Health FAQs (2026)

10/02/2026

My little sister is trying to convince me that coffee is so extremely healthy that even non-coffee drinkers like me should basically “start drinking it.”
Even though she backs everything up with science, it still feels like that’s not the whole story, and that the benefits for people who already live healthily are being overstated.
I’m not going to stain my teeth and turn into a coffee zombie for no good reason, but if it turns out to be genuinely beneficial for me, I’ll drink my very first cup of coffee ever.
The interesting part is that this brown brew is one of the most extensively studied drinks in the world, and large population studies do consistently link coffee consumption to lower overall mortality. People who drink one to three cups a day have less liver disease, fewer cardiovascular problems, and less type 2 diabetes, even among alcohol drinkers, and possibly a lower risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s.
There’s one important detail coffee lovers probably won’t enjoy, and especially not my sister with her ten cups a day: decaf shows similar effects. That suggests other compounds in coffee are responsible, such as antioxidants that reduce inflammation and support liver metabolism.
I already get almost all of those beneficial compounds from other foods, such as tea, cacao, fruit, olive oil, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and herbs. So I’m not really missing out on some magical coffee cocktail.
And now we get to the real crux of the story, exactly what I was looking for: the effect of coffee is relatively small and mainly works as a risk reducer, not a health booster. For someone who drinks little alcohol, doesn’t smoke, eats well, and exercises regularly, coffee probably adds very little. But if you do have more lifestyle risk factors, coffee can certainly help, and decaf is probably the most rational choice.
That was today’s rabbit hole. Hopefully my sister will leave me alone now.

Video sources: soffi_andi, Ed Red, shahulgreenscreen

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. I do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for health advice; my information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

27/01/2026

Did you know that placebo vomiting pills exist? In other words, fake pills that actually make people throw up. And it gets even crazier, because there are also placebo anti-nausea pills that can then reduce that nausea again.
I always use these examples to show people just how powerful the placebo effect really is.
And these aren’t even the strangest cases. There are studies in which patients with knee osteoarthritis underwent a fake (sham) surgery, where the knee was opened but no real procedure was performed inside the joint. And the result was just as much improvement as in surgeries where damaged cartilage was scraped away or loose pieces of tissue were removed. Pretty wild.
On top of that, placebos in Parkinson’s patients have been shown to actually trigger dopamine release, making movement temporarily easier. They can also influence inflammation markers, as if the immune system were truly activated, and even lower heart rate and blood pressure, similar to what blood-pressure medication does.
One study showed that 34 percent of the effect on systolic blood pressure and 47 percent of the effect on diastolic blood pressure could be explained by the placebo effect alone. And finally, a placebo can reduce pain through the exact same endorphin pathways as morphine.
Even color and shape matter. Blue pills tend to be more calming and red ones more stimulating, while large pills work better than small ones, and capsules are more powerful than tablets.
The funny thing is that the placebo effect even works in dogs. I’ll never forget that, because I once answered an exam question about it wrong.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. I do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for health advice; my information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

25/01/2026

Full-body scans can be deadly. At least, that’s what I heard from my father, who gets scanned every year because of a previous aortic tear.
He once sent me a study showing that if you were to have a scan like that every year, the lifetime risk of eventually dying from cancer caused by the scans is around 1.9 percent.
Of course, you get a scan when you have something life-threatening. The same applies to chemotherapy. That can also be deadly and can even cause new cancers. But if you don’t get treated, you’ll probably die.
But for a perfectly healthy person, exposing your body to all that radiation for so-called prevention makes absolutely no sense.
In fact, if I can go a bit deeper into it, it’s basically medicine in reverse. Normally, you start with symptoms, do a physical exam, and only then use imaging. With a full-body scan, you turn that logic upside down. You look first, without any complaints, and then you find things that often would never have caused any problems.
So sometimes, less healthcare is actually healthier.

Video sources: Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, rushmedicalcenter, amanradiologygallery, Cancer Research UK, STRIDE Project, Radboudumc, Flevoziekenhuis Almere

FAQs: are full body scans dangerous? What are the risks of a full body scan? Are too many scans bad for you? What are the risks of a body scan? Why don't doctors like to do CT scans? Is a whole body bone scan safe?

