The first person I ever met who had completely cut refined sugar from his diet was a college friend — a crunchy surfer type who proudly avoided the stuff, along with alcohol, tobacco, and most other things college kids tend to discover during their first few years of freedom.
At the time, I assumed he was an outlier. But in the years since, I’ve met more and more people like him. I admire the discipline. And on the surface, refined sugar seems like a reasonable enough thing to cut back on. Still, I’ve found myself wondering: Is sugar really as bad for us as we’ve been led to believe? Some experts offer their perspective here.
— J.D., Editor
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Health Tech
The Scientific Discovery That ‘Broke Accepted Anatomical Norms’
Midjourney
Interconnected: The human body is a complex web of interconnected systems. There are entire fields of study built upon this concept (hello, reflexology). Amazingly, scientists continue to discover new systems that change what we know about human anatomy. The latest is dubbed the interstitium, a network of spaces that lies beneath the skin and above the fascia.
The Study: In 2021, researchers examined the skin of people with tattoos. In their biopsies, it became apparent that the ink traveled deeper into the body than expected; into a conduit of interstitial spaces between layers of tissue and between organs. This discovery ‘broke accepted anatomic boundaries’ — at least in the West. One professor told The New York Times, “This knowledge is actually quite ancient.” It’s the foundation of eastern medicine practices like acupuncture, which targets meridians in the body to help the flow of Qi (“chi”), the body’s energy.
The Takeaway: Studies of the interstitium show that acupuncture points mirror the areas of connective tissue where fluid flows through the interstitium, suggesting that the West can learn a lot from the East.
What to Know: Everything is more connected than it seems on the surface. More studies of the interstitium could lead to big changes in western healthcare.
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Nutrition & Food
People Are Having More Dates than Ever (No, Not That Kind)
Curated Lifestyle/Unsplash
The Trend: Dates — the decadently sweet fruit — have doubled in sales. At Ocado, a UK-based grocery retailer, medjool date sales are up 100% year-over-year, signaling a move away from ultra-processed sugary foods to more natural sweet treats. People are making “date bark” and other recipes to get their sugar fix without resorting to candy or other processed sweets. And companies like DateFix, which manufactures squeezable tubes of pureed dates (akin to running gels), are capitalizing on the trend.
What People Are Saying: This trend comes as the overall attitude toward processed foods continues to sour, thanks to a growing body of evidence showing how harmful they really are to our health. Many people are singing the praises of dates as a healthier snack alternative, citing their high fiber and antioxidant content.
What to Know: It’s important to realize that dates still contain a high amount of sugar and are calorie-dense. Date-based recipes “may offer more fibre and micronutrients than traditional sweets, but they’re still ‘treats,’” one nutrition expert told The Guardian. Moderation remains key.
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Mindfulness
What Is Synesthesia? The Neuroscience Behind Hearing Color
James Todd/Unsplash
You Should Know: During the Wicked press tour, Cynthia Erivo revealed she has synesthesia, a neurological phenomenon where the senses cross wires. When she hears a musical note, she sees a color. Billie Eilish, Pharrell Williams, Lady Gaga, and Kanye West have said the same.
Going Deeper: There are around 80 known forms of synesthesia, but the most common are grapheme-color (letters and numbers appear colored) and chromesthesia (sound triggers color, what Erivo has). Scientists say it shows up in 2-4% of the population, though many people don’t actually know it’s an unusual experience when it happens to them. The neuroscience behind it is the cross-activation between adjacent brain regions (the area that processes letters is right next to the one that processes color, and there are more connections than usual between the two) and disinhibited feedback, where high-level connections fire more freely than normal. It’s also genetic.
Takeaway: This is a neurological wiring difference in some people’s brains. Synesthetes have sensory blending that’s involuntary, consistent, present from childhood, and stable over time.
Bottom Line: When Erivo says she sees blue when Jennifer Lawrence sings a note, she means it literally.
The most time-consuming part of these tacos is chopping the ingredients for the marinade, but the steps are simple and the payoff is worth it. Gochujang, garlic, and ginger infuse the thinly sliced beef with spicy, savory depth, while a quick trip through the air fryer leaves it tender, crispy around the edges, and coated in a sticky, flavorful glaze. Topped with kimchi, onion, and cilantro, these tacos deliver a fast and nourishing fusion of Korean and Mexican flavors.
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This, Not That
Better Candy
THIS
NOT THAT
Jerry Wang/Unsplash, Brunno Tozzo/Unsplash
This: Frozen grapes Not That: Hard candy
Frozen grapes hit that same cold, sweet, poppable note, but they bring water, fiber, and a little fruit along for the ride. They’re especially clutch when you want something sweet after dinner but don’t want to make it a whole production.
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HEALTHY HABIT
Add Protein to Breakfast
Try to include a solid source of protein in your first meal. Eggs, Greek yogurt, tofu, cottage cheese, beans, or leftovers can help make breakfast more satisfying.
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Final Thought
To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.”
