By garyyang

Gary Yang is currently a first year MSc student in the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences. His research interest focuses on using systemic approaches to determine the factors underlying appetite, weight gain and diabetes. He spends most of his free time playing basketball at the local gym.  On weekends, he enjoys eating at various restaurants in the city or cooking up new recipes at home.

EYES WIDE OPEN: DISPELLING MYTHS AND UNCOVERING TRUTHS BEHIND CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION

World’s favourite drug Well known for its effects on reducing tiredness and improving alertness, caffeine has emerged in the 21st century as the most popular psychoactive drug in the world. In this day and age, caffeine can be found in a variety of food products including coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, chocolates and others. Furthermore, since the isolation of caffeine from coffee beans in 1820, the therapeutic use of caffeine both as an additive to other drugs or as a stand alone tablet has gained attractiveness in various pharmacological applications. In North America, the most common source of caffeine…

OUR SWEET ENDING: HEALTH CONSEQUENCES WITH HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP CONSUMPTION

Obesity in our world The prevalence of obesity has increased in epidemic proportions in the last 30 years (1). The World Heath Organization estimates that there are at least 1.6 billion overweight adults globally, of which 400 million are obese (2). An overweight adult is roughly defined as one who exceeds the maximum desired weight for his/her height for normal physiological functions. Obesity is when the individual weighs 20% or more above this desired weight (3). Being overweight can negatively affect an individual’s energy and mood, and more dreadfully, make the individual more prone to various diseases such as cardiovascular…