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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.
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Why Late Middle Age Is a Drug Danger Zone
Cognitive Health 
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 
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 
The Best Breads for Steady Blood Sugar
Nutrition 
What Vitamins Are Good for Gut Health?
Your gut and your vitamins run a two-way street — certain nutrients feed it, and it returns the favor by making some of its own. Here's what vitamins are good for gut health, and why dietitians say to start with your plate before reaching for a supplement.
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
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 
New Strength Training Guidelines Say: Stop Overcomplicating It
Keep It Simple: If you want to get strong, lift heavy and lift often. It’s age-old advice, but because it’s unsexy advice, it often gets overlooked in favor of high-intensity circuits and concepts like “muscle confusion.” The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recently released new guidelines that support simplicity in strength training. The Study: The 2026 ACSM Position Stand is a major evidence review of resistance training research. The authors analyzed 137 systematic reviews covering more than 30,000 participants to determine which training variables actually matter for strength, muscle growth, power, and physical function. The review found little consistent evidence that set structure, exercise complexity, time under tension, blood flow restriction, or equipment type (machines vs. free weights) meaningfully improve outcomes. Instead, total weekly volume, consistency, and progressive overload were the most important variables. The Takeaway: If you want, you can ditch the fancy-schmancy rep schemes like pyramid and compound sets. Just lift regularly, progressively challenge your muscles, accumulate enough weekly volume, and don’t worry too much about finding the perfect program. Keep in Mind: This guidance is aimed at the general population, not athletes or exercisers with specific goals. If you’re training for something specific, like a […]
Fitness 
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 
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 
How the GLP-1 Boom Is Reshaping Grocery Aisles
The Trend: Maybe you’ve noticed more, somewhat strange, high-protein versions of foods that were never really marketed that way before — like instant mashed potatoes, frozen meals, and ice cream — suddenly lining grocery store shelves. Ever since GLP-1 medications took off, food brands have been scrambling to rework products to appeal to that growing market. What People Are Saying: By the end of 2025, one in eight American adults reported using one of these weight-loss drugs that greatly suppress appetite. Research published in the Journal of Marketing Research found that households with someone taking a GLP-1 cut grocery spending by an average of 5.3% within six months of starting treatment. While grocery stores are seeing growing interest in protein-focused products, junk food brands are taking the biggest hit, as GLP-1 users eat less of it overall. What to Know: The result is a deluge of new products slapping terms like ‘GLP-1 friendly’ and ‘protein’ on labels without any real medical definition behind them. So, if you’re on one of these medications, the best strategy is to favor whole foods like meat, seafood, eggs, and yogurt rather than those “protein” mashed potatoes with dubious merits.
Nutrition 
The Truth About Cortisol Triggering Foods
Social media keeps blaming specific foods for spiking your cortisol, but the science is a lot less scary than the trend. Here's what actually nudges your levels and where your energy is better spent.
Nutrition 
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 
Is Sleeping With Your Pet Ruining Your Sleep?
You Should Know: Roughly half of American pet owners sleep with their pets in their bed, according to a 2022 survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Snuggling with a furry friend can feel ultra-comforting, but it may have some potential downsides for your health and sleep. Going Deeper: Close proximity to your pet for hours can increase disease transmission, but the risk of getting really sick from co-sleeping with your pet is low, experts say. Dogs tend to move around during the night (including an average of two minutes of “play,” one study showed), which can disrupt your sleep, even if you’re not aware of it. Takeaway: Though the research suggests co-sleeping with your pet can impact your sleep quality, it can also boost emotional wellbeing and security — and many pet owners perceive their sleep to be better when their pet is in the bed. Having a pet (especially a dog) can promote a consistent routine, get you out of bed early, and create a daily exercise habit — all of which promote healthy sleep. Bottom Line: Experts say it’s an individual choice, but if you’re not getting good sleep, try a few nights without pets […]
Sleep 
Is Your Airport Outfit Slowing Your Circulation?
You Should Know: Leggings have become a staple travel outfit for many passengers, but the combo of stretchy and snug that makes them so comfortable isn’t actually a great quality, health-wise, when you’re at altitude. Long periods of sitting already slow your circulation and cause swelling, and tight clothing around the waist and ankles compounds the problem. In more serious cases, that reduced circulation can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis, where blood clots form in the deep veins of the legs. Going Deeper: Why then are compression socks recommended to prevent this very problem on long flights? Medical-grade compression socks apply the most pressure at the ankle and gradually ease up the leg, which pushes blood back toward the heart. Leggings do the opposite, applying uniform pressure from ankle to waist, thereby impeding upward flow. Takeaway: Loose pants in natural fabrics (since synthetics are more flammable during an inflight emergency) are your best bet for a long flight. And if you’re concerned about circulatory support, pair compression socks with a relaxed-fit bottom.
