Category Archives: Health

Is Your Turmeric Actually Benefiting Your Health? Here’s What To Look For.

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Golden milk lattes, turmeric face masks, turmeric pills and turmeric powder are everywhere, from social media advertisements to retail stores and shopping malls. You may opt for one, tempted by the promise of natural health benefits.

But before buying into any trend, it’s important to understand what the product is, what’s in it, how to consume it, and how it can benefit you specifically.

“Turmeric being called the ‘new’ superfood is a misnomer,” said New York-based registered dietitian Esther Tambe. “Turmeric has been around in many cultures for a long time, and we should respect that heritage and try to understand the what, why and how.”

But there’s more to the golden spice.

It’s All About The Curcumin

“If you’re turning to turmeric because you’ve heard that it can help fight inflammation, you should know that curcumin is the active ingredient that’s doing the good work,” said Carolyn O’Neil, a registered dietitian nutritionist and co-author of “The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous!”

However, curcumin content in most turmeric sold in the U.S. is only between 2% and 3% by weight, which means that the turmeric may have a deep yellow-orange colour and earthy flavor, but very little nutritional benefit. High-potency turmerics can contain upward of 7% curcumin.

Lakadong turmeric, also known as haldi, is a high-potency turmeric that contains as much as 7-12% curcumin — and you can always look at your turmeric’s label to see if yours is made with Lakadong (many brands use it).

When Ushma Patel and Malvika Mohan, the co-founders of Humble Origin Superfoods, were researching quality turmeric to source from, they turned to Lakadong. Grown only in the fertile land of Lakadong Village in Meghalaya, a state in northeastern India, Lakadong turmeric is the only one of its kind. Its higher curcumin level comes from the unique growing conditions and the genetic traits of the plant in this region.

“Lakadong turmeric is specifically grown for its medicinal properties, particularly its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, making it more valuable for health benefits than regular turmeric,” Patel explained. Educating consumers about turmeric became paramount for the two women, who saw their own health improve by substituting Lakadong for the commercial variety of turmeric they had used most of their lives.

Cooking turmeric with fat will make it easier to absorb, according to experts.

Brian Yarvin via Getty Images

Cooking turmeric with fat will make it easier to absorb, according to experts.

How To Source And Store Turmeric

“Where you source the turmeric from makes a big difference,” confirmed Dr. Vrinda Devani, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist who is a practitioner at The Ayurvedic Institute in Asheville, North Carolina.

She recommends asking the manufacturer for a certificate of analysis (most good herbal companies will have one) that discloses the presence of any heavy metals or pesticides and confirms the quality of the turmeric.

Before buying turmeric, Devani said, she always checks the labels (single-origin, organic, GMO-free, sustainably sourced, ethically grown, etc.), visits the company’s website and looks at their values. Producers who are thoughtful in their sourcing should be able to answer those questions fairly quickly, but if they hesitate, that’s not a good sign.

Low-quality and discounted turmeric may be adulterated or contaminated with starch, lead chromate (to enhance colour) or synthetic curcumin, compromising purity.

“Also, many mass-produced turmeric powders lose potency over time due to poor storage (exposure to light, heat, and moisture) on store shelves for months at a time,” Mohan warned.

For best results, opt for fresh, high-curcumin turmeric like Lakadong and store it properly in dark, airtight containers to maintain its effectiveness. Devani additionally recommends purchasing herbs and spices from specialty stores rather than big box retailers, and from boutique brands such as Gaia Herbs, Banyan Botanicals and Organic India.

Store spices in a cool, dark place, like a cabinet or pantry, and away from heat, light and humidity to preserve potency.

Certain Foods Help Your Body Absorb Turmeric

In traditional South Asian cooking, turmeric and other spices are often sautéed with ghee or oil, not just for flavour and technique, but because the fat makes it easier to absorb the curcumin. She recommends balancing turmeric with another extract — piperine (a chemical compound found in black pepper and long pepper) for bioavailability, drinking preferably raw and whole warm turmeric milk at night, and sautéing turmeric in oil with vegetables, rice, quinoa and beans.

