Sunday, June 1, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

How to avoid tick bites this summer

Published 28 May 2023
– By Editorial Staff
Walk your dog on well-trodden paths to reduce the risk of ticks.

Eating garlic and applying coconut oil to your body this summer can reduce the risk of tick bites. There are also other natural ways to deter the parasites.

Why some people suffer more tick bites than others is partly unclear. A 2018 study found that ticks were more attracted to people with blood group A and least to those with B. Some researchers also suggest that it is a matter of body odor and that ticks can be attracted to people who exude ammonia, carbon dioxide or body heat, for example.

There are a lot of tick repellents on the market, both for animals and humans, but they can often contain some substances that are not very healthy. Some say that a number of natural items you have at home can help.

Garlic

Garlic lovers can feel slightly safer from tick bites, some say. Ticks are supposed to dislike garlic, and eating it regularly can scare them away. In a major Swedish study that began in 1998, doctor Johan Berglund investigated how garlic worked against ticks on 100 coastal rangers in the Swedish navy. The results showed that among those who ate garlic capsules, 30 percent more people avoided bites altogether, and those who did get ticks had 30 percent fewer bites.

Note that this only works on humans, animals can get sick from eating garlic and other onions.

Coconut oil

According to insect researcher Anders Lindström, the lauric acid in coconut oil should deter ticks. A 2008 study also supports the idea that coconut oil works well as a tick repellent and you can apply the oil to yourself and your animals. For example, Veronica Axelsson told tax-funded SVT in 2019 how she almost completely avoided ticks on her dogs using only coconut oil.

Rosemary

A 2010 study showed that rosemary remedies were effective against ticks. Here’s how to make your own rosemary decoction:

Boil about one liter of water. Remove the pan from the heat and add a jar of dried rosemary or a few sprigs of fresh rosemary, then leave the mixture to cool under a lid. Adding a little thyme should also be effective, but is not essential. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and add a tablespoon of white wine vinegar. Spray on the skin before going into tick-infested areas. This should also work on animals. The concoction keeps for about two weeks.

Cloves

A 2006 study looked at different essential oils for tick bites and found that clove was a good option. It should work best if you buy clove as an essential oil and apply it, and you can try making a decoction as with rosemary. When it comes to animals, however, you should be careful with essential oils in general as they can be harmful.

Animals and ticks

Get into the habit of examining your animal every day. One tip is to buy a clothes roller, which is used to remove hair from clothes, and roll the animal from time to time. Ticks that have not yet settled can then get stuck on the roller. It also doesn’t hurt to brush the animal (outdoors) regularly. Ticks often settle around the neck or in armpits, for example. Keep a tick remover or similar readily available to quickly remove ticks from the animal.

Amber collars

Something that is both stylish and effective in preventing ticks is to use an amber collar. Amber is said to create a static charge in the animal’s fur that makes it harder for ticks to settle. Apparently, amber also emits a scent that ticks do not like.

Electromagnetic tick pendants

As with amber, these are supposed to work by electromagnetic charge and thus repel ticks, according to some. It should easily attach to any dog or cat collar.

Removing ticks

It is important to remove the tick as quickly as possible. This can be done with tweezers or with a special tick remover available from pharmacies, for example. Some people take a piece of paper and pinch the tick as close to the skin as possible. When removing it, pull straight out, don’t twist and try to avoid squeezing it too much. You can then flush the tick down the drain, burn it or put it in a glass jar with alcohol/ethanol. The alcohol should be at least 40 percent, says Professor Thomas Jaenson according to Land.se.

Tick-proofing tips

When staying in the forest, or in other places where there is a risk of encountering ticks, it can be advantageous to wear covering clothes, especially on the legs. Tuck your pants into your socks if possible. Smooth fabrics and even rubber boots make it more difficult for ticks to follow you home. One tip is to cover your arms and legs with regular nylon tights as the ticks will slide off the fabric.

Some people say that dark clothes are better than light ones as ticks are more attracted to light fabrics, while others say that light ones are better as it is easier to see the ticks. Regardless of your choice of clothes, you should brush them off thoroughly before entering your home.

Many people are afraid of ticks for understandable reasons, but don’t let this fear prevent you from spending time in nature. Nature is a source of health and well-being that should be taken advantage of. Those who have a little extra difficulty getting over their fear can stay on well-trodden paths and avoid high grass and rough terrain.

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Use of obesity drugs surges in Finland

Published 27 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Sales of obesity medication have skyrocketed in Finland in just a few years.

The use of obesity medication increased significantly in Finland last year – many more Finns were treated for obesity compared to 2023. At the same time, opinions are divided on the effectiveness of the treatment.

A total of 75,000 Finns used medicines for weight loss or obesity treatment in 2024. This is an increase of 20% compared to 2023, according to the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela). In five years, the number of users has increased more than elevenfold.

Semaglutide, sold under brands such as Ozempic and Wegovy, is the most popular. Originally designed as a drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, this type of medicine is not reimbursed if it is used for obesity alone. This means that Finns have to foot the bill themselves, which can be over €260 each month.

It is also unclear how effective this type of weight loss medication really is, but Pia Pajunen, an expert physician at Kela, says it is not a quick fix for losing weight.

