Are Cryptocurrencies a Fad?

Short Answer: Given the world’s rapid digitalization, it seems highly likely that some form of cryptocurrency will have a significant role in the future; however, it remains to be seen if Bitcoin, the most established cryptocurrency, will retain its dominant position in the market.

Longer Answer: For starters, cryptocurrency is a digital currency that is protected by encryption. A bitcoin, for example, is simply a string of numbers and letters that can be validated by the blockchain database. Blockchain technology is the foundation of cryptocurrency; it’s essentially a way of storing information in a database that prevents people from tampering with it or exercising control over the entire database. Many proponents of blockchain technology see a host of potential uses, particularly in the financial industry; contracts could be stored in an immutable blockchain database without having to go through a bank or middleman. This removal of the middleman is one reason skeptics believe governments will move in to regulate the cryptocurrency market; for hundreds of years now, national currency has been backed by the integrity of the government, but cryptocurrency is wholly removed from any government control. Already China has moved against cryptocurrency by prohibiting its banks and financial sector from offering services related to cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin, and cryptocurrencies in general, exploded in popularity in early 2021 as its price climbed as high as $62,000; however, prices have since fallen to around $35,000 per bitcoin. That volatility is another reason for skepticism; after all, who wants to use a currency that fluctuates 300% in just a few months? In all likelihood, governments across the world will move in to regulate the cryptocurrency market, which is often used to launder money and facilitate illegal commerce. However, blockchain technology has a lot of backers and is expanding past cryptocurrency, so I’m confident that it will continue to grow in popularity. There is a lot of popular support behind cryptocurrency, with even Elon Musk and Tesla buying and promoting bitcoin, but I believe that the “Wild West” of cryptocurrency will end soon and usher in the age of government-backed cryptocurrencies.

Does Whole-body Cryotherapy Work as Well as an Ice Bath?

Short Answer: Most research seems to show that cryotherapy sessions are as effective as ice baths at reducing inflammation while taking ⅕ of the time and not nearly as much discomfort. However, the cost of a session is far more expensive than a simple ice bath.

Longer Answer: Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) has built up a following in the elite athlete recovery sphere, with superstars like Lebron James touting the benefits and even installing a cryotherapy chamber in his home. The theory behind WBC is to expose the body to freezing temperatures, sometimes as low as -300 °C, for a few minutes at a time; this flash freeze slows blood flow to inflamed areas, reducing swelling and pain. Given the extremely low temperatures of the chamber, participants must wear protective clothing to shield extremities and sensitive areas from frostbite. This additional risk is one reason that some scientists have suggested that the benefits of WBC outweigh the potential downsides; one mistake could lead to serious bodily harm or even death. While many celebrities swear by its benefits, there isn’t much evidence to show that it elicits a more robust recovery than traditional whole-body immersion techniques like an ice bath. Ice baths have been used throughout history to invigorate the body; all kinds of cultures, from the Vikings to the ancient Chinese, viewed the ice bath or cold plunge as a way to shock the body into working better. However, an ice bath can be deeply uncomfortable as people often have to sit in the water for 20 minutes to get the full effect, which can feel like an unbearably long time. Proponents of WBC cite this as a significant advantage over cold water immersion; with only a couple of minutes in the chamber, it can feel like far less of a process than the ice bath. That convenience does come at a price as often a single cryotherapy session can set you back $60-$100. For celebrities, that price is nothing to balk at, but the average sore runner will see that ice bath or pack as far more tempting.

Is Alkaline Water Healthier than Regular Water?

Short Answer: While alkaline water companies suggest there are a host of health benefits to drinking water with a higher pH level, most scientific institutions say there’s little solid evidence of any benefits to drinking alkaline water over neutral pH water.

