Microplastics have become almost impossible to avoid — not just in the environment, but in the food we eat, the water we drink, and the products we use every day. Understandably, many of you have asked us what that actually means for your health and whether there are practical ways to reduce your exposure. Our first-ever All Healthy Toolkit brings the research together in one clear, science-backed guide, separating the changes worth considering from the ones that probably aren’t worth stressing over.
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Personal Growth
How Art May Help Slow Biological Aging
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The Art of Aging Well: Spending a weekend afternoon wandering around an art museum or seeing a movie isn’t just fun — arts-related activities like these are actually good for our health (minus the gargantuan box of Milk Duds). And the benefits may even go beyond mental well-being: a new study has linked cultural enrichment to slower biological aging in older adults.
The Study: The researchers pulled data from about 1,900 adults aged 50 and older living in England. They found those who went to museums, concerts, plays, and other cultural activities at least once every few months were physiologically younger than those who didn’t by about three years, despite being very close in chronological age.
The Takeaway: Cultural engagement seems to impact aging in three key ways. It helps strengthen social relationships and reduce loneliness, lowers stress and supports mental health, and people who participate in these activities are more likely to be physically active and eat healthy foods.
Keep in Mind: There’s a possibility of reverse causation in these findings: that healthier people are more likely to have the ability to participate in cultural activities. The most culturally engaged among the participants were female, employed with higher incomes, and in better health to begin with.
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Health Tech
How to Make a DIY Air Purifier During Wildfire Season
Jakub Zerdzicki/Unsplash
Clear the Air: For many of us, wildfire smoke is becoming a fact of life, and it’s not just an outdoor problem. Fine particulate matter can seep inside through doors, windows, and ventilation systems, where it can irritate your lungs and increase the risk of respiratory problems. During major wildfire events, like those going on in Colorado, Oregon, and Canada this year, portable air purifiers tend to sell out quickly. If you weren’t able to snag one in time, there’s a surprisingly effective backup.
How to Do It: Build a DIY air purifier by attaching a 20-inch MERV 13 furnace filter to the back of a standard 20-inch box fan, making sure the arrows on the filter point toward the fan. (The MERV rating is important: the higher the rating, the more protection they offer, so opt for a filter rated 13 or higher). Seal the edges with duct tape to reduce air leaks, then run the fan in the room where you spend the most time. For safety, use a newer fan manufactured after 2012 with a fused plug to reduce fire risk. Also, be sure the motor is clean, and never leave it running unattended.
The Benefits: Research from the EPA has found that DIY box fan filters can substantially reduce indoor smoke particles, so they can improve your indoor air quality in a pinch. Plus, they’re inexpensive and easy to assemble.
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Beauty
Could Skipping Shampoo Help Your Hair?
Karolina Grabowska/Unsplash
You Should Know: “No poo,” which means giving up traditional shampoo entirely, has risen in prominence over the past few years. People who try it wash their hair with just water, or mix their own rinse from baking soda and apple cider vinegar. The appeal comes down to avoiding chemicals that strip natural oils from the scalp, along with curiosity about what is actually in our daily products.
Going Deeper: Fine or oily hair tends to struggle without shampoo since the scalp gets oilier faster. Curly or coarse hair often sees the biggest payoff, since natural oils smooth out frizz. For example, one writer at The Guardian went months without shampoo after his barber told him to stop using it. His hair felt dry and itchy at first, then evened out into something shinier and curlier than before.
Takeaway: No poo works better for some hair types than others, and anyone with scalp or skin issues should check with a dermatologist first.
Bottom Line: Skipping shampoo might transform your hair. Or it might just leave it greasy (there’s no science confirming that scalps eventually produce less oil over time). Results depend on the hair you started with.
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Quick Picks
Glute Gear — Here’s what cycling can (and can’t) do for your glutes.
Walk On — These sneakers make your daily stroll feel heavenly.*
Longevity Menu — These 5 diets are linked to a longer, healthier life.
Grill Goals — Here are 16 pork recipes worthy of your summer cookout.
This simple black bean salad balances tropical sweetness with a subtle kick of heat. Juicy mango adds floral sweetness to hearty black beans, while a bright chili-lime dressing and fresh cilantro bring acidity, freshness, and a hint of smoky spice to every bite. With no cooking required, this colorful salad comes together quickly and works equally well as a light meal, make-ahead lunch, or flavorful side dish.
By clicking, you are agreeing to receive a daily recipe from Better Plates.
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This, Not That
Sun Block
THIS
NOT THAT
BATCH by Wisconsin Hemp Scientific/Unsplash, Ohlamour Studio/Unsplash
This: Keep sunscreen near your keys Not That: Remembering it once you’re already outside
Sunscreen is easier to use when it lives where your day begins. Keep it near your keys, bag, or bathroom sink so applying it becomes part of leaving the house. The best skincare habit is often the one you make hard to forget.
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HEALTHY HABIT
Take a “Transition Breath”
Before moving from work mode to home mode, take one intentional breath. Do it before walking inside, closing the laptop, starting dinner, or joining your family. Tiny transitions matter. They give your nervous system a chance to notice that one part of the day has ended.
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Final Thought
Every act of perception is to some degree an act of creation, and every act of memory is to some degree an act of imagination.”
