For decades curcuma has been at the top of the lists of various scientific disciplines. But beware: it has been shown - by branch organizations as well as the University of Georgia - that there are manufacturers that supplement their 'natural' curcumin products with synthetic curcuma. This synthetic variant derives from a petroleum-based substance and is more than one third cheaper. Counterfeiting had been occurring for some time, but this had hitherto mainly involved starch and dye. We discuss all ins and outs below: because not every supplement is created equal! Continue reading →

Taste experience is a very personal thing. One person’s gustatory nightmare is the other’s feast meal. Still, the principles of taste perception are the same for everyone, and not only on the tongue: smell and taste are very closely interrelated. Continue reading →

The Pentagon has a new toy: a laser that can identify people at a 200-meter distance—based on their heart rate. Yet another reason to take good care of this precious organ of yours. If they start scanning, better look good! Continue reading →

All Hallows Eve: Halloween. In modern, consumer culture, it is often portrayed as a horror party with an abundance of food and sweets: "Trick or treat." It is actually an old Celtic celebration from the time when people were self-sufficient, thanking their ancestors and the earth for the past year. And in the meantime?… .. Wicked spirits were deceived and kept at bay! Continue reading →

International Men’s Day is celebrated annually on 19 November. The date is the birthday of the father of Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, a Trinidad and Tobago doctor who relaunched International Men’s Day in 1999. The aim of International Men’s Day is to celebrate positive male role models and to raise awareness of men’s issues ranging widely from health and mental health to gender-specific challenges related to (grand)fathering, cultural masculinity codes, and healthy aging. This year’s inclusive theme is: "Making a Difference for Men and Boys". Continue reading →

The notion that electricity is vital for the human body is far from a recent concept. Since 1791 various intriguing discoveries have been made about bioelectrical currents. But puzzlingly the idea of electricity as having major relevance to biology is still too new and counterintuitive for it to enjoy wide acceptance. But what’s all the buzz about? Continue reading →

In the last few weeks there has been a lot of excitement around nitrogen. The protests of farmers and builders have once again brought this topic into the public eye. However, nitrogen has two faces! It is more than just an environmental and health problem. It is an indispensable nutrient for all living things, found in air, water, soil, plants and animals. Nitrogen is thus a basic building block of nature. A human being weighing 70 kg has 2 kg of nitrogen in his body. Continue reading →

Chronic pain is a major source of human suffering. But what is pain and how do you experience it? Researchers, philosophers, psychologists and doctors have wrapped their minds around pain over the centuries. Is it a passion, an emotional state or a disease? The attempt to understand pain and find an appropriate response to it is one of the oldest challenges in the history of medicine. Continue reading →

Most of us are all too familiar with the pangs of holiday stress. Check that travel insurance at the last minute, quickly drop in at the drugstore for sunscreen and anti-diarrhea pills, say goodbye to family, check the oil of your car, and complete the final tasks at work. But did you know that you can expect a great deal of stress coming back from your trip? Add that to those holiday meals ... and you can really feel it in your stomach! Continue reading →

In our previous blog we wrote about the importance of optimal intestinal health, in particular the role that prebiotics may play in this. Because in response we received many questions - especially about the galacto-oligosaccharides (B-GOS) –we take a closer look below at the role of prebiotics, B-GOS -- and what this all could possibly mean for you. Continue reading →