A turmeric latte, aka golden milk, contains milk to help your body better absorb curcumin.

Rocky89 via Getty Images

A turmeric latte, aka golden milk, contains milk to help your body better absorb curcumin.

Patel recommends a daily dose of a pinch of turmeric in the morning on an empty stomach combined with black long pepper and a spoonful of honey, coconut oil and warm water. Tambe tells her clients to use turmeric as a natural salt alternative to season food if they are trying to cut down on sodium.

The Truth About Turmeric Supplements

Many nutritionists recommend turmeric supplements if you can’t consume turmeric in its natural form. “Since turmeric typically contains less than 10% curcumin, it’s more effective to take supplements which may contain up to 95% curcumin,” O’Neil said. “Also, since curcumin is often hard for the body to absorb, it is recommended to choose a supplement that includes black pepper and take it with a meal or snack that contains some fats to help enhance absorption.”

Devani also warns against turmeric supplements that have low potency, filler substances or don’t contain activating ingredients (piperine, for example). Always check the labels for a list of ingredients.

Also be aware that you can risk consuming too much turmeric when taking supplements.

According to the Botanical Safety Handbook by the American Herbal Products Association, 8 grams (or 3 teaspoons) of extracted turmeric with a high concentration of curcumin (or pure curcumin supplements) per day is plenty. However, some people end up consuming much more.

“If you have gastro-intestinal side effects, liver or gallbladder issues, or are already on blood thinners or undergoing chemotherapy, turmeric can counteract and cause more harm than good,” Devani warned. It is best to consult your doctor or a dietitian about your eating habits and food-drug interactions before consuming supplements.

Even if you use high-quality turmeric activated with fat and piperine, it is important to be consistent. You won’t get immediate results from just a few golden lattes.

“It is important to understand that herbs and spices are not a cure for a disease, but simply an aid for better overall health. You can’t just take herbs alone and expect everything will be solved for you,” Tambe said.

When used in conjunction with eating well, exercising and maintaining a balanced lifestyle, turmeric can help enhance your well-being and immunity and help your recovery from ailments. A popular ancient Ayurvedic proverb says, “Without proper diet, medicine is of no use. With a proper diet, medicine is of no need.”

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The 1 Little-Known Factor That Could Affect Your Heart Health

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There are a handful of things you probably associate with better heart health: regular exercise, a healthy diet and quitting smoking being some of them.

But did you know that getting out in the sunlight, and taking a daily vitamin D supplement in winter, could also work wonders for your ticker?

One study, using data from almost 300,000 UK citizens and published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, suggested having a vitamin D deficiency can cause inflammation in the body, which could then contribute to heart and circulatory disease.

And another, from the University of Leeds, found a daily dose of vitamin D improved heart function in those with chronic heart failure.

Dr Christopher Broyd, consultant cardiologist at Nuffield Health Brighton Hospital, told The Independent: “A lack of sunlight exposure can lead to vitamin D deficiency, which has been linked to higher blood pressure, inflammation, and an increased risk of heart disease.

“Safe sun exposure or supplementation can help maintain heart health.”

How much vitamin D is enough?

It’s worth noting that between April and September, sunlight and a healthy balanced diet is enough to meet most people’s vitamin D needs in the UK.

Foods rich in vitamin D include salmon, sardines, red meat, liver, eggs and some fortified foods like cereal and spreads.

Studies have found about 5-10 minutes of sun exposure on the arms and legs; or the hands, arms and face; two or three times a week is sufficient.

In the winter though, it can be harder to get enough sunlight to meet our needs.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) suggests that between October and March the UK’s light levels aren’t strong enough, which is why it suggests a daily 10mcg vitamin D supplement. The UK government also backs this approach.

Babies up to the age of one need 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day, according to the NHS. Those on formula milk will already be getting this as their milk is fortified with the vitamin, however breastfed babies will need an additional supplement.

Here’s to a happy heart.

