.ReferencesToo Sour to be True? Tart Cherries (Prunus cerasus) and Sleep: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysisDreams of the Rarebit Fiend: food and diet as instigators of bizarre and disturbing dreamsSleeping position during early and mid pregnancy does not affect risk of complicationsThe Relationship between Sleeping Position and Sleep Quality: A Flexible Sensor-Based StudyNocturnal Pruritus: The Battle for a Peaceful Night’s Sleep

It might not seem like it, but we humans are electrical beings. We rely on electrical impulses to stay alive.So can we rely on electrical impulses … to get swole?Norman and Tegan investigate the various claims surrounding electrical muscle stimulation.References Functional Electrical Stimulation and Spinal Cord InjuryEffects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction on Quadriceps Strength, Function, and Patient-Oriented Outcomes : A Systematic ReviewFeasibility and efficacy of progressive electrostimulation strength training for competitive tennis playersEffects of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation on the Energy-Restriction-Induced Reduction of Muscle Mass During Intended Weight Loss

The Mediterranean diet is the most well studied dietary pattern out there. So – what is it?It’s more than just vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and sparing consumption of meat.Norman and Tegan take us through ALL the elements that make up this way of eating, which has been attributed to a myriad of health benefits.ReferencesScientific evidence supporting the newly developed one-health labeling tool “Med-Index”Mediterranean diet and health outcomes: a systematic meta-reviewPerspective: Beyond the Mediterranean Diet—Exploring Latin American, Asian, and African Heritage Diets as Cultural Models of Healthy Eating

In some parts of the world sauna bathing is a daily activity.In Finland, it would even be rude to deny an invitation to get hot and sweaty with a business associate.As well as being culturally significant, the sauna has many touted health benefits – from protecting against cardiovascular disease, to fending off cognitive decline.Norman and Tegan sort through the evidence.ReferencesThe multifaceted benefits of passive heat therapies for extending the healthspan: A comprehensive review with a focus on Finnish saunaAssociation Between Sauna Bathing and Fatal Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality EventsCardiovascular and Other Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing: A Review of the Evidence