Men are generally considered to have the athletic edge in nearly every sport. But when it comes to ultra-endurance events, there’s some evidence that women may actually have the advantage.
Your Sweet Tooth Might Be Habit Keeping Your Body on High Alert
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Sweet Stuff: That “little treat” you sometimes get for yourself, like a post-hike ice cream or a matcha latte after yoga class, might be working against your attempts to relax. This finding, highlighted in new research published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology, is something worth considering next time you set aside time to decompress.
The Study: Researchers recruited 94 healthy adults and asked them to fast before arriving at the lab. Some of them then drank a glucose solution, while others drank plain water. Following that, half received a standardized shoulder massage while the other half rested. In the water group, massage and rest proved to be calming. But in the glucose group, nervous system activity stayed elevated even mid-massage.
The Takeaway: Feeling relaxed and being physiologically relaxed are not always the same thing. So if you're planning to spend some time resting and recovering, having something sugary beforehand could (somewhat) sabotage your efforts.
Keep in Mind: This was a controlled lab study that administered a concentrated glucose drink to young and healthy participants. So the findings might not be replicable when applied to everyday eating habits within the entire population.
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Part of the issue is format. Traditional capsules can be hard to take consistently (especially with nausea), and many don’t deliver much beyond the basics.
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If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s a more realistic way to stay consistent, this is worth a look.
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Beauty & Skincare
“Cosmeticorexia”: When Skincare Becomes a Mental Health Issue
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The Trend:Cosmeticorexia is a new term being used in dermatology and mental health circles. It refers to a culturally reinforced obsession with having “flawless” skin — and it's especially worrisome when it shows up in elementary-aged kids. The fixation has been driven by TikTok beauty content and “Sephora kids” running through skincare aisles.
What People Are Saying: A clinical paper in Dermatology and Therapy defines cosmeticorexia as behaviors like increased time and money spent on routines, anxiety when routines are interrupted, age-inappropriate product use, and using skincare to regulate emotions. Italy opened a formal investigation into Sephora and Benefit over micro-influencer marketing aimed at kids, including children under 10. Critics note beauty content has set pre-teens up to view a 12-step skincare routine as standard. Defenders argue that grooming interests have always been part of growing up.
What to Know: Cosmeticorexia isn't a formal diagnosis just yet, but pediatricians note two risks: skin irritation from active ingredients being used on young skin (from products like retinols and exfoliants), and the mental-health effects of needing to have “perfect skin” as a measure of self-worth.
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Personal Development
Should You Rinse After Brushing Your Teeth?
A.C./Unsplash
You Should Know: We’ve known how to brush our teeth for decades: brushing, spitting, brushing some more, spitting some more, then rinsing with water and spitting again. But even though that may be how most of us learned how to brush, that might actually not be the best idea. Have we all been brushing our teeth wrong this whole time?
Going Deeper: Some dental experts argue that skipping the rinse step offers better protection for the teeth — rinsing can wash away protective fluoride and other active ingredients, reducing the time they stay in contact with your teeth and limiting their effectiveness. The debate isn’t cut-and-dry, though, as other experts say rinsing after brushing is OK. They say the most important part is brushing regularly: twice a day for at least two minutes each time (plus a once-daily flossing).
Takeaway: While individual dentists might debate the “to rinse or not to rinse” question, the American Dental Association does have a clear recommendation: Don’t rinse right after brushing. Spitting out globs of toothpaste is good, but leave the residue on your teeth for at least 20 minutes. If that feels too weird, you can also rinse with a fluoride mouthwash.
Alimentos Fotogenicos/Unsplash, Joe Boshra/Unsplash
This: Salsa Not That: Heavy Cream Sauces
Cream-based sauces can quickly push meals into calorie-heavy territory. Salsa, on the other hand, delivers bold flavor from tomatoes, peppers, onions, and herbs with minimal calories. It’s an easy way to brighten eggs, tacos, grain bowls, or grilled proteins.
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What We're Cooking
Shrimp Scampi
Courtesy: Serious Eats
Serves: 4 | Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Shrimp scampi is known for its rich, indulgent flavor, but it can easily tip into greasy territory that leaves you feeling heavy. This version keeps things balanced by using a garlicky, emulsified butter sauce that delivers all the classic decadence without weighing you down. Swapping in vermouth instead of white wine adds a deeper, more complex flavor, and while the total time includes about an hour for marinating, the actual cooking process is quick and comes together in no time once everything is prepped.
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HEALTHY HABIT
Keep Water Visible
Place water where you naturally look — desk, counter, nightstand. Visibility drives behavior more than intention. If it’s in sight, you’ll drink it without thinking.
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Final Thought
If we all tried to make other people’s paths easy, our own feet would have a smooth even place to walk on.”
