10 Weeks to a Younger Brain
Cognitive Health 
Healthy Living,
Simplified
The 5-minute wellness digest trusted by 1.1M+ readers.
Our 5-minute wellness digest helps over 1.1 million readers cut through the noise with science-backed health insights, practical tips, and recommendations for living well.
Sign up for All Healthy
5-minute morning wellness brief
Subscribe
Editor’s Picks
Discover Our Favorite Stories
Every day we publish stories that cut through the noise with expert insights, science-backed advice, recipes, and thoughtful tips for living well. These are the ones we think you should read.
Latest
Popular
Natural Mood Boosters: 8 Simple Ways to Feel Better
Cognitive Health 
Does Coffee Break Intermittent Fasting?
Black coffee is one of the few things you can sip during a fasting window without breaking your fast — but the milk, sugar, or sweetener you stir in is a different story. Here's the science on how coffee affects intermittent fasting, and how to drink it the fast-friendly way.
Nutrition 
Probiotics May Give Antidepressants a Boost
Gut Check: Probiotic supplements are popular, even though research into their effectiveness has yielded mixed results. While most people likely take them to improve gut health and digestion, a new study suggests they may help improve depression and anxiety symptoms in older adults taking antidepressants. The Study: The study included 58 adults in India who were at least 60 years old, had been diagnosed with moderate depression, and were taking a prescribed antidepressant. The participants were randomly picked to take a probiotic supplement or a placebo once daily for 12 weeks, along with their antidepressant. Afterward, researchers monitored them for another 12 weeks, using several tools to measure outcomes. One was a standard psychological scale. They also measured a biomarker commonly studied in mental health research called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as well as gut bacteria from fecal samples. The Takeaway: Most of the participants showed improvement, but the probiotic group experienced a larger reduction of depression and anxiety symptoms than the placebo group. Researchers say the study offers more insight into the gut-brain axis — the communication network between the two. Keep in Mind: This was a small, pilot study. Researchers say a larger clinical trial is in the […]
Supplements 
The Truth About Cortisol Triggering Foods
Nutrition 
Does Processed Meat Cause Colon Cancer? Here’s What the Science Actually Says
Almost half of U.S. adults don't realize processed meat raises colorectal cancer risk — even though health agencies settled the question years ago. Here's what the science actually says.
Nutrition 
Is Watermelon Low Calorie?
Is watermelon low calorie? It's mostly water and about 46 calories a cup, so it's a light pick — though portion, sugar, and timing still matter more than the number.
Nutrition
Fitness
Nutrition
Sleep
Dating Apps Are Getting a Fitness Upgrade
The Trend: Run clubs walked so gym-dating apps could sprint. A new crop of platforms is betting that shared training plans make better icebreakers than “What are you looking for?” SURF, now HYROX’s official North American dating-app partner, lets users filter for fellow racers and trainees. ATEAM is an invite-only wellness dating app for people who prioritize fitness, recovery, and routine. Other newcomers, including Leg Day and Lunge, are built around workout meetups and fitness community events. What People Are Saying: The appeal is obvious: if 7 a.m. runs and alcohol-free weekends are central to your life, it may be nice to skip the compatibility briefing. These apps promise more intentional, real-world connection — and less dead-end swiping. But there’s a catch: “fitness” can become shorthand for a very narrow version of health. Critics point out that screening for wellness may amplify the same appearance-driven biases that already exist in dating culture. What to Know: These apps are a sign that dating is becoming more lifestyle-first: people are looking for partners who fit into the rhythms they already value, from early workouts to race weekends. That may make finding common ground easier, but remember that true chemistry requires more than […]
Fitness 
Early Birds and Night Owls Don’t Build Muscle the Same
Muscle O’Clock: When it comes to building and maintaining muscle, a new review suggests it’s not just what you do that matters — it may also be when you do it. Your circadian rhythm, or internal body clock, influences everything from hormone production to appetite, metabolism, sleep quality, and muscle recovery. And that could give morning larks and night owls different health trajectories over time. The Study: In a review published in Nutrients, researchers analyzed prior studies on circadian rhythms, muscle protein synthesis, exercise timing, sleep, meal timing, and metabolism. They found that people with an evening chronotype (“night owls”) tend to have behaviors linked to poorer muscle health, including irregular sleep schedules, later eating patterns, lower physical activity levels, and worse metabolic markers. These factors may make it harder to preserve muscle mass and strength over time. The Takeaway: The headline here isn’t that night owls are doomed to lose muscle. Rather, the review suggests that consistent routines are an important key to muscle health. Prioritizing adequate protein, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep — and avoiding irregular sleep and eating schedules — may help protect muscle health for evening chronotypes. Keep in Mind: Working with your chronotype, not against […]
Fitness 
The Smart Way to Exercise in Summer Heat
The Heat of Competition: The 2026 World Cup is just heating up — and we mean that literally. Recent headlines have spotlighted the extreme temperatures expected across North America, where the tournament is being hosted in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The heat is so concerning that 60 current and former players signed an open letter urging FIFA to update its heat guidelines. The Danger: The average soccer player runs between 5.2 and 8 miles in a 90-minute match. That level of exertion in high heat can impair performance and increase the risk of dizziness, cramping, dehydration, and, in severe cases, heat stroke. But you don’t need to be a professional athlete to take heat seriously. If heat and humidity are summer staples where you live, outdoor workouts require extra caution. What to Do: Safeguarding yourself isn’t complicated. There are a handful of best practices: Hydrate before and after exercise, wear lightweight clothing, train early or late in the day, take breaks, and scale back your intensity when conditions are brutal. Stay smart, and you can stay active without putting yourself at unnecessary risk.