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Here’s The Exact Best Time Of Day To Eat Protein If You Work Out

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I’ve been going to the gym for about six months now, and four of those have been spent trying to train my social media algorithms to show me anything other than protein content.

Influencers and fitness fanatics alike seem to be obsessed with the nutrient, which helps to build and repair our cells (including our muscles). They can even help to regulate fluid control and our immune system.

It’s not that they’re wrong to enthuse about the dietary staple, which has been linked to feelings of satiety and possibly even a speedier metabolism.

It’s just that the information is so conflicting ― should we have protein immediately before or straight after a workout, and how much, and does timing really matter at all?

There is an ideal “protein window”, but it’s likely later than you think

I’ve seen a lot of videos admonishing people for not eating in the optimal “protein window” either before or after their workout, which is usually presented as lasting for about a quarter of an hour.

Well, some good news: not only does overall protein consumption throughout the day seem to matter more than timing, but according to the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), that “anabolic window” is longer than you think.

The ISSN found that a protein intake of 1.4–2g protein/kg body weight a day is enough for most exercising people, and that eating protein in a two-hour window after finishing your workout can help to build your muscle mass.

One exception might be people who do “fasted” exercise, or work out on an empty stomach. They might benefit from eating protein soon after their workout because they haven’t had any for a while, a 2003 study suggests.

Older people might want to take protein just before bed

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about how muscle loss ― or sarcopenia ― is associated with ageing and can cause health issues.

That’s part of the reason why older people need to pay particular attention to their protein intake.

To prevent muscle loss, a 2016 paper suggests that taking 40g of protein before bed can be helpful, especially following exercise.

That’s because the nutrient becomes more available to our bodies as we sleep.

Another 2011 paper found that older men who consumed protein before bed retained more muscles than those who ate a placebo, regardless of activity level.

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Here’s How Often You’re Actually Meant To Replace Your Toothbrush, And Oh Dear

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I only recently realised that you’re not actually meant to “scrub” your teeth with an electric toothbrush ― instead, we’re meant to glide the head gently over each tooth, neither moving it up or down nor side to side.

This comes after I learned you’re meant to floss your teeth far deeper than first thought and that the floss picks I’ve relied on for so long are nowhere near as good as the string kinds.

I’ve even messed up using mouthwash.

All of which is to say it’s not so surprising that I’ve just discovered how often you’re meant to change your toothbrush or toothbrush head.

What do the experts say?

You should get a new toothbrush every three to four months, according to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Health information site Healthline agrees, adding that electric toothbrush heads might need to be changed as often as every 12 weeks ― especially if you apply a lot of pressure to your toothbrush.

By that stage, they say, the bristles may have started to warp, mesh or mat.

That’s an issue because, according to toothbrush manufacturer Philips, “brush head bristles are designed to reach between your teeth, and pressing too hard actually mashes them, rendering them incapable of doing their intended job”.

A 2012 study found that bristle flaring ― that spread-out look your brush gets after a while, especially if you brush hard ― results in less effective brushing, leaving way more bacteria and plaque behind than a fresh brush would.

No matter how long it’s been since you last changed your toothbrush or brush head, the NHS recommends changing it as soon as you notice any wear.

Should I change my toothbrush after being sick?

Healthline says that ideally, yes ― especially if you’ve had a disease like strep throat or viral infections that affect your throat and mouth.

But they add that trying to “sanitise” your brush, for example by dipping it in mouthwash or very hot water, can actually spreads more germs than it kills off.

For everyday use, simply running tap water over your brush when it’s done is the best method, they add.

Well, at least I’ve got one single dental hygiene rule right…

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So THAT’s Why Your Nose Streams When It’s Cold Outside

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On those ridiculously early mornings when I leave the house and it’s still dark and positively baltic outside, my nose decides it is faster than the wind, it is a long-distance runner, it is… Paula Radcliffe.

Some people get a runny nose, mine is more like a tsunami. All this liquid comes from nowhere and I end up rushing to meet my train with a tissue wedged firmly under my leaking nostrils.

