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Daily Edition • Thursday, June 25

Researchers May Have Debunked the Concept of ‘Baby Brain’

A close-up of a baby's hand grasping an adult's finger, with soft, cozy clothing and a gentle setting.

Natalia Blauth/Unsplash

Brain Fog: Ask any new parent how they’re feeling and you’ll hear some version of: “Exhausted.” Many moms and dads report feeling forgetful, distracted, and mentally sluggish after welcoming a baby. The phenomenon is so common it even has a name: “baby brain.” A new study put that idea to the test.

The Study: The trial of 400 adults — including 150 mothers, 150 fathers, and 100 non-parents — found no evidence that parenthood harms cognitive performance. Researchers tested memory, processing speed, executive function, and other thinking skills in parents up to two years postpartum and found that mothers and fathers performed just as well as people without children. While many parents reported feeling more forgetful, those perceptions didn’t match their actual test results.

The Takeaway: We know that women experience structural brain changes during pregnancy, and new fathers go through physiological changes, too. But rest assured that pregnancy and parenthood don’t cause measurable cognitive decline. The true culprit is likely something far less mysterious: chronic sleep deprivation, stress, and the nonstop demands of caring for a tiny human.

Keep in Mind: The study measured objective cognitive performance, not how people felt. New parents may score just fine on memory tests while still feeling mentally stretched thin.

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Why Summer Hydration Takes More Than Water

Close-up of a shoulder with water droplets on smooth skin, surrounded by a lush green background.

Huum/Unsplash

When the weather heats up, hydration gets a little more complicated. Longer walks, sweaty workouts, travel days, and afternoons outside can all deplete electrolytes, the minerals that help your body make better use of the water you’re drinking.

That’s the idea behind Nuun (our editor’s favorite). Its electrolyte tablets are made to drop into your water bottle, with sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and chloride to support proactive hydration without adding a complicated new step to your routine.

For Prime Day, Nuun products are expected to be 20% to 25% off on Amazon, making it a smart time to stock up before the hottest part of summer.

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Beauty & Skincare

What’s the Risk of Infection From a Mani-Pedi?

A person applies pink nail polish to a client's fingernails, with nail polish bottles visible on the table.

Tahir Osman/Unsplash

You Should Know: A manicure or pedicure is a great pick-me-up when you want to feel a little more put together, but recent reports out of Australia show how things can go wrong fast. Several people developed severe infections after getting their nails done, likely because individual salons can be spotty when it comes to cleanliness.

Going Deeper: Shared tools or foot basins that aren’t sanitized properly can spread bacteria between clients. One study found mesophilic bacteria (a category that includes E. coli) on the hands of technicians. Another discovered staph bacteria — which can cause sepsis if they enter the body — living on the surface of pedicure bowls, which is a real danger because routine manicure steps like trimming cuticles or buffing can create tiny breaks in the skin that opportunistic bugs can exploit.

Takeaway: Symptoms like redness, swelling, or even pus (gross) around your nails after a visit shouldn’t be ignored. These signs can show up within a day or two.

Bottom Line: Before you sit down, ask how tools are sanitized and look to see if stations are being cleaned between clients. That small check can keep your pampering session from requiring a doctor’s visit later on.

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Mindfulness

“Solo-Maxxing”: Why Gen Z Is Embracing Being Single

A person with a bun hairstyle looks out of a window at a cityscape with buildings and trees.

A.C./Unsplash

The Trend: Fiber, sleep, Italian nonnas … young people continue to max out on the “maxxing” trend. The latest is solo-maxxing, a very Gen Z term for embracing being single instead of actively looking for a partner. Day-in-the-life content by “loneliness influencers” have also grown in popularity. Made by creators self-described as single, living alone, with no kids or friends, these videos depict them embracing a solitary, quiet life dining out alone or staying in on Friday nights. So, why is Gen Z going solo?

What People Are Saying: Some say Gen Zers are turning away from dating in an effort to be more frugal. Romance can come with a hefty price tag (an average of $189 per date in the U.S.) once you tally meals, drinks, tickets, and transportation. But solo-maxxing also prioritizes independence and self-reliance. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but Gen Z experiences higher rates of loneliness than other generations, forged by years of isolation from COVID, virtual learning, and social media.

What to Know: Whether it’s self-imposed or unintentional, loneliness is a health hazard. Research shows connection with others is a longevity cornerstone and one of the keys to a longer, happier life.

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Quick Picks

Train Your Brain — This workout could reduce Alzheimer’s risk.

The Reviews Are In — New moms are raving about this brand.*

A Breath of Fresh Air — How close are doctors to a cure for asthma?

Hit the Brakes — These 3 daily swaps could help slow biological aging.

Lose Count — This may work better than calorie counting for weight loss.

^*Indicates a brand partnership

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What We're Cooking

Low-Cal Chili Cheese Dog

A hot dog topped with chili, shredded cheese, and sliced green onions on a speckled plate.

Courtesy: Baby Cocinera

Serves: 5-6 Dogs | Cook Time: 45 minutes

Living a healthy, balanced life doesn’t mean you always have to give up your favorite foods — sometimes it means finding a way to make your cravings work for you. This recipe offers a healthier version of a baseball (or maybe World Cup) game staple, that will hit the spot without making you feel too heavy. Chicken hot dogs, lean beef chili that’s full of spice, low-fat cheddar cheese, and scallions for garnish deliver a low calorie, protein-packed version of this summer favorite that doesn’t sacrifice flavor.

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This, Not That

Snack Plate Upgrade

A wooden platter filled with various cheeses, cured meats, bread slices, olives, and a few crunchy snacks.

THIS

Assorted snacks in bowls held by individuals sitting together, with a red beverage in a hand.

NOT THAT

Daniel/Unsplash, Nina Zeynep Guler/Unsplash

This: A protein-packed snack plate
Not That: A sad handful of crackers

Build a little plate with two or three things: cheese, fruit, nuts, hummus, veggies, turkey, olives, hard-boiled eggs — whatever’s around. It turns grazing into something that actually satisfies instead of sending you back to the pantry every 12 minutes.

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What Your Water Bottle Might Be Missing This Summer

Hot weather can make hydration less straightforward than “drink more water.” Nuun electrolyte tablets add minerals like sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and chloride to your bottle to support proactive hydration during sweaty workouts, travel days, and long afternoons outside.

For Prime Day, Nuun products are expected to be 20% to 25% off on Amazon.

Learn More

Thank you for supporting our sponsors! They help us keep All Healthy free.

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HEALTHY HABIT

Stretch Your Hips While Streaming

Pick one stretch and hold it during a scene, commercial break, or episode intro. Pairing mobility with something you already do makes it feel less like homework.

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Final Thought

Sunset light highlights the rugged peaks of a mountainous landscape, with tall trees in the foreground.

How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something, but to be someone.”

– Coco Chanel, Contemporary Quotations

Deep Doshi/Unsplash