Unbiased Science

On this week's episode of the pod, we are continuing the conversation on TikTok trends! We kick things off with a misconception that dates as far back as the 1500s-- that putting cut onions around the house (or on the soles of your feet) fights illness. On a somewhat related note, we also discuss the practice of placing sliced potatoes on the bottom of feet (which also has origins that date back to the age of the bubonic plague). Next, we move on to another food-centric trend: placing garlic up the nose (yes, you read the correctly). This practice is said to help treat congestion and alleviate other sinus issues (spoiler alert: this can actually be quite dangerous). We then discuss sea moss-- an edible red seaweed that people are mixing into smoothies or eating raw to improve gut health, lower cholesterol, clear skin, increase energy, regulate menstruation, and more. We pivot to talk about vabbing (vaginal dabbing) which people are doing to attract romantic and sexual interests. Finally, we wrap things up with a discussion on menstrual masking (the practice of applying menstrual blood to the face). We covered a lot of ground on this episode. You don't want to miss it!Help support the podcast by participating in our listener survey. This is your chance to give us your feedback on the pod and our advertisers. As an added bonus, anyone who completes the survey will be entered to win a $500 Amazon gift card. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwaveCheck us out on Substack and Instagram:www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.comhttps://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipodInterested in advertising with us? Please reach out to advertising@airwavemedia.com, with “Unbiased Science” in the subject line. PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the pod, we break down the evidence (or lack thereof) behind some recent viral TikTok health trends. We kick things off with a discussion on parasite cleanses (spoiler alert-- they're pretty crappy) and what it is that people are likely seeing in their poop. We next discuss the very popular trend of lympathic drainage and massage, and discern fact from fiction. We talk about the lymphatic system and how it works, and discuss certain conditions that do cause lymph fluid buildup . While there are some nuggets of truth, there's a whole lot of pseudoscience wrapped up in lympathic drainage claims. Next, we rip open the trend of mouth-taping, why people are doing it and what the data have shown on its puported benefits. We wrap things up with a conversation about sleeping with wet socks on your feet (and why it doesn't do anything to "boost" the immune system as many claim). We had so many trends to discuss that we are going to come back with a part 2. You don't want to miss this!Help support the podcast by participating in our listener survey. This is your chance to give us your feedback on the pod and our advertisers. As an added bonus, anyone who completes the survey will be entered to win a $500 Amazon gift card. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwaveCheck us out on Substack and Instagram:www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.comhttps://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipodPLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the pod, we are joined by Dr. Spencer Nadolsky, a board certified obesity and lipid specialist physician, to tackle the topic of obesity. We kick things off with some population-level data on the prevalence of obesity in the US population, noting some disparities among certain demographic groups. We shift gears to talk about one of the more universal methods of assessing obesity: BMI. We chat about the accuracy of BMI, the limitations, and some clinical considerations that should be made when treating patients. We discuss the societal stigma of obesity as a medical issue, and how that can lead to disparities in treatment and medical care. We then cover some of the real health risks associated with obesity and why, although there is a spectrum of healthy sizes, we cannot overlook the implications of excess adiposity and metabolic changes that occur as a result. We wrap things up by covering current methods to manage obesity, including medications such as GLP-1 inhibitors and bariatric procedures. You won’t want to miss this!Check us out on Substack and Instagram:www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.comhttps://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipodPLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the pod, we tackle the topic of prevention and health screenings! We set the stage by discussing the different types of prevention, and how it is harder to measure the absence of disease than the presence of disease. We talk about the way that prevention and screening recommendations are made in the US, specifically, and different governing bodies involved in the decision-making process. We give some specific examples of recommendations, starting with cervical cancer screening (Pap smears) and the impact that prevention has made on incidence of cervical cancer. We also discuss the reasons why recommendations have changed over time. Next, we discuss vitamin K shots for infants and their importance for prevention of bleeding issues. We shift gears and talk about well checks, bloodwork, and recommended adult vaccines. We close things out with a discussion of colonoscopies and colorectal cancer screening. We covered a lot of ground-- you don't want to miss this one!Check us out on Substack and Instagram:www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.comhttps://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipodPLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the pod, we continue our conversation with Dr. Dina DiMaggio (Pediatrician) and Dr. Anthony Porto (Pediatric Gastroenterologist) on all things related to infant feeding. We kick things off with a discussion of our guests' recent study on infant feeding trends and the use of unregulated feeding practices. Before getting into the thick of it, we set the stage with a discussion of the Infant Formula Act and associated regulations and policies. We then shift gears to discuss European infant formulas (with a distinction between illegal importation from 3rd party vendors and those imported legally through Operation Fly). Next, we discuss unregulated donor breast milk and the risks associated with informal milk sharing such as bacterial and viral contamination and improper storage. We discuss safer alternatives to this practice such as seeking breastmilk from regulated milk banks. We also discuss homemade infant formulas and reports of infant hospitalization and death as a result of this practice. Throughout the episode, we acknowledge and discuss the implications of the food formula shortage which understandably led many parents to seek out alternatives. You do not want to miss this!Disclosure: This episode is brought to you in partnership with BobbieLabs, the scientific research arm of Bobbie, but is unpaid and not sponsored. The goal of this episode is to provide you with the latest science on infant nutrition; we do not discuss or endorse specific products (including Bobbie). As with any and all of our content, we have complete and independent control over what we are presenting. The goal of this episode is to provide expert information on infant feeding, generally.Check us out on Substack and Instagram:www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.comhttps://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipodPLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pediatricians discuss infant feeding, including breastfeeding benefits, contraindications, and ways to boost milk supply. They compare outcomes for breastfed versus formula-fed babies in terms of allergies, immune function, and IQ. The podcast also covers formula composition, including macronutrients, micronutrients, and new ingredients. They discuss the different types of infant formulas, their costs, and debunk myths about organic formulas.

