What's That Rash?

Our calcium needs can increase as we age, especially for women going through menopause.
Most Australians aren’t getting enough calcium from their diet, so are supplements a good option
Norman and Tegan discuss the conflicting evidence on calcium – in particular, could it be good for your bones, but bad for your heart?
References:
Calcium supplements have 'very little place' in modern medicine - the Health Report
Nutrient Reference Values - Calcium
Effect of age on calcium absorption in postmenopausal women
Biochemical Variables in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women: Reconciling the Calcium and Estrogen Hypotheses
Calcium Content of Common Foods - Healthy Bones Australia
Choosing a calcium supplement: What you should know about taking calcium to boost your nutrients
Calcium Supplements and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials
Association Between Calcium Supplementation and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Association Between Calcium Supplementation and Recurrence of Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A Population‐Based Cohort Study
Calcium Intake From Diet and Supplements and the Risk of Coronary Artery Calcification and its Progression Among Older Adults: 10‐Year Follow‐up of the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)
Oral Calcium Supplements Associate With Serial Coronary Calcification: Insights From Intravascular Ultrasound
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Multivitamins: Are they a scam?
Don’t Die: Is Bryan Johnson going to live forever?
Can peptides keep you young and buff?

There's a scene in the Devil Wears Prada 2 where a character is so stressed she starts "tapping" to calm herself down.
What is this self-soothing technique, and should you try it out?
Norman and Tegan talk through what Emotional Freedom Techniques, or tapping is and whether there's any evidence it lowers anxiety.
References:
How ‘tapping’ is dividing opinion in therapy circles
Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Improves Multiple Physiological Markers of Health
Neural changes after Emotional Freedom Techniques treatment for chronic pain sufferers
Emotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis 
Commentary: Emotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
A Randomized Controlled Comparison of Emotional Freedom Technique and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Adolescent Anxiety: A Pilot Study
Food for Thought: A Randomised Controlled Trial of Emotional Freedom Techniques and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the Treatment of Food Cravings
The impact of emotional freedom techniques on anxiety, depression, and anticipatory grief in people with cancer: A meta-analysis and systematic review 
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Can you train yourself to sleep less?
Why everything hurts when you turn 30
MSG's messy myths and racist tropes

Everyone wants a healthy gut, and your microbiome plays a big role in keeping you well.
So how do you know your microbiome is in top shape? Are there stinky signs that things are going right, or wrong?
Norman and Tegan breeze through the research in this live recording at the World Science Festival Brisbane.
References:
The Invisible College of Experimental Flatology
Explainer: The chemistry of farts
A widespread hydrogenase supports fermentative growth of gut bacteria in healthy people
Intestinal gas production by the gut microbiota: A review
Association of the Gut Microbiota With Cognitive Function in Midlife 
Gut microbiome predicts cognitive function and depressive symptoms in late life 
The Relationship between Gut Microbiome and Cognition in Older Australians 
Chart Your Fart - CSIRO
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Why is yawning contagious?
Why are some people right (or left) handed?

Cold season is upon us, so it’s no wonder you’re side-eyeing that person coughing on the bus.
But does a cough mean someone is still infectious? How do you know you’re in the clear to go back to work?
Norman and Tegan talk through the science, and also how attitudes have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic.
References:
How Long Does a Cough Last? Comparing Patients’ Expectations With Data From a Systematic Review of the Literature
Acute cough in outpatients: what causes it, how long does it last, and how severe is it for different viruses and bacteria? 
Estimating influenza latency and infectious period durations using viral excretion data
Duration of viral infectiousness and correlation with symptoms and diagnostic testing in non-hospitalized adults during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection: A longitudinal cohort study
How the pandemic shaped presenteeism trends between healthcare and non-healthcare workers using the Korean working conditions surveys (2010–2023) 
Sickness Presenteeism in the Aftermath of COVID-19: Is Presenteeism Remote-Work Behavior the New (Ab)normal? 
Over‐the‐counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settings
Comprehensive evidence-based review on European antitussives
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Is it OK to exercise when you're sick?
Are office jobs ruining our bodies?
Should you add snail slime to your skincare routine?

Have you heard the phrases, "aches and pain, coming rains" or about "ill health due to evil winds"? 
Many people believe they can feel a change in weather coming on because pain flares in their joints. 
Norman and Tegan unpack what could be going on, and whether it's backed by scientific evidence. 
References:
Associations between weather conditions and osteoarthritis pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis 
Come rain or shine: Is weather a risk factor for musculoskeletal pain? A systematic review with meta-analysis of case-crossover studies
Cloudy with a chance of pain: How the weather affects the pain of citizen scientists using a smartphone app 
Temperature extremes causing gout flare hospitalisation
Can aching joints really predict the weather? Exploring the science behind the stormy debate 
What triggers weather-related joint pain? - Harvard Health
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You'll catch your death! Does cold weather cause colds?
Can consuming dairy really give you acne?
How risky is sharing a toothbrush?