Your nails aren’t just tiny keratin shields — they’re surprisingly good health reporters. Here are the top doctor-approved nail changes and what they might mean. 1. Pale or White Nails If your nails look unusually pale or whitish, it can be a sign of: Anemia (most common) Low protein levels Heart or liver issues in rare cases Quick check: If the rest of you feels fatigued, cold, or dizzy, get a blood test. 2. Yellow Nails Yellow nails are usually caused by fungal infections, but they can also...
about 20 hours ago • 1 min read
Hello fellow Earthlings, I hope you are having a relaxed and fun-filled weekend. I often get asked why I wrote 'Attack on Planet Falrus'. Now, this is a tough question for me, because I wrote the book when I was only 17. The honest answer is, I was bored, and wanted to entertain myself. That's the truth. But, when I think of this much deeper, I suddenly want to know, why did I need to create my own content to entertain myself at 17? There are enough books, enough comics, enough television,...
7 days ago • 4 min read
🪙 Why Your Mouth Tastes Like Metal (Even If You Didn’t Lick a Battery :) If your mouth suddenly tastes like you’ve been chewing on loose change, you’re dealing with dysgeusia, a metallic taste that’s common and usually harmless. Here are the top causes, the quick fixes, and when it’s time to check in with a real human doctor. 🔟 Top Causes of a Metallic Taste 1. Medications Antibiotics, antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure meds, and even multivitamins with zinc or copper can change...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Hello, health-conscious friends, As a doctor (GP) I often get panicked emails or text messages from friends and family (and it is invariably at night, :) asking, 'what does this mean on my blood results sheet?' And this is quite apart from my own patients who ask for their results to be sent to them, (instead of the results discussion appointment I invariably offer) and then panic-call my receptionist when something does not look right (aka marked 'red' on the lab results sheet). So I thought...
15 days ago • 2 min read
Hello fellow Spacetravellers, I hope you are having a wonderful week so far. For those of you in the Northern Hemisphere who have already experienced snow this Winter, hope it didn't cause too much havoc :) I wanted to discuss the topic of intergalactic travel, as you do :) Some of you have asked about this concept in 'Attack on Planet Falrus'. Well, instead of writing at length about it, I am just going to show you. Yes, today's newsletter is a short video. It's a video I already posted to...
15 days ago • 1 min read
Most people think smoothies = instant health. But in the clinic (and on social media), we see the same pattern over and over: “Doc, I drink a smoothie every morning… why am I still gaining weight and crashing at 2 PM?” The answer often isn’t the blender. It’s the sugar overload disguised as wellness. Today we break down the sneaky smoothie ingredients spiking your blood sugar, trashing your energy, and sabotaging your health… and exactly how to fix it. 🧠 The Problem: Smoothies Can Hit Sugar...
22 days ago • 2 min read
If you’re looking for one simple habit that can boost a child’s creativity, language skills, emotional intelligence, and even academic success, look no further than storytelling. Long before textbooks and apps, humans learned through stories—and modern research shows kids still thrive on them. 1. Storytelling Supercharges Language & Literacy Children who regularly listen to stories develop stronger vocabularies, better sentence structure, and improved reading comprehension. A landmark study...
22 days ago • 2 min read
Storyplanet by Joanna Monigatti Dear Earthlings, If you’ve ever looked at your rent, your grocery bill, or the general state of humanity and thought, “There has to be a better planet,” — good news. There is. It’s called Planet Falrus. Featured in my sci-fi thriller Attack on Planet Falrus, (link below), this distant world may be under threat of invasion — but trust me, it still beats our home planet in almost every way. Here are five reasons why life on Planet Falrus leaves Earth in the...
29 days ago • 1 min read
A 27-year-old woman walks in looking totally normal… Except for one tiny detail: ✅ Angry red rash ✅ All over her torso ✅ And somehow… ✅ Smells exactly like maple syrup? Not fruity. Not sweaty-gym-socky. Straight-up IHOP on a Sunday morning. 🥞🍁 Nurses were confused. Patients were hungry. One doctor almost grabbed butter. So what on earth was happening? 🧠 First thoughts in the ER Doctors ran through the usual suspects: Fungal infection? No, that smells like musty chees Bacterial infection? No,...
29 days ago • 1 min read