On this week's episode of the pod, we cover yet another dietary fad (this time for humans): intermittent fasting (IF).We are joined by Meghann Featherstun, a board-certified sports dietitian, to discuss this popular diet and dig into the evidence. We kick things off with a discussion of what the IF diet entails and the different ways that people do it. We spend some time discussing caloric restriction and the data supporting extended longevity, which has been co-opted by the fad diet movement. Then, you guessed it, we turn to the data and discuss studies conducted on IF for weight loss, obesity, insulin resistance, blood pressure, and glucose control. We answered a bunch of questions for our "Heard from the Herd" segment and close things out with a discussion of the potential risks of the IF diet. You don't want to miss this!Check us out on Substack and Instagram:www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.comhttps://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipodPLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the pod, we discuss a very important topic: body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). We invite a special guest, Robyn Stern (an LCSW specializing in treating BDD) who has personal experience navigating this disorder and openly shares her story. We kick things off with a discussion of prevalence and incidence of BDD and how it is likely underreported. We dive into the definition of BDD and how it is, in fact, a mental health condition and discuss some recent studies investigating predictors of BDD. We discuss some common signs and symptoms, diagnosis of BDD, clinical impact, and management and treatment. We disentangle BDD from disordered eating, from which it is entirely distinct, and from dysmorphia (including subsets of dysmorphia such as Zoom dysmorphia). We wrap things up with a discussion of the impact of social media and current trends in BDD diagnoses. You don't want to miss this episode!Check us out on Substack and Instagram:www.theunbiasedscipod.substack.comhttps://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipodPLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional.Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This podcast explores the dangers and controversies of fad pet diets, including raw food and grain-free diets. It discusses the rise of misinformation in the pet food industry and the risks of vegan and vegetarian diets for cats. The importance of evidence-based veterinary medicine and the potential health risks during the holiday season are also discussed.

In this holiday-themed episode, the hosts share 12 science facts that they wish everyone knew, including debunking misconceptions about chemicals, natural products, and organic labeling. They also discuss the complexity of the microbiome and the importance of critically appraising studies. The episode highlights scientific developments, such as mRNA vaccines, nuclear fusion, and gene therapy.