Here’s an uncomfortable thought for your morning shower: The thing you’re using to get clean might be one of the dirtiest things in there. Loofahs are great at scrubbing off dead skin — but their damp, porous structure also makes them a pretty ideal home for bacteria. The good news: You probably don’t need to toss yours today, but you may need to start treating it less like a shower accessory and more like something that actually needs cleaning. Find out how to do that here.
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Nutrition
Moderate Dieting May Calm Inflammation as You Age
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Pruning: Longevity experts have known for a while now that cutting calories can add extra years to an animal’s life. Overdoing the calorie restriction, though, can prompt the body’s immune system to push back. With that in mind, a new study published in Nature Aging has taken a closer look at what’s happening in the body during moderate calorie restriction, and whether people could get similar benefits without following a super strict diet.
The Study: Over two years, researchers analyzed blood from 42 adults who cut calorie intake by about 11 to 14% (considered a moderate amount that didn’t leave them feeling deprived). After scanning thousands of proteins, they found that C3 (an immune protein linked to chronic inflammation) dropped noticeably. Tests in mice confirmed this, and blocking C3 lowered age-related inflammation even in animals that hadn’t lost weight.
The Takeaway: The benefit of calorie restriction doesn’t seem tied to weight as much as to a specific biological scale. And that finding opens the door to future treatments that could mimic calorie restriction without requiring people to eat less.
Keep in Mind: Scientists are already in the process of testing existing drugs that target C3, but the research is still very early.
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Sponsored
Why Plain Water May Not Be Enough This Summer
Courtesy: Vita Coco
If you’re upping your walks, workouts, or errands in the heat, water alone might not fully replace what you lose in sweat. Along with fluid, you’re also losing key electrolytes that help support normal muscle function and fluid balance.
That’s where Vita Coco comes in. Its naturally occurring electrolytes, including potassium, offer a light, refreshing way to replenish after real-life activity without the syrupy sweetness of many sports drinks.
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Personal Growth
For Smokers Trying to Quit, Vaping May Work Better Than Patches or Gum
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You Should Know: Vaping has a pretty bad health reputation — understandably. But a new Cochrane review suggests there’s one place where nicotine vapes may have an edge: helping people quit smoking. Researchers analyzed 80 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 30,000 smokers and found that nicotine e-cigarettes helped more people quit than traditional nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches and gum.
Going Deeper: The difference wasn’t enormous, but it was meaningful. The results, in absolute terms, showed that roughly four additional people out of every 100 could quit smoking with nicotine e-cigarettes compared with patches or gum. That doesn’t make vaping “healthy,” though. The review looked at whether people stopped smoking, not whether they eventually stopped vaping or broke their nicotine dependence. And while no serious short-term harms emerged in the review, researchers say we still need larger, longer studies to understand vaping’s long-term effects.
Takeaway: For someone who already smokes, switching completely to nicotine vaping may be a more effective quit strategy than patches or gum, and possibly less harmful than continuing to smoke. But vaping still exposes the body to potentially harmful substances.
Bottom Line: Vaping isn’t harmless, but for smokers trying to quit, it could be a useful tool.
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Fitness
Lymphatic Workouts Are Trending. But Do They Work?
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The Trend: Lymphatic drainage isn’t new in the wellness world, but a new take on it has gotten trendy: lymphatic workouts like “rebounding” and lymphatic walking. The concepts are pretty simple: “Rebounding” involves jumping up and down, while lymphatic walking combines deep breathing with freely swinging your arms as you go. But do these lymphatic exercises really work?
What People Are Saying: Lymphatic drainage works by coaxing fluid (called lymph) toward the lymph nodes and away from tissue to reduce swelling and support the immune system — and these workouts claim to help the drainage process along. The lymphatic system relies on muscle contractions (even breathing and digesting) to move lymph. Most people have a well-functioning lymphatic system, but movement and deep belly breathing certainly help keep it chugging along.
What to Know: For now, experts don’t know how much effect this type of workout actually has on the lymphatic system, but they are in agreement that more walking — and more movement in general — is good for you.
These whole wheat English muffin pizzas are the perfect lunch when you need a quick, satisfying meal. They come together in just 15 minutes and can be customized with your favorite toppings, just like a traditional pizza. Made with whole wheat English muffins, they’re a great way to add fiber to your meal, helping you feel fuller for longer while supporting steady energy throughout the day.
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This, Not That
Keep Dinner Simple
THIS
NOT THAT
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This: Keep a “tired dinner” formula Not That: Pretending you’ll be creative after a long day
Decision fatigue is real, and dinner is often where it wins. Keep a simple formula ready: protein, vegetable, carb, sauce. Rotisserie chicken, frozen broccoli, rice, and salsa counts. So does tofu, noodles, spinach, and peanut sauce. You’re not auditioning for a cooking show. You’re feeding yourself.
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Sponsored
Healthy Gourmet Upgrades For Your End-Of-Summer Grill
Here’s something you may not know: butcher’s cuts and wild-caught seafood can feel like a steakhouse upgrade without the steakhouse price. Snake River Farms highlights flat iron, teres major, and sustainably sourced salmon, cod, and shrimp that stay tender and flavorful on the grill while keeping things lighter for Labor Day and beyond.
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HEALTHY HABIT
Do the “Commercial Break” Workout
Use short, empty pockets of time as movement cues. While water boils, a show buffers, or your laundry finishes, do a few squats, calf raises, wall push-ups, or stretches. You don’t need to change clothes or make it official. Just let waiting time do a little work.
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Final Thought
In an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent than sitting still.”