Longer Answer: First, alkaline water is water that has a higher pH level than typical drinking water. This process is done either through natural or artificial means, typically by adding minerals like calcium or magnesium through ionization. The past ten years have seen an explosion in the alkaline water market in the U.S, rising from under $100 million in 2013 to over $2 billion in 2019. The total liters of alkaline water consumed globally nearly doubled from 357 million liters to 635 million liters in just five years. This massive increase in popularity prompted research to determine whether alkaline water was worth its premium price. However, most dietitians agree that alkaline water is essentially marketing hype with very little evidence of helping chemotherapy, preventing osteoporosis, or detoxifying the body. Drinking alkaline water also does not drastically alter the pH balance of blood because it is largely neutralized once it hits the very acidic stomach acid. The human body is very good at restoring the pH balance of blood as long as it receives proper nutrients and water, making alkaline water primarily useless. While a small-scale study suggested that alkaline water hydrates athletes better, most medical institutions believe more research is needed to verify and replicate these results. Given the massive growth of the alkaline water industry, it’s clear that alkaline water will continue to populate store shelves for years to come despite the lack of scientific backing.

Does New York water actually make New York bagels better?

Short answer: Yes. New York water is softer than other sources of water, which impacts the gluten in the bagel dough; however, the biggest difference comes from the skill of the people making the bagels. Some New Yorker families have been making bagels for decades.

Long answer: New York City has long claimed to have the greatest bagels in the world along with pizza and other dough based foods. When asked why, they most often point to the tap water of New York City. New York gets the majority of its water from the Catskill Mountains north of the city. These mountains contain very little limestone which adds calcium to water sources. Calcium has a bitter taste that negatively impacts the water quality. After being treated by ultraviolet rays, the water flows down aqueducts and pipes into the homes of New Yorkers. So, does the unique softness of the water impact the making of bagels? Yes...but maybe not as much as New Yorkers want you to believe. Bagels didn’t appear commercially widespread in the U.S. until the 80s, even though they had been made in New York since the 1890s. Most bagels aren’t made with the traditional boiling method, which most New York bagel shops use, because it’s time consuming. However, bagel makers insist that boiling is the only true way to make bagels. It seems that New York water contributes to the uniqueness of NYC bagels, but boiling and skill have far more of an impact.

Does fish oil provide health benefits?

Short answer: Yes. Fish oil is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which are proven to be healthier than other forms of fat; however, someone who regularly eats fish would likely not experience any benefit to taking a fish oil supplement.

Longer answer: Scientists have known about the benefits of fish consumption for decades now after seeing the link between populations with a tradition of heavy fish eating and low rates of heart disease. Diets from the Mediterranean and Japan are weighted heavily toward fish as opposed to common diets from the United States, which tend to have lots of beef and carbohydrates. The FDA now recommends that people eat around 2-3 servings of fish a week, primarily for its association with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. The FDA explicitly mentions DHA and EPA (the active ingredients in fish oil) as the primary cause for benefits from fish. As with most things, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, and an excess of fish oil has been shown to negatively affect the immune system and increase bleeding. In conclusion, if you already eat fish regularly, you would likely see no benefits and possibly some side effects. However, for people who are allergic to fish or don’t like seafood, fish oil supplements high in DHA and EPA can improve their cardiovascular health and eliminate Omega-3 deficiencies.

Do COVID-19 antibodies prevent you from spreading the virus?

Short answer: In the vast majority of COVID-19 cases, an infected person will develop antibodies that are effective at preventing reinfection or transmission; however, there have been cases where a previously infected person has tested positive months later. Bottom line, even if you have antibodies, take the same precautions you would normally take.

Longer answer: The human immune system is extremely complicated and varied, but one of the most important components are disease-specific antibodies. These proteins are formed by white blood cells when foreign antigens are detected. However, since diseases have different cell structures and binding receptors, each antibody has to be tailored for each disease. Therefore, an antibody for one coronavirus most likely isn’t effective against COVID-19. Another factor is the unpredictability of viral genetics; extremely infectious diseases like COVID-19 pass through an inordinate amount of hosts, both human and animal, which gives the virus plenty of opportunities to develop mutations. These mutations could be inconsequential for the immune system response, but a change to the viral receptors could completely reset any immunity. There’s already evidence that the virus has changed significantly since it was first identified in China; it seems that the virus that emerged from Europe is remarkably more infectious. Variants have also popped in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and South Africa with slightly different receptors, making them potentially capable of thwarting vaccines and antibodies. Given COVID-19’s newness, it is wise to continue to take precautions against any infection even if you have antibodies.

Is diet soda just as bad for you as regular soda?

