Sulfate is a group of mineral salts that can have a natural or human-made origin. These salts can appear in the soil, air, and water. Sulfates are commonly found in many household products, including shampoos. These chemical compounds, which act as cleansing or foaming agents, create the lathering effect that most people associate with a thorough wash. But as sulfates are widely used, questions about their safety have been raised. Are they truly dangerous for your health, or is the concern exaggerated?

Why Do Shampoos Have Sulphate?

Sulfates are surfactants, which are compounds that help reduce surface tension in liquids, allowing them to mix better with water. In shampoos, sulfates serve as the primary agents that create foam, making it easier to spread the product over your hair. As they lift dirt, oil, and buildup, they cleanse the scalp and hair in the process. Interestingly, the foam also aids in allowing other active ingredients to work more effectively, promoting cleanliness and oil removal. In many cases, sulfates help reduce the amount of product used, making shampoos more economical.

Are Sulfates Dangerous?

While sulfates do their job effectively, they can have some drawbacks. One issue is that they may strip too much natural moisture from the hair. This is because sulfates are effective at removing oils, but some hair types, particularly dry or curly hair, need those oils to remain healthy. As a result, sulfates may leave hair feeling dry and brittle, and the scalp could become irritated or itchy.

There is no empirical evidence to show that sulphate can cause life-threatening conditions. Toxicity of sodium lauryl sulfate is relatively low, and serious adverse effects typically only occur if the chemical is ingested or comes into direct contact with the eyes in large quantities. Minor irritation might occur for some people, but these effects are usually rare when used as directed.

Who Should Avoid Sulfates?

Though most people can use sulfate-containing shampoos without any problems, there are certain people who may need to avoid them:

1. People with Sensitive Skin or Scalp: Those who suffer from conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or other skin sensitivities may find that sulfates exacerbate dryness or cause irritation.

2. People with Dry or Frizzy Hair: Individuals with naturally dry, curly, or textured hair may experience increased frizz and dryness from the stripping effect of sulfates. These people may benefit from gentler, sulfate-free shampoos that retain moisture better.

3. People with Colored or Chemically Treated Hair: If you frequently color, perm, or chemically treat your hair, sulfates could strip the colour more quickly, leading to fading. Additionally, the drying effect may contribute to damage or breakage of already treated hair.

Are Sulphate-Free Shampoos A good Option?

For those who experience side effects from these salts, sulfate-free shampoos are a viable alternative. These shampoos usually contain milder cleansing agents that won't strip away natural oils as aggressively. While sulfate-free products may not foam as much and may require more effort to lather, they can still clean your hair effectively without causing excessive dryness or irritation. However, be aware that some sulfate-free shampoos still contain other cleansing agents similar to sulfates.

Taare Zameen Par actor and director Aamir Khan has recently opened up about his son Junaid's struggles with dyslexia, days ahead of the release of Sitaare Zameen Par, which would be a spiritual sequel to the film.

The film aims to put focus on specially-abled individuals.

What Was The Film About?

The 2007 release, as notes the 2009 study published in Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, titled Taare Zameen Par and dyslexic savants, portrays the tormented life at school and at home of a child with dyslexia and his eventual success after his artistic talents are discovered by his art teacher at the boarding school.

The film shifts its focus on learning disability, which, explains the study, is usually defined as an unexpected, specific, and persistent failure to acquire efficient academic skills despite conventional instruction and adequate intelligence and sociocultural opportunity. Although all fields can be affected, it seems that learning problems can be classified into two categories:

• The largest group of children has problems with language skills including reading and spelling, this is the dyslexia group, with the basic phonologic processing disabilities
• The other group have greater problems with problem solving, with arithmetic and visuospatial problems, and with motor and tactile perceptual problems. These children are from a large group of those with nonverbal learning disabilities. It comprises the children with dyscalculia.

What Did Aamir Khan Say?

As per Filmfare, the actor talked about his son Junaid's struggles and said, ""Maybe this is the first time I'm saying it... The person I'm going to talk about has already spoken about this publicly. So now I can talk about it openly. I'm talking about Junaid - my son Junaid... Junaid is dyslexic."

He also revealed the script of Taare Zmeen Par, which had been penned by Amole Gupte, thus directly and deeply bore an impact on him.

"I used to scold Junaid. I was like Nandkishore Awasthi in the beginning," he said, in a reference to the film's protagonist's strict and frustrated father.

"I would tell him, 'Junaid, how can someone write so badly? No one can even read this'. When he used to read, he would say 'from' instead of 'for'. Whenever he saw an 'F', he would just guess the word - of, from, for."

In fact in a previous interview, Junaid also accepted that he has dyslexia and both his parents learned about this learning disability only after they heard the script of Taare Zameen Par.

Neither of my parents were particular (about my results)... I was also diagnosed with dyslexia very early on. So, I think they were mindful of that, especially in schooling... When they heard the script of Taare Zameen Par, they were like, 'Ek second... We have seen this in our lives'. And actually, it was at that point that they took me to a specialist, and I was diagnosed with dyslexia," he had said.

What Is Dyslexia?

As per the British Dyslexia Association, it is a set of processing difficulties that affect the acquisition of reading and spelling.

The International Dyslexia Association describes is as a language-based learning disability, which refers to a cluster of symptoms with specific language skills, particularly reading.

About 13–14% of the school population nationwide has a handicapping condition that qualifies them for special education. Current studies indicate that one half of all the students who qualify for special education are classified as having a learning disability (LD) (6–7%). About 85% of those students have a primary learning disability in reading and language processing. Nevertheless, many more people— perhaps as many as 15–20% of the population as a whole—have some of the symptoms of dyslexia, including slow or inaccurate reading, poor spelling, poor writing, or mixing up similar words. Not all of these will qualify for special education, but they are likely to struggle with many aspects of academic learning and are likely to benefit from systematic, explicit, instruction in reading, writing, and language.

