Your dog may know more about you than you think. Or at least that’s what a recent study has concluded.
Up until now, the general assumption was that dogs have a rough sense of our emotional state — either positive or negative. But this new research suggests that canine empathy may be more fine-tuned than that. Researchers put dogs into an fMRI machine and showed them photos of the same person expressing fear, anger, and sadness. With each different photograph, different parts of the dog’s brain lit up with activity. So next time you’re feeling blue and your dog jumps in your lap, consider that it may not actually be a coincidence.
♔
Personal Growth
Your Exposure to Microplastics Might Influence Your Risk of Heart Attack
Jonathan Chng/Unsplash
Heart to Heart: From brains to blood, scientists have found tiny plastic particles in nearly every part of the human body. Now, a new study suggests they may also be linked to heart attacks. While the findings don’t prove microplastics are to blame, they add to growing concerns about how everyday environmental exposures may affect our overall health.
The Study: Researchers analyzed blood collected from the coronary arteries of 61 adults undergoing coronary angiography, a test used to assess blood flow through the heart’s arteries. Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) were detected in 84% of patients who had experienced a major heart attack, compared with 40% of people with chronic heart disease and 32% of those with normal coronary arteries. Polyethylene — the most widely produced plastic globally — was the most frequently detected polymer. The researchers also found higher MNP levels among people who smoked or had greater long-term exposure to air pollution.
Takeaway: There was a clear association between MNPs and heart attacks. Researchers suspect these particles may contribute to coronary artery disease, but much larger studies are needed before they can establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
Keep in Mind: This was a small, observational study, so it cannot show that microplastics cause heart attacks.
Postscript: If you’re curious about your own exposure to microplastics, take our assessment.
✲
Sponsored
Boost Your Child’s Healthy Growth Naturally
Courtesy: Hiya
Looking for a protein powder specially made for kids? Hiya’s Kids Daily Growth + Protein harnesses the power of grass-fed whey protein, prebiotics, and healthy fats, without sugars or fillers. It’s crafted with pediatric insight, focusing on gut health, brain development, and sustained energy. Discover a clean solution for optimal nutrition.
Thank you for supporting our sponsors! They help us keep All Healthy free.
✧
Health Tech
How Saunas May Help Us Cope With Heatwaves
Julia Elliot/Unsplash
You Should Know: Heatwaves, unfortunately, are a fact of life. And there are only so many things you can do to get a good night’s sleep when it’s hot out. What if, instead of trying to beat the heat, we try to adapt to it? (We know — a little dystopian, but hear us out.) A growing body of evidence begs the question of whether “heat training” could help people prepare for heatwaves.
Going Deeper: Research suggests that repeated heat exposure via saunas may help the body acclimate by increasing sweat production, improving blood flow to the skin, lowering heart rate during heat exposure, and making it easier to regulate temperature. This technique is already used by endurance athletes training for hot-weather events. But there’s a catch: most studies have been conducted in tightly controlled settings, and researchers caution that using a sauna during extreme heat could increase the risk of dehydration or heat illness.
Takeaway: Regular sauna stay may help healthy adults become more heat tolerant over time, but it remains critically important to stay hydrated, seek shade when outdoors, and avoid exposure to dangerous heat as much as possible.
Bottom Line: Sauna training is a promising area of research, but larger real-world studies are needed to prove its efficacy.
◐
Mindfulness
What Actually Helps an Itchy Bug Bite
Kateryna Hliznitsova/Unsplash
Chomp: Bug bites are pretty much an unavoidable (yet annoying) part of summer. And the urge to scratch becomes incredibly hard to resist the second one shows up. We all know, however, that scratching always backfires by making the itch worse. That feeling comes from your immune system reacting to proteins in insect saliva, which triggers a histamine release that causes the swelling and redness. Scratching sets off more of that same immune response, so the itch keeps coming back stronger the more you give in.
How to Do It: Instead of scratching, the best strategy is to press a cold, damp cloth or an ice pack against the bite instead. The cold temporarily numbs the itch and reduces the swelling. An over-the-counter antihistamine can help too (this one is tried and true for us). If the bite still feels irritated, an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen or a dab of hydrocortisone or calamine can also help.
The Benefits: Resisting the urge to scratch interrupts what dermatologists call the “itch-scratch cycle.” It also protects your skin from the physical damage scratching causes, which can make it more prone to infection. Most bites clear up fine on their own, but increasing pain accompanied by pus or a fever is a sign to get things checked out.
This easy ravioli dinner turns a package of fresh spinach-and-mozzarella ravioli into a creamy, comforting meal in just 20 minutes. Butter, garlic, heavy cream, and Parmesan come together for a velvety sauce, while a splash of reserved pasta water helps adjust the consistency without making it too heavy. Fresh spinach adds a pop of color and freshness, and crisp crumbled bacon brings a smoky, savory finish. It’s a simple weeknight shortcut that still feels a little indulgent.
By clicking, you are agreeing to receive a daily recipe from Better Plates.
☞
This, Not That
Take It In
THIS
NOT THAT
Jonathan Borba/Unsplash, Daniel/Unsplash
This: Make takeout work harder Not That: Treating delivery like an automatic nutrition loss
Takeout can still be a decent meal. Add a side salad, order extra vegetables, split fries with a protein-heavy main, or save half for tomorrow. The point is not to make takeout perfect. It’s to make it slightly more supportive of the person eating it.
✲
Sponsored
Unlock Radiant Skin with Acaderma’s Proven Formulas
Say goodbye to dullness and hello to radiant skin. Acaderma’s Oasis Barrier Booster and Lunar Glow Illuminate Serum enhance hydration and revitalize your skin with Nobel Prize-winning technology. Discover the bioactive difference in skin resilience.
Thank you for supporting our sponsors! They help us keep All Healthy free.
❦
HEALTHY HABIT
Open the Blinds Before You Open Your Phone
Before the day gets swallowed by alerts, give your body a clearer signal that morning has started. Open the blinds, step onto the porch, or stand near a bright window for a minute. It’s a tiny reset that helps put daylight before screen light.
★
Final Thought
I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.”
