QUARK UNIVERSITY

“You are what you eat” is an adage known to everyone. But what we do before a meal also has a great impact on our health. I am going to tell you about 9 things you can’t do on an empty stomach (no less than 2 hours after your last meal). As a bonus, you’ll find information about what you can do when you’re hungry at the end of the article. 9. Take anti-inflammatories Aspirin, paracetamol, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can’t be taken on an empty stomach. Not only does it reduce their effectiveness but it causes serious health problems (such as gastric bleeding) as well. Read here about other medicines not to be taken on an empty stomach. Advice: Milk lowers the negative effects of NSAIDs. If it’s not available, you can wash the drug down with plenty of water. 8. Drink coffee Even decaffeinated coffee stimulates the production of acid that might cause heartburn and other digestive tract issues if drunk on an empty stomach. Skipping breakfast even after c...

Your bones are incredibly strong. Ounce for ounce, bone is stronger than steel. One cubic inch of bone can withstand the weight of five standard pickup trucks, give or take a few pounds. If you’re looking for the specifics to snap a piece of your skeleton, it takes about 4,000 newtons of force to break the typical human femur. But don’t run out and start applying pressure to femurs and then get upset at us when things don’t crack correctly. A lot depends on the bone itself, its position in the body, and the angle of attack. The age, diet, and lifestyle of the bone-owner also plays a role. Before you go all Chuck Norris on bystanders to try this yourself.

Science has made great progress in deepening our understanding of dreaming . Still, there is no answer to the question: Why do we dream? There are, however, a great number of theories being explored. While some scientists posit that dreaming has no direct function—but instead is a consequence of other biological processes that occur during sleep —many studying sleep and dreams believe dreaming serves a primary purpose. Theories of dreaming span scientific disciplines, from psychiatry and psychology to neurobiology. Some current theories suggest that dreaming is: A component and form of memory processing , aiding in the consolidation of learning and short-term memory to long-term memory storage. An extension of waking consciousness, reflecting the experiences of waking life. A means by which the mind works through difficult, complicated, unsettling thoughts, emotions, and experiences, to achieve psychological and emotional balance. The brain responding to biochemical ch...

From hiccups to brain freeze, you’re intimately familiar with many strange things your body does. The reason why these things happen, however, is a bit more elusive. Here, we shed light on 11 bodily processes you know well, but might not fully understand. 1. CHARLEY HORSES ARE MUSCLE SPASMS. Muscle cramps are common while exercising, but they can also strike when you least expect it (like in the middle of the night). Charley horses, which can occur in almost any muscle but are most common in the legs, are actually muscle spasms. They occur when your muscles suddenly tighten and don’t release for several minutes. These spasms can happen for any number of reasons, including poor circulation, overexertion, insufficient stretching, dehydration, or potassium deficiency. 2. ITCHINESS COMES FROM YOUR BRAIN. It’s long been believed that humans experience itchiness so that we can keep harmful irritants—like insects—at bay (when we scratch an itch, it makes that pesky pest leave our skin). ...