body

“The tan is nothing more than a defensive response of the body, it is its way of saying ‘I am damaging'”

by

Every summer the same ritual is repeated: full beaches, sun bodies and solar creams forgotten at the bottom of the bag. In search of a fast tan, many people deliberately renounce sun protection, convinced that this golden tone is reached better without barriers. What seems an aesthetic or harmless decision, can have consequences that are only revealed over time. No to the cream. It is enough to open social networks to find videos that promote Do not use solar creams. From self -domening “experts” until anonymous users They share their “tricks” to get bruise faster, often omitting completely the use of sunscreens. False myth. This practice connects with a belief still entrenched: the idea that sunscreen prevents tanning or that “natural brunette” is a sign of health and beauty. Thus, aesthetic desire continues to be imposed on prevention, and the risk goes unnoticed. Dr. José María Ricart, dermatologist and medical director of the Ricart Medical Institute (IMR), explains to Xataka: “Many people still believe in the idea of ​​’healthy tan’, when it really is a sign of skin damage.” The data does not lie. The study all who has had PMFarma accessdriven by Laboratories Pierre Fabre, has revealed a worrying reality: 67% of Spaniards only use sunscreen to avoid burns, and not as a daily health habit. The report, which includes data from more than 50,000 people (4,000 in Spain), has shown that only 39.7% reaplies the photoprotector every two hours in the sunny days. The reasons for this misuse are since they forget (32%) to basic ignorance (11%) or, more worrying, they do not believe in their efficacy (10%). For its part, the SAFE study, to which the Spanish Institute of Health Trainers has had access, has contributed Another interesting fact and is that 79% of adults and 74% of Spanish children are exposed to the sun in maximum radiation hours, between 11:00 and 17:00. The problem beyond the skin. Taking the sun without protection is not a simple carelessness, it is a practice that accelerates skin aging and raises the risk of skin cancer. As Dr. Ricart explains, it is important to know the two types of ultraviolet radiation that can affect us. On the one hand, UVB rays, more powerful in summer, are those that cause solar burns and damage cell DNA. On the other hand, UVA rays, present all year, even on cloudy days, penetrate more deeply and are responsible for premature aging. “The tan is nothing more than a defensive response of the body. It is its way of saying: ‘I am damaging.’ If someone still doubts it, that compares the skin of the face with that of the buttock, an area never exposed to the sun: without spots, without wrinkles, without photonexing,” he emphasizes. Take it to the extreme. Oh, who is looking for unconventional shortcuts to achieve that long -awaited golden tone. One of the most curious examples is the old myth that Eating carrots intensifies tan. While beta-carotene present in these vegetables can give the skin an orange nuance, this effect does not replace or protect against sun damage. In fact, some experts have warned that it is a superficial coloration, not a true tan, and that bringing this practice to the extreme – such as consuming large amounts of carrot daily – can end in carotenodermia: an orange pigmentation that has little to do with summer aesthetics. Frequent errors. Even those who believe they make failures that drastically reduce the effectiveness of sunscreen. Among the most common mistakes, Dr. Ricart highlights the fact of not applying it daily, not doing so in advance (20 or 30 minutes before leaving), reapplying it after a bath or every two hour, using small quantity and reusing expired creams or the previous summer. Prevention with technology. To raise awareness about these risks, technology has been put at the service of prevention. An example is Mysun Experiencea digital tool developed by Eau Thermale Avène and the artificial intelligence company Data Ora. This simulator allows the user to see how their skin will age in the next 15 years according to their sun protection habits. Another model is possible. The aesthetic pressure of the tan still weighs. Golden bodies continue to dominate ads, social networks and beauty referents. But the medical message is clear: each without protection exposure is a cumulative aggression for the skin. And that damage, sooner or later, shows. Image | Pexels Xataka | That the AEMPS retires six solar creams is good news. That he had to ask for the OCU is worrying

We have a new clue about depression and we have found it in an unsuspected place: body temperature

