Category: Health and medicine

Trace amounts of gold, about 0.2 milligrams, are naturally present in the human body, but the core question remains: does gold break down in the body when ingested or used in medical applications? The answer depends largely on its form, as pure, metallic gold behaves very differently from its ionic or nanoparticle counterparts.

According to the U.S. FDA, taking potassium iodide (KI) can provide safe and effective protection against thyroid cancer caused by radioactive iodine exposure in a radiation emergency. This makes the most significant benefit of taking potassium iodine a crucial public health measure in a very specific scenario, not a daily supplement.

Monosodium phosphate, often referred to as sodium acid phosphate, is a versatile chemical compound used across numerous industries, with some forms having been in use since the late 19th century. It is most widely known for its ability to regulate acidity and act as an effective leavening agent in baked goods.

Sodium benzoate, an internationally recognized food preservative, was the first preservative approved by the FDA for use in foods. Primarily known for its ability to prevent microbial growth in acidic foods, sodium benzoate offers a range of benefits that extend far beyond the kitchen, impacting the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries as well.

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a standard metric teaspoon contains exactly 5 milliliters. This means that the precise answer to how much is 1.25 mL in spoons is one-quarter of a teaspoon, a critical distinction for accuracy in cooking, baking, and particularly for dosing medication.

According to UNICEF, the use of oral rehydration therapy is estimated to have saved around 70 million lives since its introduction in the late 1970s. A key component of this success is the Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) based on the specific formula developed and promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

For centuries, scurvy was one of the greatest perils of the sea, claiming more lives than storms or naval battles. Before the link between vitamin C and the disease was understood, sailors dealt with scurvy through a mix of folk remedies, unproven medical theories, and, eventually, scientific experimentation.