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Daily Edition • Saturday, June 27

Can Watermelon Juice Protect You From the Sun?

Two women sitting on the grass by a lake, enjoying watermelon with a view of mountains and a church in the background.

Febe Vanermen/Unsplash

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.

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This Hot Drink Doubled Stem Cells in 30-Day Study

Hands hold a white bowl filled with frothy chocolate drink, surrounded by cocoa pods and cocoa nibs on a wooden table.

Courtesy: Earth Echo

Billionaires are dropping six figures on stem cell therapy trying to stay young. Meanwhile, a large study just concluded that this tasty drink increased stem cell production by 220% in just 30 days.

The drink getting the attention here is hot cacao, thanks to its naturally occurring polyphenols — compounds researchers have studied for their role in blood flow, blood pressure, and healthy aging. The craziest part? This drink costs about 50 cents a cup…

And yet scientists say it could be as effective as $100,000 injections when it comes to heart health and longevity. The studies also show it helps lower blood pressure, improve blood flow, and boosts your gut health.

Read The Research

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Fitness

Dating Apps Are Getting a Fitness Upgrade

Stephanie Berbec/Unsplash

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 matching gym schedules.

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Cognitive Health

Why Late Middle Age Is a Drug Danger Zone

Bright, airy corner nook with two chairs, a round table, and potted plants, illuminated by natural light through blinds.

Ducminh Nguyen/Unsplash

Surprising Stat: The tragedy of a drug overdose tends to conjure images of a young person or someone with a long-term addiction. But a new report from the Penington Institute in Australia shows that in 2024, which was the country’s deadliest year for overdose deaths ever, the age group most affected was people in their 50s.

The Research: For the first time in this data series, people aged 50 to 59 accounted for the highest share of unintentional overdose deaths at 25.5%. That same group also posted the second-highest rate of intentional drug-related deaths. There are a few reasons why: People in their 50s are more likely to manage multiple conditions and take multiple prescriptions. In fact, over 70% of unintentional deaths involved more than one drug type.

The Takeaway: Anyone in this age range should make sure every doctor treating them has a complete picture of all their medications, as combinations that seem routine can interact in dangerous ways, especially as the body ages.

Keep in Mind: Although this data comes from Australia, the researchers note the broader pattern is consistent with trends seen across many Western nations.

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Quick Picks

Sweeten the Deal — Can dark chocolate really slow aging?

Worth the Hype — New moms are raving about this brand.*

Head It Off — These 7 foods can ward off migraines.

Keep Your Cool — Can fridge-chilled socks help you through a heatwave?

Snack Attack — These types of cravings are more likely to cause weight gain.

^*Indicates a brand partnership

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What We're Cooking

Chopped Spinach Fattoush Salad with Tahini-Sumac Dressing

A colorful salad with lettuce, avocado, chicken strips, bacon, tomatoes, and cheese, beside a small bowl of dressing.

Courtesy: Food52

Serves: 4-6 | Cook Time: 25 minutes

This Middle Eastern fattoush salad combines fresh summer veggies with sturdy pita (and it even works well with slightly stale bread). Seasonal produce — spinach, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, radishes — and herbs like parsley, mint, and chives are finely chopped for a cohesive blend of flavors and textures. Everything’s coated in a creamy, citrusy sumac tahini dressing, rounding out this flavor-packed and filling summer salad.

Get The Full Recipe

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This, Not That

Walking Errand

A man in a white shirt and cap walks along a brick wall, carrying a white bag, with red poles lining the sidewalk.

THIS

Hands gripping a steering wheel, wearing a colorful beaded bracelet, inside a car with a dashboard visible.

NOT THAT

Nicolas Savignat/Unsplash, A.C./Unsplash

This: A walking errand
Not That: Driving three blocks out of habit

When the errand is close enough, turn it into movement. You get steps, daylight, and a little mental reset — plus the smug satisfaction of not searching for parking.

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Indigenous Tribe Drinks 5 Cups Cocoa Daily. Here’s Why

An indigenous group of people called the Kuna in Panama are a fascinating story in longevity.

Read here how the Kuna drink an average of 5 cups of a type of cocoa every day and have 9x lower rates of heart problems than most countries.

Read The Story

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HEALTHY HABIT

Add a Crunch

Throw something crunchy onto a meal: nuts, seeds, chopped veggies, roasted chickpeas, slaw. Texture makes food more satisfying, and it’s an easy way to sneak in extra nutrients.

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Final Thought

Expansive view of forested mountains under a clear blue sky, with snow-capped peaks visible in the distance.

Where observation is concerned, chance favors only the prepared mind.”

– Louis Pasteur, Oeuvres de Pasteur

Anh Phan/Unsplash