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. I do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for health advice; my information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

09/01/2026

Did you know that 1 milliliter of tea can contain about 90 million microplastic particles? In a full glass of tea this can rise to more than 10 billion particles, with another three billion nanoplastic particles on top of that.
I drink tea every day, so it really caught me off guard when I heard this in a podcast that mentioned this study.
These microplastics are released mainly because hot water damages the material of plastic tea bags. What this means exactly for our health is still not clear.
On the other hand, several studies show that green tea is full of substances that reduce inflammation and may be good for your brain. In theory they could offset some of the damage, although this has not been proven. This may explain why tea is still often seen as healthy, despite those plastic particles.
In any case, I will never use plastic tea bags again.

Video source: Chris Williamson, Modern Wisdom podcast

FAQs: Do I need to worry about microplastics in tea? Are there plastics in tea? What teas have microplastics in them? How to drink tea and avoid microplastics?

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. I do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for health advice; my information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

08/01/2026

Bacteria often stick within milliseconds, so the famous three second rule is nonsense. Bacteria do not politely wait until you count to three.
Whether you can still eat it depends on what it is, where it lands and how it falls.
Wet food is especially attractive to bacteria. So a dry cookie picks up much less than a piece of fruit or a bite of pasta that quickly absorbs everything it touches.
Where the food lands matters just as much. A clean counter is not the same as a kitchen floor. And a kitchen floor is almost clean compared to carpet or tile gaps. The more texture there is, the more microorganisms are ready to come along.
Damage also matters. If the food is cracked or open bacteria can get inside.
In practice things often turn out fine for most healthy people because the stomach kills many bacteria before they cause problems. But for pregnant people, older adults and people with a weak immune system the risk is much higher.
In short, most of the time nothing happens but some people end up in the hospital. The exception always pays the price.

FAQs: Can I still eat food that fell on the floor? Can you eat food that has fallen on the floor? Is it okay to eat things off the floor? What happens if I eat something from the floor? Can you eat fruit that fell on the ground? Can I eat rice that fell on the floor? Will I get sick if I eat something that fell on the floor? Is it okay to eat food off the floor? Is eating food off the floor good for your immune system?

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. I do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for health advice; my information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

03/01/2026

Did you know that about 50% of doctors keep working when they have the flu, even though the flu causes between 290,000 and 650,000 deaths worldwide every year (WHO)?
This was shown by an anonymous survey of 150 medical residents, which found that about half of them work at least once a year while having flu-like symptoms.
Another study found that 80–90% of doctors sometimes keep working when they are sick, compared to only 30–70% in other jobs.
This matches what I have heard myself from doctors who woke up feeling ill, had to vomit, and still went to work. Not because they wanted to be heroes, but because the work culture makes calling in sick almost impossible. If two doctors run a department and one calls in sick, the other suddenly has to work double shifts. So they put on their white coats, and worked a full day as if nothing was wrong, while putting patients at risk.
And the medical world knows this. But it simply looks the other way.

Video sources: Dr Elie Daniel, Medical Secrets, rosssmith1, SMHCS, DoctorMyro , doctorchrisg, DrSermedMezher, AllieNursing, Dr. Cellini, Doctor Youn

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. I do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for health advice; my information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

