That Hot Sauce Obsession May Not Be Harmless After All
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Hot Take: If you’ve never understood the appeal of drowning your eggs in ghost pepper sauce, a new review published in Frontiers in Nutrition finally provides you with a real argument against it beyond “that just seems like masochism.” Researchers have found that people who eat the most chili peppers face a higher risk of esophageal cancer than those who eat little to none.
The Study: The review combined data from 14 studies covering more than 11,000 people, including over 5,000 diagnosed with digestive tract cancers. People with the highest chili pepper intake had about a 64% higher risk of gastrointestinal cancers overall compared to the lowest consumers. Esophageal cancer showed the strongest link, with heavy consumers facing nearly triple the risk of light consumers. Stomach and colorectal cancers showed similar trends, but they didn’t reach statistical significance.
The Takeaway: Experts say there isn’t enough evidence to tell healthy people to stop eating spicy food entirely. However, chronic reflux is already a known risk factor for esophageal cancer, so if spicy food keeps triggering your heartburn, that’s a solid reason to cut back.
Keep in Mind: Researchers have pinpointed a connection between chili peppers and esophageal cancer, but they can’t yet say the peppers themselves caused it.
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Audiologists Reveal the Tiny Device Redefining Hearing Clarity
Courtesy: Hear.com
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Nutrition
Do Our Taste Buds Really Change Every 7 Years?
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You Should Know: It’s a common misconception that our taste buds change every seven years, leading to changes in food preferences. They actually change much more frequently — as often as every 10 to 14 days. The “seven years” misconception stems from a 2005 paper wherein a scientist famously estimated that the average age of cells in the human body was seven to 10 years.
Going Deeper: Have you ever burned your tongue and noticed that the pain (thankfully) dissipated after a week or so? That’s because the cells that make up your tongue — including your taste buds — regenerate fairly quickly. This partially explains why many of us dislike certain foods as kids and teens, only to come around to them as adults. But other factors, like age, health, exposure to foods, and presentation of foods, also affect our palates. Even your sense of smell plays a role.
Takeaway: Your palate evolves over time as biology, experience, culture, and exposure all shape what you like — and what you’re willing to try.
Bottom Line: Your taste buds may be replaced every couple of weeks, but that doesn’t mean your food preferences will change overnight.
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Personal Growth
Here’s How To Avoid “Tech Neck”
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Pain in the Neck: If you’re not spending a big chunk of your day working on a laptop or scrolling on your phone (or both), you’re probably in the minority. Large amounts of screen time are a reality — and a necessity for many people’s careers. “Tech neck” is a common side effect. It’s caused by the hunched-over, head-forward position we assume when looking down at our screens, which strains the upper trapezius muscles of the shoulders and upper back. The result is literal pain in the neck (and shoulders and back). Here’s how to avoid it.
How to Do it: Sit so your ankles, knees, hips, and elbows are at 90-degree angles. Bring screens up to eye level, not vice versa. Raise your laptop or tablet by putting it on a stand or stack of books. Use a remote keyboard so the laptop becomes just a screen. Move around and change positions every 20 minutes.
The Benefits: The average human head weighs 10 to 12 pounds, but gravity can make it feel like it’s 40 to 60 pounds when it’s pulled forward. Over time, “tech neck” can become more severe, affecting our posture, the spine, and the nerves in the neck and back.
This Cretan-inspired tomato toast transforms a few simple Mediterranean ingredients into a quick, satisfying meal. A toasted whole-wheat bagel provides a sturdy base for juicy grated tomatoes, which are topped with creamy feta, briny olives, oregano, and a generous drizzle of olive oil. Inspired by traditional dakos, this shortcut version captures the same balance of crisp texture, fresh acidity, and savory flavors in just 10 minutes. It’s an easy lunch, snack, or mezze-style dish that puts ripe tomatoes front and center.
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This, Not That
Wind-Down Reminder
THIS
NOT THAT
Kateryna Hliznitsova/Unsplash, Jonas Leupe/Unsplash
This: Build a wind-down cue Not That: Expecting sleep to arrive on command
Your body doesn’t always know the difference between “one more episode” and “bedtime.” Give it a signal. Dim the lights, brush your teeth earlier, put your phone away, or make tea. A small cue can help bedtime feel less like a sudden demand.
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HEALTHY HABIT
Turn Waiting Time Into Standing Time
Waiting for the microwave, kettle, coffee maker, or a slow-loading app? Stand up. Stretch your calves, roll your shoulders, or take a quick lap around the room. It’s not a workout, but it is a simple way to stop letting tiny pockets of time disappear into more sitting.
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Final Thought
It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
