Healthy Living, Simplified

Is Running on a Treadmill Just as Good as Running Outside?

You Should Know: Runners tend to have very strong opinions about the treadmill versus outdoor running debate. But the real question isn’t which is “better” — it’s what you want from your workout. When effort is comparable, research suggests both improve cardiovascular fitness, endurance, and overall health. They offer different experiences, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. But depending on your goals — and what your body needs on a given day — one may be a better fit than the other. Going Deeper: Outdoor running exposes you to varied terrain, wind resistance, and elevation, which makes it best for preparing you for the conditions you’ll experience in an outdoor race. It also comes with a mental health bonus: Studies have found that exercising in nature can improve mood, reduce stress, and leave people feeling more energized than indoor workouts. Running indoors makes it easier to control pace and incline, which is a bonus if you’re doing speed or tempo workouts. They’re also safer, since you’re not exposed to traffic, weather elements, or wildlife. Treadmills may also reduce joint impact compared to running on natural surfaces. Takeaway: Even though treadmills remove some of the challenging variables of outdoor running, […]

Vitamin C Might Do More Than Boost Your Immune System

Hi-C: You probably think of vitamin C as an immunity booster that you reach for as a supplement when you feel a cold coming on. However, new research published in PLOS One suggests its impact might extend to a less expected place. Like deep inside your brain, for instance. The Study: Researchers scanned the brains of and tested blood samples from over 2,000 adults in Japan aged 65 or older. After accounting for differences in age, education, and activity levels, they found that lower vitamin C levels were associated with reduced gray matter and weaker connections within the brain’s default mode network, a system linked to memory and attention. The Takeaway: The vitamin C levels were linked to changes in brain structure, not just scores on a memory test, so this research adds to the case that everyday diet could affect how your brain ages. Keep in Mind: This is an observational study and doesn’t prove vitamin C directly protects the brain. More research is needed before this changes anyone’s supplement routine.

Cognitive Health

a woman contemplates health halo foods, which sometimes aren't as healthy as they sound

The ‘Health Halo’: Foods That Aren’t as Good for You as They Look

a woman does yoga, which is one of the best exercises for arthritis

The 5 Best Exercises for Arthritis, According to Experts

The best exercises for arthritis are gentle, low-impact moves that keep sore joints moving and strengthen the muscles around them without triggering a flare. Here are five joint-friendly options, plus how to ease into each one.

an apob blood test for cholesterol may be more accurate than LDL

Your Cholesterol Test May Be Misleading — Is an apoB Test Better?

Two people can have the same LDL cholesterol and very different heart risk. A new study says the apoB test — which counts the particles that actually clog arteries — catches what the standard test misses.

Hormonal Health

Fitness

Nutrition

Sleep

The 5 Best Exercises for Arthritis, According to Experts

This Simple Tool May Be The Secret to Maintaining Weight Loss

Heavy: Most people who lose weight gain it back within a year or two. Some of that is explained by the fact that a smaller body naturally needs fewer calories to maintain. But research shows that metabolism after weight loss drops further than body size alone would explain. So a new pilot study from Wake Forest University tested whether wearing a weighted vest could prevent weight gain. The Study: Researchers followed 18 older, obese adults through six months of calorie restriction. Half wore a weighted vest up to 10 hours a day, loaded to about 10% of body weight. Both groups lost similar amounts of weight. But two years later, the vest group had kept off about half of what they’d lost, while the diet-only group had regained nearly all of it. The Takeaway: There’s a theory that the skeleton senses body weight and signals the brain to defend against weight loss. A weighted vest may trick that system into sensing a heavier body, which may help prevent metabolism from slowing. Keep in Mind: Anyone considering a weighted vest, especially if they have joint or health issues, should check with a doctor first.

The Barre Upgrade That Adds Mindfulness to Movement

The Trend: Barre classes have gotten a recent upgrade with Barre3, a new spin on the ballet-inspired barre class that’s been around for almost 20 years now. Barre3 keeps the signature small holds and pulses of regular barre, then adds full-body movements to raise your heart rate, plus an added focus on mindfulness and breathing. Every class opens with an alignment move called Primary Posture, and modifications come with each exercise so beginners and longtime barre fans can take the same class. What People Are Saying: People (even committed HIIT and weightlifting types) trying barre are often surprised by the results. One recent reviewer went in skeptical that a low-impact class could do much, but after six weeks of regular sessions, she noticed a stronger core plus firmer arms and legs. What to Know: If you’re looking to add a low-impact but effective workout, barre is worth a closer look. It puts less stress on your joints than high-impact training, which makes it a good option if you’re easing back into exercise after an injury or break. And all the modifications make it possible to start wherever you’re at.

Why Tennis Has the Longevity Advantage

You Should Know: We know exercise is crucial for a longer life, but there’s a specific sport that really taps into your longevity potential: tennis. Just ask Serena Williams, who recently returned to Wimbledon after a four-year absence — at age 44. In professional-athlete years, that’s basically a senior citizen. It’s a testament not only to her own physical fitness but to the sport itself. Going Deeper: Racket sports have experienced a massive jump in popularity, thanks in large part to the pickleball craze. Tennis, typti, and padel are also seeing similar surges. They’re fun ways to stay in shape, but research suggests they can help you live longer, too. A Danish study found tennis and badminton players live an average of nearly 10 and six years longer, respectively, than people who are sedentary. That’s also longer than people who jog, swim, cycle, or do gym workouts. Takeaway: Why tennis? All that running, bouncing, serving, and swinging combine aerobic and anaerobic exercise, meaning you get cardio and strength benefits at once. And because you’re playing with another person, you’re strengthening social connections, too — another longevity component. Bottom Line: Taking up tennis can yield big results for musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and […]

a woman mixes electrolytes, which is one of many healthy drinks besides water

5 Healthy Drinks Besides Water, Backed By Research

Water isn't your only option for staying hydrated. Here are five healthy drinks besides water — from coconut water to tart cherry juice — that hydrate and add a little extra to the glass.

