Blooming Wellness
Dr. Eek's Health & Wellness Blog
Yes, scientists have invented smart underwear. And yes, we’re going to have to talk about farts. But this isn’t really a story about underwear—or even intestinal gas. It’s about developing a new way to monitor what’s happening inside the gut microbiome in real time. In a new episode of Causes or Cures, I talk with …
You share a home. You share meals. You may share a bathroom, a bed, a dog, and occasionally a toothbrush if your relationship has reached a level of intimacy I personally do not understand. But are you also sharing your microbiome? New research suggests that the communities of microbes living in and on our bodies …
If you’re somewhere in your 40s or 50s and feel like life has become unusually difficult, there may be more going on than the proverbial midlife crisis. Research suggests that today’s middle-aged Americans may actually be faring worse than previous generations, and worse than many middle-aged adults living in Europe. We’re talking about more than …
What if health isn’t just about the body? That’s a question I’ve become increasingly interested in exploring—not because science has all the answers, but because it doesn’t. Throughout history, people across cultures have described experiences involving angels, intuition, healing, and spiritual encounters that exist outside the boundaries of conventional medicine and scientific explanation. Whether those …
Can bananas change the nutritional value of your smoothie? Bananas have long been considered one of the healthiest fruits you can eat. They’re packed with potassium, fiber, vitamin B6, and other nutrients, making them a staple in countless smoothies. But a recent study raised an interesting question: Could adding a banana to a berry smoothie …
For years, we’ve been obsessed with one number: The number on the scale. Lose weight? Great. Lose more weight? Even better. But that number doesn’t tell us what we’re losing. Fat? Water? Muscle? As medications like Zepbound (tirzepatide) help people lose substantial amounts of weight in record time, but researchers are asking a question that …
What if I told you your dog, a butterfly, or even an ant might know a thing or two about medicine? It sounds like the premise of a Disney movie written by an evolutionary biologist, but it’s actually a fascinating area of scientific research known as animal self-medication. In this episode of Causes or Cures, …
If you’ve ever felt like you could “sense a storm coming” before a migraine, you’re not alone. Many people living with migraine report that changes in the weather, extreme heat, bright sunlight, or even poor air quality seem to trigger an attack. For years, these experiences were often dismissed as anecdotal. But a growing body …
Can your favorite playlist do more than lift your mood? Could listening to music actually help protect your brain as you age? In this episode of Causes or Cures, I sat down with Professor Joanne Ryan, a dementia researcher at Monash University, to explore what the latest science says about music, cognition, and healthy brain …
Can you live a happy, meaningful, and fulfilling life without a romantic partner? For many people, the answer seems obvious. Society often tells us that happiness comes from finding “the one,” getting married, and building a family. But is that actually what the research shows? In this episode of Causes or Cures, I sit down …
What makes you you? It’s a simple question, but the answer becomes surprisingly complicated when something changes in the brain. Most of us think of our personality, memories, sense of humor, motivation, and relationships as stable parts of who we are. But what happens when a stroke, dementia, or another neurological condition alters one of …
Erectile dysfunction is one of those topics that affects millions of men but rarely gets discussed openly. Yet sexual health is often closely connected to overall health, relationships, confidence, vascular function, mental wellbeing, and quality of life. So what actually causes erectile dysfunction? Is it simply a normal part of aging? Do medications like Viagra …