Short answer: If you regularly drink soda, then diet soda is a better option than regular soda; however, adding diet soda to your diet is not beneficial. 

Longer answer: Diet soda began to appear in the late 1950s and early 60s in the U.S. It was initially marketed as a diabetic soda, but the low caloric content appealed to people with a desire to live a healthier lifestyle while still enjoying a classic American beverage. Diet soda is able to maintain a similar taste to regular soda by substituting sweeteners like saccharin, which is so sweet in low concentrations that it doesn’t have any calories. Most sweeteners are hundreds, if not thousands, of times sweeter than sugar, which drastically reduces the amount of artificial sweetener needed to achieve the desired taste. However, sodas with artificial sweeteners still cause tooth decay and other detrimental health effects linked to soda. Furthermore, diet soda is associated with metabolic syndrome, a set of conditions that increase the chance of heart disease or diabetes. It is suggested that this could be the case because diet soda could cause some consumers to falsely assume that it enables them to eat more than they usually do. It has also been suggested that the incredible sweetness of the artificial sweeteners triggers the body to crave more sweet things. Either way, diet soda is better for you than regular soda, but it will not bring any nutritional value to your diet.

Is Nanotechnology a buzzword?

Short answer: Kind of. It’s mostly an exciting rebranding of materials science that started in the 1990s, so more funding and research could be done; however, the increased interest and capital in ‘nanotechnology’ has led to innovations and cross-field collaboration.

Longer answer: Nanotechnology is simply the sciences that study or use the nanoscale, or 1 billionth of a meter. Materials tend to react differently at the nanoscale because the nanoparticles have more surface area, and quantum physics influences them more. Experiments in nanotechnology have been done since the Classical Era when they used fine silver and gold particles to modify glass at the nanoscale and produce incredible color changes. Medieval stained glass makers did the same thing. However, modern nanotechnology got its true start in 1981 with the invention of a microscope that was capable of viewing an atom. For reference, a hydrogen atom is about 10 nanometers wide. The ability to observe the nanoscale excited engineers and scientists who envisioned nanotechnology as the key to greatly advancing a number of fields like medicine, aerospace, or chemistry. For instance, the British government has used a nano-fuel additive in its public buses, which has increased fuel efficiency and reduced costs. Nanotechnology has also been used to optimize the process of desalination by adding tiny electrodes to decrease the energy cost of separating the salt and water. While these applications are useful, there was a level of hype around nanotechnology that many feel has not yet been fulfilled. However, given the steady increase in funding for nanotechnology, it is likely that it will continue to play a larger role in society.

Does Lipozene work?

Short answer: Lipozene is made from fiber, which has been correlated with lower body weight; however, the supplement won’t singlehandedly cause mass weight loss. If taken in conjunction with diet and exercise, it will potentially be beneficial. 

Longer answer: Lipozene is made from the fiber, glucomannan, of the konjac plant. Glucomannan is known for its powerful absorption properties; it is said that a single capsule can turn a glass of water into gel. Fiber are molecules that are not broken down by the enzymes in our mouths and stomachs; they are transported to the colon where they are excreted. The theory behind Lipozene is that a highly absorbent fiber would induce a feeling of fullness for an extended period of time, hopefully deterring any desire to consume more food. However, multiple studies have shown that the relationship between fiber and weight loss isn’t as clear cut. Oftentimes the studies did not produce statistically significant results that showed a clear connection between fiber intake and food intake. This suggests that fiber is important for digestive and physical health, but it is not a miracle pill that provides an immediate solution to a weight problem. A balanced diet and plenty of exercise are the most straightforward ways to shed pounds and live a healthy life.

Does Prevagen work?

Short answer: There is no solid evidence to back the claims behind Prevagen. Like most supplements, there is no need to provide FDA-approved studies in order to make general claims.

