Discussing mental health is no longer the taboo subject that it was in decades past. More and more, it feels as if we are transitioning into an era where people are not only more free to share their personal concerns over depression and anxiety, but are also encouraged to seek out the treatment they may require.

The question of how to improve mental health at the population level, however, is incredibly complex. Despite there being characteristic behavioural symptoms of anxiety and depression, the underlying physiological processes in the brain are not well understood — at least they are not as…

In a time where society is advocating for improved education surrounding our lifestyle choices and personal health, the shortcomings of the weight loss industry cannot be understated. With an endless selection of “scientifically proven” crash diets and biohacks to choose from, you have to wonder how well we truly understand the causes of obesity and whether dieting per se has actually led to health improvements on a global scale. There are certainly enough people out there trying to lose weight. …

On April 17, 2019, meat eaters worldwide were warned again about the risks associated with eating red and processed meat. The Guardian exclaimed that “even moderate intake of red meat raises cancer risk.” CNN shouted that “eating just one slice of bacon a day [is] linked to a higher risk of colorectal cancer.” And The Telegraph warned that “eating red meat just once a day increases bowel cancer risk by a fifth.” …

According to epidemiological data, global obesity rates in both adults and children have been steadily rising over the last few decades. Since obesity is considered a risk factor for the development of many cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, various forms of cancer, and dementia, there is a justifiable concern over the health and economic burden that being morbidly overweight places on our society. However, when it comes to obesity, there is a tendency for prejudicial assessment of the individual — that people are fat because they have allowed themselves to become this way. This oversimplification of the factors that drive global…

If you asked within the biomedical research community whether it was a good idea to start taking antioxidant supplements, you would almost certainly be advised to proceed with caution. For several decades, researchers have acknowledged that a diet lacking in antioxidants is associated with higher rates of chronic disease. Many of us, however, are unaware that the supplements industry has been feeding off our fear of cancer, perpetuating the idea that their antioxidant products can provide us with protective effects. While there is evidence to support a protective role of higher dietary antioxidant levels when they are derived from whole…

It’s easy to subscribe to the idea that whatever was once good for our ancestors is still good for us. When it comes to our lifestyle choices today, there is an overarching pretence that humans, like most other animals, are naturally lazy. However, modern society is propelling a logic that we have got the wrong way round. The further we delve into the science, the clearer it becomes that physical activity should not merely be treated as a way to counteract our sedentary lifestyle, but rather, that we are biologically designed to require exercise. …

As a molecular biologist, I laugh alongside my colleagues in the lab when we read stories in magazines or hear breaking news reports about the latest “cure” for cancer. We understand that scientific research can be a little dull. And publications in scientific journals can be virtually inaccessible to the general public, both in terms of their jargon and their exorbitant pricing. To sell a scientific story, research findings get spiced up, simplified, over-extrapolated, and even distorted.

For example, I feel like I read a headline about a new “cure” for cancer every week. If I had to meet only…

We have all grown up believing that our age is something we cannot control. As youths we wished to be older, seeking out fake IDs and chasing the luxuries of an adult lifestyle. Now, progressing through adulthood, our enthusiasm wanes just a little each year, as we unceremoniously mock the idea of adding another stroke to our birthday tally. …