The issue is so bad that even when I’m at home, and it’s a bit cold because the heating hasn’t yet kicked in, I start sniffing and my other half gives me ‘the look’ and then remarks: “Have you got another cold?!”

But The thing is, dear reader, I do not have another cold. My nose just hates the cold.

So why does this happen?

It’s all to do with our nasal lining becoming royally miffed by the change in temperature.

As Dr Deborah S. Clements, of Northwestern Medical Group, explains: “When we breathe in, our noses warm the air and add moisture to it as it travels down into our lungs.

“Cold, dry air irritates your nasal lining, and as a result, your nasal glands produce excess mucus to keep the lining moist.

“That can cause those big, heavy drops that drip from your nostrils.”

While it’s pretty annoying, there is a very useful reason why our bodies want to warm up the air, according to Verywell Health.

This snot protects the mucous membranes in your nose and also the bronchioles (air sacs) in your lungs from any damage caused by the cold air.

What can you do about it?

Wearing a scarf over your nose and mouth in cold weather can help, because the air warms up before it hits your sensitive nasal passages.

If you’re indoors and find your nose is running a lot, a humidifier might also help to keep your nose from drying out.

But ultimately it’s probably best to make sure you’re stocked up on tissues throughout winter.

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Yes, Some People Get Norovirus Worse Than Others. This Could Be Why

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Norovirus is one of those nasty winter bugs that just does not relent.

It can survive even the most potent of hand gels, as well as freezing temperatures, and it takes as few as 10 viral particles to make you sick.

So it’s no wonder really that so many people in the UK get struck down, and even end up hospitalised, with the illness each year.

The bug, which is characterised mainly by violent bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea, typically goes away in 48 hours.

But those two days can seem like a lifetime when you’re firmly glued to the loo.

Why do some people get norovirus worse than others?

If you’re sat there smugly thinking you haven’t been bitten by the noro-bug this year, there might be a reason why.

According to Professor Patricia Foster, an expert in biology at Indiana University Bloomington, your blood type as well as whether you make a certain antigen in your body, could influence your vulnerability to the winter illness.

She explained that people with the B blood type tend to be more resistant to the bug, while those with A, AB and O blood types are more likely to become ill.

And here’s where things get a little complicated.

Prof Foster previously explained that a person’s blood type – whether A, B, AB or O – is “dictated by genes that determine which kinds of molecules, called oligosaccharides, are found on the surface of your red blood cells”.

These oligosaccharides are made up of sugars that are linked together. They attach to red blood cells – a bit like little koala bears – and can also be found in the cells that line your small intestine.

Now norovirus and some other viruses love these oligosaccharides because they can easily attach to them and then infect you via the intestine (cue: lovely gastro symptoms).

And a lot of norovirus strains need one oligosaccharide in particular, known as the H1-antigen, to hop on board.

Now some people – about 20% of the European-derived population, Prof Foster suggested – don’t make the H1-antigen in their intestinal cells. And, as a result, they are less likely to get sick from norovirus.

And for a similar reason, those with the B blood type tend to be more resistant because, as the BBC reported, fewer strains of norovirus have evolved to attach to their oligosaccharides.

Whew. The more you know…

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I Switched Maternity Care 6 Weeks Before Birth – Here’s Why I Had To Trust My Gut

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My due date was fast approaching when I had a moment of clarity. Or it might have been madness, I’ll let you decide.

I’d been receiving maternity care at a local hospital – the same hospital where my eldest daughter had been born almost three years earlier – and decided I really didn’t want to go back there to give birth.

So, at 34 weeks pregnant, I went online and did what I knew best: researched.

With my laptop perched on my ballooning belly, I looked at other hospitals and saw there were some decent options. But, palms all sweaty, I quickly realised it was the thought of another trip to the labour ward that was filling me with so much dread.

I briefly considered a home birth but realised I wouldn’t be able to relax properly if I knew our neighbours could hear me mooing away (and believe me they would be able to hear it – our walls are paper thin).

Then I saw something intriguing on Instagram of all places: a freestanding NHS birth centre and it was just 10 minutes further than the hospital where I’d been receiving antenatal care. How had I never heard about it?