Cyclospora outbreak can cause stomach upset

Cyclospora Outbreak: The ‘Explosive Diarrhea’ Parasite Hits 18 States

A parasite called cyclospora is fueling an "explosive diarrhea" outbreak across 18 states, with more than 1,200 cases in Michigan alone. Here's how it spreads, what symptoms to watch for, and how to protect yourself while the source is still unknown.

the benefits of not drinking alcohol include better mood and sleep

Benefits of Not Drinking Alcohol: What You Haven’t Considered

Everybody seems to be drinking less, and the science backs it up. Here are the benefits of not drinking alcohol — better sleep and steadier mood among them — and why even a two-week break can pay off.

leafy greens provide nutrients for healthy aging

10 Nutrients for Healthy Aging You’re Probably Missing

Most longevity advice focuses on what to cut. This research flips it — spotlighting 10 nutrients for healthy aging that even careful eaters miss, plus the everyday foods that close the gap.

Reinforcing the Body’s Internal Clock May Boost Stroke Recovery

Back on Track: Some of us hate routine; others need it to function. Love it or hate it, there’s no arguing against the long list of mental and physical benefits of maintaining a routine — improved sleep, reduced stress and anxiety, and increased productivity, just to name a few. New research adds to the list: Reinforcing the body’s natural routine might help stroke patients recover quicker and better. The Study: Published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the study found that strengthening the body’s natural circadian rhythms may improve recovery after stroke. The researchers used interventions such as time-restricted feeding, timed light exposure, melatonin, and a drug that targets the circadian clock in mouse models of stroke. Even though the interventions began three days post-stroke, they enhanced the brain’s glymphatic system, which clears waste and inflammatory molecules. The mice showed better motor recovery, smaller brain lesions, and lower inflammation than untreated animals. The Takeaway: While the findings have not yet been tested in humans, they suggest that restoring healthy daily rhythms could become a promising addition to stroke rehabilitation, potentially extending the window for effective recovery. Keep in Mind: This study was performed on mice, so the results don’t necessarily […]

Why People Are Traveling for Better Sleep

The Trend: Some people might think it’s a waste of a vacation if you spend most of it sleeping. For others, sleeping is the vacation. Sleep tourism is intended to serve as an antidote to stress and disordered sleep — and the very fact that it exists showcases just how burned out some people are. What People Are Saying: Forget long sightseeing tours and crammed itineraries. Sleep tourism is anti-hustle, focusing on helping guests calm their nervous system, unplug from their gadgets, and, yes, sleep. Hilton cited “Hushpitality” as one of its top trends for 2026. Options can range from special sleep-optimizing hotel rooms to full-fledged sleep retreats where guests can order from pillow menus and rest in smart beds meant to get circadian rhythms back on track. Treatments and activities meant to support sleep, like yoga and acupuncture, are also often included in retreat packages. What to Know: Like so much of the elite wellness industry, a trip to a sleep retreat or sleep-specific hotel room isn’t cheap. People battling burnout and bad sleep who can actually afford it might find it’s worth every penny. For everyone else, revamping your bedroom and sleep routine first makes more sense.

There’s a Sleep Hack Sitting on Your Bookshelf

Bedtime Stories: You may think reading on your phone isn’t that different from reading on paper, and you’d be right for the most part, except when it comes to your sleep. Screens keep your brain alert late into the night, and research on reading before sleep suggests that trading a screen for a physical book is a small change that can really help. How to Do It: Keep a book on your nightstand and make it the final step of your night, after putting your phone away and turning down the lights. It’s best to pick something calming instead of a thriller, since intense plots can keep your brain running even after you put the book down. The Benefits: A study comparing people reading on an iPad vs. a printed book found that those using screens felt less sleepy in the evening and showed changes in brain activity tied to rest, even though both groups fell asleep in about the same amount of time. Another study found that older adults who read a book drifted off faster than those who kept their normal routine, and adults who read stories with a positive mood slept longer than the rest.

Can Eating a Banana Before Bed Help You Sleep?

You Should Know: Before you hit the medicine cabinet for a sleep aid, should you visit your fruit bowl instead? You may have heard that eating a banana before bed can help you sleep — and there may be some truth to it. Bananas contain several nutrients linked to better sleep that could help you drift off a little easier. Going Deeper: Bananas are good sources of magnesium and potassium, which both support muscle function and relaxation. Magnesium is also linked to healthy nervous system function and better sleep quality, while potassium may reduce nighttime muscle cramping for some people. Bananas also contain vitamin B6 and tryptophan, nutrients involved in the body’s melatonin production. The complex carbs in bananas also improve the availability of tryptophan in the brain. Takeaway: There’s not a ton of research into bananas and sleep, though the nutrients they contain have been widely studied. Eating a banana one to two hours before bed may be helpful to some people, though it won’t replace good sleep habits. Bottom Line: Bananas alone likely won’t be able to fix more serious sleep disorders, like chronic insomnia, but they could be a healthy addition to your sleep routine.