Longer answer: The active ingredient in Prevagen is apoaequorin, a calcium binding protein found in jellyfish. Quincy Bioscience, the manufacturer of Prevagen, claims that “The unique ingredient in Prevagen, apoaequorin...has been clinically shown to be safe and improve memory and support brain function.” They cite a self-sponsored study as the basis for their claims, but it is not peer-reviewed. Many other scientists view the study as biased and flawed. The Federal Trade Commission took action against Quincy Bioscience, stating that “Defendants have committed acts and practices that constitute repeated and persistent fraudulent and illegal conduct and false advertising in violation of NY GBL §§ 349 and 350, including misrepresenting, directly or indirectly, expressly or by implication, that Prevagen improves memory; Prevagen is clinically shown to improve memory...” There are serious questions about how trustworthy Quincy Bioscience is, and given the lack of empirical proof, it is unlikely that it significantly improves brain function.

Hangover cures

A hangover is a series of symptoms that occur in the morning typically following a night of heavy drinking. A hangover usually consists of nausea, headaches, body aches, vomiting, and general confusion. Hangovers have been a part of the human experience since the first fermentation of alcohol over 10,000 years ago in the Chinese river valley civilization. Indeed, there are numerous writings from the Classical era that detailed the attempts by Greeks and Romans to cure the bothersome post-libation ailment. However, they were ultimately unsuccessful, and thus, we must look to modernity to provide us with bless’d relief. 

Does a big breakfast cure a hangover?

Short answer: A big breakfast probably won’t cure a hangover, but it most likely help.

Longer answer: A big breakfast can help restore blood sugars to their original levels after being drained by heavy drinking. Eggs are especially important for restoring antioxidants like glutathione because alcohol can greatly deplete beneficial compounds. If the hangover is mild, it is likely that a big hearty breakfast will improve your condition; however, should your stomach be averse to ingestion of any food, a big breakfast will certainly not provide relief.

Does drinking water prevent or cure a hangover?

Short answer: Drinking water the night before or the morning of the hangover does not cure a hangover. However, drinking enough water prevents you from being subjected to dehydration and a hangover, which can make it much more manageable.

Longer answer: Hangover symptoms often overlap with those of dehydration, which makes it difficult to determine if someone is suffering from one or both. Alcohol causes dehydration by increasing urine production, making it important to drink water to counteract those effects. A Dutch study examined a large group of college students and determined that drinking water before bed would not lessen the severity of a hangover. Their conclusion was that only drinking less alcohol would prevent a hangover.

Does ‘hair of the dog’ reduce a hangover?

Short answer: Drinking the morning after does not entirely prevent a hangover. Often it just delays the inevitable while encouraging dangerous habits. 

Longer answer: Hangover symptoms typically start to set in when the alcohol blood content reaches zero once more. All alcoholic beverages contain small amounts of methanol, a toxic alcohol that is metabolized into formaldehyde, which could be responsible for more severe hangovers. A common treatment for methanol poisoning is to counteract it with bicarbonate and ethanol, or ingestible alcohol. It is possible that drinking more ethanol can reduce the level of methanol and prevent the formation of formaldehyde. Consuming ethanol also temporarily causes an endorphin boost, which can help alleviate symptoms; however, eventually the endorphin rush will end and the hangover will return.

Is the flu shot worth it?

Short answer: Yes. While not always completely effective at preventing infection, studies have shown that exposing your immune system to the influenza virus can reduce the severity of the illness.

Longer answer: Influenza viruses are incredibly adept at developing new strains and mutations over a very short period of time. Other viruses like measles have stable genomes, which prevent it from mutating significantly. Therefore, a vaccine for measles will still be effective decades later because the immune system knows exactly how to counteract the virions. Influenza virus vaccines are composed of multiple strains of influenza, based on predictions of what strains will hit the country. It is difficult to determine exactly what strain will be predominant, especially months in advance, so often the flu vaccine doesn’t entirely match the makeup of the predominant virus. However, just introducing your immune system to influenza annually trains your immune system to recognize and combat microbial invaders.

Is stem cell research useful?

Short answer: Yes. Stem cell research has enabled scientists to have a better understanding of cell functions, and it has led to breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer, heart problems, and the side-effects of chemotherapy.

