Tag: health and medicine

Microdosing Psychedelics

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Microdosing medicinal psychedelics has ignited debate in recent years. Although there are a number of research supporting its potential benefits, the overall evidence remains in its early stages, leaving both healthcare professionals and prospective users uncertain about its true therapeutic impact.

Let’s read the article and gain a deeper understanding of the current research and perspectives on microdosing medicinal psychedelics.

https://apnews.com/article/microdosing-lsd-mushrooms-psychedelic-psilocybin-390c99ba54ef9d75727f39e2ec78fb34

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “acid trip” mean? “This isn’t a full-blown acid trip — or even close. If you see visions, it’s not a microdose.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of “to open the door to something“? “Further opening the door to microdosing, a handful of cities have officially directed police to make psychedelics a low priority for enforcement.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. Define the term “altered (state of) consciousness“. “It seems I was able to generate a powerful ‘altered consciousness’ experience based only (on) the expectation around the possibility of a microdose.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does microdosing psychedelics mean? Share your own opinion about microdosing psychedelics.
  2. Do you see psychedelic therapy gaining mainstream acceptance down the line? Why or why not?
  3. How widespread do you think microdosing is in your country? Why do you think this is the case?
  4. What are the laws surrounding psychedelics in your country?

The Mere Thought of Being Hungry Could Alter Your Immune System

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For a long time, scientists believed that fasting altered the immune system simply because the body was deprived of nutrients. However, new research in Science Immunology is rewriting that story. It turns out that neurons in the brain ,and not the gut, play the key role in regulating immune cells. AgRP neurons in the hypothalamus, which trigger feelings of hunger, can influence immune cell levels purely by creating the perception of hunger, rather than actual food deprivation.

Let’s read the article and know more details about the connection between perception of hunger and the immune system.

https://www.sciencealert.com/the-mere-thought-of-being-hungry-could-alter-your-immune-system

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “first line of defense” mean? “These cells are part of the immune system’s first line of defence and play a critical role in regulating inflammation.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “to dial down” mean? “When the hunger neurons were turned on, they dialled down nutrient-sensing in the liver by reducing sympathetic activity.” Use it in your own sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “wasting syndrome” mean? “If these findings are confirmed in humans, this new data could, in future, have real-world implications for diseases where the immune system becomes overactive – such as cardiovascular diseases, multiple sclerosis, and wasting syndrome in cancer patients.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on the findings of this research?
  2. How does hunger affect how you feel or how much energy you have?
  3. What comfort foods help you when you’re unwell?
  4. What aspect of the human brain do you find the most remarkable?
  5. If you were a medical researcher, what field would you specialize in? Why?

Noise-Cancelling Headphones Cause Hearing Problems

B1 – Intermediate

A BBC report highlights concerns that noise-cancelling earphones, popular among young people, may be contributing to hearing problems. Experts suggest that prolonged use could affect listening skills and make it harder to process important sounds.

Read the article to know more.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2502/250220-noise-cancelling-headphones.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “complain” mean? “She said there was an increase in the number of young people complaining about poor hearing.” Use this word in a sentence.
  2. What does “filter out” mean? “Our ears must filter out sounds we don’t think are important.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What is “audiologist”? “Another audiologist suggested that headphones can lead to bad listening habits.” Use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you noticed any hearing issues from using earphones or headphones? Talk about it.
  2. Do you prefer using regular earphones or noise-cancelling ones? Why?
  3. Do you think hearing tests should be done to people who use headphones frequently? Explain.
  4. What will happen if we forget to hear important sounds?

Why Can’t We Stop Eating Certain Foods?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Why do we struggle to stop eating certain foods? Many processed foods are carefully designed to be irresistible, using a mix of science, psychology, and strategic marketing to keep consumers coming back for more. These foods are engineered to enhance taste, texture, and even how they feel in our mouths, tricking our brains into craving them while making us feel less full than we actually are.