02/01/2026

Doctors don’t have magic immunity, no secret vitamin X, and definitely no invisible shield that pushes germs away. Yet doctors generally stay fairly healthy for four reasons. That said, I do have some criticism, especially about the first one: their immune system.
Because of constant exposure, healthcare workers slowly build up immunity to many common germs. This usually involves many short exposures and relatively small amounts of viruses, for example brief contact with patients and good ventilation in hospitals, which I will explain more in a moment.
But, and this is a big but: stress, tiredness, and long shifts can weaken the immune system of healthcare workers, making them more vulnerable at times. Research even shows that almost half of general practitioners have experienced burnout at some point. That makes you wonder how strong that immunity really is during those periods.
So in short, their immune system is well trained, but it can definitely weaken. That’s important to keep in mind for a complete picture.
Fortunately, doctors reduce the strain on their immune system by using good hygiene measures. They wash their hands carefully following strict rules, use gloves when needed, do not wear jewelry where dirt can collect, work in clean clothing, and clearly separate work from home.
Hospitals are also designed to make infections harder to spread. This includes good ventilation, thorough cleaning routines, and special rooms when necessary. Vaccinations against things like flu and hepatitis B are part of this as well.
Finally, doctors touch their own eyes, nose, and mouth much less. They clean stethoscopes, phones, and equipment almost automatically.
But let’s not pretend hospitals are perfect places where rules are always followed. The reality is that doctors are not always as careful and responsible as we hope. The next video makes that painfully clear.

Video sources: DoctorMyro , doctorchrisg, DrSermedMezher, AllieNursing, Dr. Cellini, Doctor Youn

FAQs: How do doctors stay healthy being around sick people? What do doctors do to not get sick? How to stay healthy around sick people? How do medical workers stay healthy around sick people?

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. I do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for health advice; my information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

30/12/2025

Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin all help with pain and fever. Still, you don’t just pick one at random. You need to consider personal risk factors, because their side effects differ quite a bit. Acetaminophen reduces pain and fever, but it doesn’t have anti-inflammatory effects, while ibuprofen and aspirin do.
Therefore, acetaminophen is usually the first choice for mild to moderate pain and fever.
It works in the brain to reduce pain signals, but does very little for inflammation. The big advantage is that it’s gentle on the stomach and heart. Push the dose too far or combine it with heavy alcohol use, and your liver won’t appreciate it.
If you want more than pain relief alone, you move to NSAIDs like ibuprofen, which also reduce inflammation. That makes them more effective for muscle pain, joint pain, and menstrual pain. They block chemicals responsible for pain and swelling, and you’ll feel the difference.
The downside is that they can irritate the stomach, increase bleeding risk, strain the kidneys, and when used for long periods or in high doses, raise the risk of heart problems. Aspirin takes it even further by reducing platelet function for a long time, thinning the blood. That’s why it isn’t suitable for children and teenagers due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome, and not a great option if you bleed easily.
In short, for everyday pain, acetaminophen is usually enough. If inflammation is involved, ibuprofen or aspirin will likely work better. Just don’t use them longer or in higher doses than necessary.

FAQs: What's better for pain: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin? What is the healthiest pain reliever to take? Is aspirin better than paracetamol or ibuprofen?

Video sources: TED-Ed, WyoFan2012

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. I do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for health advice; my information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

29/12/2025

It can certainly be healthy, because without shoes the small muscles in your feet have to work again. This improves your balance, helps your body better sense where it is in space, and activates your natural foot arch the way it is meant to work, which can make your walking pattern more stable and stronger.
But that is no reason to head outside barefoot right away. Our surfaces are hard, flat, and often dirty. Asphalt and concrete do not absorb impact, offer no protection, and send every step straight through your body. Your feet lack protection against impact, cold, bacteria, and sharp objects, things most people do not think about until something goes wrong.
If you regularly and for long periods walk barefoot on these kinds of surfaces, it can lead to overused tendons, heel pain, or pain in the middle of the foot, especially in people who are more sensitive. That is why barefoot walking should be limited to grass, sand, or indoors.
People with diabetes or nerve damage should be extra careful, because they may not feel pain as well.
In short, walking barefoot is not a miracle cure, but a stimulus. Used in moderation, it can make you stronger. If you overdo it, it can literally leave you limping.
And trust me. My last name, Bervoets, literally comes from “barefoot,” so I know what I am talking about.