Longer answer: Stem cells, since their discovery in the early 80’s, have been thought to be the key to treating many conditions and diseases that have been very difficult or impossible to cure. Stem cells are the precursor cells to the specialized that make up the human body; their ability to differentiate into nearly any cell makes them a powerful and flexible tool. However, there have been some criticism about the collection of embryonic stem cells, as well as how long the benefits of stem cell research have taken to emerge. One of the most straightforward ways to collect stem cells is by taking them from the developing cells of an early fetus. The cell development stages following fertilization occur almost entirely with stem cells. These cells can then be added to damaged or diseased tissue, alleviating or restoring it. However, there have been difficulties in controlling stem cells and triggering the right pathways to the intended specialized cell. Scientists still don’t understand all the mechanisms and subtleties that cause specific specialized cells; it’s also difficult to get the human immune system and body to accept foreign cells so late in development. Bottom line, stem cell research hasn’t progressed as neatly or quickly as one would like, but the research has been beneficial, with treatments and therapies on the horizon.

Do Power Balance bracelets work?

Short answer: No, Power Balance bracelets do not work. There is no measurable benefit from them, and any anecdotal evidence is a result of the placebo effect.

Longer answer: Power bracelets came into style a number of years ago with promises of better endurance and strength. Many people bought them and reported an increase in their energy and flexibility. Power Balance bracelets are made with two holograms on each side of the bracelet. These “resonate with and respond to the natural energy field of the body,” which gives the wearer the purported benefits. However, a study using Division III athletes found that “under the testing conditions used in the current study, there were no significant performance benefits when wearing the Power Balance® bracelet compared to the placebo bracelet.” Furthermore, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ordered Power Balance to take down advertising for their bracelets, which promised benefits that had not been proven. There has been a significant decline in the prominence of Power Balance bracelets in media, professional athletics, and common consumer use, largely due to this lack of evidence and clear benefits.

What is CBD good for?

CBD

CBD or Cannabidiol is a chemical compound derived from cannabis; it is one of 113 compounds identified in the cannabis plant. CBD has been promoted as a cure for everything from anxiety to cancer. Salons, health stores, and even gas stations carry CBD products with fantastical claims. It has risen to prominence as marijuana has gradually been legalized across the United States. However, CBD was formally legalized across the nation with the passing and signing of the 2018 Farm bill, which legalized the cultivation of hemp.

Does CBD cure cancer?

Short answer: No. There is no evidence that CBD cures cancer.

(slightly) Longer answer: There are limited studies with low quality evidence that show CBD can alleviate some of the symptoms of chemotherapy, but they haven’t been done on scale or with proper clinical procedures.

Does CBD help with anxiety?

Short answer: There’s not enough evidence to make a definitive statement, but preliminary studies indicate that CBD could be beneficial to people with generalized anxiety and PTSD.

Longer answer: There have been several animal studies that have shown CBD as effective at reducing stress levels in rats. There have also been several small scale studies that showed CBD could be effective for treating social anxiety. One such study used public speaking as a way to test whether CBD helped in highly stressful circumstances.   

Does CBD cream work for pain relief?

Short answer: Still unclear. Similar to its effects on anxiety, CBD cream has shown promising results for treating joint pain in small-scale and animal studies; however, these results have not been replicated in large-scale clinical studies.

Longer answer: Researchers at Zynerba Pharmaceuticals conducted a 12 week study with 320 patients to determine whether cbd cream would reduce pain in patients with osteoporosis. The study produced encouraging results that suggested that CBD cream is capable of of soothing pain resulting from osteoporosis.

Does CBD help treat Epilepsy?

Short answer: Yes. The CBD-derived drug, Epidiolex, has been shown to be effective at treating certain childhood epileptic syndromes

Longer answer: CBD has been shown in numerous animal studies that it can reduce or even eliminate seizures, but the scientific community cautions that anecdotal evidence and animal studies don’t ensure its effectiveness. However, the FDA has approved Epidiolex, a drug used to treat epilepsy, which contains CBD. This suggests that CBD does have powerful anti-epileptic properties.

Are face masks effective at reducing COVID-19 spread?

Short answer: Yes, masks are effective if worn properly and hands are kept properly sanitized. Widespread masking also prevents asymptomatic people from spreading the virus. Masks have the ancillary benefit of showing solidarity, reducing stigma, and showing a willingness to follow health guidelines.

