Every time we gaze at a sunrise or marvel at a painting a group of small but powerful proteins called opsins are working in the background. So what are opsins and what do they do? Opsins are light-sensitive proteins, found in the retina in your eyes. They are at the
Lucid dreaming is a state of consciousness where you know you are dreaming. I don’t recall dreams. So the notion that you can not only remember but be aware sounds fascinating. So can you train yourself to do so, and how can you use it for your benefit? Is
Approximately 20% of the food that you eat in calorie terms is used to consume the food. In science, they call it the thermic effect, the energy cost of breaking down food. So what is the thermic effect and how does it affect you? The food you eat needs to
The human brain is an energy hog consuming about 20% of the body’s energy while accounting for only 2% of its weight. But do you know that the brain divides the energy used for internal and external purposes? To understand this, we need to understand two terms. Interoception and
If you are like me, obsessed with tracking and measuring, you would have noticed that the new devices tell you your breath rate. Your smart watch, for example. But have you ever wondered how your watch, worn on your wrist, magically seems to be able to extend up and count
My dad has always been famous for carrying a pen and paper. He would jot down his thoughts and ideas. I was the technology enabled, cool one, or so I thought. No archaic P & P for me. Until I resumed writing by hand. I will not go back. Ever.
Food is complex. No, I don’t mean it is difficult to understand. I mean that food itself is complex. Sure, there is the obvious. Foods that contain protein or fat, for example. But food is complex because it contains a multitude of bioactive compounds. So what are bioactive compounds?
If you have dark spots on the skin, you may have dismissed it as a mere cosmetic concern. It may carry a deeper message about the body that you should pay attention to. Dark spots are formed by the skin producing melanin, a pigment. The production of glutathione regulates melanin.
It is the season of cheer. World over, people are celebrating Christmas. Laughter, joy, happiness. But how long does an emotion last? A few hours, weeks? Months? The answer will vary depending on who you ask and where they are in their lives. But here is the funny thing. Emotions
Artisanal pizza or artisanal bread. I am sure you have enjoyed both. But do you know what an artisanal seed is? I didn’t either until very recently. A few global companies control most of the seeds used to grow fruits and vegetables. These companies produce the seeds that your
Shugendō is a unique Japanese spiritual tradition which defies the modern pursuit of comfort and ease. Happiness, we think, comes from comfort, ease and convenience. The philosophy of Shugendō says no. The path to happiness demands suffering, pain, and discipline. This is not suffering for its own sake, but a
Quick, check to see if your neck is stiff. Chances are that for most of us, our neck and shoulders are. Stress in the neck comes from chronic stress over weeks and months. Poor posture and lack of exercise makes it worse. What’s the most effective method for relieving