It’s kind of amazing where our drugs are derived from. GLP-1s, famously, are derived from a peptide naturally found in Gila monster venom. Metformin, a drug that’s finding uses in protecting against cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and possibly even cognitive decline was derived from something a bit more benign. A wild plant. Read more about the humble ‘Goat’s rue’ here.
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Personal Development
Could Art Help Slow Biological Aging?
Onur Kurt/Unsplash
Painting A Picture: Your friend who always has to stop and stare at every single piece when you're visiting an art museum may be onto something. A new study from University College London suggests that regularly engaging with arts and culture could actually slow down the pace of biological aging. Researchers even found effects comparable to what exercise does for the body.
The Study: Researchers analyzed blood test and survey data from 3,556 adults in the UK, comparing arts engagement with DNA changes that influence biological aging. People who did an arts activity at least weekly appeared to age about 4% more slowly than those who rarely participated. That's the same effect seen in people who exercised once a week compared to those who did no exercise at all.
The Takeaway: Protecting time for creative and cultural activities may do real things for the body, not just the soul. The researchers also found that variety matters, so mixing up the types of activities someone engages in seems to amplify the benefit. (We’ve actually been goofing around with these kits in addition to personal writing and crocheting.)
Keep in Mind: The researchers controlled for factors like income and education level, and the links still held up, though the study found an association rather than proven cause and effect.
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Courtesy: Primo Deliver
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Fitness
The 800-Year-Old Practice That May Lower Blood Pressure
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New Dog, Old Tricks: You’ve probably heard of tai chi, but what about Baduanjin? Both are Chinese mind-body practices using a series of movements with integrated breathing, and both have been shown to be beneficial for sleep and mental health. Tai chi has more of a martial-arts focus meant to improve coordination and balance, and requires memorizing a sequence of motions. Baduanjin is more beginner-friendly and centered on moving the flow of energy (qigong), improving circulation, and stretching tight muscles.
How to Do It: There are eight movements in Baduanjin, each one meant to stimulate the body’s 12 energy pathways (meridians). Two Hands Supporting the Sky reaches arms overhead. Drawing Bows Left and Right simulates shooting an arrow. Next are Single Hand Pushing Up (also called Reaching for a Lightbulb) and Turning Head to Look Left and Right. Next are two forward folds: Pointing Tailbone Left and Right and Both Hands Reaching the Ground. Last are Lifting Fists and Bouncing on the Toes.
The Benefits: Researchers have found the 800-year-old practice is as effective as a brisk walk for lowering blood pressure. The slow, calming practice is free and can be done virtually anywhere by anyone — without needing a gym membership or pricey equipment.
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Vitamins & Supplements
NAD+ IV Drips Promise to Reverse Aging — But Does the Science Hold Up?
Jordan Gonzalez/Unsplash
The Trend: If your favorite celebrities are getting hooked up to IV drips between Pilates classes, there's a good chance NAD+ is involved. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is a molecule found in every cell in your body that helps convert food into energy and keeps your cells functioning properly. Your levels naturally decline as you age, which is what caught the attention of longevity researchers and then trickled down to every wellness influencer with a podcast.
What People Are Saying: Marketers are billing NAD+ as a fountain of youth, promising everything from better sleep to reversed aging to cleared brain fog. IV infusions at wellness clinics can run anywhere from $200 to over $1,000 a session, and oral supplements aren't cheap either. The problem is that most of the more impressive NAD+ findings come from animal studies, and researchers are pretty upfront that the human evidence is still thin.
What to Know: Precursor supplements like NMN and NR appear to be generally safe, but long-term risks remain unknown. So talking to your doctor before plunking down $500 for an IV drip is a smart move.
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Quick Picks
Bubbling Up — Here's why claims that sparkling water raises cancer risk fall flat.
This simple open-faced sandwich lets high-quality ingredients shine. The only cooking involved is quickly blanching the asparagus, while hearty bread is drizzled with olive oil and spread with a generous layer of creamy ricotta. Top with the asparagus and refreshing torn mint leaves, then finish with another drizzle of olive oil and a crack of black pepper. The result is a fresh combo of summer flavors that’s light and satisfying.
If healthy eating keeps falling apart somewhere between the grocery list and the cutting board, BistroMD is worth a look.
Their prepared meals are dietitian-designed, protein-forward, and built around metabolic science, so you can make a steadier routine out of eating well without doing all the prep yourself.
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HEALTHY HABIT
The One-Song Reset
When your energy dips, play one song and do nothing else. No multitasking — just listen. Music has a fast track to your nervous system, and a single song can shift your mood more than a scroll break ever will.
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Final Thought
The best way to find out what we really need is to get rid of what we don’t.”