Why I switched up my care

I’m not a particularly anxious person but the very thought of going back to that first hospital to give birth filled me with dread. Just thinking about it would make my heart race.

The thing is, I had always thought I didn’t have a particularly bad experience at that hospital – compared to the horror stories I’ve heard, it was a “walk in the park”. I was one of the lucky ones. My birth was relatively straightforward: it was a vaginal delivery, no interventions, and my baby was OK.

I experienced some tearing but didn’t really think much of it at the time because it was all quite numb down there. My partner got kicked out a couple of hours after giving birth, which I found to be the most distressing part of all because I had no idea how to look after a baby and was absolutely exhausted.

I remember spending the following 12 hours sat in a bloody hospital gown waiting for my partner to be allowed back into the hospital for visiting hours (cheers, Covid) so I could finally have a shower and hand our newborn over to him.

I was exhausted because I’d barely slept all night – my daughter had been born late the night before, so I’d been up all night checking she was still breathing and listening to the coughs of other mums on the shared ward, hoping they didn’t have Covid. It also happened to be the hottest day of the year which only added to my anxiety.

In the days and weeks after the birth, I experienced some issues with an infection and my stitches coming undone. I also saw a GP at my eight-week follow up appointment who checked my perineal area and suggested my tear had been worse than first thought.

“I was one of the lucky ones. My birth was relatively straightforward: it was a vaginal delivery, no interventions, and my baby was OK.””

Compared to a lot of other women who experience traumatic births – it’s estimated 30,000 women are impacted each year – my experience was, I believed at the time, OK.

Only now am I realising that actually… it wasn’t.

I felt I couldn’t really complain about the fact the midwife “popped my vein” – she failed to put a cannula into my arm before I was about to give birth, so we had to wait for a doctor to come and do it. My blood platelets had been on the low side so they thought they’d put a cannula in ahead of time in case I needed a blood transfusion or something – a thought which made me feel really relaxed!

Or the fact that I had to be on a labour ward because of those cursed platelets and all I could hear in the rooms along the corridor were screams.

Or the fact I had two midwives – an experienced staff member and a student – rummaging around in my vagina, one after the other, before delivery. It prompted a panic attack and, I’d argue, was more painful than birth at points. Now, I know midwives are short on time and we all have to learn, but I was not prepared for how painful that examination was going to be. And I wasn’t allowed an epidural because of the platelet issue, so I felt it all.

These things were all unpleasant, but nothing compared to what I’ve heard from other mums. I was a lucky one, right? My baby survived.

Some aren’t so lucky.

I’ve heard horror stories of babies being left with brain damage as a result of mistakes made during birth. I’ve spoken to women who have experienced physical injuries that have left them with bladder and bowel incontinence for years – potentially, for the rest of their lives. Black women in the UK are almost three times more likely to die during pregnancy or up to six weeks after birth.

I realise now – after years of mentally dismissing what had happened – that perhaps there was a reason why my body was going into fight or flight when I sat down to consider the thought of another hospital birth.

My body was saying no, and thank goodness I listened.

So, at 34 weeks pregnant, I switched up my maternity care. It’s fairly easy to do – I self-referred to the birth centre and then called the hospital and explained I was moving my care across.

I had to do another booking appointment (this is the first appointment you usually do when receiving antenatal care in England, where they check your weight, height, take urine and blood samples, etc.,), but on the whole it was an easy process.

And I cannot stress to you how refreshing it was to speak to the midwives at Edgware Birth Centre.

They were so relaxed and didn’t overly-medicalise things. I asked about my platelets again and they didn’t seem worried – my midwife was so reassuring and, unlike at the hospital where I’d seen a different person each time, this person was someone I spoke to continuously for the following six weeks.

It’s hard to express what a game-changer it was having the same midwife for my antenatal appointments. When we chatted on multiple occasions in the run up to the birth, I felt like I was a human, not just a number who was there to pop out a baby.