To explore how these factors influence our eating habits, watch the video and prepare to answer the questions below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “sonic branding” mean? “Even the sound of food matters. When you open a fizzy soda, you’ve got two noises. You’ve got the click and the tear. Sound engineers and manufacturers work really hard to get that sound just right and that’s sonic branding.“ Use this term in a sentence.
  2. What does “scurrilous” mean? “Clearly, there’s an opportunity there for some kind of scurrilous behavior in making food softer, so that people will eat more and therefore you sell more of your product.” Give two (2) synonyms and use it in a sentence.
  3. Explain “vanishing caloric density“. “There’s an industry term for this light, puffy foods that melt in the mouth. It’s called ‘vanishing caloric density’. “ Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does “sonic branding” influence consumer behavior, and can you think of other examples where sound is used to shape brand identity?
  2. In what ways do food companies use science and psychology to encourage overconsumption, and how can consumers become more aware of these tactics?
  3. How does “vanishing caloric density” impact public health? What health risks could it pose, and how might different stakeholders—such as food manufacturers, health professionals, and educators—help mitigate its effects?
  4. How does multi-sensory eating influence our food choices? How might companies apply this knowledge to make products both appealing and healthier? Can you give some specific examples?
  5. Is consumer education enough to protect people from the negative effects of processed foods? What challenges do they face in making healthier choices? Should stronger measures be taken? If so, what specific actions could help?

Full Body Scans to Keep Us Healthy

B2- Upper Intermediate 

There has been a growing interest on how life-threatening diseases could be detected early on and therefore, be prevented sooner. 

Neko Health offers low cost full body scans that enable patients to receive comprehensive medical consultations.

Watch the video to know more about Neko Health and their full body scans. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0k48k60/can-full-body-scans-help-to-keep-us-healthy-

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “at the core” mean? “Neko Health was co-founded by Spotify founder Daniel Ek, so unsurprisingly, has tech at its core.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “a good nose” mean? “Apart from my grip strength needing some work, I had a screen of optimal readings. Then, came a good nose inside my veins.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What are “wearables”? “I think what we should be promoting isn’t these scans, but is actually people getting wearables.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about this kind of consultation? Would you be interested to go to one?
  2. Talk about clinics such as this in your country. 
  3. Speak about a typical comprehensive medical consultation in your country.
  4. What is your opinion on this, “If someone is healthy, it’s unnecessary to check things.”?
  5. In your opinion, do you agree or disagree that wearables are better than body scans? Explain.

Get Kidney Stones by Following Carnivore Diet 

B1- Intermediate 

Nowadays, we see all kinds of diets that are being promoted by influencers on social media. We need to be very cautious not to just follow any of them. It is important to know more information about it and best that we first consult with our doctor or nutritionist if we plan to go on some kind of diet.

Read the article about the influencer who developed kidney stones after following the carnivore diet.

Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2503/250320-carnivore-diet.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the “carnivore diet”. “A 23-year-old woman followed the carnivore diet and ended up in hospital.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What are “kidney stones”? “She explained in a TikTok video how the high-protein diet gave her kidney stones.” Use the term in a sentence.
  3. What does “to pass blood” mean? “She was horrified after she passed blood in her urine.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. What is your opinion about the carnivore diet?
  3. What are the good and bad things about the carnivore diet? 
  4. What might be the other effects of the carnivore diet on our body/health? 
  5. Share your thoughts on this, “The carnivore diet has been growing in popularity on social media. Many influencers and content creators are promoting its benefits.”.

Genetic Risk Factors for Depression

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The study calculated 308 genes associated with a higher risk of depression and explored the impact of over 1,600 medications, identifying existing drugs like Pregabalin and Modafinil that could potentially treat depression. The findings aim to enhance the accuracy of predicting depression risks and diversify treatment options.

Read the article to know how experts welcomed the study’s diverse representation and emphasized addressing broader societal factors, such as poverty and racism, for depression prevention.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jan/14/scientists-find-hundreds-more-genetic-risk-factors-for-depression

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the term “genetic risk factor”. ” A global study has identified 300 previously unknown genetic risk factors for depression because it included a much wider population sample.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “gene pool” mean? “Responding to the findings, Dr David Crepaz-Keay, the head of research and applied learning at the Mental Health Foundation, said that the study’s diverse gene pool was “a significant step forward” but that genetic risk factors should not be used as a definitive guide to treatment.
    “     Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the word “cumulative” mean? “While each genetic risk factor for depression is very small, the cumulative impact for individuals with multiple DNA variants, can increase their risk, the study found.” Use it in a sentence and give 2 synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about the idea that genetics play a significant role in depression?
  2. Does it change how you view mental health conditions?Now that researchers have identified hundreds of genetic risk factors for depression, do you think this will lead to more effective treatments in the near future?
  3. Would you consider taking a genetic test to assess your risk for depression if it could help with early intervention? Why or why not?
  4. Since genetics is only one factor in depression, what other influences—like environment, lifestyle, or stress—do you think play an equally important role?
  5. Share your thoughts on this, “Previous research into depression has primarily involved white, richer populations.“.

