The GTK-Vault

The blog where curiosity unlocks what’s useful — by SK

Category: Body & Health

To Lasik or Not to Lasik…

By

On August 30, 2023

In Body & Health

That is the question when one has had enough of glasses, contact lenses, and blurry vision. Whether to correct myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, LASIK is the most popular elective eye surgery used to treat these ailments. However, while elegant in its simplicity, it isn’t right for everyone.

A while ago, I considered undergoing the procedure. Following the promise of a cozy life free of glasses and contacts, I dug into the rabbit hole. I went from how it works and how it emerged to its risks, costs, and true capabilities. I share my findings in this article in the hope that those interested in LASIK can discover the basics at length.

Read More

Eliminating Periods with Hormonal Contraceptives

By

On November 6, 2021

In Body & Health

The possibility of eliminating periods with hormonal contraceptives had never occurred to me until January 2019, when the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare updated its guidelines on combined hormonal contraception. The update highlights the lack of health benefits of the 7-day hormone-free interval and states that women can safely skip it to avoid menstruating. A short Google search uncovered the fact that many users of the combined pill were already taking it without pause.

Prompted by this new information, I also went ahead to discover that the use of the combined pill without pause isn’t the only method to eliminate periods. While other hormonal contraceptives offer this possibility too, this isn’t exactly common knowledge.

So in this piece, I explore the menstrual cycle, the safety of eliminating periods with hormonal contraceptives, the different options, and the benefits of living period-free.

Read More

The Truth About Contact Lens Lifespan: Planned Obsolescence or Eye Health?

By

On July 25, 2021

In Body & Health

Good eyesight doesn’t come cheap—and contact lenses are a perfect example. They rarely feel ‘used up’ when their official replacement date arrives. Maybe you’ve stretched a daily lens into three days, or worn your monthly pair for an extra couple of weeks. If nothing felt wrong, it’s natural to wonder: are we simply being nudged into buying new ones more often than necessary? Could this be a subtle case of planned obsolescence?

Or is there more to the story?

Read More

Do We Really Need Three Meals a Day? History, Myths & Hunger Science

By

On June 14, 2021

In Body & Health

“You need to eat three meals a day; otherwise, your teeth will fall out.”

That was my husband’s brilliant theory during one of our afternoon walks. According to him, chewing is what keeps teeth in place—skip a meal, and they’ll tumble right out. A Brothers Grimm explanation for modern nutrition if there ever was one.

As funny as it sounds, his story got us thinking: why do we believe in the three-meal-a-day rule at all? Who decided breakfast, lunch, and dinner should rule our lives? In this article, we’ll explore the surprising history of the three-meal day, why our hunger cues aren’t as fixed as we think, and whether our bodies actually need this schedule.

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén