Welcome back to the positive corner of wellness. Here’s a daily digest designed to make you healthier in less than 5 minutes.
Today’s Health Upgrade
The metabolism lie
Home-cooked carcinogens
How to add years to your life
The Metabolism Lie
If you think a slow metabolism is your problem, please keep reading. A ground-breaking study from more than 80 scientists and 6,500 participants (aged 8 days to 95 years old) will hopefully make you stop wasting money on metabolism-boosting supplements.
Despite what your favorite guru might tell you, research suggests that your metabolism actually stays consistent from your teenage years until you hit 60…and then it starts to decrease by about 1 percent per year.
So why do you start gaining weight so much earlier in life?
It's complicated. But a combination of a broken food environment (calorie-loaded foods everywhere!), less movement and exercise, trouble sleeping, and more stress might all contribute. But your age isn't directly the reason you're burning less (until after you hit 60).
This doesn't mean you can't influence or your metabolism. For example, the researchers found that the more muscle you have on your body, the more energy you burn, and the more efficient your metabolism works.
Poison In Your Pan?
Before you cook your next home-cooked meal, you might want to check the condition of your pans.
In a study published in Science of The Total Environment, researchers simulated what happens when non-stick surfaces become cracked. Their findings suggest that severely damaged Teflon pans might release thousands of potentially dangerous chemicals.
Time to panic? Not exactly. These were hypothetical simulations, and pans in good condition are not a cause for worry. But, if you’re in the market for new cookware, look for stainless steel or non-stick ceramic options free of PTFE and PFOA, which are chemicals you’re trying to avoid.
How to Add 7 Years To Your Life
Some people brag about spending millions of dollars on drugs and technology to extend their life — despite little evidence that those efforts work. Us? We prefer something simpler, cheaper, and more effective.
It turns out, a little more time in the friend zone is what you need if you want to live longer. A review of 148 studies found that people with strong social relationships are associated with living up to 7 years longer.
You want our advice? Go call, text, or email a friend now. Set a time to grab a coffee or a meal, or just go for a walk or do a workout. The time together might help you live longer, and those relationships will make the days you spend more enjoyable.