On the day I gave birth, I went to the birth centre at around 11am when my contractions were ramping up and called my midwife en route, who amazingly was on shift. They got a room ready for me and started filling the birth pool, as I’d asked if I could try that for pain relief purposes and also to help reduce the risk of tearing again.

When we got there, we went straight to the room and I nearly cried. They’d turned some fairy lights on and there was a diffuser pumping out a calming fragrance in the corner. The birth pool was trickling away. There was nobody screaming in the distance. The atmosphere was so… tranquil.

“Do you want a drink?” my midwife calmly asked me, and then my partner. We looked at each other in disbelief.

The room where I ended up giving birth.

Natasha Hinde

The room where I ended up giving birth.

The next few hours were a bit of a blur but consisted of a lot of reassurance from my midwife and her colleague who kept telling me that I knew what I was doing, to listen to my body, and to let them know if I felt an urge to push.

I believe their kindness and reassurance, as well as the feeling of safety from being in this little sanctuary they’d created on my behalf, helped everything speed up a bit and by 2.30pm, our baby was in my arms.

I didn’t need stitches (thank you, birth pool) and by 7pm we were home.

It was a good birth – and I feel bad for saying that, because so many women do not get to have a good birth. I firmly believe that if I hadn’t switched up my care at the eleventh hour, it might not have been a good birth.

And of course, we can never know, but studies have found having a baby at a birth centre is as safe as giving birth in hospital, yet results in fewer interventions.

However, the story doesn’t end there. A few months after I gave birth, I received an email inviting me to join a consultation about the proposed closure of the birth centre. The NHS North Central London Integrated Care System said that, on average, fewer than 50 women give birth there a year.

Under proposed new plans, the birth suites could be closed however the birth centre would still provide antenatal and postnatal services. I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

Deflated by the proposed closure, I attended the online consultation and sat listening to other mothers who had received positive experiences there.

The stories I heard hammered home exactly what can happen if a maternity service isn’t overwhelmed with demand and midwives can truly focus on the people giving birth: they are treated like human beings. The midwives have more to give because they are not physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted.

The decision on the fate of the birth centre is due to be announced this spring.

Dr Jo Sauvage, chief medical officer at North Central London Integrated Care System, told me: “Your positive feedback is a great reflection of the midwifery team at Edgware Birth Centre. We want, above all else, for everyone who gives birth in North Central London to have a similarly high quality of experience, and this means making some difficult decisions.

“The proposed option that we put forward for consultation would see us retain and expand the antenatal and postnatal services at Edgware Birth Centre. For those who choose a midwifery-led birth, we are proposing to maintain the option of home birth, and co-located midwifery-led units which provide a home from home environment.”

It’s abundantly clear we need to keep banging the drum for improved maternity care in the UK and that means calling on the government to do more: to urgently prioritise and begin to fix the midwife staffing crisis and to funnel more money into maternity healthcare.

I appreciate money doesn’t grow on trees, but when the Care Quality Commission (CQC) warns that cases of women receiving poor care and being harmed in childbirth are in danger of becoming “normalised”, and 65% of units are not safe for women to give birth in, you know something is fundamentally wrong.

Action group Delivering Better is currently calling on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting – who has openly said the maternity crisis keeps him awake at night – to improve maternity care with two key changes: the chance to see the same midwife throughout pregnancy and proactive health checks after the baby is born at three and six months. You can add your voice to the open letter here.

There’s a lot of work to be done when it comes to overhauling the UK’s maternity and postnatal care system – and one birth centre cannot change that. But if it helps women have a good birth, a safe birth, then I’d argue it’s worth its weight in gold.

Update: We have amended the article to clarify that, on average, fewer than 50 women give birth at Edgware Birth Centre each year.

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How Bad Is It To Walk Around Barefoot At Home? Doctors’ Answers May Surprise You.

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When you walk in the door and kick off your shoes, does it actually hurt the health of your feet to walk around barefoot on hard floors? It’s not the most comfortable feeling, but doctors say there can be some benefits — with a few caveats.