by

Depression is something that goes beyond our brains. Like many other diseases, this psychological ailment is manifested in other aspects of our physiognomy. For example, in our body temperature. Temperature and depression. A study has identified A relationship between body temperature and depression. The team responsible for the analysis observed a positive relationship between the variables, that is, that the appearance of depressive symptoms was linked to a higher body temperature among the participants. The relationship was proportional. The severity of the symptoms, the greater the body temperatures were also. They also observed an apparent relationship between the variability of temperatures and depressive symptoms, but this did not show being statistically significant, so conclusions cannot be extracted in that aspect. Beyond the statistical incidence is little What is known of this relationship. For example, the equipment indicated that it is still an enigma if this increase in body temperature could be due to a loss of control capacity, an increase in temperature generation through metabolic processes, or if it was a combination of factors. More than 20,000 participants. To carry out the study, the team compiled information from 20,880 participants from 106 countries. During the study, which lasted for seven months in 2020, the participants carried a thermometer device to measure their body temperature and daily reported temperature and symptoms of depression. “Let us know, this is the biggest study to examine the association between body temperature (measured both self -assess and through portable sensors) and depressive symptoms in a geographically wide sample,” explained in a press release Psychiatrist Ashley Mason, co -author of work. The study It was published in the magazine Scientific Reports. An old suspicion. Although it is probably the most massive, this is not the first analysis that indicates this relationship. A study published in 2003 He pointed to the existence of this relationship and its possible link with the 5-HTT protein, the “serotonin transporter”. Another important indication has to do with the drugs usually used in the treatment of depression, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI). In recent years, various studies have proven that these compounds reduce thermal tolerance of those who consume them. The main studies in this regard were analyzed In a literature review published in 2022. Correlation and cause. The present study finds a link between temperature and depression but does not indicate the possible form of the causal direction, if there were. It is impossible to determine, through known data if depression causes an increase in body temperature or if a high body temperature can increase our risk of appearing depression. Nor is it possible to rule out that there is an underlying cause of both that the analysis does not see: inflammatory stress or processes could independently cause both depressive symptomatology and an increase in body temperature. Cold or heat as therapy? Understanding what is happening can help us better understand depression and, therefore, bring us closer to the tools we are looking for to fight it. Until now the heat had been used to improve the patient status. These types of therapies could make sense through a “rebound effect”, helping the body to recover its capacity for thermal self -regulation, Add the equipment. In Xataka | The great mystery of our body temperature: it does not stop lowering globally and we still do not know why Image | Tankilevitch polyina *An earlier version of this article was published in June 2024

It is your body complaining about stress, according to an anxiety expert

by

Have some healthy sleep habits and doing some physical activity – although it is not very demanding – contribute to reduce stress levels. Yeah No measures are takenstress is chronified and the body begins to adopt its own coping measures that can alter aspects such as sleep, social relationships and even the way of working. According to the therapist Miriam Salinasspecialist in disorders caused by anxiety, go to bed late per night, or fall into obsessions such as work perfectionism, are the neurobiological response with which our brain tries Protect us from stress and the trauma accumulated throughout the day. Understanding this link between what we considered only bad habits and stress is crucial for stop blaming you and start understanding Why do we get so late At night when, in reality, we are sleepy. A moment of peace and security According to The World Health Organization (WHO), stress can be defined as a state of concern or mental tension generated by a difficult situation. All people have a certain degree of stress, since it is a natural response to threats and other stimuli. It is the way in which we react stress that marks the way in which it affects our well -being. Miriam Salinas Explain that “if you go to bed late at night, it is because it is the only time when You feel peace and security“. During the day, anxiety and hypervigilance are the dominant mental states, preventing the body and mind from relaxing. Therefore, night tranquility becomes an emotional refuge, where it is finally possible to lower the guard. This pattern It is not a simple whim or a lack of disciplinebut a sign that the nervous system is trying to find a safe space. The deregulation of the autonomic nervous system (SNA), caused by chronic stress, can alter the natural rhythms of sleep and push people to seek comfort in the solitude of the night, causing what University researchers called sleep procrastination. One way to mitigate this behavior that, in turn, causes greater stress for not sleeping the recommended hours, is Reserve time during the day to find that tranquility and reduce cortisol levels walking or disconnecting the stress source. The impact of stress on our habits Stress is not only behind multiple sleep disorders. In your search, coping strategies for stress, our brain also finds refuge in excessive screens use. Such and as he published The avant -gardesome people spend hours using Social networks on mobile or in front of the computer to avoid face intrusive thoughts or uncomfortable emotions. According to Salinas, “you spend hours on the phone because you prefer that to face your thoughts.” This cognitive evasion It is a form of temporary distraction, but does not solve the discomfort, which is the anxiety caused by chronic stress. Expert anxiety therapist also holds the stress of certain Social isolation behaviorsby perceiving social relations as an insecure environment that the brain associates as the focus of stress. Although from the outside it may seem that They choose to be alonein reality it is a neurobiological adaptation to avoid situations that perceive as threatening or emotionally dangerous. Other behaviors That they can affect your daily productivity, it is the obsession that every thing you do is perfect. Salinas explains that perfectionism It arises as an attempt to control the interior emotional chaos. All these behaviors, Far from being defects, they are adaptations that the brain and body develop to survive stress contexts sustained over time. In Xataka | Half of the employees claims to work under constant stress: they would renounce 21% of their salary to avoid it In Xataka | Lack of motivation is a problem for productivity. The trick to avoid it is simple according to science: start Image | Unspash (Dipqi Ghozali, Sinitta Leunen)

