Welcome 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
TikTok Troubles
Recipe of the Week
The Magic of Milk
Simply The Worst
Some viral videos can feel more like a viral infection. A new study found that TikTok promotes dangerous dieting strategies that glorify extreme weight loss. Researchers found that videos on the platform often lack expert advice, focus on quick fixes that don’t fix anything (we’re looking at you, “carrots in mustard” trend), and can lead to a poor relationship with food that does more harm than good.
We enjoy being entertained as much as anyone, but we prefer videos of Lulu and Whiskey.
If you have health questions, that’s why Arnold created this daily email. Send us what you want to know, and we’ll do the work for you. Reply to this email with your questions, and we’ll dig in and share what we find.
Number To Remember: 11 pounds
That's how much weight people lost — without making any other changes — when they increased the protein in their diets from 15 percent to 30 percent of their total calories. If you have trouble eating enough protein, the recipe of the week can help...
Recipe of The Week: Protein Ice Cream
Editor’s note: I’ve enjoyed this treat almost every day for nearly 20 years. When I gave it to my wife, she didn’t believe it was healthy; it was that good. If you’re ever craving something sweet — but don’t want to reach for something loaded with sugar — this is your move for a higher protein, lower calorie, sweet treat. -AB
Ingredients:
1 scoop protein powder of choice (we recommend chocolate flavor)
1 tablespoon of almond butter or peanut butter
A few splashes of the dairy or non-dairy milk of choice. The more milk you add, the more watery/less thick it becomes.
How to make it: Stir the three ingredients together, place in the freezer for 30 minutes, and that’s it. You can toss it in the fridge for a more pudding-like experience. It'll be less than 300 calories and about 25-35 grams of protein.
Milk is For Babies…And Bedtime?
If you have trouble falling asleep, the old adage of pouring yourself a glass of warm milk might actually work. A review of 35 different studies explored how your diet affects your sleep. There were many obvious findings, including how the caffeine in the evening disrupts your rest.
But, there were also some surprises, such as how combining protein and carbs — like what you find in milk — improves sleep quality. And it’s not just a small boost. Drinking milk before bed might do a better job than popular supplements, including probiotics, beetroot, or cherry juice.
Arnold might be famous for saying, "Milk is for babies. When you grow up, you have to drink beer," but this isn't the first time milk has proven it's worth. In earlier research, milk also led to more nights of deeper, uninterrupted sleep.