Longer answer: Since the COVID-19 is such a new virus, there hasn’t been enough time to conduct extensive studies on its capacity for replication, transmission, and survivability. However, there have been many studies on the use of face masks for other viruses like influenza, rhinoviruses, and other coronaviruses. These studies have found that face masks are quite effective at reducing the spread of infectious respiratory droplets, which is the primary way COVID-19 spreads. According to the CDC, COVID-19 is capable of being spread by asymptomatic carriers, which means that people who feel healthy could be spreading it. This makes masking even more important for preventing the spread of COVID-19. While masks do offer some protection from contracting the virus yourself, the primary use of a mask is to prevent asymptomatic and symptomatic people from spreading the virus through the population. Countries that experienced the Sars outbreak in 2003 have been far more effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19 partially because mask wearing became part of the culture. With everyone wearing some degree of protection, it makes it much harder for the virus to keep finding hosts.

Are humans the driving force behind climate change?

Short answer: Yes, humans are the driving force behind the warming of the climate. 

Longer answer: Since the dawn of the Industrial age, humans have drastically ramped up the number of activities that produce greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are particles in the atmosphere that absorb energy and hinder the passage of energy from the atmosphere to space. The greenhouse effect is responsible for keeping Earth habitable for life because without it, the Earth would be barren and lifeless. However, as more greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere, the harder it is for energy to escape. That energy is instead redirected back to Earth, warming the surface and the oceans. A 2015 study confirms the link between human activity and warmer climates: “We find that almost two-thirds of the impacts related to atmospheric and ocean temperature can be confidently attributed to anthropogenic forcing.” Furthermore, a 2013 study concluded that, “It is extremely likely that more than half of the observed increase in global average surface temperature from 1951 to 2010 was caused by the anthropogenic increase in greenhouse gas concentrations and other anthropogenic forcings together.” In all, humans are largely responsible for the warming of the climate.

Does Creatine Really Make You Stronger?

Short Answer:

Yes, there is strong evidence that creatine will increase power and strength by 5-15% and sprint performance by 1-5%.

Longer answer:

Many years ago, my oldest son started playing football in high school. He was small for football, so he started taking a lot of supplements and lifting weights. One of those supplements was creatine and I was worried because I had never heard of it and it was purporting to make you stronger. I’m old school and thought only lifting weights and steroids would make you stronger. I really didn’t want my son taking unknown supplements, nor did I want him to rely on any “get strong quick” scams (of which there are many).

I started to research creatine and was surprised to learn that it actually worked and it worked really well. Creatine has been studied extensively with over 500 research studies. I prefer “meta-analysis” studies because they will compile the results of previous studies into a consolidated analysis. Any one study could be flawed or show abnormal results, however with meta-analysis you can clearly see the consensus results. All studies include control groups receiving a placebo - don’t trust any study without a control group and never, ever trust anecdotes”.

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1. Effects of creatine supplementation on performance and training adaptations.

Consumer Guide to Research

Advertisers too often make extraordinary claims about their product without providing any proof. They may point to “research” from a questionable group. Or, they may have testimonials (anecdotes) from celebrities or sports figures claiming how the product helped them become stronger/more beautiful/smarter. Don’t believe any if. If an advertiser can’t provide evidence of their claims is because their product most likely does not work.

The only research you should believe are controlled studies where the controlled group receives a placebo (something that has no effect, but the person doesn’t know if they got the real substance or a fake one). This research should be peer reviewed which is where other scientists expert in the area will review the study’s methodology and results. And finally, the research should be published in a legitimate research publication and not by some unknown laboratory working in Russia.

When my twin sister was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer, I spent a lot of time looking for a cure to save her life. I was really disappointed to learn that one of the “miracle cancer drugs”, Avastin, was not a cure - studies showed that it only extended life by about 3 months, but at a tremendous cost. As our search for a cure became more desperate, people were suggesting miracle supplements and treatments they claimed were suppressed by evil Pharma. However, none of them could show any research supporting their claims. If they had found a miracle cure, contrary to popular belief, it would have been researched extensively.

Another trick advertisers use is to create a brand around a proven, generic active ingredient. We’ve all seen the celebrities promoting Proactiv and their claims are supported by research. However, the active ingredients they use, like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, are available in most legitimate (and more often lower priced) products. Ignore the brand and focus on the efficacy of the active ingredients - does the active ingredient been proven to be effective?