We begin to discover the effect of microplastics on our body thanks to the most unsuspected thing: tap water

by

The heat comes and, with it, the thirst comes. On average, according to some public estimates, household consumption grows up to 44%. But those data are incomplete because, a good part of the water we drink, comes in bottle. In Spain they are sold 5,331 million liters of bottled water every year. And it is a market in full growth. Sales grow annually at a rate of 2.5%. What we usually forget is that this type of product has consequences: the pressure pressure rises. As? What does what? One might think that drinking water rises the normal artery pressure. After all, blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of the arteries. If there is more liquid in the system or more salt, there should be more pressure … But not. Although obviously in extreme cases and, of course, specific conditions and compositions They alter the pressure Within a fork, the system has dozens of mechanisms to ensure that the blood pressure of a normal human being is what has to be. And then? That is what some scientists from the Danube University asked when, in the middle of a very small clinical trial They discovered that the same did not happen with bottled water. The Austrian team discovered that by keeping eight healthy people (of both genres) to a “water regime” of only tap water, His basal diastolic blood pressure dropped. It happened in men and in mujres, but in the latter the effect was much more striking. Because? Right now we only have hypotheses, but the most solid are phthalates (chemical substances that make the most flexible and durable plastic). And, honestly, it is something quite interesting: because, although all the water we consume right now has complex microplastics and substances, the truth is that they do not have the same things. And that is exceptionally good news. Not because with the available information is (or not) advisable to take (or stop drinking) bottled water. But because it is these little things that allow us to improve our understanding of What microplastics do in our bodies. Image | Noppadon Manadee | Engin Akyurt In Xataka | When the tap water knows in rays: the invisible chemistry of drinking water that explains why he knows how he knows (and why he is one of the best inventions in the world)

A battery to feed robots from the heat of the human body

by

Of all the submundos on the Internet, my favorite is that of youtubers who dedicate months to an engineering project of doubtful profitability for the simple fact of trying. The Matrix. There is a whole generation of adults that in 1999 saw ‘Matrix’ in the cinema. The Matrix, the concept of engineering from which the science fiction film of the Wachowski sisters starts, is a machine that uses humans as batteries to extract from their body the energy that feeds the robots. With the AI ​​advancing at runaway, it does not seem like a project that we want to materialize precisely now. But would it work? To verify it, someone is needed with the motivation and the determination of carrying out a project or too useful, or too profitable. Exact: You need a youtuber. Basically Homeless’s human battery. This is the name of the Nicka Zetta channel, the youtuber and inventor that concerns us. Inspired by matrix, Zetta designed a special suit that takes advantage of the heat generated by the human body to produce electricity. The premise is simple: the side of the suit that is in contact with the skin is heated when the person is active, because his body generates heat, while the other side, exposed to the cold air of the environment, remains fresh. That temperature difference can be used to produce electricity. How it works. To convert the temperature difference into electricity, it is enough to use a thermoelectric generator, a device with two conductive materials, one on the hot side and one on the cold side, which generate a potential difference (that is, an electrical voltage) to take advantage of The Seebeck effect: electrons move from the hot to cold, creating a current flow (that is, electricity). The problem is that the human body does not generate too much heat, nor does it at a specific point, so many thermoelectric generators were needed to achieve a non -despicable amount of energy. The limitations. During the suit tests, Nick managed to generate electricity peaks that soon down because the temperature difference with the outer side of the suit was matched. To avoid this problem, he devised a way of producing “heat pulses”: great temperature differences in short periods that allowed him to obtain more electricity. The body is heated when exercising, but also (not trying at home) when drinking alcohol or ingesting spicy meals with a lot of capsaicin. If at the same time the outer air is cold, the temperature difference is important. Feeding a robot with the suit. Although the invention failed to generate enough energy to load a mobile, it did produce electricity in small quantities that were enough to move a small robot on a table. Maybe it is not the matrix that science fiction fans imagined, but remember that the film’s robots could not obtain electricity from the sun with photovoltaic cells, which would be much more efficient, because humans had darkened the sky in an attempt to end the energy of the robots. Images | Basically Homeless, Warner Bros.

It is becoming increasingly clear that there is no “normal” body temperature.