FAQs: Is it healthier to be barefoot? Is it better to be barefoot or with socks? Is it better to wear shoes or walk barefoot? Is it okay to be barefoot all day? Are humans meant to be barefoot? Are barefoot good for walking? How long should I walk barefoot? Is it healthy to walk barefoot on grass? Do podiatrists recommend walking barefoot? Is being barefoot good for your health? Is it better to be bare foot? Is walking barefoot good for your heart? Is it healthier to walk around barefoot? Is it good to walk barefoot in your home? What are the disadvantages of walking barefoot? Can walking barefoot be healthy? I will tell you everything about walking barefoot.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. I do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for health advice; my information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

23/12/2025

The answer lies in the depth, not in the size of the wound. A first-degree burn affects only the outer layer of the skin, leaving it red, dry, and sensitive. Think of an afternoon in the sun that went a little too far. It hurts, but it usually clears up within a few days. There are no blisters or scars, just a reminder to take it easier next time.
A second-degree burn goes one layer deeper, into the dermis. This is when blisters, swelling, and significant pain appear, because the nerves are still intact. Healing takes weeks and can leave scars, especially if the affected area is large or the wound is not properly cared for.
A third-degree burn is serious. The skin is completely destroyed, and sometimes the underlying fat or muscle tissue is exposed. The skin may look white, brown, or leathery. Strangely enough, it often barely hurts. Not because it is mild, but because the nerves have been destroyed. It cannot heal on its own. Surgery and skin grafts are necessary for recovery to be possible at all.
In short, the severity of a burn is determined by its depth, not by how harmless it appears. What looks calm on the surface can be the most dangerous of all.

Video sources: viralhog, rickglassman, ExtraQuin, dr.mamina, ERemedium, zackdfilms, The Infographics Show, EllyCat

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. I do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for health advice; my information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

22/12/2025

What type of doctor lives the longest? What is the leading cause of death in doctors? What type of doctor lives the longest?

Did you know that emergency physicians die at an average age of around 59? This comes from a large study published in the BMJ. I could hardly believe it at first either, but it is true. And when you look into it more closely, it unfortunately starts to make sense.
According to the researchers, this is mainly due to extremely high workloads, irregular shifts, chronic sleep deprivation, and constant exposure to stress and trauma. As with other physicians, cancer is the leading cause of death, but notably, emergency physicians die from accidents more often than other doctors.
The bitter irony is that doctors are supposed to set the example when it comes to health. They know very well the impact their work and lifestyle have. They follow their passion and do incredibly important work for society, but the system leaves little room for recovery, rest, or basic humanity. That may be the most troubling part of all.

Video sources: gukeli, LifeofADoctor, Dr. Cellini, Med School Insiders, DrDarriaMD, NinaLum, DoctorMyro

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. I do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for health advice; my information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

21/12/2025

Should you shave your butt hair? What shouldn't you shave? What should you never shave? What part of my body should I never shave? Which part of your body should you never shave?

There are five areas of the body you’re better off leaving alone. Some hair exists for a reason and serves a clear protective function.
I’ll start at the top, with the eyebrows, and end at the bottom, with the a**s.
Eyebrows channel sweat away from your eyes. Shave them off and sweat runs straight into your eyes. Not exactly pleasant during exercise.
A bit lower, hair mainly acts as a filter. Nose hair and the hair deep inside your ear canal trap dust, dirt, and pathogens before they reach your mucous membranes. Remove them and you give everything a free pass.
Around the chest and armpits, hair is mostly about protection against friction and irritation. Armpit hair and the hair around the ni***es help with temperature regulation and protect the skin from minor damage. Shaving them smooth actually increases the risk of ingrown hairs and inflamed hair follicles. Exactly what your body was trying to prevent.
At the very bottom, that protective role becomes even more important. P***c hair reduces friction and protects the skin in an area with a lot of heat and a high concentration of bacteria and fungi. This is especially true around the a**s, where the skin is thin and vulnerable. One small cut is enough to invite infections you’d rather keep out.
That doesn’t mean you can’t do anything. Trimming is almost always safer than shaving and gives you control without breaking the skin.
In short, leave your functional hair alone. Sometimes less hair just means more trouble.

Video sources: SalihsWorld, BarberT, Bignoseappreciation, haleyybaylee, kctrimz, Mugen Samurai

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional. I do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for health advice; my information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Health FAQs

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30/12/2025

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