Nyaope (also called sugars, whoonga, or wunga) is a highly addictive South African street drug that emerged around 2010. It combines marijuana, low-grade heroin, and toxic additives like rat poison,…

Nitrous oxide gas is used in dentistry and to boost the power in vehicle engines, but it can also be consumed as an inhalant. It is also known as ‘whippits’,…

Homocysteine is an amino acid formed from methionine metabolism. High homocysteine levels are toxic but are usually kept in check by being converted back into methionine through methylation, with help…

Over consumption of coffee can be damaging to the health and well being due to pesticides and processing techniques. There are many alternatives that do not cause nutrient deficiencies and…

Acrylamide is a potentially toxic and cancer-causing substance that can be naturally present in uncooked, raw foods in very small amounts. But for this substance to pose a risk of…

Glutamine, synthesised from glutamic acid, is the most abundant amino acid in blood, muscles, and cerebral and spinal fluid. It is essential for protein synthesis, metabolism, immune function, gut health,…

It is very chilling to realise that just one unprotected sexual encounter can lead to an infection that may manifest itself decades later and cause untold pain and suffering and…

A spirochetes bacteria, Treponema pallidum is the causative organism for this disease. Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is usually spread by sexual contact. It starts as a painless sore…

Gonorrhoea is a disease caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium that can infect men and women usually from sexual contact. Anyone who has any type of sex can catch gonorrhoea…

Genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV16). This is the most common sexually transmitted infections. There are more than 40 types of HPV that can infect the…