National Egg Day falls on 3rd June and is observed to mark the decades of research and debates regarding nutrient-rich food. Whether it was the simple question of ‘how many eggs can you eat?’ Or are they safe for kids to eat, etc. With the current on-going bird flu cases, many people are concerned about whether eating eggs is safe or not.

Over the last month, the H5N1 bird flu has spread to 107 groups of birds (both commercial farms and backyard flocks) across 18 states, affecting nearly 18 million birds. Since the outbreak began in 2022, 145 million chickens, turkeys, and other birds have been killed to stop the virus from spreading. To put this in perspective, the U.S. has about 380 million egg-laying chickens and over 9 billion broiler chickens.

Is It A Threat To Human Safety?

Despite the widespread bird flu in animals, experts say the chance of humans catching the illness is still low. Since March 2024, there have been 67 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the U.S., with only one death linked to it. Experts emphasize that properly handled, stored, and cooked eggs are safe and won't lead to bird flu infections in people. Nonetheless, the outbreak has raised worries about the virus spreading to humans and has also caused egg prices to jump, leading to a nationwide egg shortage.

Recently, an 11-year-old Cambodian kid passed on due to zoonotic transmission of bird flu, this is the fourth confirmed case of human bird flu, and all cases so far have been fatal. However, the cases have not yet caused a food safety threat. The The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains that there is no evidence that the virus can be transmitted to humans through properly prepared food. Safe handling and preparation is very important, when it comes to cooking poultry, eggs or any other animal products, one must make sure there is not cross contamination between the raw and cooked food.

Safety Tips for Eggs and Other Products

The bird flu has also been found in dairy cows. However, experts say pasteurized milk is safe to drink because the heating process kills the virus. Some raw milk products, though, might carry a risk. Raw pet food has also been linked to bird flu illness and deaths in cats. Importantly, bird flu has not been found in chicken or beef for human consumption. Still, experts advise cooking all meat thoroughly to kill any potential virus traces.

FDA provides simple steps to lower the risk of illness when it comes to eggs. They suggest choosing pasteurized eggs. When buying and storing eggs, the FDA recommends:

• Only buying eggs that have been kept refrigerated.
• Storing eggs at home in a clean refrigerator.
• Using eggs within 3 weeks of buying them.
• Refrigerating egg dishes like casseroles and eating them within 3 or 4 days.

One expert recommends avoiding cracked eggs or those past their expiration date. They also note that organic eggs are not necessarily safer than non-organic ones, as both follow the same safety rules.

Safest Way to Cook Eggs

While pasteurized eggs have a lower risk of infection because pasteurization effectively kills viruses, including bird flu, and bacteria. When cooking eggs, FDA officials advise:

• Washing hands, utensils,, and work surfaces with hot, soapy water before and after touching raw eggs.
• Cooking eggs until both the yolk and white are firm.
• Making sure scrambled eggs are fluffy and not runny.
• Cooking casseroles and other dishes with eggs to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Serving cooked eggs right away. Don't leave egg dishes out for more than 2 hours.
• Using an insulated cooler to transport eggs and egg products for picnics or gatherings.
• Reheating any leftover egg products from the fridge to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

tIn an age of quick fixes and instant results, the promise of rapid weight loss—especially through online pharmacies—can feel like a miracle. But behind the glossy ads and glowing testimonials lies a growing and dangerous trend: self-medicating with powerful weight-loss drugs without proper medical guidance.

Aimee’s Story: A Search for Help Turns Life-Threatening

Aimee Chapman, a 34-year-old from Southampton, had been struggling with her health for some time. Like many others, she hoped that shedding some weight might ease her symptoms and help doctors take her more seriously. When she came across weight-loss injections online, they seemed like the perfect solution—easy to order, promising fast results, and no waiting room required.

And at first, they worked. Within just four months, Aimee lost nearly 60 pounds. But soon, the results took a terrifying turn. She felt weak, dizzy, and collapsed frequently. She stopped eating and began vomiting—sometimes up to 60 times a day. When she saw blood in her vomit, she still thought it was a virus. But her body was telling a different story.

One day, after experiencing severe chest pain, Aimee was rushed to the hospital. What doctors discovered was both rare and dangerous: a hole in her esophagus—the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. This hole allowed food and fluids to leak into her chest cavity, risking deadly infections. Her liver also began to fail, and she was immediately taken to the ICU.

The Medical Warning Signs

Aimee spent two weeks in the hospital. Though she narrowly avoided needing a liver transplant, doctors confirmed the cause was linked to the weight-loss injections—but couldn’t determine exactly how the damage occurred. Even after being discharged, her body continued to show signs of distress: she lost large amounts of hair, likely from nutritional deficiencies caused by the sudden and drastic weight loss.

Her story serves as a powerful reminder that “easy” weight loss solutions can come with life-altering consequences.

The Real Risks of Self-Medicating

Aimee’s experience is not an isolated one. As the popularity of online weight-loss treatments grows, so do the risks—especially when people bypass healthcare professionals. These medications often contain powerful ingredients that can have serious side effects, interact with existing health conditions, or, in rare cases like Aimee’s, cause permanent damage.

Many online sellers are not regulated, and the quality and safety of the drugs they offer cannot be guaranteed. What seems like a shortcut can quickly turn into a health emergency.

Your Health Deserves Medical Oversight

If you’re considering weight-loss treatments, always speak with a qualified medical professional. A trusted doctor can help you explore safer, personalized options—whether that means supervised medication, dietary plans, or lifestyle changes.