Any of us on the neurodiverse spectrum ? This rings true for one of my good friends ...

https://theconversation.com/autistic-people-experience-loneliness-far-more-acutely-than-neurotypical-people-new-research-216471

“I'm Trying to Reach Out, I'm Trying to Find My People”: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of the Link Between Sensory Differences, Loneliness, and Mental Health in Autistic and Nonautistic Adults

Seeing More Than Human: Autism and Anthropomorphic Theory of Mind

It took me a long time to figure out that I see things about animals other people don’t. And it wasn’t until I was in my forties that I finally realized I had one big advantage in managing animals: being autistic. Autism made school and social life hard, but it made animals easy.

Anthropomorphism is the ascription of human features to animals - we reflexively attempt to make sense of behavior by tracing it back to a particular goal or purpose. Neurodiverse people display elevated affinity for anthropomorphism.

https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2021.554875

Dr Greger and his team at NutritionFacts.org work through the latest in peer-reviewed nutrition & health research, presenting the results in a clear way to empower individuals to make improved dietary choices for themselves and their families. Cut through the deluge of confusing and conflicting nutritional advice!

Why You Should Care About Nutrition - and - Taking Personal Responsibility For Your Health

NutritionFacts.org: (1) The Story - (2) The Philosophy - (3) Behind the scenes

Dr Greger's Video Lecture Series

Start here:

• How Not to Die (2016) - or the 17 min version - Diet to Prevent & Reverse Disease

And then if you want more :

• Uprooting the Leading Causes of Death (2012) - Diet to prevent & reverse the top 15 killers.
• More than an Apple a Day (2013) - Preventing the most common diseases.
• From Table to Able (2014) - Combating Disabling Diseases with Food.
• Food as Medicine (2015) - Preventing & Treating the Most Dreaded Diseases with Diet.
• 2016 - How Not to Die (above)
• How Not To Diet (2019) - Evidence-Based Weight Loss

More?

• How Not to Die from Heart Disease
• How Not to Die from Cancer
• How Not to Die from Diabetes
• How Not to Die from Kidney Disease
• How Not to Die from High Blood Pressure
• What Is the Healthiest Diet?
• How Not to Die: An Animated Summary
• Dining by Traffic Light: Green Is for Go, Red Is for Stop
• Greger’s Daily Dozen Checklist
• What Are the Best Foods?

 Then ...

• Dr Greger's Live Q&A sessions
• Dr Greger's Podcasts
• Browse the NutritionFacts blog
• Evidence-Based Eating Guide (free e-book)
• Look up specific foods and ailments at NutritionFacts comprehensive A to Z index

added in high levels to processed foods, widely used in sugar-replacement and reduced sugar products. Some people have higher-than-normal levels of erythritol in their blood, which might be leading to an increased risk of blood clots.

Looking at 4,000+ people (US + EU) who were undergoing elective cardiac evaluation, researchers found that those with greater erythritol levels in their blood had a higher chance of experiencing adverse cardiac events ... (and) increased blood clot formation.

In fact, it's best to limit or eliminate all artificial sweeteners.

The merits and shortcomings of alternative sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose, stevia and saccharin, have been debated for years ... linked to higher calorie consumption and higher blood sugar levels ... (and) increased (risk of) death from circulatory disease.

• Strokes: A study following 81000 women for 12 years found a marked increase in stroke risk with artificial sweeteners (JAMA, 2019;321(16):1554-1555).
• Cancer: High consumers of artificial sweeteners were found to be at a 13% increased risk for developing obesity-related cancers, including colorectal, stomach, liver, mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophageal, ovarian, endometrial, and prostate cancers (PLoS Med, 2022 Mar 24;19(3):e1003950.
• Diabetes: Using artificial sweeteners was associated with increased risk for obesity and diabetes (Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, Feb 23, 2017; Brit J of Nutrit, Sept 2014;112(5):725-734), even in people who were not overweight (BMJ, July 21, 2015).

