Why endorphins (and exercise) make you happy
When your body comes under stress or experiences pain, neurochemicals called endorphins are produced in the brain’s hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Structurally similar to the drug morphine, they’re considered natural painkillers because they activate the brain’s opioid receptors to help minimize discomfort. They can also help bring about feelings of euphoria and general well-being.
Source: cnn.com
Data privacy
It’s no surprise that the convenience of social media and online shopping comes with a cost—data privacy, or more appropriately, the lack of it. Turns out 79 per cent of people don’t approve of companies profiting from their data with many people surveyed being unaware that their data is being sold.
Source: Invisibly
Disabled and desirable
It’s taken seven series of Love Island—and a considerable amount of coaxing from viewers—for the producers to cast a contestant with a disability. And now, finally, the 2021 Love Island cast included hot, single teacher Hugo Hammond who, according to one of his first on-air ice-breaker confessions, once had sex in the middle of a road. Hugo just happens to have been born with a clubfoot. It should be noted that Hugo’s disability is not obvious. He has had lots of operations and, as he has said himself, “you can only really tell when I walk barefoot… I walk slightly on my tip-toes.” So it’s a long way from casting a wheelchair user, for example, or someone who uses a white cane. But it’s a start.
Photo: heatworld.com
Losing your sight?
Visual difficulties or loss of vision can occur long before blindness is declared, so it is important to recognize the symptoms. If you or someone you know experiences any of the following symptoms, take a look at this list and consider requesting an assessment from an optometrist:
• Constantly stumbling against objects.
• Walking without stability.
• Rubbing or bumping the walls when walking.
• Having trouble locating personal objects.
• Faltering when trying to reach objects.
• Stopping reading and writing less clearly.
• Needing more light, squinting, holding, materials closer.
• Having difficulty identifying faces, colours, designs.
• Struggling to place food on fork or reaching food on plate.
• Overfilling a cup or a glass.
Source: Braille Institute
Boosting male fertility
Two supplements have caught scientists’ attention: folic acid and zinc. There’s some evidence to suggest that taking folic acid—a supplement more readily associated with pregnancy—and zinc daily could boost sperm counts in men.
Source: Journal of the American Medical Association