Huge Health Benefit of Coffee

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Recent research published in Nature Microbiology reveals that coffee consumption supports the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Analyzing stool samples from nearly 22,867 participants, the study found that coffee drinkers had higher levels of the beneficial bacterium Lachnospiraceae asaccharolyticus. Coffee’s polyphenols, including chlorogenic and quinic acid, may act as prebiotics, encouraging the growth of good bacteria in the gut. A diverse microbiome is crucial for overall health, influencing immune cells, digestion, and potentially impacting conditions like obesity and heart disease.

Read the article to know why moderate coffee consumption, even with added milk or sugar, can promote beneficial gut bacteria.

https://www.foodandwine.com/coffee-gut-health-benefits-11693595

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “eye-opening” mean? “Recent research found a surprising link between coffee and gut health, and the findings are eye-opening.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  2. Explain “gut health”. “As if coffee drinkers needed another excuse to keep brewing their favorite cup, new research suggests that coffee is beneficial for gut health.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. Explain the word “tout”. “Known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, coffee has long been touted for its many health benefits.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever noticed any changes in your digestion or gut health after drinking coffee regularly? Talk about it.
  2. Knowing that coffee may act as a prebiotic, do you think this will change how much or how often you drink it? Why or why not?
  3. Since coffee can support beneficial gut bacteria, do you think adding probiotics or fiber-rich foods to your diet could enhance the effect? Explain.
  4. Some people experience stomach discomfort from coffee—do you think the benefits outweigh the potential downsides for gut health? Explain.
  5. What are other ways to promote good gut health?

Teens Worried about Muscle Size

B1 – Intermediate 

In recent times, we have seen a revolution in people’s interest in physical health. More and more people exercise and go to the gym, including teenagers and young people in their early 20s.

However, an increasing number of youths are suffering from a psychological disorder called muscle dysmorphia or bigorexia. 

Read the article about the rise in the number of young people suffering from bigorexia and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2502/250224-bigorexia-muscle-dysmorphia.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “self-image” mean? “Bigorexia is a psychological condition…which involves a distorted self-image that focuses specifically on muscle size and physical appearance.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘self-image’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “exacerbate” mean? “Social media may be a factor in exacerbating the problem.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘exacerbate’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “overwhelm” mean? “Youngsters can be overwhelmed with images of people with the “perfect” body.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ’overwhelm’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is the same happening to young people in your country? Talk about it in detail.
  2. What might be the factors that contribute to the rise of youths getting anxious about their muscles?
  3. Should there be stricter regulations on muscle-building supplements and anabolic steroids? Share your insights.
  4. How can cases of bigorexia be reduced?
  5. What other disorders could youngsters suffer from and what do you think leads to these conditions?

Walking Backwards Good for Your Health and Brain

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Walking is by far the most accessible and simplest form of exercise. People who don’t like indoor workouts prefer to just take a walk as their form of exercise. But what if you can spice this up by walking backwards? Walking backward, also known as retro walking, is the latest social media workout obsession. There are a lot of claims as to the benefits of this unusual form of workout.

Let’s read the article to find out the benefits of retro-walking.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20231110-why-walking-backwards-can-be-good-for-your-health-and-brain

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “grain of truth” mean? “So it seems there is more than a grain of truth in Harmon’s claim to superior ankle strength, even if it was likely he took a few train journeys along the way.“ Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “cohort” mean? “And in another study led by Dufek, a cohort of five athletes self-reported a reduction in lower back pain after periods of backwards walking.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  3. What is the meaning of “incongruous“? “It found that participants stepping backwards had the fastest reaction times, perhaps because their brains were already used to performing an incongruous task.”Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on the benefits of retro-walking?
  2. Would you feel comfortable walking backward in public? Why or why not?
  3. Do you like going for walks? Do you prefer walking alone or with others? Speak about this.
  4. Are there any new and unusual forms of exercise you’ve recently tried? Talk about it.
  5. What is most challenging type of workout for you? Why?