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Daily Edition • Tuesday, May 26

A Taste for Veggies May Start Before Birth

A small child reaches for strawberries on a cutting board in a bright kitchen.

Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash

Veggie Tales: Some kids happily snack on broccoli, while others will consume something green only if a parent hides it in a smoothie. New research led by Durham University suggests those early reactions to vegetables may start before birth. Researchers found that 3-year-olds were less likely to react negatively to the smell of vegetables they had been repeatedly exposed to in the womb.

The Study: Researchers followed children from before birth to age 3. During pregnancy, mothers took capsules containing either carrot powder or kale powder in late gestation. Researchers first captured fetal facial reactions using ultrasound at 32 and 36 weeks, then tested the babies again at about 3 weeks old. At age 3, 12 children returned for follow-up, where researchers exposed them to carrot and kale smells and coded their facial reactions.

The Takeaway: Children showed fewer negative facial reactions to the vegetable smell they had been exposed to before birth. That suggests fetuses may form long-lasting flavor or odor memories — and that a mother’s diet during pregnancy could potentially shape how children respond to certain foods later.

Keep in Mind: This was a very small study, focused on only 12 children and two vegetables. It also measured reactions to smell, not whether kids actually ate more vegetables.

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The Smarter Swap for Your Afternoon Slump

A person in a white shirt opens a package of Brodo beef bone broth, featuring a bright orange and green design.

Courtesy: Brodo

There’s a reason bone broth keeps showing up in wellness routines, but Brodo makes the case especially well.

Born from the takeout window of James Beard Award-winning chef Marco Canora’s NYC restaurant, Hearth, Brodo is a chef-crafted bone broth made with real ingredients, not concentrates, extracts, artificial flavorings, or preservatives. Each pouch is slow-simmered with organic vegetables and collagen-rich cuts, with up to 10 grams of protein per cup.

The result is something that feels more like a savory ritual than a supplement: warm, deeply flavorful, and easy to sip straight. Try it in place of a second coffee, a processed snack, or the usual 3 p.m. energy drink.

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Sleep & Recovery

Can Your Lungs Repair Themselves When You Quit Smoking?

Silhouette of a person blowing a dandelion, seeds scattering against a sunset backdrop with mountains.

Daniel J Schwarz/Unsplash

You Should Know: Your lungs are more resilient than you might think. For example, they do have a real capacity to heal after you quit smoking. Researchers now understand that the lungs evolved with substantial self-repair mechanisms precisely because they're constantly exposed to harmful particles and pathogens. When you stop smoking, certain cells that have avoided DNA damage help replenish the airway lining, and tiny hair-like structures called cilia start sweeping out toxins again. Lung function can then improve by as much as 30% within the first few months.

Going Deeper: Some lung damage is still permanent. Emphysema occurs when air sacs rupture and the tissue doesn't regenerate. After extensive damage, the healing process leads to stiff scar tissue rather than healthy lung tissue. Lungs are also slower to repair themselves as you age.

Takeaway: The lungs can recover a lot, but how much depends heavily on how long and how much someone smoked.

Bottom Line: Quitting smoking always makes a difference — at any age. Still, the idea that your lungs will bounce back completely isn't entirely true.

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Fitness

The Push-Up Form Fix Women Are Talking About

A person doing push-ups on artificial grass with a clear sky and trees in the background.

Monika Kab/Unsplash

The Trend: It's not uncommon for push-ups to feel awkward or just plain hard for even active women. But it turns out changing your hand position might make them just a little bit easier. A viral fitness tip has been making the rounds online, suggesting that women rotate their hands slightly outward during push-ups rather than keeping fingers pointed straight forward.

How to Do It: Women have a wider carry angle at the elbow than men, meaning the forearm naturally angles outward when the arm is extended, and standard push-up form doesn't account for that. So women should consider starting push-ups in the usual high-plank position, then subtly rotate both hands so the fingers point slightly away from your body.

The Benefits: Experts say the adjusted position may reduce wrist strain and create a more stable base of support, making the movement feel more manageable overall. It may also better align women's muscles and bones with their natural movement patterns. That said, it won't click for everyone, and people with existing shoulder issues may find it less comfortable.

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Quick Picks

Not All Created Equal — Are some UPFs … good for you?

In Full Bloom — This is how spring is good for your brain.

Hungry For Answers — This is the question GLP-1 users ask every day.*

30-Second Test — How many chair squats should you be able to do at your age?

Burn Notice — This is why you shouldn’t use the UV index to tan.

^*Indicates a brand partnership

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What We're Cooking

No-Mayo Peperonata Pasta Salad

Two plates of pasta with cherry tomatoes, basil, and pine nuts, accompanied by glasses and fresh basil on a wooden board.

Courtesy: Food52

Serves: 6-8 | Cook Time: 35 minutes

For us, pasta salad is a summertime staple — it instantly brings to mind family BBQs and picnics with friends. But some versions can leave you feeling heavy, thanks to creamy sauces and dressings.

This recipe highlights peperonata, the classic Italian medley of sweet peppers, onions, and tomatoes coated in olive oil. The oil and veggie juices become the dressing for the pasta salad, keeping it light and veggie-forward while still packing plenty of flavor. A tubular pasta like casarecce helps catch the dressing, and extra toppings like fresh herbs, capers, nuts, and mozzarella bring texture and variety to every bite.

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This, Not That

The Better Restaurant Move

A variety of bowls contain different vegetables: grilled green onions, roasted carrots, and a mushroom mix.

THIS

Two hands are pointing at a menu on a wooden table, with a glass and some blurred objects in the foreground.

NOT THAT

Sebastian Doll/Unsplash, Hyoshin Choi/Unsplash

This: Ordering Vegetables First
Not That: Deciding in the Moment

If you wait until you’re starving to think about balance, fries tend to win. Ordering a vegetable side or salad first creates a healthy anchor before impulse takes over.

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Bone Broth, But Make It Chef-Crafted

Most “healthy swaps” sound better than they taste. Brodo is the exception.

Created by James Beard Award-winning chef Marco Canora, Brodo is made with real, whole ingredients, organic vegetables, and no concentrates, extracts, artificial flavorings, or preservatives. It comes in eight flavors, from classic Organic Chicken to spicy, citrusy, and vegan options.

Sip it as a warm afternoon reset, a light lunch starter, or a savory alternative to your usual coffee run.

Check It Out

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HEALTHY HABIT

One Fewer Click

Pick one daily digital habit and make it slightly harder — log out, move the app, or remove it from your home screen. Small friction reduces automatic use without requiring willpower. What’s less convenient gets used less.

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Final Thought

Meandering river flowing through a lush green landscape under clear skies.

The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places.”

– Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms

Hongyan Li/Unsplash