Everything is a chemical

This and other facts from The Unbiased Science Podcast.

IN a nutshell Oh, hello! Fancy seeing you here. ICYMI: We're in an infodemic right now. What's that? According to the World Health Organization, it's an era of "incorrect interpretations of information," which can have disastrous consequences on human health and behavior. Think: increased vaccine hesitancy, reduced mental health, and delayed attempts at seeking healthcare. Who better to fight misinformation than today's interview guests, the two female scientists behind The Unbiased Science Podcast? Keep reading to learn more about the importance of fact checking and critical thinking — and why our health depends on it. Here's everything else we're sending your way today: • a cold therapy massage ball to soothe aches and pains • the most effective way to take a pill, according to science • more health stories you need Be well, Morgan Mandriota Newsletter Editor, Healthline

Written by Morgan Mandriota December 9, 2022 • 8 min read

Andrea Love, PhD is an immunologist and microbiologist. Jess Steier, DrPH, PMP is a public health scientist. Together, they're the co-hosts of The Unbiased Science Podcast, which is a show dedicated to debunking myths through evidence-based information. The duo also has a partnership with Welly, a healthcare brand devoted to using clear labels for optimal at-home treatment. To help fight fake news and highlight two people doing really important work, we jumped on the opportunity to interview Andrea and Jess. Below, they discuss their journey as medical professionals and podcasters and share some surprising fun facts about our well-being, too. Q: What inspired you to join forces and create the Unbiased Science Podcast and The Unbiased Science Institute? A&J: Throughout her academic career, Andrea immersed herself in the world of anti-vaccine and immunology-related pseudoscience. She always had a passion for calling out marketing ploys that prey on people's emotions and weren't based in fact or science. When Jess became a mom, she witnessed the dangers of the spread of pseudoscience in a new way: through parenting Facebook groups, where people promoted myths around vaccines, food, baby products, and more. As a public health scientist, she recognized the urgent need for a trusted source of credible scientific information for the general public. We often discussed partnering in some way, but the timing was never right … then came COVID-19, and we both found ourselves dispelling online myths and misconceptions at a rapid-fire pace. Separately, we immersed ourselves in COVID-related research to translate complex concepts and help folks make sense of headlines. Finally, we decided it was time to join forces and tackle things collectively. Thus, Unbiased Science was born. In the summer of 2020, we released our first podcast episode and launched our social media pages to disseminate related infographics. Since, we've tackled an array of topics related to health and science, all with the goal of improving science and health literacy, enabling people to discern fact from fiction, and empowering people to be able to make better-informed (and not fear-based) decisions. Q: CBD, vaginal steaming, relationship science, leaky guts — you cover a bunch of different topics on your show. This question is for both of you: Which topic was your favorite to discuss so far? Andrea: That's a tough question! I've honestly loved all of the topics we've covered, but I think I'd have to say my favorite would be our food sensitivity episode. It gives me an opportunity to address a specific area of my expertise (immunology) and tackle rampant pseudoscience that has permeated popular culture. At the same time, we're able to provide some science education and hopefully help people by saving them money and peace of mind. Jess: It's difficult to pick one. Three topics that stand out are organic foods, non-GMOs, and clean beauty. I'm frustrated by this societal shift toward "clean" everything, implying that there's some "dirty" alternative. In reality, organic foods are not superior, GMOs are not harmful, and clean beauty has absolutely no standardized definition. Terms like "chemical-free" have no meaning — everything is a chemical! Q: In the age of rapidly spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories, can you tell us about the importance of fact-checking and critical thinking? A&J: Mis- and disinformation can literally kill. In the context of the pandemic, misinformation about vaccines has impacted the number of people who get vaccinated, leaving folks vulnerable to severe outcomes that are entirely preventable. Social media gives people a sense of authority and confidence and a global platform to push out information. It's often difficult for users to distinguish between credible information and misinformation. We always say not all information is created equal! What complicates matters even more is that some people who appear credible on paper (i.e., have education, training, and/or credentials) are guilty of pushing misinformation for profit or self-interest. Vetting sources is complicated and not always easy. That's why we feel it's important to use our training as scientists to critically evaluate the quality of evidence and share the best available information. Q: What are some of your favorite fun facts related to health and wellness? Andrea: About half of you isn't human! Microorganism cells are estimated to be at least a 1:1 ratio (this is decreased from an estimate in the 1970s that stated a 10:1 ratio), but current estimates put 39 trillion microbe cells to 30 trillion human cells in an average person. Your poop is mostly bacteria. About 50%–80% of the mass of your feces (excluding water) is bacterial cells from your GI tract. Your skin is the largest organ in the body and helps to regulate body temperature through sweat glands. It's also part of your external immune system, serving as a physical barrier against disease and infection. Jess: Our bodies naturally produce about 1.5 ounces (>42,000 milligrams) of formaldehyde a day as a normal part of our metabolism. (FYI: The amount of formaldehyde present in any vaccine is less than 0.1 milligrams. No need to fear it!) We're exposed to thousands upon thousands of germs and other antigens in the environment from the moment we're born. The amount of antigens we're exposed to from vaccines is a fraction of what we're exposed to just by eating and breathing. Vaccines can't overwhelm our immune system, even if given all at once! In as little as 1 day after quitting smoking, a person's blood pressure begins to drop (which decreases risk of heart disease), and oxygen levels improve, making it easier to exercise and be active. It's never too late to quit! Q: What are some of your reputable go-to resources for finding facts and fighting fake news that we can use, too? A&J: Large national and global public health entities, such as CDC, NIH, and WHO. Large academic medical institutes, like Johns Hopkins, Harvard Medical, University of Pennsylvania, etc. Peer-reviewed journals with high impact factor (but be aware that some of these also publish op-eds and opinion pieces which are NOT peer reviewed). Some poorly designed and interpreted studies also find their way into high impact and typically reputable journals, so it takes a keen eye to discern what's legitimate and what's not. A rule of thumb: Typically check multiple historically reputable sources before assuming something is credible.