First, let’s start with a definition of barefoot: According to the Cambridge Dictionary — and experts ranging from podiatrists to dermatologists — walking barefoot means having no shoes or socks on.

“Barefoot is skin to ground,” explained licensed clinical podiatrist Dr. Robert Conenello. “Anything else is considered to be shod, as even socks alter the mechanics of movement.”

There are benefits to going barefoot at home.

“I’m a big advocate for going barefoot at home,” Conenello said. “[The practice] increases intrinsic muscular strength within the feet.”

He explained that the primary benefit of walking barefoot is the reinforcement of the muscles in the feet, which tend to weaken “as we age and wear shoes.” These muscles are closely linked to our overall mobility, so their deterioration can contribute to reduced movement as we get older.

“Many of the pathologies that I see in my practice are due to the inability to engage these muscles for normal movements and metabolic efficiency,” Conenello added.

Dermatologist Dr. Hannah Kopelman agreed with that overall assessment, and also mentioned that going barefoot at home can have some unexpected benefits for the skin on your feet.

“Walking barefoot at home … allows your skin to breathe, which can help prevent moisture buildup and reduce the risk of fungal infections like athlete’s foot,” she explained.

Although not directly related to dermatology, walking barefoot at home can also offer a secondary skin-related advantage, one connected to sensory stimulation and overall wellness.

“Feeling the texture of different surfaces underfoot can be grounding and relaxing, almost like a mini reflexology session,” Kopelman said. “For those without underlying skin or foot conditions, this can be a natural way to connect with your environment and promote mindfulness.”

To put it concisely, opting to go shoeless and sockless in your clean home helps fortify your feet, providing long-term rewards while also reducing the risk of skin conditions. Additionally, it offers a kind of natural massage, which can be surprisingly relaxing.

But there are some potential downsides.

One potential downside of walking barefoot indoors is the increased exposure to irritants or allergens on the floor, such as dust, pet dander or cleaning chemicals, as Kopelman pointed out. For individuals with sensitive skin or chronic conditions like contact dermatitis or eczema, this could be a significant concern.

While Conenello acknowledges similar risks — such as stepping on pathogens like fungi in moist environments — he is quick to emphasise that “proper hygiene can help mitigate these risks.”

“Wash your feet frequently, dry them thoroughly and moisturise,” he advised.

Other painful risks associated with going barefoot include the potential for slipping on slick or wet surfaces, or stepping on something hard and sharp that could cause injury. As anyone who has ever stubbed a toe or accidentally stepped on a Lego can attest, such incidents can be excruciating. Kopelman points out that individuals with diabetes or poor circulation are more vulnerable to severe consequences, as “even a minor foot injury can lead to serious health issues.”

It's a good idea to wear something protective on your feet if you're standing to cook for a long period of time.

Vladimir Vladimirov via Getty Images

It’s a good idea to wear something protective on your feet if you’re standing to cook for a long period of time.

Kopelman also noted that, while walking barefoot can help strengthen muscles, the repeated practice of doing so on hard surfaces could potentially lead to foot fatigue or plantar fasciitis, a condition where the tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes becomes inflamed.

“Over time, the lack of cushioning can put stress on the joints, especially in those who already have foot or joint issues,” she explained.

There are times when you should wear shoes or socks.

Though Conenello is generally a proponent of going barefoot, he advises wearing foot support when engaging in tasks that involve standing for extended periods of time — like when cooking.

“When standing for long periods barefoot, there can be excessive load to one area of the foot,” he said. “Even my professional cooks usually benefit from a shoe that allows them to balance weight over their entire foot.”

To illustrate the concept further, he made an analogy. “[Let’s say] that you developed some decent core strength through performing some planks,” he said. “I would not suggest you start adding significant time or weight to your exercise routine prematurely.”

There is, of course, a middle ground: socks.

According to Conenello, “there is nothing wrong with wearing socks.” They’ll simply decrease the benefits associated with being barefoot. “There is now a filter between the ground and the foot,” he said.