How Artificial Sweeteners May Increase Risk for Diabetes and Weight Gain
• Artificial sweeteners may increase risk for diabetes and weight gain by changing the bacteria in your colon (Nature, Oct 9, 2014;514(7521):181-6; Cell Metab, Nov 4, 2014;20(5):701-3). One week of consuming artificial sweeteners changed the gut bacteria of apparently healthy humans to cause higher blood sugar levels after taking sugared foods and drinks. Obese people who have taken aspartame or saccharin within 24 hours, have much higher blood sugar rises after taking sugar than those who do not use these artificial sweeteners (Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, May 24, 2016). High blood sugar levels call out more insulin and high insulin levels increase weight gain and case inflammation to increase diabetes risk.

• Artificial sweeteners light up the brain's pleasure centers, promoting calorie consumption; but as they are calorie-free, you would seek more of other foods (Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, July 10, 2013).

Sugared Drinks Are Even More Harmful
It is well established that taking in too much sugar, particularly in sugar-sweetened beverages, is associated with weight gain, obesity, type II diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease (JAMA Intern Med, 2014;174(4):516-524). Sugar in liquid form raises blood sugar more quickly than any other type of food. One can of sugar-sweetened soda contains 25 to 50 grams of sugar, the recommended upper limit for sugar for an entire day. Because of their high sugar content and lack of fiber, fruit juices and fruit drinks are just as unhealthful as sodas.

In 2021, >9000 people died as a result of alcohol (+7% from 2020).

Most (78%) died from liver disease; other deaths were due to “mental and behavioural disorders” and “accidental poisoning”.

Just a few days ago, I got the news that an ex-work colleague had died from drink-related issues. ? He was only 60, a great guy, and such good company, quick-witted, wise-cracking, generous. I mostly saw him at work (sober), and don't know how long it took the demon drink to take him.

Then I got to thinking ... I don't know a huge amount of people, but I now personally know 4 people that have died from booze.

The first was my mate's dad, stressful middle-management, liquid lunches. Within a year of being laid-off, he went from fighting fit to wheelchair-bound, before a long, slow decline.

The second was a successful international businessman with everything to live for. Been to rehab several times. Left wife and young kids.

The third was early 40s, married a few years, who dabbled in all sorts at weekends, but it was the drink that got him.

Drink responsibly, folks, and don't be afraid to seek help.

https://theconversation.com/alcohol-deaths-in-the-uk-rose-to-record-level-in-2021-194790

https://theconversation.com/lifting-weights-once-a-week-linked-to-reduced-risk-of-premature-death-new-study-191462

>

11 Jul 2020 16:40 by @boink

Continuing my health kick, I started this 31 day challenge on the 1st of July (as well as the Photo-a-Day one) and it's the most exercise I've done in years.


Click to view full size

Can't remember the last time I managed over 20 press ups in one go and I was never good at planks, but it goes well with the hour long walks I try and do every day (which do not seem to get any easier or faster).

Thankfully, mine was actually quite mild, but still pretty yucky.

I developed a small rash on my shoulder that I thought was a heat rash due to my rucsac (same place).
After a couple of days of calamine and prickly heat powder, no better, so went to the docs, who took one look and knew immediately what it was.
Prescribed antivirals (cos of early diagnosis) and an ointment.

⚠️ Look out for the SIGNS of SHINGLES

> At first, the rash was not painful or itchy at all, and looked like any other rash.
> Over 1 week, the rash became tingly (like mild sunburn), then prickly and uncomfortable (rather than actually painful) - a bit like nettle stings or insect bites.
> Then the rash became blistered, which looked pretty horrible, almost like a patchy burn injury. The blisters developed and subsided very slowly over 15 days.
> The rash spread slowly, from about a half-hand in size, to about 6 hands, across my shoulder front & back.
> I was having occasional nerve pain down my arm (like RSI from too much PC time) but this got worse - all the way from my scalp to my fingertip, I got tingles  and occasional shooting pains. Thankfully, for me Panadol was enough, and worked well.
> 25 days since the rash first appeared, it's now almost invisible (just a few dark red marks) and the nerve pains have gone. The skin still feels a bit weird, tingly, itchy, again like recovering sunburn or a large area of nettle sting from 2 days ago.

