Musiccosmos

(Photo: Mayara Klingner/EyeEm/Getty Images) Is weed addictive? The answer, scientifically speaking, is yes—but only for a relatively small percentage of users. “Best estimates suggest that about 10 percent of people who use will develop something that looks like dependence at some point in their lives,” says  M-J Milloy , a scientist with the BC Centre on Substance Use and an assistant professor in the department of medicine at the University of British Columbia. “That’s much lower than heroin, cocaine and tobacco, for that matter.” Still, says Milloy, the psychological effects can be profound: “If you’re running into problems because you’re using it too often, that might indicate a problem.” Is it dangerous to drive when using cannabis? In a word, yes. “Cannabis intoxication obviously interferes with your perception and motor skills,” says Milloy. “It definitely doesn’t make you a better driver.” Microdosing, along with the growing popularity of low-THC strains, ...

What’s all the hype around matcha tea and is it really that good for you? Healthista’s Nutritional Director Rick Hay explains its benefits, in our Trendy Nutrients A – Z series ‘ Matcha is a powdered green tea,’ says Healthista’s nutritional director Rick Hay. ‘Its traditional use is in Japanese tea ceremonies. High in antioxidants ‘Matcha is packed with antioxidants including EGCGs, the cathechin which has been found to have powerful anti-cancer properties. Nutrients from the entire tea leaf is contained in matcha, which means a greater amount of caffeine and antioxidants are found in matcha than typical green tea. Promotes brain function Matcha tea contains the amino acid L-Theanine which improves creativity, memory and learning. In 100 grams of matcha, there is 2.41 milligrams of L-Theanine, which is five times more than typical black and green teas. Although matcha contains caffeine, it will boost your brain function without the side effects (such as nervous energy) of cof...

One in three of us feels pretty worn out most of the time, according to Mintel market research. It’s a stat that doesn’t surprise nutritional biochemist Dr Libby Weaver at all. “So many women share with me that they’re tired, but they’re also often wired,” reveals the author of The Energy Guide . “This can be the result of trying to be Superwoman – juggling work, family and a social life – and doing it all perfectly. It’s having an immense impact, not just on energy but on health generally.” All-day energy can feel as elusive as kilojoule-free chocolate, but it is out there. Don’t believe us? Trust our energy squad – an army of experts in fitness, food, sleep and health. READ MORE: “I Tried A Vitamin IV Drip For An Energy Boost – Here’s What Happened” The Nutritional Biochemist Dr Libby Weaver, nutritional biochemist, speaker and author of 11 books @drlibby. Weaver’s top energy hacks: Build muscle. More of this means more energy-producing mitochondria (the power plants in o...

There comes a point in life when you just have to accept that you’re going to get pimples—on your face, on the backs of your arms, even on your butt. But damn, do they have to  show up on your eyelids  too? Hold on—an eyelid pimple? What’s that? Okay, so it’s not technically a pimple—these eyelid bumps are probably styes (a.k.a. hordeolums), though they could also be something called chalazia, according to the  American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Styes are the most pimple-like—they can be painful, red bumps that have a small pus spot in the centre, and they grow at the base of the eyelash or under the eyelid, per the AAO. Chalazia, however, aren’t usually painful and develop on the eyelid itself. Styes and chalazia are typically caused by the same thing: an infected or clogged oil gland (yep, you have those on your eyelids, just like your skin); styes can also be a result of an infected eyelash. “Sometimes oils are running thicker and don’t fl...

Turmeric is really, really good for you. But if you’re tired of trying to find ways to add it to your food, try these cool products instead. It’s so much easier… Escentia Turmeric Oleoresin Pure Essential Oil Turmeric oleoresin is the distilled, concentrated resin extracted from turmeric. Instead of sprinkling spoon after giant spoon of the spice into your mince, get all the health and beauty benefits of this superfood in a compressed form! Oleoresin can be used as a natural colourant, or where you need the major effects of turmeric in much smaller concentrations. R37 at Faithful To Nature . Taka Turmeric Golden Latte Ever heard of the Ayurvedic drink Golden Milk? It’s a mixture of turmeric and coconut oil known for it’s insane body benefits. This creamy coconut Golden Latte is a convenient way to get in the wonder spice. It’s totally natural and made with certified organic tumeric to make sure you score all the healing qualities without any artificial toxins. Zero caffeine also...