If you stop using the obesity medication, the weight often starts to increase again quickly. It’s important that both doctors and patients are aware that research shows these medications generally need to be used long-term, she says in a press release.

Good fitness may prevent dementia

Published 27 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff

People at risk of dementia can reduce their risk by improving their fitness, according to a study from Karolinska Institutet. The study shows that the risk can be reduced by up to 35%.

In the study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers used data from 61,214 dementia-free people, drawn from the UK Biobank database. The participants, who were aged between 39 and 70, were followed over a period of 12 years.

On enrollment, participants completed a six-minute cycle test to measure fitness, and neurological tests were done to estimate their cognitive function. The researchers also examined genetic predisposition to dementia.

During the 12-year follow-up period, a total of 553 people were diagnosed with dementia, representing 0.9%.

The results show that better fitness is linked to reduced dementia risk and improved cognitive function. According to Weili Xu, Professor of Geriatric Epidemiology in the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, good fitness can reduce the risk of all forms of dementia by up to 35%.

– Our findings suggest that maintaining good fitness may be a strategy for preventing dementia, even among people with high genetic susceptibility, she says in a press release.

The researchers also emphasize that this is an observational study, so it is not possible to determine cause and effect. The number of dementia cases may also have been underestimated, they add, as UK Biobank participants are generally healthier than the general population.

Ultra-processed food may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease

Published 21 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff

Extra-processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to a particularly increased risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease, according to a study from Lund University.

Ultra-processed food is food that has undergone extensive processing and contains a high proportion of added chemicals compared to “regular” processed food. This type of food is often cheap, heavily marketed and has become an increasingly important part of the Western diet in recent years.

In the study, published in Clinical Nutrition, researchers followed 27 670 participants from the Malmö Diet Cancer Study over 23 years, with funding from the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation.

The results show that a high intake of highly processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages is linked to an increased risk of premature death, death from cardiovascular disease and death from respiratory disease. There is an increased risk for women.

– Over-processed foods are often rich in salt, fat and added sugars, but often poor in fiber, vitamins and nutrients. Limiting intake can reduce the risk of premature death, says Emily Sonestedt, associate professor at Lund University and lead researcher of the study, in a press release.

Ultra-processed food is markedly different from what humans have been eating for thousands of years, but the long-term effects on health have yet to be studied in depth. However, links between this type of food have previously been made to depression and type 2 diabetes. At the same time, the researchers point out that more studies are needed on the subject.

–  More research is needed to better understand how ultra-processed food affects the body. In future studies, we will be able to analyze current dietary data in the Swedish population and learn more about the relationship with cardiovascular disease, says Kristina Sparreljung, Secretary General of the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation.

Sauerkraut may help your stomach

Published 11 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff

Sauerkraut may protect the intestinal lining from inflammation, according to an American study. During fermentation, the nutritional content of cabbage changes – including an increase in levels of lactic acid, amino acids, and other beneficial substances that are formed during the breakdown and can promote gut health.

Fermentation is a natural process where microorganisms like lactic acid bacteria and yeast break down sugars in food. This often results in the conversion of sugar into lactic acid or alcohol. The process not only helps preserve the food – it also produces probiotics, meaning live bacteria that are beneficial for the gut.

Fermented foods have been eaten for thousands of years around the world. For example, eating fermented vegetables makes the nutrients in the food easier for the body to absorb, and some studies show that vitamin levels can actually increase. There are also studies that suggest fermented foods can have positive effects on health, particularly for digestion and the immune system.

Sauerkraut better than raw cabbage

Researchers at the University of California Davis in the USA tested whether the nutrients in sauerkraut could help protect intestinal cells from inflammation-related damage. The study compared sauerkraut, raw cabbage, and the brine left over after the cabbage fermentation process.

The experiments were conducted on an artificial intestinal wall exposed to inflammation by adding so-called cytokines – which are known to damage the intestinal lining. These can be activated in the gut, for example, by consuming too much ultra-processed food or too much sugar or salt.

Fermentation increases beneficial substances

The results showed that sauerkraut can protect the intestinal lining from inflammation caused by cytokines. Raw cabbage and the brine, however, did not help protect the gut. It didn’t matter whether the sauerkraut was store-bought or homemade.

Chemical analyses show that fermentation changes the nutritional profile of cabbage and increases the amount of beneficial metabolites such as lactic acid, amino acids, and plant compounds, which in turn are linked to gut health. These changes may explain why fermented foods are often associated with digestive benefits.

– Some of the metabolites we find in the sauerkraut are the same kind of metabolites we’re finding to be made by the gut microbiome, so that gives us a little more confidence that this connection we found between the metabolites in sauerkraut and good gut health makes sense, says Professor Maria Marco in a press release.

The researchers have found hundreds of different metabolites that are formed during fermentation and that they are now working to determine which ones play the biggest role in supporting long-term gut health. The next step in the research is to conduct studies in humans to see if the gut-protective metabolites found in sauerkraut can have the same positive effects when included in the daily diet, as was shown in the lab.

A little bit of sauerkraut could go a long way, she says. We should be thinking about including these fermented foods in our regular diets and not just as a side on our hot dogs.

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