It might not seem like it, but we humans are electrical beings. We rely on electrical impulses to stay alive.

So can we rely on electrical impulses … to get swole?

Norman and Tegan investigate the various claims surrounding electrical muscle stimulation.

References 

• Functional Electrical Stimulation and Spinal Cord Injury
• Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction on Quadriceps Strength, Function, and Patient-Oriented Outcomes : A Systematic Review
• Feasibility and efficacy of progressive electrostimulation strength training for competitive tennis players
• Effects of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation on the Energy-Restriction-Induced Reduction of Muscle Mass During Intended Weight Loss

The Mediterranean diet is the most well studied dietary pattern out there. So – what is it?

It’s more than just vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and sparing consumption of meat.

Norman and Tegan take us through ALL the elements that make up this way of eating, which has been attributed to a myriad of health benefits.

References

• Scientific evidence supporting the newly developed one-health labeling tool “Med-Index”
• Mediterranean diet and health outcomes: a systematic meta-review
• Perspective: Beyond the Mediterranean Diet—Exploring Latin American, Asian, and African Heritage Diets as Cultural Models of Healthy Eating

In some parts of the world sauna bathing is a daily activity.

In Finland, it would even be rude to deny an invitation to get hot and sweaty with a business associate.

As well as being culturally significant, the sauna has many touted health benefits – from protecting against cardiovascular disease, to fending off cognitive decline.

Norman and Tegan sort through the evidence.

References

• The multifaceted benefits of passive heat therapies for extending the healthspan: A comprehensive review with a focus on Finnish sauna
• Association Between Sauna Bathing and Fatal Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality Events
• Cardiovascular and Other Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing: A Review of the Evidence

Many people go through phases of nail biting in childhood, and fewer people continue biting their nails into adulthood.

It's a habit that can be difficult to break – especially when anxiety can be a trigger, along with boredom.

Norman and Tegan take us through the current treatments available for people who want to stop munching on their cuticles.

References

• Onychophagia and onychotillomania can be effectively managed
• Prevalence and correlates of clinically significant body-focused repetitive behaviors in a non-clinical sample
• Habit reversal vs. negative practice treatment of nailbiting
• A review of N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of grooming disorders

If you're glued to your couch watching the Paris Games, you know that elite athletes are beyond impressive.

But does that mean they're healthy? Not necessarily.

Norman and Tegan unpack the positive and negative impacts of elite-level sport on the body and the mind.

References

• Female and male US Olympic athletes live 5 years longer than their general population counterparts: a study of 8124 former US Olympians
• Long-term function, body composition and cardiometabolic health in midlife former athletes: a scoping review
• The mental health of Australian elite athletes
• Adaptation to life after sport for retired athletes: A scoping review of existing reviews and programs

Offices are catching up to the idea that sitting for eight hours a day might not be great for your health.

Standing desks, adjustable monitors and hand rests are common tools in the arsenal of ergonomics.

But are we getting it all wrong? Norman and Tegan dispel some myths about the impact of office jobs on the body.

References

• Having 'good' posture doesn’t prevent back pain, and 'bad' posture doesn't cause it
• Evaluating the Evidence on Sitting, Smoking, and Health: Is Sitting Really the New Smoking?
• The effectiveness of physical and organisational ergonomic interventions on low back pain and neck pain: a systematic review

Bodies are weird … but are they THAT weird?

Sexually-induced sneezing has been written about in medical texts for hundreds of years.

In this live episode from the World Science Festival Brisbane, Norman and Tegan explain what it is, and why it might happen.

References

• Sneezing induced by sexual ideation or orgasm: an under-reported phenomenon

You've either seen it, or you've tried it. Ice baths are all the rage right now, in part because they claim to be an effective health and wellbeing booster.

Is this just a fad, or is there solid evidence that dipping into freezing cold water can improve your immune system, calm down inflammation and better your mood?

Norman went for the plunge – and lived to tell Tegan the tale.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

References

• Does the Wim Hof Method have a beneficial impact on physiological and psychological outcomes in healthy and non-healthy participants? A systematic review

• Getting colder ... the invigorating effect of ice baths - The Health Report

Once you get past the initial ick-factor of toothbrush sharing, it's worth considering whether there are any actual harms.

Whether we like it or not, our mouths are home to a unique microbiome.

As Norman and Tegan explain, it's influenced by what we eat, who we kiss – and yes, who we might share a toothbrush with.

References

• Armed to the Teeth—The Oral Mucosa Immunity System and Microbiota
• Assessment of Microbial Contamination of a Toothbrush Head with and without a Protective Cover: An Ex Vivo Study

There's no doubt people with coeliac disease should stay away from gluten, but what about the rest of us?

There is nothing inherently harmful about gluten when it doesn’t cause you gut trouble.

Norman and Tegan talk us through why a gluten-free diet is not necessarily a healthy one.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

References

• Avoiding gluten when you’re not a coeliac - Health Report
• Coeliac disease: review of diagnosis and management
• Gluten-Free Diet: Gaps and Needs for a Healthier Diet
• Gluten-free diet may increase risk of arsenic, mercury exposure