The Blended Science Podcast

The Blended Science Podcast

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The Blended Science Podcast episodes

  • Living with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus | Cherrisse Naidoo

    This episode is about Cherrisse Naidoo's journey with type 1 diabetes mellitus.  Her story is impressive, tune in and get some more insight. Below  are chapters for your convenience:

    00:00 - Introduction
    02:28 - Diagnosis
    04:31 - Life before diagnosis
    05:42 - Childhood challenges
    06:10 - Difficult beginning
    08:49 - Listen to your body
    10:00 - Low glycaemic index (GI)
    12:36 - Strict diet from mom
    14:09 - Awareness, family and friends
    15:08 - C-Peptide
    17: 09 - HBA1c
    17: 22 - Fear of taking insulin
    17:58 - Current dietary approach
    20:03 - Breakfast
    20:36 -Message to people living with diabetes
    24:15 - Fashion line (Donna Interna Fashions)
    26:26  - Gratitude
    29:16 - Outro

    Follow Chirrisse using the link below:
    https://web.facebook.com/DonnaInterna 

    Reference paper

    Marton, L. T., Pescinini-e-Salzedas, L. M., Camargo, M. E. C., Barbalho, S. M., Haber, J. F. dos S., Sinatora, R. V., Detregiachi, C. R. P., Girio, R. J. S., Buchaim, D. V., & Cincotto dos Santos Bueno, P. (2021). The Effects of Curcumin on Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 12. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2021.669448







     

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    Email: [email protected] 

    31 min
  • Living with Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction (CIPO) | Nonto Khanyile

    This interview was about Nonto Khanyile , who lives with a chronic illness (CIPO).  Her journey to diagnosis is unique and her resilience is amazing.  Here is a story about science and hope.   Please see time stamps below for your convenience. 

    00:00 Guest Introduction
    3:10 - Life Before CIPO
    4:48 - Misdiagnosis and diagnosis with CIPO  story 
    12:10 - Medications to improve motility, diet and feeding tubes 
    18:17 - Knowing more about her condition and sepsis
    19:08 - Urinary tract infection (UTI) and sepsis 
    20:15 - Awareness about CIPO
    21:33 Pain management and motility  challenges 
    25:28 - Leaving work due to CIPO and medical boarding 
    30:07 - Prayer and support 
    34:36 Gratitude 
    38:44 Outro

    Follow Nonto on socials :
    1. Instagram: living_with_cipo 
    2. Tik tok: nontokhanyile 
    3. Youtube: Nonto Khanyile 

    Chat to us  @ [email protected]


    Chat with us on the following.

    Twitter https://twitter.com/nkazi_dr
    Email: [email protected] 

    40 min
  • Microplastics: Impact on the environment and human health | Khwezi (PhD Candidate) and Nkazi (PhD)

    Nkazi and Khwezi discuss a very timely topic on how microplastics impact the environment which in turn affects human health.  Please see the timestamps below for your convenience:

    00:00 Intro
    01:11 What are microplastics?
    03:32  Why is plastic is everywhere 
    04:40 Microplastics in human samples, 
    07:20 Possible research project on the Mediterranean Diet? 
    09:15 Obesogenic effects of microplastics and plastic additives. a) peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), b) oxidative stress and c) microbiome and Gut Dysbiosis. (1, 2) 14:50 Practical steps to limit the exposure
    18:49 Lunch box and container alternatives 
    21:37 Research Gaps and Basic science 
    24:20 Outro 

     References 

    1.         Kannan K, Vimalkumar K. A Review of Human Exposure to Microplastics and Insights Into Microplastics as Obesogens. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021;12:724989.

    2.         Yee MS, Hii LW, Looi CK, et al. Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Human Health. Nanomaterials (Basel). 2021;11(2).



     

    25 min
  • Microplastics: Impact on the environment and human health | Khwezi (PhD Candidate) and Nkazi (PhD)

    Nkazi and Khwezi discuss a very timely topic on how microplastics impact the environment which in turn affects human health.  Please see the timestamps below for your convenience:

    00:00 Intro
    01:11 What are microplastics?
    03:32  Why is plastic is everywhere 
    04:40 Microplastics in human samples, 
    07:20 Possible research project on the Mediterranean Diet? 
    09:15 Obesogenic effects of microplastics and plastic additives. a) peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), b) oxidative stress and c) microbiome and Gut Dysbiosis. (1, 2) 14:50 Practical steps to limit the exposure
    18:49 Lunch box and container alternatives 
    21:37 Research Gaps and Basic science 
    24:20 Outro 

     References 

    1.         Kannan K, Vimalkumar K. A Review of Human Exposure to Microplastics and Insights Into Microplastics as Obesogens. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021;12:724989.

    2.         Yee MS, Hii LW, Looi CK, et al. Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Human Health. Nanomaterials (Basel). 2021;11(2).



     

    Chat with us on the following.

    Twitter https://twitter.com/nkazi_dr
    Email: [email protected]

    25 min
  • Pain and Pleasure Balance with Khwezi (PhD candidate) and Nkazi (PhD)

    In this Episode, Khwezi and Nkazi look at the pleasure and pain balance as inspired by the Book " Dopamine nation". Tune in and be inspired to pursue pain for pleasure. For your convenience please see the timestamps and references below.

    0:00 - Introduction  

    02:04 - Wisdom in pursuing pain pursuing 

     04:32 - Physical exercise as a stressor 

     06:50 - Physical exercise and addictions 

     10:13 - Community engagement and sports 

     10:36 - Exercise, mood, and anxiety 

     11:30 - Meaning of happiness 

     12:14 -Temperature-induced pain 

     16:33 - Homeostatic mechanisms 

     20:55 - Pursuing pain through exposure therapy 

     25:35 - Man’s search for Meaning—Tragic optimism 

     28: 45 - Closing remarks 

     29:41- Outro 


    References

    1.         Laukkanen JA, Laukkanen T, Kunutsor SK. Cardiovascular and Other Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing: A Review of the Evidence. Mayo Clin Proc. 2018;93(8):1111-21.