Fitness 
The Brain Chemistry Behind the Elusive Runner’s High
You Should Know: That floaty, sometimes even euphoric, feeling some runners get after a workout usually gets chalked up to the body releasing endorphins. However, the more likely cause is endocannabinoids, your body’s own version of compounds found in cannabis. Unlike endorphins, these molecules are small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier, and levels of one type of endocannabinoid, anandamide, rise post run and stay elevated for around 30 to 45 minutes after a workout. Going Deeper: Differences in brain chemistry may help explain why some people get the feeling during most runs, while others rarely or never do. Surveys show that a majority of distance runners never experience it, and many feel drained or even nauseated at the end of a long run rather than blissful. Takeaway: Research on anandamide is also still early, with the most significant study so far conducted in mice, so it’s not yet clear how closely it maps onto humans. But a true runner’s high is most likely during steady, moderate-to-hard efforts rather than fast sprints. Bottom Line: Either way, running is great for your body, as well as your mood and mind. So if you’re up for doing it regularly, then treat any […]
Fitness 
Can “Copper Water” Actually Help Your Digestion?
The Trend: Long before anyone was posting their morning routine online, people were storing drinking water in copper vessels. It’s an ayurvedic practice from India, where copper was once considered a natural purifier, and it’s been making a comeback lately in the form of sleek hammered bottles all over your feed. The history checks out, but the wellness claims attached to them are a little more confusing. What People Are Saying: Proponents say copper water helps with digestion and inflammation, but most of that isn’t backed by research. The one area where copper has science on its side is its antimicrobial properties. Studies show that harmful bacteria can be killed when water sits in copper vessels, but this takes at least 16 to 48 hours, so your on-the-go copper bottle probably isn’t doing that. What to Know: Copper is a mineral your body actually needs, and the small amounts that leach from these vessels are considered safe. The bigger concern, however, is overexposure because storing water too long or using a bottle that isn’t fully coated can push copper levels higher than you’d want, and too much over time has been linked to nausea and stomach pain.
Nutrition 
Is Hummus Low-Calorie?
Hummus has a health-food reputation, but is it actually low-calorie? Here's how many calories are in hummus, why it's more calorie-dense than it looks, and how to fit it into a weight-loss-friendly eating plan without overdoing it.
Nutrition 
Is Frozen Yogurt Actually Healthier Than Ice Cream?
You Should Know: Frozen yogurt has had a health halo since the 1980s, and honestly, it’s not totally undeserved. Compared to ice cream, it’s lower in calories and fat, since it’s made with cultured low-fat milk instead of cream. Some versions also contain live and active bacterial cultures, which can be good for your gut (though how many actually survive the freezing process depends on the product). Going Deeper: Here’s where it gets a bit more complicated. To balance out the natural tanginess of frozen yogurt, manufacturers often add more sugar than you’d find in a comparable serving of ice cream. And the self-serve set-up at many froyo shops makes it easy to overdo it, since the average container holds 16 to 24 ounces before you’ve even approached the toppings bar. Takeaway: How much you eat and what you pile on top of it probably matter more than whether you chose froyo in the first place. And if you’re craving ice cream but settle for frozen yogurt, you may just end up wanting both. Bottom Line: Neither one is exactly a health food, so you might as well get what actually sounds good to you.
Nutrition 
How to Eat Sauerkraut for Gut Health
Not all sauerkraut feeds your gut. Here's how much to eat, why raw matters, and the buying mistake that cancels out the benefits.
