What's That Rash?

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

Many people go through phases of nail biting in childhood, and fewer people continue biting their nails into adulthood.It's a habit that can be difficult to break – especially when anxiety can be a trigger, along with boredom.Norman and Tegan take us through the current treatments available for people who want to stop munching on their cuticles.ReferencesOnychophagia and onychotillomania can be effectively managedPrevalence and correlates of clinically significant body-focused repetitive behaviors in a non-clinical sampleHabit reversal vs. negative practice treatment of nailbitingA review of N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of grooming disorders

If you're glued to your couch watching the Paris Games, you know that elite athletes are beyond impressive.But does that mean they're healthy? Not necessarily.Norman and Tegan unpack the positive and negative impacts of elite-level sport on the body and the mind.ReferencesFemale and male US Olympic athletes live 5 years longer than their general population counterparts: a study of 8124 former US OlympiansLong-term function, body composition and cardiometabolic health in midlife former athletes: a scoping reviewThe mental health of Australian elite athletesAdaptation to life after sport for retired athletes: A scoping review of existing reviews and programs

Offices are catching up to the idea that sitting for eight hours a day might not be great for your health.Standing desks, adjustable monitors and hand rests are common tools in the arsenal of ergonomics.But are we getting it all wrong? Norman and Tegan dispel some myths about the impact of office jobs on the body.ReferencesHaving 'good' posture doesn’t prevent back pain, and 'bad' posture doesn't cause itEvaluating the Evidence on Sitting, Smoking, and Health: Is Sitting Really the New Smoking?The effectiveness of physical and organisational ergonomic interventions on low back pain and neck pain: a systematic review

Bodies are weird … but are they THAT weird?Sexually-induced sneezing has been written about in medical texts for hundreds of years.In this live episode from the World Science Festival Brisbane, Norman and Tegan explain what it is, and why it might happen.ReferencesSneezing induced by sexual ideation or orgasm: an under-reported phenomenon

You've either seen it, or you've tried it. Ice baths are all the rage right now, in part because they claim to be an effective health and wellbeing booster.Is this just a fad, or is there solid evidence that dipping into freezing cold water can improve your immune system, calm down inflammation and better your mood?Norman went for the plunge – and lived to tell Tegan the tale.Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!ReferencesDoes the Wim Hof Method have a beneficial impact on physiological and psychological outcomes in healthy and non-healthy participants? A systematic reviewGetting colder ... the invigorating effect of ice baths - The Health Report