ℹ️ FACTS about SHINGLES

- Shingles is caused by the dormant chicken pox virus in your nerves, being reactivated.
- Triggered by stress (lowered immune system) - physical stress for me - a long 21hr day, travelling in heat (and after having mild covid again).
- Possible genetic link (2 of my grandparents had it , and quite badly).
- Increased chance of development after COVID.
- 1 in 3 adults will develop it, usually aged 50+.
- Chances of recurrence are the same, 1 in 3.
- You can't pass on shingles, but you can pass on chickenpox (to anyone that's not had it).

The prostate is a male gland of the reproductive system, roughly the size and shape of a walnut, it wraps around the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder). A high proportion of men from middle-age have urinary problems associated with an enlarged prostate, but enlargement is not cancer, nor does it increase one’s chances of developing prostate cancer.

The prostate gland continues to grow during most of a man’s life, with accelerated growth periods during adolescence and from around age 50. Prostate enlargement usually causes problems only later in life, as it compresses the urethra more tightly, impeding urination – some symptoms will affect over 50% of men in their 60s, and 90% aged 70+. Treatment seeks to reduce the symptoms, as the condition cannot be cured.

Excellent 3D graphics video (all cgi but likely nsfw) on the NHS site.

Guys: how's your prostate doing?

Anyone had the digital probe? I had my only one about a decade ago on BUPA - I don't think the female doctor had ever done it before ... she was more embarrassed than I was, and she seemed to rummage around for a while! (And with the amount of lube she used, 2 hours later I had to go to the loo just to fart !)

I don't think they do that anymore ? As the PSA bloodtest works well as a prostate cancer screen. I've also had an ultrasound, like they perform for pregnant women - it's weird to see your insides onscreen! My prostate is a normal size/volume.

I'm (almost) 53 now, and my whole body started falling apart, just after I passed 50! Anyone else having prostate troubles yet? Tests? Symptoms?

The prostate is likely to enlarge as we get older and can squash the urethra and push against the bladder -
- getting up in the night to pee (I don't need to do this yet, thankfully).
- narrow urine stream (that's me) - very little online about this.
- bladder infection (that's me, too, and what prompted the ultrasound).
- bloody semen - I had this too - surprising and rather worrying! (Brown streaks for 2 weeks, not actual bright red blood). But thankfully, likely caused by a bad case of the flu. It's surprisingly common, but often goes unnoticed (obviously) and unreported (understandably). Interesting recent discussion about this here (first letter). Again, there's not much online about this.

• The normal prostate gland measures 3×3×5cm (volume 25ml) .
• Total prostate volume (TPV) increases for each age group : 40–49 years +5ml / 70–80 years +11ml.

Some good info at my fave science-based nutrition site, eg:

• Some Prostates Are Larger Than Others - Benign prostatic hyperplasia affects 80% of older men, but appears to be a consequence of our diet.
• Prostate vs. Plants - avoid: refined grains, eggs, poultry, dairy, fried foods, fat // Eat: tomatoes, legumes (beans, peas, lentils, soy), garlic + onions, ground flax, a diet high in antioxidants/anti-inflammatories.

Another good site for the latest science is Dr Mirkin, eg:

• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia - the diagnostic steps your GP will take.
• Healthful Lifestyle Reduces Risk of Prostate Cancer - and - Foods to Reduce (Prostate) Cancer Risk
• Prostate Biopsy Not So Benign
• Night-Time Urination - possible causes (eg: excess salt) and treatments you can try.

BBC Radio 4 podcast - Prostate Cancer. One in eight men in the UK get prostate cancer, but deciding who needs treatment is unclear. Also a useful discussion on prostate biopsies - what type to get, how effective they are, and the risks involved. *Essential listening*