Nutrition 
Counting Sheep? A Weighted Blanket Might Help
You Should Know: Weighted blankets sure are cozy, and they provide benefits beyond just snuggling up: they may help you settle down for sleep. The gentle pressure is thought to mimic the calming sensation of a hug, activating the body’s “rest and digest” (parasympathetic) response. Research suggests they can be especially helpful for people with autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, or insomnia, though anyone who finds the pressure soothing may benefit. Going Deeper: The evidence is promising, but not conclusive. A trial of 120 adults with insomnia and psychiatric diagnoses, including generalized anxiety disorder and ADHD, found that weighted blankets produced meaningful improvements in insomnia severity compared with a lighter control blanket. A 2024 review of studies found a small but positive effect on anxiety and possible benefits for insomnia among people with mental disorders, while emphasizing that the evidence base remains small and heterogeneous. Takeaway: Weighted blankets probably won’t cure insomnia, but their deep-pressure comfort may make it easier to relax — and that can be a first step toward better sleep. Bottom Line: Even though clinical evidence is limited, using a weighted blanket is a “won’t hurt, might help” situation. If you’re struggling to sleep, give it a go. […]
Sleep 
Sleep Loss Shows Up Somewhere Surprising
Spit Take: Red, bleary eyes and dark undereye circles are telltale signs we’re not getting enough sleep. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now found a way to measure fatigue in our mouth — more specifically, in our saliva. The Study: The research team gathered 20 healthy young males (ages 20 to 33) who regularly get seven to nine hours of sleep. They created three interventions, each separated by one week: one night of total sleep deprivation, four consecutive nights of sleep restricted to six hours, and control sleep of eight hours. Multiple saliva specimens were taken before and after each intervention for each participant and then analyzed using liquid chromatography. Researchers identified 10 molecular differences in saliva between sleep-deprived and well–rested participants. The Takeaway: Researchers say these 10 differences create a “sleepiness fingerprint” that could be used to develop a rapid saliva test to gauge sleepiness before driving or operating machinery — like a version of alcohol breath tests. Drowsy driving kills more than 6,000 people each year in the U.S. Keep in Mind: This was a small preliminary study that included only young men, but the next research phase will include a broader population.
Sleep 
How To Manage Jet Lag
On The Road Again: The FIFA World Cup has teams and fans traveling thousands of miles to and around the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Something fans and players alike are at risk for: jet lag and travel fatigue. While there isn’t a hack that can sidestep the downsides of traveling across timezones, there are a few simple tweaks ahead of travel that will help you seamlessly sync with your destination’s clock. World Cup teams traveling across as many as four time zones during the tournament: take notice. How to Do it: Slowly adjust your sleep-wake schedule in 30-minute increments over four or five days. And, go outside without sunglasses: research shows bright light exposure can help shift your body’s circadian rhythm. Apps designed to help you beat jet lag (we like Timeshifter) can create routines personalized to your trip. The Benefits: While jet lag has no quick fix, research shows switching up your sleep schedule and the timing of light exposure before travel will help minimize fatigue. These small changes will help your body to adapt more easily when you land, ready for vacation.
Sleep 
Bad Dental Health in Childhood Linked to Heart Disease
Brush Up: The body is interconnected in funny ways. A stressful week in the office can lead to gut issues. A slight pronation in your foot can lead to back trouble. And, according to new research, poor dental health in childhood correlated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The Study: Researchers examined data collected and tracked for up to 23 years from a cohort of nearly 569,000 Danish people born between 1963 and 1972. They found that the more severe their childhood cavities and gingivitis, the higher their risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Female participants with severe cavities as kids had a 45% higher incidence of ASCVD, and males had a 32% higher incidence. The Takeaway: It’s well established that regular brushing and flossing are good for the heart, as they can prevent infection. Poor dental hygiene is also associated with high blood pressure, thickening of artery walls, and systemic inflammation, likely due to the body’s inflammatory immune response to dental infections. Keep in Mind: The findings weren’t causal, and the data didn’t account for other factors, such as adult dental hygiene, smoking, and obesity, which are linked to poor oral and heart health outcomes.
Sleep
Mindfulness
Beauty
Personal Growth
Stressed? The Internet Says Stick Out Your Tongue
The Trend: On today’s news in “delightfully weird internet trends,” sticking out your tongue is the new kingpin of stress relief. Across Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, people are saying: Stick out your tongue for 40 seconds, and, poof, your stress supposedly melts away. As for how it works, the claim making the rounds is that the move releases tension in the jaw, throat, and neck, reduces cortisol, and stimulates the vagus nerve. What People Are Saying: Many have been quick to point out that the trend is often attributed to an unnamed neurologist (a sign of questionable health information), and doctors point out that there’s no real scientific evidence to support the trend. Thousands of people online, meanwhile, swear that it works. What to Know: The lack of clinical evidence doesn’t mean the relief is imagined. Any unusual physical action can interrupt a runaway thought loop and pull attention into the body — a grounding technique that may briefly ease the fight-or-flight response. If you want a similarly quick reset with stronger evidence, try diaphragmatic breathing or do the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise, naming what you can see, hear, touch, smell, and taste.