great finds Editor faves with health perks You know those great finds you just *have* to tell your friends about? That's how we feel about the products we recommend here. Every pick has been vetted by our editorial team, and we genuinely think it'll make your life better.       Brookethorne Naturals Cryoglide Massage Ball Roller Cryotherapy (aka cold therapy) has a long list of potential benefits, like pain relief, reduced inflammation, dementia prevention, and even mood disorder treatment. Want to reap those perks without dunking your body into an ice bath for 20 minutes? Introducing: Brookethorne Naturals cryoglide massage roller. Although the cold ball touching your skin can be shocking at first, it feels really nice once you get used to it! It stays cool for days in its natural state, but you can throw it in the freezer for an extra chill. I use this roller most nights before bed, and it's been incredibly meditative and physically soothing. I've already noticed less aches and pains in my thighs and shoulders after 2 or 3 weeks of regular use. Disclaimer: People with diabetes or nerve related conditions should not try cryotherapy due to potential nerve damage. If you're unsure about trying cold therapy or this specific product, please speak with your doctor first. Shop now

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Weird Science Science says this is the best way to take a pill for maximum effectiveness Whether you're popping an Advil for a headache or taking a daily blood pressure pill, a new study by Johns Hopkins University on the connection between natural anatomy and drug dissolution says there's an ideal way to take medication. No, it doesn't have anything to do with timing or dosage. It actually has everything to do with your posture. Researchers found that the "wrong" posture (like reclining on your left side) can potentially delay how quickly a medication is broken down and absorbed by your body up to a whole hour. So, what's the best form, you ask? Taking a pill while reclining on your right side can help it dissolve in your stomach and go into the intestines for faster absorption. This posture is 2.3 times more effective than if you were to take meds while standing up. I don't know about you, but the next time I need to take a pill, I'm definitely going to try this.

health stories you need What we're reading next Sneaky signs of a thyroid problem. This small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck can affect weight, nail growth, energy, metabolism, and so much more. Look out for these little changes. Connected by HIV: Individual and shared experiences. "The stigma of those three letters is so strong," says one interviewee. Read these personal stories to break stigma, build empathy, and become a better ally. How long does it take to recover speech after a stroke? The exact recovery timeline depends on a few factors, but some treatment and therapy options can expedite the process. Relationship OCD is real. Have you ever felt like the thoughts about your relationship control you rather than the other way around? Therapists share how to spot ROCD and cope with it.

Thanks for reading! Your homework for the weekend is to use your critical thinking skills. In the meantime, we'd love to hear what you think of this newsletter or anything we've covered above. Email us at wellnesswire@healthline.com to share your thoughts. See you next week!

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