Health
It’s honestly alarming that the US withdrew from the WHO last month. They are already cutting 2,300 jobs by summer. We just stepped away from 70+ yrs of global flu tracking — our vaccines will feel it
“Global cooperation and communication are critical to keep our own citizens protected because germs do not respect borders.” — Infectious Diseases Society of America, January 2026
Expect real unpredictability ahead. China pledged $500M to fill the void — but it remains to be seen if that’s enough. Without the US, can the WHO still keep the world safe?
Have you heard of dark showering? Showering with the lights dimmed or off before bed. TikTok is obsessed, and the science is actually interesting.
“Showering with the lights off promotes melatonin release, preparing the brain for sleep ahead of time.” — Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, neuroscientist & sleep expert
Warm water raises your body temp, then the drop when you step out mimics what your body naturally does before sleep. I’ve tried it and find it really relaxing. Worth adding to your nighttime routine!
Photo by Victor Furtuna on Unsplash
Just read this fascinating study where older adults (65+) did brain training for 10 weeks and reversed about a decade of brain aging. They actually measured brain chemistry changes. Kind of makes me think about what I could be doing now at 50 to keep my brain sharp down the road. Read more here.
Here's something that's been sitting uncomfortably in my brain lately: I don't really experience what I'd call "screen stress," but I've definitely found myself in those loops where I've been on screens for hours and hours, and I look up and feel... exhausted. Not stressed exactly, just drained. And somehow in all that scrolling time, I've been neglecting analog things I actually need to do. Errands that keep getting pushed to tomorrow, books sitting unread, walks not taken.
This year: more bloom than doom. Bloomscrolling means intentionally curating uplifting content instead of doomscrolling. I won’t avoid hard topics—open wounds need discussion—but I want scrolling that serves me, not just drains me. Small shifts, better mental space. Read more about it here
I knew hugs were good for stress, but I had no idea they boost immunity, lower blood pressure, help you sleep better, and reduce pain by 31%. A 2025 study says hugging 1-3 people daily is ideal. Most of us are touch-deprived. Time to get our daily dose of free medicine. Read this article here.
You know how some people collect stamps or vintage records? I collect random things. It's honestly my favorite thing - shuffling through the vast web, discovering stuff I never knew existed. So here's what caught my attention lately.
Someone once said, “The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know.” Turns out that’s annoyingly true. Especially when you discover entire personality types you never knew existed.
Ready? Let’s dive in.
“Women and girls struggle with anorexia—the feeling they’re never thin enough. Now there’s something affecting men and boys that’s just as serious, but way less talked about. It’s called bigorexia. Ever heard of it? I hadn’t. Here’s what parents need to know.
70% of U.S. grocery stores are ultraprocessed. New study shows cutting back improves insulin sensitivity and metabolism—even without trying to lose weight. Being diabetic makes me rethink my pantry choices, but honestly? Not gonna be easy. Link