    2.         Gravel H, Coombs GB, Behzadi P, et al. Acute effect of Finnish sauna bathing on brachial artery flow-mediated dilation and reactive hyperemia in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Physiol Rep. 2019;7(13):e14166.

    3.         Lembke A. Dopamine nation: Finding balance in the age of indulgence: Penguin; 2021.

    4.         Frankl VE. Man's search for meaning: Simon and Schuster; 1985.

    Chat with us on the following.

    Twitter https://twitter.com/nkazi_dr
    Email: [email protected] 

    31 min
  • Self-Binding with Khwezi (PhD candidate) and Nkazi (PhD)

    Nkazi and Khwezi explore the importance of self-binding which is an interesting way to control addictions. Below are the timestamps for your convenience, please enjoy.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    00:00 Introduction and welcome

    1:23 Feedback from the previous episode

    1:38 Insight following 30 days without social media

    5:00 Guilt and social media “re-use”

    7:02 steward of time and stealing company time

    8:00 Self-binding, use of filters to limit internet use

    11:39 addicted to destruction

    13:49 Khwezi’s view on self-binding

    15:43 Self-binding as a two-edged sword

    18:36 Accountability

    19:50 Looking ahead (upcoming episode)

    20:59 Outro and closure

    Recommended apps (no affiliations)

    1. Block site (chrome and explore extension)

    2. Self-control (chrome and firefox)

    3. Forest 

    Reference

    1. Anna Lembke. Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence. 

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    Twitter https://twitter.com/nkazi_dr
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    22 min
  • Dopamine fasting with Khwezi (PhD candidate) and Dr Nkazi Mkhwanazi

    This episode is about "Dopamine fasting". At the same time, this concept may not be widely accepted in the scientific community; we think about how useful it is to abstain from our "drugs of choice". We trust this motivates you to control your life and think about prioritising your goals. "Drug of choice" refers to anything that we can potentially be addicted to e.g. social media, gaming etc. 

    00:00 Introduction

    00:44 Guest Introduction

    01:16 Dopamine Nation (Dopamine Fasting)

    03:25 Insight

    03:50 D.O.P.A.M.I.N.E used as an acronym

    04:35 D. Gathering Data

    07:03 O. Objectives-How does your drug of choice help you?

    11:11 P. Problems – that comes with addiction

    14:00 Pain and pleasure balance

    18:35 A. Abstaining from the drug of choice

    21:15 M. Mindfulness

    22:08 I. Insight

    23:30. Dopamine fasting critiques

    25:36 N. Next step [what to do after the fasting]

    27:18 E. Experimenting

    29:35 Support groups and truth-telling

    30:40 How to get the book if you are a South African

    31:42 Gratitude

    32:47 Outro

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    Twitter https://twitter.com/nkazi_dr
    Email: [email protected] 

    34 min
  • The Science of Addiction with A Neuroscientist, Dr Oluwole.

    Dr Oluwole, a medical doctor and a neuroscientist discusses some fundamental science on addiction and shares his journey from medicine into a career in research. The timelines for our conversation is below for your convenience. 

    00:00 Introduction

    00:52 Guest Introduction

    1:46 Motivation to Pursue a Career in Neuroscience

    06:41 Transition from Medicine to Research

    08:55 Addiction

    09:42 Definition of addiction

    10:43 Why Study addiction?

    12:45 The science of Addiction (Dopamine)

    15:06 Addiction and the reasoning ability

    16:06 Empathy

    17:35 Drugs, alcohol vs internet, food, sex, and gambling addiction

    24:47 Does addiction run in the family?  Genetic and environmental factors.

    29:20 Can treatment completely restore brain function? [re-wire the brain]

    31:23 Relapse

    38:38 The importance of family support

    39:14 Gratitude

    41:26 Outro- Happy Holidays

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    Twitter https://twitter.com/nkazi_dr
    Email: [email protected] 

    44 min
  • Weight Loss Strategies with A Nutrition Consultant, Dr Lebo.

    Dr Lebo, a Nutrition Consultant, shares her expert knowledge and practices regarding weight loss.  She additionally shares valuable lessons on prioritizing clients and giving the best treatment. This episode comes at a crucial time when obesity and metabolic disorders are rising; let us learn from the best and not wait for January to start losing weight.

    Dr Lebo is reachable at [email protected] or on her Facebook page @Dr Lebo. 

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    47 min
  • Eat more Vegetables and Fruit with a Dietitian, Dr L Govender

    In this episode, Dr Laurencia Govender unpacks the importance of eating vegetables and fruits for better health. She also gives practical tips that can be incorporated daily. Be inspired by her story and enjoy. The timestamps are shown below for your convenience:

    0:00 - Introduction of the guest

    2:30 - Dr Govender’s motivation to study Dietetics

    04:54 – National Nutrition week (eat more vegetables and fruits)

    07:56 – Are fruits pro-obesity or anti-obesity?

    13:23 – The benefits of vegetables and fruits

    15:53 – Practicality of incorporating vegetables and fruits

    22:00 – Tips on cooking vegetables

    23:41 – Tips on preparing healthy snacks

    26:24 – Prep your veggies on Sundays

    27:22-Importance of Gratitude

    30:14-For more details on the Nutrition week, please visit: http://www.nutritionweek.co.za/

    32:16-Outro

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    Chat with us on the following.

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    Email: [email protected] 

    34 min

About The Blended Science Podcast

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We explore how scientific knowledge can help solve significant problems that humanity grapples with daily.