Health-ish
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How Many Hours Should You Fast Before a Health Check—8 or 10?
Quick guide to how long to stop eating before a health check, how triglycerides and blood sugar recover, and what to avoid the day before (alcohol, heavy meals, hard workouts).
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I will become the Grandmaster of the Nose Hair Fist!
Why a single rogue nose hair goes limit-break long: a light read on hair cycles, DHT, and why you should still trim it—peppered with Jump references.
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How to tell a normal cowlick from early thinning
Simple checks to decide if your crown is just a cowlick or early thinning, with photo tips and what to look for in others’ crowns.
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Hair loss meds have an “offense” and “defense”
Guideline-based summary of minoxidil (offense), finasteride/dutasteride (defense), and support meds, with effects and side-effect notes.
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Minoxidil really works — 4 months of 5% topical fixed my crown
I used 5% topical minoxidil (Alogain 5 in Japan) for four months, tracked the initial shedding, regrowth timing, costs, and side-effect caveats.
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Changing shampoo didn’t stop my shedding, but it gave me better habits
A one-year detour with shampoos and lotions that didn’t halt AGA, and the scalp-care habits I picked up along the way.
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Desk job back pain? Convict Conditioning’s bridge fixed my psoas
My lower back hurt from a tight psoas. Bridges from “Convict Conditioning” (Paul Wade) stretched it better than cobra poses or random wiggles—here’s how and the progression.
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Aren’t Bath Bombs Getting Expensive Lately?
Bath bombs with licensed toys now cost around 550 yen; here’s a look at their 20-year history, makers, and why they don’t warm you up like medicinal bath additives.
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Correcting ankle alignment with Superfeet insoles
Superfeet is making my ankles sore—in a good way. Notes from switching insoles and walking more.
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Split your first-aid kit into two clear boxes
One overstuffed kit was annoying. Separating "major injury" from everyday items into two clear boxes made everything easier to grab.
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BMZ Insoles Fixed My Collapsed Arches: Overpronation Relief Review
Flat feet and knock knees had me trying foot exercises I never stuck with. BMZ insoles that nudge the cuboid bone made toe-off stronger, eased O-legs, and turned every walk into arch training.
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The ointment that healed my cracked mouth corners (angular cheilitis)
My mouth corners split and stung. A sticky medicated cream from Morishita Jintan stayed on and cleared it in a few days.
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Tackling high-pitched tinnitus--what helped me
High-pitched tinnitus (chirping, beeping) nagged my right ear for years. Mine was muscle-related (levator scapulae and straight neck); fixing posture and relaxing those muscles calmed it down.
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My child's loud snoring was adenoid hypertrophy--medicine fixed it
A sudden harsh snore led to ENT visits. The scope showed adenoid swelling but not severe--meds and nasal spray calmed it in a few weeks without surgery.
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Understand SPF and PA to handle sunburn and UV care
Kids’ outdoor time pushed me to learn SPF/PA and UVA/UVB. The key isn’t just buying “the strongest” but using enough, reapplying, and picking numbers that match your exposure.
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Kakkonto for early colds and mastitis—apparently it eases leg cramps too
Kakkonto is the go-to herbal remedy for early colds and mastitis. A tweet claimed it helped leg cramps; digging into its ingredients (and shakuyaku-kanzo-to) showed why—and what to use for sports cramps.
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Does resistant dextrin really help with weight loss?
Looked into resistant dextrin—the soluble fiber inside many “tokuho” drinks—to see if it really slows carb/fat absorption, how to take it, and what research and users say.
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Deepening my milk knowledge with Snow Brand Acady
Regular milk gave me stomach pain and the runs. Switching to Snow Brand Acady fixed it and sent me down a rabbit hole on lactose intolerance, gut bacteria, and even dental health.
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Flu outbreak checklist: what to do when it’s everywhere
When flu surges, I rely on the basics—handwashing, masks, humidity, and watching local outbreak maps. Here’s a quick roundup of official info and practical tips.
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How many days can you reheat bathwater?
I thought reheating meant I could carry bathwater over to the next day to save money. Day 2 was already slimy. Here’s what I learned about costs, bacteria, and humidifier risks (Legionella) from a Japanese household perspective.
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Trying stick-on acupuncture needles (Pharos vs. Seirin) for shoulder/low back pain
Deskwork aches led me to disposable press needles. They’re cheap, easy to apply on sore spots, and feel similar to salon taping/patches.
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Low-Pressure Headaches: Why Rain Gives Me Pain and What Helps
I used to think “rain gives me headaches” was a myth. Then I tracked pressure drops and saw my own symptoms line up. Here’s what I learned and how I try to prevent it.
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My go-to sore throat kit (lozenges, sprays, and caution)
When my throat flares up, these lozenges and sprays help. No miracle cures—just what’s worked and notes on how to use them.
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Butter coffee for weight loss—does it work? At least it tastes good.
I tried the “bulletproof” butter/MCT coffee trend from the Silicon Valley diet book. The hype is shaky, but the drink is tasty if you use unsalted butter.
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A bit more about Seirogan and Taiko Pharmaceutical
Seirogan (the “trumpet mark” stomach pill) has a quirky history. I skimmed Taiko Pharmaceutical’s lineup, odd PR stunts, and the laxative-name battle with Lion’s “Stopper.”
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Norovirus prep for homes with small kids: what to keep on hand
Norovirus is brutal for two days, highly infectious, and shrugs off alcohol. I pulled together a home kit and notes on what actually works (heat, bleach) and how to handle vomit/poop.
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Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) kills norovirus—and it’s banned for sesame
Kitchen bleach uses sodium hypochlorite, which inactivates norovirus. While researching, I stumbled on odd rules (no bleach on sesame) and a bunch of related disinfectant trivia.
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Do "space disinfectant" gadgets really stop flu? (Spoiler: no)
Those chlorine-dioxide badges and gels looked tempting each winter. Regulators called out 17 companies for exaggerated claims—effectiveness is unproven.
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How many sugar cubes are in this juice? A reality check on carbs
Sugar-shock photos pile cubes next to soda, but rice and bread are “cube bombs” too. A quick walkthrough of carbs vs sugars, daily calories, WHO limits, and why cube math without context misleads.
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Jumping made my upper molar ache—but it wasn’t a cavity
A dull ache in my upper molar showed up only when I jumped or shook my head. Turned out to be sinus-related (maxillary sinusitis), not a hidden cavity.