Those living with excess weight often feel their lack of willpower and need for convenience is the main reason they choose taste over health. But, you may be surprised to know that the “foods” on the shelves of grocery stores, schools, work canteens, and pretty much everywhere in between, are engineered for addiction, in the same way as cigarettes or illicit drugs.

They call it “hyperpalatable foods”, the inevitable consequence of making sugar, salt, and hydrogenated oil the main ingredient of most processed and ultra-processed food products. To compensate for the flavour eliminating preservation processes that gives these foods their long-shelf life, food scientists have steadily tinkered with obesogenic, carcinogenic, and metabolic disruptive ingredients and chemicals to entice consumers into buying large quantities of their product.

In September 2023, the government reported that they were launching an inquiry into unregulated cosmetic activities, in an effort to protect consumers from “botched” procedures like Botox. The UK government news report went on to say that there were around 900,000 Botox injections each year, and in 2022 there were over 2,000 complaints related to the injection.

But were these complaints for botched procedures? Botox, short for botulinum toxin, is derived from clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that produces dangerous biological substances that attack the nervous system. Specifically, Botox blocks the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for muscle contraction. While orthodox medicine uses Botox in medical management[i] (despite there being far less toxic alternatives), more commonly, it’s used as an aesthetic treatment to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. This article will discuss the long-term consequences of Botox, and why consumers may truly be unhappy with the results, and it’s not because it needs further regulation.

Black women have had a steady increase in reproductive health issues since the advent of chemical hair straighteners. And Black women are now twice as likely as white women to have infertility according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Alicia Smith of Cleveland, Ohio US had no family of history of cancer at all, but developed uterine cancer at the age of 41. She had been using hair straightening products since she was 13 years old. Alicia is suing L'Oreal, Strength of Nature, SoftSheen-Carson (Dark & Lovely, Optimum and others), Luster, and Godrej Consumer Products (African Pride products).

“For too long, the cosmetics industry has failed to warn consumers of the presence of harmful chemicals in hair relaxers,” Smith’s attorney, Ashlie Case Sletvold, told Cleveland.com. “This has led to devastating consequences for women like Alicia Smith.”

As an alternative health coach, as well as a naturopathy, herbal medicine student, I watch the news and scream at those who minimise this conflict as just another thing that is happening amidst rising inflation and changing weather conditions. This is a serious affront to human potential, as there are multifaceted health impacts from the scarcity of essential resources. There are risks of injury, global disease, environmental degradation, and long-term mental illness due to the psychological trauma and generational scars left by violent conflict. Depraved violence is unnatural to humans, as our essence thrives and progresses when we live in a peaceful environment that respects the body, mind and spirit. That honours life and security. That values our continuation as a species, without induced health defect or disease.

In recent years, lab-grown meat, also known as cultured or synthetic meat, has garnered significant attention as a potential solution to address the supposed environmental and ethical concerns associated with traditional livestock farming. Living in a highly scientific era has it’s perks, but not so much with food. With the growing knowledge and acceptance from the mainstream health community that processed foods have long-term deleterious effects on health, the idea of producing a even more complex form of processed food is simply frightening.

Abortion is a complex and deeply personal trauma to the body that can have a significant emotional and physical impact on those who undergo the procedure. Regardless of the circumstances that led to the procedure, it's essential to recognise and address the potential emotional toll abortion can have on individuals.

Erectile dysfunction (ED), often referred to as impotence, is a condition that affects millions of men worldwide. While it can be a sensitive topic, it's essential to discuss openly to understand its causes and treatment options fully. In this article, we'll explore the common physical and emotional causes of ED, traditional pharmaceutical treatments with their side effects, and natural alternatives to manage and potentially reverse this condition.