Kopelman added that socks can offer “minimal protection from minor abrasions or allergens while still allowing your feet to feel relatively free.” Direct contact with surfaces that may harbor bacteria or irritants is also minimised when wearing socks.

Taking all the pros and cons into account, walking barefoot at home — especially on clean and well-maintained floors — is not only safe, but generally healthy … unless you’re dealing with some sort of skin condition (think psoriasis, eczema or athlete’s foot, for example) that could be exacerbated by the presence of bacteria.

“Likewise, individuals with diabetes, neuropathy or poor circulation should avoid barefoot walking due to the increased risk of unnoticed injuries or infections,” Kopelman said.

Going barefoot selectively seems to be the best option. Moderation is, indeed, key.

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Dental Hygienist Warns Against The 1 Flossing Mistake We All Make

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I saw a tweet (well, post on X) in which someone advised, “only floss the teeth you want to keep”. I reached for the minty spool pretty swiftly after reading that.

But, after viewing a TikTok post from dental hygienist Anna Peterson, I’ve realised my efforts may have been in vain ― turns out, I’ve been flossing my teeth wrong for years.

“Do you know how deep you’re meant to go with floss?” Peterson began the video, quoting a question that had been asked of her in the comments of another TikTok video.

“The only way for me to properly answer is to show it to you,” the dental hygienist revealed.

Spoiler ― it’s further than you think

Tearing off a length of dental tape, Anna Peterson said, “when it comes to flossing, it’s really important that you do go to the right depth, or you won’t be doing it effectively, and you could still have gum disease, even though you’re flossing.”

She then revealed that “the floss needs to go to the gum level and then some more,” sharing a closeup that revealed a thin strip of dental floss sliding into the curve at the top of her tooth (I was surprised, too).

That’s possible, she says, because “the gum is not attached to the actual crown of the tooth, and the crown of the tooth is the bit that we can actually see.”

Instead, the gum attaches to the root of the tooth ― there’s no direct attachment between the front of your gnashers and your gums. I’m still reeling from that.

“This means that bacteria are in between that bit of gum and crown of the tooth that we can’t see,” the dental hygienist said. “And it’s why it’s so important that with the floss, we are going right up and under.”

She then shared that, if your gums are healthy, you can go about 1-3mm in depth. “Keep doing it, even if it’s bleeding,” she advises.

Well, that’s changed how I clean my teeth forever…

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This Is How Long You’re Only Meant To Sit On The Toilet For

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I hope this isn’t too disgusting to share, but honestly, I’ve long maintained that a sneaky five-minute sit-and-scroll on the loo is one of the greatest pleasures in life.

But if colorectal surgeon Karen Zaghiyan, MD, is to be believed, we all need to ensure we’re not sitting on the loo for too long.

In a video, the surgeon shared ten things she’d never do as a colorectal surgeon. Along with not using wet wipes and avoiding colonics, Zaghiyan says she “would never sit [for] more than five minutes on the toilet.” (gulp).

Why?

It’s all to do with strain ― which you should avoid where possible when going number two.

Many of us will be aware that not drinking enough water or eating enough fibre can cause constipation, hard-to-pass stools, and subsequent fissures, haemorrhoids, and more.

But it turns out that simply sitting on the can might take its own toll on your tushy.

“Sitting, especially if you are finished having a bowel movement or waiting to have a bowel movement and you’re just sitting there and scrolling the internet looking at social media, is really bad for your haemorrhoids,” the surgeon shared.

That’s because “there’s a vacuum effect on the toilet that pulls on the hemorrhoidal veins and aggravates them.”

So, your seemingly harmless number two routine could be causing you more bowels more harm than good ― especially if you’re sitting for more than five minutes.

What if I need that much time to get the job done?

“If you have not finished or begun your bowel movement in five minutes, get up, come back another time when you have the urge to go again,” Zaghiyan says.

“But do not sit there a long time ― obviously, this varies and it’s different for people that have gut conditions, have had surgeries, etc. ― I’m not talking about that, I’m talking about the average Joe who’s just sitting there spending half an hour in the toilet. Do not do that,” she finished.

Well, that’s us told…

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