Source: Food Network

Nicole Kell

Have you ever wondered what causes you to be so sleepy after your Thanksgiving turkey feast? Spoiler alert… it is not the turkey! Many people believe that turkey causes sleep. These claims come from the known fact that turkey contains tryptophan, an amino acid that forms the foundation of the brain chemical serotonin. Serotonin is converted to melatonin, a sleep inducing hormone. However, turkey does not contain nearly enough tryptophan to be the main cause of  drowsiness. According to experts, consuming copious amounts of carbohydrates such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, dinner rolls, and pie, is the main cause of the infamous post-Thanksgiving meal nap.

There are many other factors that contribute to drowsiness on Thanksgiving. This is a time of year where many are taking a break from work or school and may be worn out. Scarfing down large quantities of food and stretching the small intestine also induces sleepiness. Thanksgiving is a holiday spent with friends and family, so many people are consuming alcohol with their company. Alcohol tends to have a relaxing effect on the mind and body. So do not solely blame the bird for your snooze!

https://www.livescience.com/41543-thanksgiving-myth-busted-eating-turkey-won-t-make-you-sleepy.html

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-does-turkey-make-you-sleepy/

Source: Science

Shika Andhole and Nicole Kell

The idea that electromagnetic fields cause cancer captured people’s imagination. Some studies have correlated instances of childhood Leukemia with distance from power lines, concluding that the closer families lived to power lines, the more likely their children would grow up with cancer. Currently, cell phone usage is now ubiquitous- since up to 90% of adults own a cell phone. Both cell phones and cell phone towers emit radio frequency waves that some people claim may be potential risk factor for cancer.

There are other factors that may account for the differences in cancer rates. People who lived closer to power lines live closer to large city centers where the population was mostly made up of poor and disenfranchised people. Poor and disadvantaged people are often face greater exposure to secondhand smoke, problems with water sanitation, pollution from factories, higher prevalence of obesity, and greater alcohol consumption. It is difficult to pinpoint direct causes of cancer because there are so many hereditary and environmental influences that can contribute to it.

In March of 2018, the National Toxicology Program conducted a study on the harmful effects of radiofrequency waves. This 2018 study concluded that there was no significant evidence that linked radiofrequency wave exposure to developing cancer.  The American Cancer Society says that radio frequency waves are not nearly strong enough to penetrate and damage human DNA. Due to the height at which cell phone tower antennas are placed and the distance that most of the population lives from the towers, the strength of frequency that humans are exposed to is several times smaller than what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deems harmful.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/

https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/about_ntp/trpanel/2018/march/tr596peerdraft.pdf

https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/about_ntp/trpanel/2018/march/publiccomm/rfr_comment20180221.pdf

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/radiation-exposure/cellular-phone-towers.html

https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/balanced-living/technology/cell-phone-tower-threat/

http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/faqs/cellphoneqa.html

https://www.zdnet.com/article/wiring-for-wireless-5g-and-the-tower-in-your-backyard/

Source: ASMR

Victor Liaw

Have you ever been on Youtube and noticed videos of people tapping and scratching ordinary objects, whispering, or even chewing? And wondered why these videos have thousands or even millions of views? People view these types of videos to experience what is labelled autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR). You may have felt it before. It’s when you have  a skin tingling sensation that moves from the scalp throughout the body. It can be elicited by certain auditory or visual triggers. People may seek this out for a feeling of euphoria and calm. People find that it helps with their symptoms of depression, anxiety, or loneliness. People also use it when they have difficulty sleeping.

Studies have looked at the brain regions active on fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) during ASMR. The regions that activate are similar to those that are activated during experiencecs like social bonding and other psychophysiological phenomena like goosebumps or chills. There is no evidence that video induced ASMR is better than cognitive behavioral therapy for major depression or general anxiety disorder, but it seems worthy of testing given its popularity. For now, people with substantial psychological distress should seek professional care.    

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/maria-spends-20-minutes-folding-towels-why-millions-are-mesmerised-by-asmr-videos-7956866.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24375123

https://bi.tbzmed.ac.ir/Abstract/bi-17613

https://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/asmr/