Mindfulness 
“Solo-Maxxing”: Why Gen Z Is Embracing Being Single
The Trend: Fiber, sleep, Italian nonnas … young people continue to max out on the “maxxing” trend. The latest is solo-maxxing, a very Gen Z term for embracing being single instead of actively looking for a partner. Day-in-the-life content by “loneliness influencers” have also grown in popularity. Made by creators self-described as single, living alone, with no kids or friends, these videos depict them embracing a solitary, quiet life dining out alone or staying in on Friday nights. So, why is Gen Z going solo? What People Are Saying: Some say Gen Zers are turning away from dating in an effort to be more frugal. Romance can come with a hefty price tag (an average of $189 per date in the U.S.) once you tally meals, drinks, tickets, and transportation. But solo-maxxing also prioritizes independence and self-reliance. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but Gen Z experiences higher rates of loneliness than other generations, forged by years of isolation from COVID, virtual learning, and social media. What to Know: Whether it’s self-imposed or unintentional, loneliness is a health hazard. Research shows connection with others is a longevity cornerstone and one of the keys to a longer, happier life.
Mindfulness 
The Controversial Science of Repressed Memories
Mindfulness 
Can Watermelon Juice Protect You From the Sun?
You Should Know: The latest anti-sunscreen trend involves a summertime staple: watermelon. A viral video circulating on social media shows a wellness influencer claiming drinking watermelon juice serves as a “natural sunscreen.” Dermatologists and other medical experts, however, disagree. Going Deeper: The claim stems from the fact that watermelon contains high levels of lycopene, a phytochemical that’s also found in tomatoes, grapefruit, guava (and is responsible for their red and pink flesh). Lycopene does have antioxidant properties that can neutralize free radicals caused by UV exposure. Some research has also found that lycopene can lessen skin redness and reactions to UV rays. Takeaway: Watermelon juice doesn’t actually protect the skin from UV rays — or from the skin cancer that could follow. Consuming lycopene-rich foods can improve skin health overall, but it’s not a replacement for sunscreen. There’s also no solid research that supports claims that sunscreen is harmful. Bottom Line: Whether you eat it, drink it, or rub it on your skin, watermelon will not protect you from the sun’s UV rays. The best ways to prevent sun damage are to use broad-spectrum sunscreen (at least SPF 30), wear protective clothing, and avoid direct sun during peak hours instead.
Beauty 
What’s the Risk of Infection From a Mani-Pedi?
You Should Know: A manicure or pedicure is a great pick-me-up when you want to feel a little more put together, but recent reports out of Australia show how things can go wrong fast. Several people developed severe infections after getting their nails done, likely because individual salons can be spotty when it comes to cleanliness. Going Deeper: Shared tools or foot basins that aren’t sanitized properly can spread bacteria between clients. One study found mesophilic bacteria (a category that includes E. coli) on the hands of technicians. Another discovered staph bacteria — which can cause sepsis if they enter the body — living on the surface of pedicure bowls, which is a real danger because routine manicure steps like trimming cuticles or buffing can create tiny breaks in the skin that opportunistic bugs can exploit. Takeaway: Symptoms like redness, swelling, or even pus (gross) around your nails after a visit shouldn’t be ignored. These signs can show up within a day or two. Bottom Line: Before you sit down, ask how tools are sanitized and look to see if stations are being cleaned between clients. That small check can keep your pampering session from requiring a doctor’s visit later […]
Beauty 
Despite the Risks, Gen Z Is Tanning Again
Beauty 
Do People Actually Get Happier With Age?
We tend to assume happiness peaks in youth and fades with age, but the data tells a more hopeful story. Research found over half of adults 62 and older feel fulfilled. Here's what drives happiness later in life, and how to start building it now.
Personal Growth 
You May Be Sharing More Microbes Than You Think
Sharing Cooties: When couples move in together, they expect to share living space, a bed, and expenses. But they’re also sharing a lot more than they probably realize. A new study has found cohabitating partners share a significant portion of their oral and gut microbiomes, as well — and how this happens is one part sweet and one part stomach-turning. The Study: The researchers gathered and analyzed microbiome DNA from 430 people in 207 households in Italy and Fiji. They found cohabitating romantic partners share 44% of their oral microbiome and that people who live together, regardless of their relationship, share 19% of their gut microbiome, as well. The Takeaway: We do literally swap saliva when we kiss. Oral bacteria strains are passed through kissing, as well as sharing food and dishes. There’s no sugarcoating how the gut-microbiome sharing happens: It’s from being in proximity to each other’s fecal matter. Gross, yes. Harmful? Probably not. Experts say we have trillions of gut bacteria, and only about one in one billion species can make you sick. Keep in Mind: This is very preliminary research. Humans have lived together throughout history, and microbiome sharing could be an important survival mechanism.
Personal Growth 
Disappointment Might Be Doing You a Favor
Personal Growth