/oss/taxonomy/term/327/all en /oss/article/health-nutrition-you-asked/does-drinking-kombucha-have-any-health-benefits <hr /> <p><em>Shira Cohen is studying Nutrition at the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition at şÚÁϲ»´ňěČ University, specializing in Global Nutrition. </em></p> <hr /> <p>Kombucha is a slightly sweet, acidic beverage that is made by adding a mix of bacteria and yeasts to tea. Some animal experiments have suggested improved liver function after the organ is damaged by acetaminophen (Tylenol). In diabetic rats kombucha suppresses the activity of two enzymes, amylase that breaks down carbohydrates and lipase that breaks down fats. This can lead to better blood sugar control.</p><p></p> Thu, 15 Aug 2019 16:58:11 +0000 Shira Cohen, Student Contributor 7872 at /oss /oss/article/nutrition-you-asked/it-true-bilberries-are-good-eyes <p>It seemed that the bilberries improved the pilots' night vision and made them more successful in dogfights. Or so the story goes... But - “Fake News!” because there is no documented evidence that the pilots actually ate bilberry jam. Some accounts suggest that the rumour was spread by the military to distract the Germans from the fact that the British were testing radar equipment on their planes. In some versions of the story, it were carrots that was the cause of the pilots success.</p> Thu, 11 Apr 2019 18:31:30 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7717 at /oss /oss/article/health-nutrition-videos/right-chemistry-blueberries-and-your-health <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-tkvqjaffzqs" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe Schwarcz: Blueberries and your health" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/tkVqJAFFZqs?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-tkvqjaffzqs&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe Schwarcz: Blueberries and your health" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr. Joe Schwarcz: Blueberries and your health</iframe> </div> </p> Thu, 24 May 2018 19:34:29 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7108 at /oss /oss/article/aging-controversial-science-health-toxicity/lets-face-it-creams-deliver-more-hype-evidence <p>In the 1980s, Dr. Albert Kligman, an American dermatologist  made an interesting observation.  Patients being treated for acne with retinoic acid saw an improvement in their wrinkles, an improvement that was eventually traced to enhanced collagen formation. But there was a but. There were hurdles on the road to smooth skin. Retinoic acid treatment resulted in increased sensitivity to sunlight, and initially, in irritated skin. To ensure that patients were properly monitored, retinoic acid was made available only by prescription.</p> Tue, 13 May 2014 12:42:49 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2144 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-food-health-news-you-asked/you-asked-blueberries-and-milk <p><em>“I put blueberries and milk on my cereal in the morning. Which one should I give up?” </em></p> Wed, 03 Dec 2014 03:04:16 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2217 at /oss /oss/article/health/when-it-comes-insomnia-theres-no-shortage-advice <p><span>O sleep! O gentle sleep! / </span><span>Nature’s soft nurse, how have I frightened thee, / </span><span>That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down / </span><span>And steep my senses in forgetfulness?</span></p> Sun, 13 Apr 2014 14:31:53 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2127 at /oss /oss/article/science-science-everywhere-you-asked/soft-drink-bottles-are-made-plastic-called-polyethyleneglycol-terephthalate-or-pet-while-plastic <p style="text-align:justify"><a href="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/?p=4403"><img alt="" height="150" src="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/files/2013/03/wine-150x150.jpg" width="150" /></a>While PET has a very low permeability when it comes to carbon dioxide, it readily allows oxygen to pass through. And oxygen is the enemy of wine! When we talk about storing soft drinks, permeability to carbon dioxide is the critical factor. A beverage that loses carbonation loses its appeal. In this case oxygen permeability is not an issue. While oxygen passing into a plastic soft drink bottle from the air may react with some of the flavor components, the effect would be minor given that we don’t store soft drinks for extended periods. But of course we do store wine to age it. And this is where oxygen becomes a problem. <a href="/oss/soft-drink-bottles-are-made-of-a-plastic-called-polyethyleneglycol-terephthalate-or-pet-while-this-plastic-is-fine-for-storing-soft-drinks-why-is-it-not-recommended-for-storing-home-made-wine/">Read more</a></p> Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:24:28 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1889 at /oss /oss/article/health-you-asked/there-difference-between-synthetic-and-natural-vitamin-c <p>The properties of a substance are determined by the structure of its component molecules. Vitamin C that is synthesized in the laboratory has exactly the same atoms joined together in exactly the same fashion as vitamin C that is made in an orange or a rose hip bush. As far as biological activity goes, the source of vitamin C is irrelevant. The cheapest version is as effective as the most expensive. Perhaps a more appropriate question is whether we should be taking vitamin C supplements.</p> Fri, 02 Nov 2012 04:38:24 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1732 at /oss /oss/article/health-you-asked/what-all-talk-about-paradox-blanc <p>If you take a look at all the literature put out by the French wine industry, you'll start to wonder whether you should replace wine drinking by intravenous infusions of red wine. They make a case for wine being virtually a drug to prevent heart disease. They offer reams of scientific evidence about neutralizing free radicals and preventing cholesterol from damaging the walls of arteries. Of course, that doesn't prove that wine is responsible for the French Paradox. That paradox is the low rate of heart disease compared to North America in spite of a high fat diet.</p> Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:25:32 +0000 OSS 1753 at /oss