Sleep 
Why You Keep Waking up at the Same Time Every Night
You Should Know: The list of health benefits linked to quality sleep goes on and on — but knowing the upsides doesn’t always stop your body from waking up at 3 a.m. That’s because your brain cycles through light and deep sleep stages in roughly 90-to-110-minute intervals, and those lighter stages naturally cluster toward the morning hours. Your body also ramps up cortisol production in the early hours as it prepares to wake you. Going Deeper: However, the reason you stay awake at this time is a different matter altogether. It’s much harder to fall back asleep if you’re dealing with stress and anxiety, and checking the clock can make that worse by increasing frustration and making your brain more alert. Afternoon caffeine and alcohol before bed can also contribute to fragmented sleep. Takeaway: Keeping a consistent sleep and wake time can help set your body clock. And if you’ve been lying there for more than 20 minutes, sleep experts say getting out of bed is a better option than staring at the ceiling. Bottom Line: Waking up in the middle of the night is a totally normal part of sleep. It only becomes a problem when anxiety or stressful […]
Sleep
Mindfulness
Beauty
Personal Growth
“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
You Should Know: The idea of “repressed memories” is back in the spotlight after author Amy Griffin’s memoir was challenged by a lawsuit alleging that a traumatic event she described as a recovered memory actually happened to someone else. The controversy has revived a decades-old question: Can the brain truly bury traumatic memories outside conscious awareness? Going Deeper: Most psychologists agree that trauma can affect memory, but not necessarily in the way popular culture suggests. According to the American Psychological Association, survivors may avoid thinking about traumatic events, struggle to discuss them, or have fragmented memories. That’s different from the Freudian concept of repression, which proposes that the mind unconsciously seals away traumatic memories that can later be “recovered.” Research has found that suggestive therapeutic techniques can sometimes create false memories, leading many experts to caution against treatments that claim to uncover hidden trauma. Takeaway: Trauma is real, and so are its effects on memory. But evidence for deeply buried memories that are later accurately recovered remains controversial. Bottom Line: Forgetting, avoiding, and suppressing traumatic experiences are well documented. The idea that trauma is secretly stored away and later unlocked, however, remains one of psychology’s most debated — and disputed […]
Mindfulness 
How To Quit Doomscrolling (Without Ditching Your Phone)
Mindfulness 
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
The Trend: Tanning beds and “laying out” might seem like throwbacks, but they’re still very much a thing among Gen Z. The link between tanning and skin cancer is clear, so why is a generation that’s so focused on wellness (and skincare) skipping sun protection in favor of suntans? What People Are Saying: No surprise: Social media plays a big role. Misinformation about sunscreen and UV exposure is rampant. Content from “tanfluencers” posting videos of themselves using tanning beds and tanning outdoors has gone viral. Some experts posit Gen Z could be less concerned about long-term consequences and more mistrustful of traditional medical advice. What to Know: Laying out for hours is certainly harmful, but so is a quick stint in a tanning bed. Indoor tanning can triple your risk of skin cancer. Some experts place tanning beds in the same category as asbestos and plutonium for their cancer-causing capabilities. It’s a good idea to get 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight several times a week for vitamin D synthesis, but limit direct sun exposure during peak times (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Always wear — and regularly reapply — plenty of sunscreen of at least SPF 30 when outside.
Beauty 
A New Wearable Takes Sun Care Beyond SPF
Beauty 
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
Try, Try Again: Maybe you’ve been staying up late doomscrolling — when you should be sleeping — more nights than you’d like to admit. Then, one rough morning of feeling exhausted finally makes you put the phone down earlier. New research from Japan offers a clue about what happens in the brain when you reach a breaking point like that. The Study: Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology trained mice to navigate a virtual maze to reach a reward. Once the mice learned the route, the scientists changed it so the reward no longer appeared. Brain imaging showed that when the reward disappeared, the mice’s brains released a surge of acetylcholine, a chemical involved in learning. Mice with bigger surges were more likely to abandon the old route and try something new. Blocking acetylcholine made mice stick with the same choice even after the blocking agent stopped working. The Takeaway: That frustrated feeling when a bad habit stops paying off might be your brain’s cue that it’s time to drop it and try something new. Keep in Mind: Mice aren’t people, and our brains, fortunately, don’t work exactly the same way. However, the role of acetylcholine is […]
Personal Growth 
What a Dopamine Menu Actually Does for Your Motivation
Personal Growth