Healthy Living, Simplified

This One Habit Is Linked to a Younger Brain

Lost In Translation: Learning a new language can feel like a serious mental workout — but that effort may pay dividends later in life. New research suggests that people who speak multiple languages have brains that appear significantly younger than their chronological age, adding to the evidence that lifelong mental stimulation can support healthy aging. The Study: Presented at the 2026 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum, the study analyzed brain scans from nearly 800 people to build a “brain aging clock.” Bilingual participants had brains that appeared about six years younger than those of monolinguals, while people who spoke four or more languages had brains that looked up to 13 years younger. Learning a second language early in life and achieving high fluency were also linked to slower brain aging. The Takeaway: Speaking more than one language is associated with brain health benefits. But this new research brings additional info to the table. As one of the researchers put it, “it is not simply about being bilingual or not, but about the depth and duration of language experience.” Keep In Mind: While this data is compelling, it only shows an association, not cause and effect. Other factors, like […]

Cognitive Health

Here’s the Five-Minute Fix for Too Much Sitting

I Like To Move It Move It: If your job (or your doom-scrolling) keeps you in a chair for hours on end, this one’s relevant to you. Yes, it’s become patently clear that sitting too much isn’t great, but new research from Columbia University Irving Medical Center gets super specific about how much, exactly, is too much. The study concluded that sitting for more than 30 minutes straight is linked to a higher risk of dying from cancer, based on data from over 91,000 people tracked for about 12 years. How To Do It: Five minutes of walking every 30 minutes of sitting made the biggest difference in offsetting the downsides of being sedentary. That could look like a walk around the block or a few laps up and down the hallway. Shorter breaks helped some too, just not as much. The Benefits: In the Columbia study, the habit lowered blood pressure and blood sugar, cutting post-meal spikes by 58 percent compared to sitting all day. The results of a larger UK Biobank study supported this, finding that replacing sitting time with light activity, such as walking or housework, was associated with a lower risk of cancer death.

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

5 Healthy Drinks Besides Water, Backed By Research

a woman ponders what the healthier fast food options available to her are

The Healthiest Fast Food Options at 12 Popular Chains, According to Dietitians

The drive-thru is part of life, and the healthiest fast food order is usually sitting right there on the menu, if you know what to look for. Two registered dietitians break down the smartest pick at 12 popular chains, from Chick-fil-A to Taco Bell, plus the one thing to watch on every order.

Two people using natural mood boosters like exercise and time in nature to improve mental well-being.

Natural Mood Boosters: 8 Simple Ways to Feel Better

Looking for simple ways to support your mental health? These natural mood boosters can help improve focus, energy, and overall well-being. From getting outside and moving your body to better sleep and stronger social connections, small daily habits can make a meaningful difference.

Cognitive Health

Fitness

Nutrition

Sleep

a man does a 5 minute core workout to improve his fitness

The 5-Minute Core Workout You’ll Actually Stick To

A 5-minute core workout sounds too short to matter, but done consistently, it builds real core strength and endurance — no equipment needed. Here's the science behind short workouts, plus a simple five-move bodyweight routine you can start today.

Woman lays on her back with her hands on her stomach as part of a postpartum core workout

A Gentle Postpartum Core Workout for Rebuilding a Strong, Stable Center

A postpartum core workout can help rebuild strength, stability, and function after pregnancy when approached gradually. Learn when it's safe to start, why deep core and pelvic floor exercises matter, and six expert-backed moves that support recovery while helping reduce back pain, diastasis recti, and other common postpartum symptoms.

woman does a dumbbell core workout using two green dumbbells

Dumbbell Core Workout: 6 Moves to Train Abs That Actually Work

Build a stronger, more stable core with this dumbbell core workout featuring six trainer-approved moves you can do at home. Learn how weighted core exercises target your abs, obliques, and deep stabilizing muscles while improving strength, balance, and real-world movement — all in just 15–20 minutes.

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, […]

Does Eating Celery Actually Burn Calories?

You Should Know: Maybe you’ve heard the claim that celery has a magical quality we all wish other foods had. The common wisdom is that eating it burns more calories than it contains, earning it “negative calorie” status. But is that true? A 2013 study in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society put that theory to the test. Going Deeper: Researchers had women eat 100 grams of celery (16 calories) and then tracked their energy expenditure for three hours. Digesting it burned 13.76 calories, close to the total but not quite over it, so celery didn’t create a negative energy balance in the end. Still, digestion used up 86% of what the celery provided. And there’s no solid evidence that other foods, like cucumbers or lettuce, can produce a true negative-calorie effect, since digestion uses only a small portion of the calories in a food. Takeaway: You won’t necessarily generate a calorie deficit from eating celery, but it adds fiber and volume to a meal without piling on calories. Bottom Line: Celery remains a nutritious snack that’s low in calories and high in fiber, but its “negative calorie” status doesn’t stand up to rigorous testing.