When you’re on the keto diet , there are a few, uh, bodily changes you prepare for (the good: weight loss; and the not-so-good: keto flu ). One thing you might not be totally ready for: the keto diet wreaking havoc on your menstrual cycle—and possibly  making your periods irregular . “The keto diet can affect women’s periods due to the rapid weight loss some women have on it,” says Dr. Angela Chaudhari, gynaecologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “Rapid weight loss can alter your oestrogen-progesterone balance and impact ovulation, therefore causing your periods to become more irregular.” But period irregularity isn’t your only cause for concern on the keto diet—your period could even stop altogether. “Women who lose weight rapidly or become very thin can become amenorrheic, meaning no periods, due to anovulation, or a lack of ovulation,” says Chaudhari. Keep in mind, though, that this is likely due to rapid weight loss that may happen on the ke...

There are two words that, when said together, can make any woman immediately cringe with discomfort: nipple pain. (You totally did it just now, didn’t you?) For one, your nipples are super-sensitive (they’re a top erogenous zone , after all)—but there’s pain that feels good and pain that, well, feels like pain. So, uh, WTF is going on when your nips actually hurt—and is it something to worry about? First: Don’t freak out; there are various lifestyle and health changes that could lead to nipple pain, and most can easily be resolved once you figure out the culprit (i.e. throw away that ill-fitting sports bra forever), but others may come with more alarming symptoms (like nipple discharge, lumps, or changes in the colour or texture of your breast skin) that are definitely a sign to see a doctor. Whatever the case, irritated, painful nipples aren’t something you should have to deal with on the regular. If your nips are feeling super uncomfortable, make an appointme...

If you suffer from heartburn or digestion problems, liquorice could help. Healthista’s Nutritional Director Rick Hay explains its benefits, in our Trendy Nutrients A – Z series ‘Liquorice comes from the root of a plant called glycyrrhiza glabra  and can be used to help with gastrointestinal problems,’ says Healthista’s nutritional director Rick Hay. ‘Liquorice contains an ingredient called glycyrrhizic acid, which has anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. This is why liquorice can be used to treat heart burn and indigestion.’ ‘As well as soothing an upset stomach, liquorice can help reduce stress. It can stimulate the adrenal gland, so that there is a healthy level of cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone) in the body. ‘Glycyrrhizic acid in liquorice can also help improve energy production. However, liquorice shouldn’t be taken if you have high blood pressure. ‘Don’t take liquorice supplements too late at night, because it may keep you up and d...

If you’re looking to get rid of belly fat, inulin could help. Healthista’s Nutritional Director Rick Hay explains its benefits, in our Trendy Nutrients A – Z series ‘ Inulin is a starchy substance that is used to help weight loss,’ says Healthista’s nutritional director Rick Hay. ‘It’s popular in the health industry because it reduces visceral fat. ‘Visceral fat is the belly fat found in the abdominal cavity and can sometimes be referred to love handles or a muffin top. This fat is particularly dangerous because it surrounds the body’s vital organs. ‘Inulin is insoluble, as it cannot be digested in the stomach. Instead, it goes to the bowels. Here, bacteria helps it produce short chain fatty acids, which are proven to increase fat metabolism and therefore promote the reduction of visceral fat’. A study conducted by the Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Calgary, found that when overweight and obese adults took 21g of inulin every day, there was a decrease in their h...

On the list of bad bathroom surprises, kidney stones rank pretty high. (Although, tbh, are there any good toilet surprises?) The sensation of something pointy scraping its way through your tender urethra is no joke—and there’s a solid chance you’ll experience one in your life, so listen up. One in 10 women will get at least one kidney stone in her lifetime, and every year kidney stones send more than half a million people to the emergency room, according to the U.S. National Kidney Foundation  (NKF). Men are even less lucky, with one in five getting them. Even worse: Cases of kidney stones are on the rise with rates more than doubling over the past few decades. Why? One theory is that factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity have been found to increase your risk. But before you start freaking out at even the slightest pain, it’s important to know the majority of kidney stones can be prevented or managed by doing some very basic things, says Dr. S. Adam Ramin, a...

If you have anxiety or low mood, the amino acid glutamine could help. It’s also great for muscle aches and pains after exercise – no wonder it’s one of our Trendy Nutrients A – Z series ‘ Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid (a building block for proteins) in the body,’ says Healthista’s nutritional director Rick Hay. ‘It’s popular in the sports world because it helps with muscle recovery. ‘During muscle recovery, one of glutamine’s main roles is moving nitrogen atoms in the body. In order to build muscle, you need to maintain a positive nitrogen balance. After an intense workout, moving nitrogen to your damaged muscles leads to tissue repair. Glutamine can also help with aches, pains and cramping. ‘In addition, glutamine can reduce anxiety as it helps lift mood through the neurotransmitters in the brain. Since it lowers anxiety, glutamine can help improve sleep. ‘There’s also a strong link between glutamine and better gut health, since there’s a lot of r...