by

If you ask us what the “normal” temperature of our body is, the instinctive answer will be 37º Celsius. When the thermometer exceeds that mark, we usually talk about fevermild or high depending on how far we move away from the figure. However, over time health experts have realized that the reality is a little more complex. The body temperature issue It is not a mere curiosity. Fever is an important response of our body to many diseases or disorders, generally to infections. The fever It is a double-edged sword: our body raises its temperature to try to kill viruses and bacteria that may be damaging it, while activating our body’s immune response; However, in the process, fever can also put the proper functioning of our organs at risk and cause other problems such as dehydration. Since fever is a common response to various illnesses, it can also cause us serve as a diagnostic toolto narrow the circle on the possible conditions that affect us. Answering the question of what is the “normal” temperature of our body is difficult. And the reasons behind this are several. Firstly, because, over the last century and a half, the estimated average temperature of the human body has been reducing. The notion that our body temperature It is at 37º and dates back to the mid-19th century. In 1868, the German doctor Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich conducted a study using 25,000 patients and more than a million temperature measurements. From these data, he calculated that the average temperature was 37ºbut also observed certain deviations. However, more recent studies have observed lower average temperatures. A recent example of this we found it in a studio Made in the United States and published in 2020 in the magazine eLife. The analysis indicated that Americans’ body temperatures had been dropping at a rate of about 0.03º Celsius every decade. A previous study conducted in the United Kingdom and published in 2017 in the magazine B.M.J.estimated an average temperature of 36.6º in its sample of more than 35,000 participants and 250,000 measurements. We don’t really know why body temperature has been reducing over time. A possible explanation It lies in the improvements in hygiene and immunity, which would imply a lower incidence of infections in the population and therefore lower average temperatures. But this is just one of the various hypotheses that seek to explain the phenomenon. Wunderlich himself observed in his study that men and older people tended to have lower body temperatures, while women and younger people had higher temperatures on average. Which brings us to the second reason why establishing a “normal” reading is especially difficult. And it depends. Sex and age are two of the factors that can make what is “normal” for one person not “normal” for another. But other factors can also alter this figure. a study published in 2023 in the magazine JAMA Internal Medicine measured the degree to which these factors affected body temperature, but also added new variables such as height, body mass, and the time of day at which the measurement was taken. Among the sample of 618,306 observations, the average temperature was at 36.64º Celsius. Among the participants, the average readings for each individual ranged between 36.24º and 36.89º. It is also worth remembering that there are different ways to measure body temperature (tympanic, oral, axillary…) and that each one It presents some slight associated deviations. So at what temperature fever comes? As is evident after what we have read, the answer is that it depends on each person and situation, although fortunately, with the variations being less than one degree, the interpretation of the results of a thermometer may not be as different from the conventional one as to affect decisions such as whether or not to stay home during a cold. However, for health experts, having better knowledge about these variables can be of great help. That is why new studies have also investigated this question. One published in November of last year in the magazine Scientific Reports by South Korean researchers, analyzed the body temperature of 9,195 hospital patients through tympanic temperature measurements (the tympanic temperature It is usually half a degree above the oral measurement and about one degree above the axillary measurement). The team estimated an average temperature of 36.91º Celsius, and a limit of 37.81º for fever. In Xataka | What to do when we have the flu: what measures to take and in which case we should ask for help Image | Polina Tankilevitch

Rice or pasta? Experts reveal that food provides more benefits to the body

by

Present in the daily food of millions of people, the rice and the paste They have become two of the most consumed foods worldwide thanks, among many other factors, for their accessibility as well as their versatility to cook and consume. However, and like any food we eat, more than one ignores which of these preparations has greater nutritional or beneficial properties for health. According to an investigation carried out by the specialized magazine Men’s Healthhe rice and the pastewhich are not usually recommended by nutritionists when it comes to losing weight, they contribute important nutrients For the functioning of the human body in addition to providing energy. Wash the rice before cooking helps withdraw dust, dirt and toxic compounds.Credit: Shuttersock However, and as mentioned by the same investigation, determine which food is more beneficial for health requires other factors such as Nutritional objectives of each person as well as the very variations of each preparation. At what time is rice better and when is it better to eat pasta? As mentioned in the article, through the voice of experts Nutritionistshe rice It is characterized by hosting significant amounts of fiberso eating it can help reduce up to 3 centimeters waist. In addition to the above, this food is considered a great fuelsince it provides 28 grams of carbohydrates by ration, in addition to containing magnesium, which will provide extra energy to the organism. Regarding the pastethis account, among many other things, with Selenium, a nutrient of vital importance for the functioning of the human body. In addition to the above, this preparation can help regulate the blood sugar, benefit weight loss and even contribute fertility. Given the benefits of each food, the investigation mentions that the differentiation, on which preparation is better, also depends on the variation or type of both the rice as of the paste. There are more than 350 types of pasta.Credit: Shuttersock Therefore, experts say that pasta refined have greater benefits than the rice white. However, and if it is a version comprehensivethe best option is to choose the Integral rice About the whole pastes. The above is because the rice has more fiber and minerals, which leaves any type of paste. In addition to this, experts recommend consuming more comprehensive products because they have the peculiarity of quenching the appetite in addition to providing more nutrients. Continue reading: 7 foods that you should avoid putting in the air fryer 8 anti -inflammatory foods that you should always have at home Egg salad with Mexican flavor and a touch of spicy (Tagstotranslate) Rice

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.