The “Detox” Trend Doctors Don’t Recommend

The Trend: It’s safe to say that when most people consume coffee, they’re doing so through their mouths. But some are putting coffee, well, elsewhere. Coffee enemas have recently grown in popularity, but they’ve actually been used for therapeutic benefits since the early 1900s. (Yes, really.) People do them to “detox,” alleviate constipation, and improve gut health — often as part of a suite of alternative wellness practices — but the practice is controversial. What People Are Saying: Coffee enemas are typically self-administered by first filling up an enema bag with brewed caffeinated coffee (cooled first, of course) and squirting the liquid in the business end of your digestive tract. Some say when administered this way, the compounds in coffee can “cleanse” the colon, detoxify the liver and digestive organs, boost the immune system, get rid of constipation, and stimulate production of the antioxidant glutathione. Perhaps the wildest claim is that coffee enemas can fight cancer. What to Know: Sharing anecdotes on Reddit and social media, coffee enema fans say they feel better afterward, while others caution the practice can become addictive. Unsurprisingly, mainstream gastroenterologists and oncologists are not on board. There’s no scientific evidence coffee enemas work, and they […]

This Eating Pattern May Drive Weight Gain

Eat Up: There are tons of studies exploring the efficacy of various diets for weight loss, from keto to intermittent fasting. However, a new meta-analysis is getting more specific about diets that help you gain weight, including an inflammatory diet, which hinges on your overall eating pattern and how it raises or lowers inflammatory markers in your body. The Study: Researchers pooled data from 22 studies to test this idea, using a tool called the Dietary Inflammatory Index, which scores diets based on 45 nutrients and food groups. Ultra-processed foods, refined carbs, and red meat tend to be more inflammatory, while vegetables and whole grains are on the opposite end of the spectrum. People eating the most pro-inflammatory diets had significantly higher odds of being overweight or obese, and three long-term studies found the same pattern held up over time, with one showing a 32% higher risk of becoming overweight or obese. The Takeaway: Adding fiber-rich foods like beans or berries to the meals you already eat can help move your score in the right direction. Keep in Mind: The chicken-and-egg question is still in play here, as it’s not clear yet whether inflammation causes weight gain or vice versa.

some of the best foods for lung health are fruits rich in antioxidants

The Best Foods for Lung Health, According to Research

Smoking and exercise get all the attention, but your diet belongs in the lung conversation too. Here's what the research says about the best foods for lung health — and why fruit leads the list.

Just 78 Minutes Less Sleep a Night Could Lead to Weight Gain

Tip the Scales: Good sleep is essential for keeping nearly every system in our body working properly, including our hormones, brain, and heart. Need more incentive to catch more zzz’s? A new study has found that losing even a modest amount of sleep could contribute to weight gain. The Study: Researchers studied 95 people who were already at risk for heart or metabolic disease and normally slept between seven and eight hours a night. Each participant experienced two different sleep conditions over a six-week period. During the “adequate sleep” window, they slept their normal seven hours or more. During “sleep restriction,” they went to bed 1.5 hours later than normal, losing 90 minutes of sleep time. Participants wore wrist trackers to monitor sleep and activity levels. Their hormones, BMI, body composition, and waist circumference were measured multiple times. The Takeaway: Participants who slept an average of 78 minutes less per night gained nearly one pound of weight compared to when they got adequate sleep. They also gained an average of a half-centimeter around their waist and had 17 more minutes a day of sedentary time. Keep in Mind: Because the study was small and lasted only six weeks, it can’t […]

Why Do I Wake Up Groggy? The REM and Deep Sleep Connection

You logged a full eight hours and still feel foggy. If you've wondered why you wake up groggy, the answer is usually about sleep quality, not quantity — here's what's going on and how to fix it.

Why Do We Sleep Worse in the Summer?

You Should Know: Summer may feel like a time to rest and recharge, but when days stay lighter for hours longer and sweltering nights make it hard to get comfortable, our sleep often suffers. Going Deeper: We may sleep less in the summer because of vacations or extra socializing, and bedtimes and wake times get later when days are longer and warmer. The extra summer sunlight affects our circadian rhythm, which regulates the sleep/wake cycle. Darkness and a drop in body temperature helps trigger melatonin production and induce sleep — both of which can be hard to come by in summertime. Takeaway: You might need to do a little more in the summer to sleep better. Keep blinds or curtains open to get as much sunlight as possible during the day, and dim the lights an hour or two before bed to signal to your body that it’s time to sleep. Keep your bedroom cool and take a warm bath or shower before bed to help trigger the needed drop in core body temperature. A consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends and on vacation, can also help you sleep more soundly during the summer months. Bottom Line: Simple steps you […]

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 […]