When Meghan Hall, 34, was diagnosed with breast cancer , it wasn’t because she (or a doctor) felt a lump. “I noticed something green spilled on the front of my shirt, I didn’t think anything of it—until I tried to take it off and realized it was stuck to my nipple,” says Meghan. “My breast was leaking green fluid.” That’s right: Meghan’s breast cancer symptom was green fluid leaking from her nipples—and her experience isn’t unique. According to preliminary  research  presented at the UK National Cancer Research Institute’s (NCRI) 2016 conference, one in six women who discovered their cancer themselves caught it based on a less-obvious symptom, like nipple abnormalities and weight loss (a.k.a. not a lump). These self-reported cancers—especially ones that don’t involve the typical lump—highlight why it’s so important to pay attention to any strange symptoms or changes you may be experiencing, in addition to staying on top of your mammograms and annu...

Let’s talk migraines: Specifically how freaking incapacitating they can be. As if that familiar migraine pain weren’t enough—you know, that squeezing sensation and brain fogginess—those capital-H  Headaches  also come with increased sensitivity to light, noise, and smells, and sometimes even nausea and vomiting. And don’t even get me started on those auras. And while about 12 percent of people get these headaches , they disproportionately affect women, who are three times more likely than men to get migraines. While you can’t necessarily make sure you never, ever get a migraine (they likely have a genetic cause, per the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM)), you can keep a few things in your migraine arsenal for the next time the pain strikes. To help calm your throbbing head, try these migraine helpers, recommended by Dr. Lauren Natbony, assistant professor of neurology and headache specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital; and Kerry Knie...

Peeing is one of those bodily functions you tend to take for granted—you sit, you pee, you wipe, you go. That is, until the pee just refuses to come. Take those pesky (but important!) urinesamples at the doctor. You don’t typically go to an appointment with a full bladder, prepared to dole out samples. Cue: You, squatting over a toilet hoping the sound of the running faucet will help you eke out a few drops. Forgive the infomercial-esque tone, but there’s got to be a better way to make yourself pee, right? Hypothetically speaking, why might I not be able to pee? For starters, you shouldn’t stress if you tend to get a little pee-shy when you have to give a urine sample at the doctor’s office—it can be really tough to go on cue, especially if you’re not dealing with a full bladder . But, if you regularly hold it in, you can also train your bladder not to work the way it should—and cause peeing issues in the process, says Dr. Mehran Movassaghi, a urolo...

Healthista’s Nutritional Director Rick Hay explains how ginger can ease aches and pains Healthy foods, snacks and drinks have exploded on to the market and it’s left us feeling spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding what non-artificial energy bar or detox tea we are going to try next. But how much do we know about trendy ingredients really? This is why we asked Healthista’s Nutritional Director  Rick Hay  to fill in the blanks on the most confusing super-nutrients of the moment. Today, he’s covering ginger. Rick Hay says: ‘ Ginger is a common spice that is great to cook with but it is also an anti-inflammatory to treat nausea. It contains a substance called gingerol, which has powerful medicinal properties. In the history of medicine, ginger has been traditionally used to help digestion, ease nausea and help combat common colds and the flu. Ginger is related to turmeric and, like turmeric, has key anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. As well as the problems l...

Eden Boudreau (Photo: Jessica Darmanin) On a cold morning last November, my husband and I were snuggled in bed, spooning. The house was quiet, our three sons still snoring peacefully in their own beds. As we began to stir, my husband’s lips started searching for the soft spot on my neck, the one between my ear and the curve of my shoulder that always sent shivers ricocheting through my whole body. But this time, I flinched. Silent alarms went off in my mind, and I automatically curled my body into myself—and away from him. Even as the onslaught of fear and shame lit every nerve in my body on fire, I dared a glance behind me. My husband lay frozen, his hands now tucked away and the emotions he tried so very hard to hide—a mix of guilt, hurt and empathy—clear in his eyes. There was even a pinch of anger, though that, I knew, wasn’t intended for me. It was aimed at the man who had violently raped me. “I was reasonably sure he was neither a catfish nor a murderer” My husband and I h...