Healthy Living, Simplified

Your Handwriting May Offer Clues About Brain Health

You Should Know: There are a lot of theories out there about what you can tell about a person from their handwriting. Does messy handwriting mean you’re creative? Do big letters mean you’re outgoing? While there’s not much science behind using handwriting to judge personality traits, research suggests it may hold some clues about our cognitive health. Going Deeper: In one recent study, healthy and cognitively impaired residents in assisted-living facilities completed several writing tasks, which were analyzed for speed, smoothness, stroke count, and other characteristics. When transcribing new information, participants who used more pen strokes, were slower to write a sentence after hearing it aloud, or wrote letters larger vertically showed greater signs of cognitive decline. Takeaway: Writing by hand is a complicated process — it requires a combination of hand-eye-brain coordination, incorporating dexterity, fine motor skills, thinking, and memory all at the same time. These findings were less about handwriting style, and more so focused on what it revealed about how efficiently the brain processed information and translated it into movement on the page. Bottom Line: This was a small study, and more research is needed, but it suggests our handwriting mechanics may offer insight into our cognitive […]

Cognitive Health

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 […]

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

a woman learns how to target glutes on leg press

How to Target Glutes on the Leg Press: What Actually Works

Learn how to target your glutes on the leg press with simple, effective technique tweaks. Placing your feet higher on the platform, using a controlled deep range of motion, and driving through your heels can shift emphasis toward the glutes while reducing quad dominance. Consistency and effort matter most for results.

a woman assesses her menopause brain fog

Menopause Brain Fog Is Real — Here’s What Scientists Just Saw in the Brain

Those memory slips and foggy moments aren't in your head. New brain-imaging research shows menopause genuinely reshapes brain activity — here's what's happening, and what may help.

Cognitive Health

Fitness

Nutrition

Sleep

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hot Summer Night? Try Frozen Socks for Better Sleep

You Should Know: Extremely hot days are not only uncomfortable, but they can also be potentially dangerous. Plus, trying to sleep in a too-hot bedroom is nearly impossible. Socks might be the last thing you want to wear to bed on sweltering nights, but sticking them in the fridge or freezer to chill out first can bring you fast relief so you can sleep. Going Deeper: Hands and feet both radiate heat when it’s hot and insulate heat when it’s cold. Their ability to thermoregulate is due to the wide, flat surface area, lack of fat, and amount of blood vessels in the palms and soles. When the blood in our hands or feet cool down, the rest of the body follows suit. Takeaway: Your body’s core temperature needs to drop to induce sleep, and cooling your feet in hot weather helps to do this. Short of wrapping your feet in ice packs, wearing cold socks is the best way to keep feet cool for long enough for that temp drop to happen. Bottom Line: Cooling socks in the fridge or freezer before bed (or any time you’re super-hot) is an easy, cost-effective method that’s even recommended by the Red […]

Mindfulness

Beauty

Personal Growth

Ancient Brain Cells May Help You Tune Out Distractions

Zeroing In: Scientists have long thought attention was controlled by the prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain that’s highly developed in humans and primates but far less so in other animals. But if that’s the case, then how are birds, fish, frogs, and other creatures able to focus when searching for food or avoiding predators? Researchers from Johns Hopkins University think they know, after discovering a circuit of inhibitory neurons in the brainstem that’s shared by all vertebrates and acts as a “focus filter.” The Study: The researchers gave mice an attention task and rewarded them when they focused on a visual cue and ignored distractions. The mice performed the task successfully until the researchers switched off those inhibitory neurons, which resulted in them becoming easily distracted. The Takeaway: When these neurons were switched off, the mice lost their ability to sift through information to decide which one needed their attention in the moment. Researchers posit this finding could potentially open the door for new targeted treatments for ADHD and autism in the future. Keep in Mind: The study was done on mice, not humans. More research is needed to determine if human brains would respond the same way.

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.

“Solo-Maxxing”: Why Gen Z Is Embracing Being Single