Growing research has established a strong relationship between cognitive deficits and contact-induced brain injuries. Studies show a 30% reduction of participation in youth football due to the fear of head related injuries1. These injuries stem from various trauma, yet the latest evidence is directly focused on violent impact sports including football, hockey, and boxing. The increased awareness and research of these injuries has created polar opposing views of the topic. This battle between neuroscientists and major corporations (i.e. NFL) has induced much confusion to the general public. As such, the created dispute has the validity of the science and the integrity of the leagues put into question.
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Let's get down to canna-business
What do we really know about cannabis? The answer to this question is, unsurprisingly, not that much. Although cannabis has been used medicinally for centuries, it wasn’t until the 1990s that we really started to understand how the active substances in cannabis interact with the body1. There is no doubt that cannabis has some therapeutic effects, but from a scientific perspective, we do not fully understand how cannabis works.
Read MoreGoing Green: Is Cannabis Addictive?
It has long been argued by cannabis advocates that cannabis should be legalized because cannabis is not an addictive substance like alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, amphetamines or opiates. Now that cannabis is legal, it’s important that this topic is addressed head-on so that recreational users can make informed decision about cannabis consumption.
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Got the flu? Eat fiber!
It’s that time of year again. Flu season is right around the corner, so you better stock up on vitamin C, ginger tea, and…fiber?
That’s right, I said fiber. A new research study published in Immunity has shown that a diet rich in fiber can be protectiveagainst influenza infection. So how does this work?
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Intracranial Aneurysms: How much do you know?
Author: Brooke Belanger PhD
Chances are you know someone who has died of an ‘aneurysm’. This common phrase is incorrect, and it is actually the rupture of an aneurysm that can cause death, not the physical presence of one. But what actually is an aneurysm anyways?
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Getting the Lead Out: Chelation Therapy
Author: Erik Fraunberger
Every time you drink or eat, you are poisoning yourself. At least that is what some would have you believe. A famous TV doctor once made the claim that giving apple juice to your children was the equivalent of feeding them poison due to supposedly high levels of arsenic. Leaving aside the vast number of people who have tasted apple juice and lived to tell the tale, it is true that our environment contains different metals, such as arsenic, mercury, and lead, that can be toxic to our bodies. Physicians can make use of powerful chemical magnets, known as chelators, to remove these harmful substances. However, there are some who believe certain diseases not traditionally associated with a buildup of metals in your body may be treated or cured with chelation therapy. Is there any scientific validity to this idea? In this article I will walk you through the role of metals in the body, the science behind chelation therapy, and if the use of chelation therapy outside of metal poisoning is supported by current evidence.
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