You Should Know: Maybe you’ve heard the claim that celery has a magical quality we all wish other foods had. The common wisdom is that eating it burns more calories than it contains, earning it “negative calorie” status. But is that true? A 2013 study in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society put that theory to the test.
Going Deeper: Researchers had women eat 100 grams of celery (16 calories) and then tracked their energy expenditure for three hours. Digesting it burned 13.76 calories, close to the total but not quite over it, so celery didn’t create a negative energy balance in the end. Still, digestion used up 86% of what the celery provided. And there’s no solid evidence that other foods, like cucumbers or lettuce, can produce a true negative-calorie effect, since digestion uses only a small portion of the calories in a food.
Takeaway: You won’t necessarily generate a calorie deficit from eating celery, but it adds fiber and volume to a meal without piling on calories.
Bottom Line: Celery remains a nutritious snack that’s low in calories and high in fiber, but its “negative calorie” status doesn’t stand up to rigorous testing.
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Hormonal Health
Men’s Testosterone Levels Have Fallen by 50% in the Last 50 Years
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The Trend: Men may be experiencing a long-term decline in testosterone. According to data presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology’s annual meeting, average testosterone levels fell by 54% between 1972 and 2019 after analyzing data from nearly 119,000 men across six long-term studies in five countries.
What People Are Saying: Scientists agree the trend is concerning, but they’re still debating why it’s happening. Rising rates of obesity and diabetes are likely major contributors because both can suppress testosterone production. Researchers are also investigating whether endocrine-disrupting chemicals, air pollution, microplastics, and even climate-related stressors could play a role, though the evidence for these environmental factors is still emerging. They also caution that no single culprit has been identified. Regardless of the cause, we’re experiencing a “major crisis in male reproductive health,” one expert says.
What to Know: Testosterone is essential for sperm production, libido, muscle and bone health, mood, and energy. Lower levels may contribute to reduced fertility, though low testosterone doesn’t automatically equate to infertility. And doctors warn against frivolous hormone replacement therapy: it’s not an end-all, be-all cure for men’s health issues, and it is possible to overdo it.
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Sleep
Just 78 Minutes Less Sleep a Night Could Lead to Weight Gain
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Tip the Scales: Good sleep is essential for keeping nearly every system in our body working properly, including our hormones, brain, and heart. Need more incentive to catch more zzz’s? A new study has found that losing even a modest amount of sleep could contribute to weight gain.
The Study: Researchers studied 95 people who were already at risk for heart or metabolic disease and normally slept between seven and eight hours a night. Each participant experienced two different sleep conditions over a six-week period. During the “adequate sleep” window, they slept their normal seven hours or more. During “sleep restriction,” they went to bed 1.5 hours later than normal, losing 90 minutes of sleep time. Participants wore wrist trackers to monitor sleep and activity levels. Their hormones, BMI, body composition, and waist circumference were measured multiple times.
The Takeaway: Participants who slept an average of 78 minutes less per night gained nearly one pound of weight compared to when they got adequate sleep. They also gained an average of a half-centimeter around their waist and had 17 more minutes a day of sedentary time.
Keep in Mind: Because the study was small and lasted only six weeks, it can’t prove long-term weight gain — but the researchers say chronic sleep restriction could have a much greater impact over time.
Beyond Bedtime — A new study suggests melatonin could help with more than just sleep.
Anti-Brain Rot — This habit could protect your brain from too much scrolling.
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What We're Cooking
Dense Bean Salad With Charred Jalapeño-Lime Dressing
Courtesy: Serious Eats
Serves: 6 | CookTime: 15 mins
This dense bean salad is fresh, filling, and built for make-ahead meals. Chickpeas, pinto beans, and black beans are tossed with fresh cherry tomatoes, red onion, charred corn, cilantro, and crumbled queso fresco. A smoky jalapeño-lime dressing brings brightness, heat, and a little creaminess to every bite, making this hearty salad feel satisfying but not heavy.
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This, Not That
Tuck It In
THIS
NOT THAT
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This: Put your phone to bed first Not That: Letting it tuck you in
If your phone is the last thing you see at night, sleep has to compete with the entire internet. Try charging it across the room or outside the bedroom. You don’t have to become unreachable — just slightly less reachable by TikTok at midnight.
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HEALTHY HABIT
Put Protein in the First Half of the Day
If you tend to get snacky or crash later, front-load a little protein. Eggs, yogurt, tofu, cottage cheese, chicken, beans, or protein powder can help make breakfast or lunch more satisfying. Think of it as making the rest of the day easier.
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Final Thought
Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.”
