Blooming Wellness
Dr. Eek's Health & Wellness Blog
Listen on Causes or Cures: Microplastics are everywhere, including inside the human body. As concern grows, an interesting research question emerges: Can probiotics help protect us from microplastics? On a recent episode of Causes or Cures, I talk with Dr. Christian Pacher-Deutsch, a researcher in gastroenterology and hepatology, about his latest study and what the …
Listen on Causes or Cures: Artificial sweeteners are everywhere. They’re in diet sodas, protein bars, yogurts, chewing gum, and “healthier” versions of foods many people turn to when they’re trying to cut back on sugar, lose weight, or manage blood sugar. But over the years, questions have lingered:Do artificial sweeteners actually help…or could they quietly …
Sometimes science hides in a lab. Sometimes it rides the Milan metro in a Batman cape. This study, led by Francesco Pagnini, asked a surprisingly wholesome public health question. Can something unexpected, like seeing Batman on your morning commute, jolt people out of autopilot just long enough to make them more aware of others, including …
We live in a world where every week a new headline promises that a drug cuts your risk in half or slashes disease by a huge percentage. Sounds impressive. But those numbers often leave out context that actually matters for your real world health decisions. In public health we talk about absolute risk reduction and …
Listen on Causes or Cures: I wrote the following thinking about my own struggle with grief: Grief laughs at the clock. It hits you at 3 p.m., months later…at the vending machine…when the stupidest thing makes you miss them most. **************************************************************************************************** When grief doesn’t fade with time, what then?We tend to treat grief as a …
Every so often I see this question come up: Is sleeping with your dog a public health concern? People have strong feelings on it. I won’t say who is right or who is wrong, but I’ll offer my 2 cents. Since I’m a public health professional, please consider this my professional opinion, no matter how …
My new neighbor, a really nice guy, made me a delicious loaf of bread and brought it to my apartment. Later, I ran into him in the hallway and said, “That was amazing. What else can you make?” He’s probably regretting his decision. ************************************************************** Woke up feisty, I guess. Bald doorman: “Looks like your dog …
You are what you breathe, you know, so let’s talk about the link between air pollution and hospitalizations. On a recent episode of Causes or Cures, I chatted with Dr. Mary Abed Al Ahad about how long-term exposure to air pollution is quietly driving people to the hospital. Drawing from her recent study, Dr. Abed Al Ahad …
I originally wrote this and published it on TrialSite News. Ever wonder why we’re marinating in chemicals most of us can’t pronounce? It’s not because they’ve been scientifically proven to be harmless. It’s that here in the U.S., we ignore something simple: the precautionary principle. You know, the idea that maybe-just maybe-we shouldn’t toss potentially …
How Oscar Wilde CURED My Depression (Well, Almost) So “cured” is a bold word. It’s probably not the right word, but it’s the one word that comes close, so I’m using it. It wasn’t just depression. It was a mix of things: Anxiety, stress, sleep deprivation, suicidal thoughts, a horrible eating disorder—you name it. …
How the Food Industry Influences Public Health Policy: Hi everyone! If you are a frequent listener of Causes or Cures, you’ll notice that I’ve focused a lot on the relationship between industry and health policy. Mostly drug companies, but this podcast will explore how the food industry influences public health policy. My guest is an …
The history of psychedelic medicine…and what might happen in the future: The prospect of psychedelic medicine is (once again) all the range, particularly its usefulness for various psychiatric conditions. I became interested in psychedelic medicine, because people I knew from my Army days began turning to it to help with things like PTS, depression, anxiety …
