Hey there,
Can we talk about lettuce for a second? I'm tired of buying beautiful greens that would make the most beautiful and delicious salad, only to find them wilted and slimy three days later, hidden in the back of my crisper drawer like some kind of vegetable crime scene. Turns out, the solution to keeping the greens crisp is ridiculously simple, and we're sharing it today.
But today’s digest goes way deeper than produce storage. We're tackling a startling update on obesity rates (hint: nearly 70% of Americans now meet a new, more accurate definition), debunking myths about HPV in ways your doctor probably never explained, and exploring the concept of keystone habits—those small changes that make everything else easier without relying on willpower. Plus, we're sharing some encouraging news: even short bursts of movement—as little as 10 minutes—can lower your risk of bowel cancer.
Oh, and remember, you have our full support to step away from things that aren’t truly benefiting you. Sometimes, the best choice for your well-being isn't doing more, but giving yourself permission to let go of what's weighing you down.
Wishing you good health and happiness!
Nicolle
Editor
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🥕 WHAT’S ON YOUR PLATE?
How to Keep Leafy Greens Alive Long Enough to Eat Them
We've all been there – you buy a container of spinach with the best intentions, and three days later it's a slimy, sad mess in your fridge. So frustrating, right? You wanted to eat those greens, you just hadn’t gotten to them yet.
The Guardian tested six different methods of keeping lettuce from turning gross in the fridge to see what actually works, from fancy storage containers to viral TikTok hacks. Here's what they found:
What Flopped:
Kitchen towel method (4 days) – Wrapping washed spinach in a towel and plastic bag just made things soggy
Debbie Meyer GreenBags (4 days) – Those "as seen on TV" bags? Total condensation nightmare
OXO GreenSaver container (10 days) – At $26 plus replacement filters, it worked okay, but wasn't worth the investment
What Worked Pretty Well:
Mason jar method (13 days) — Place paper towels on top and bottom, then store upside down. Effective but got weirdly stinky
Beeswax wraps (13 days) – Eco-friendly and worked well, though pricey upfront
The Winner: Just place a paper towel over your greens in their original container and flip it upside down. That's literally it. The greens lasted the full 14 days with minimal effort and zero extra cost. Some leaves still got a bit slimy, but overall? This simple hack crushed the competition.
💊 HORMONE NEWSROOM
Nearly 70% of Americans Now Meet New Obesity Definition – Here's What That Means
Remember when we thought 40% of Americans having obesity was concerning? Well, researchers at Mass General Brigham just revealed some startling news: using a new, more comprehensive definition, that number rises to nearly 70%.
So What Changed?
For years, doctors have relied on BMI (body mass index) to determine obesity – basically just your height and weight crunched into a number. But BMI doesn't tell you where your fat is stored, and that location matters a lot for your health.
The new approach considers additional measurements, such as waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio. These help identify abdominal fat, which is strongly linked to health risks such as diabetes and heart disease. Under this updated framework, you can have a "normal" BMI but still be classified as having obesity if you're carrying extra fat around your middle.
Why This Matters
This isn't just about changing labels – the research found that people newly identified under this definition (those with normal BMI but concerning body fat distribution) actually do face higher risks of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and early death. In other words, these aren't "false alarms." The new criteria are capturing real health risks that BMI alone missed.
The Takeaway
As one researcher put it: "Body composition matters – it's not just pounds on a scale." Where you carry your weight can be just as important as how much you weigh. The medical community is now figuring out what this means for treatment approaches, especially for people who might have assumed they were in the clear based on their BMI alone.
❓ QUESTION OF THE DAY
Have you ever gotten an abnormal Pap smear result — especially one involving HPV — and walked away feeling more confused than reassured?
You’re not alone. HPV is extremely common (most sexually active adults are exposed at some point). Yet many women report first learning about it after an abnormal test — often with very little explanation. Even women who were vaccinated are surprised to learn that the vaccine doesn’t cover every strain, and that HPV can lie dormant for years before showing up on a Pap.
Most low-grade cervical changes do not turn into cancer, and many clear on their own with monitoring. Follow-up Pap smears, colposcopies, and procedures such as LEEP are designed to detect problems early, long before they become dangerous. However, the “monitoring phase” can be emotionally exhausting, especially when men are rarely tested or treated in the same way.
If you’ve ever thought, Why doesn’t anyone talk about this? You’re asking the right question.
HPV Myth-Buster (Because We Were Never Properly Told)
HPV ≠ cheating.
HPV can lie dormant for years before showing up. A positive test says nothing about recent behavior.
HPV ≠ cancer.
Most HPV infections clear on their own. Cervical cancer develops slowly, which is precisely why screening works.
An abnormal Pap ≠ emergency.
It’s a signal to look closer, not panic. Monitoring is often the correct first step.
The vaccine ≠ failure.
Gardasil protects against the most dangerous strains, not every single one — and it still reduces cancer risk dramatically.
Men aren’t “immune” — they’re just under-screened.
HPV affects everyone, but women carry the burden of detection and follow-up.
If you’ve ever thought, Why did no one explain this sooner? You’re right. We should have been taught this as basic health literacy, not discovered it out of fear.
🧺 A GENTLE PERMISSION SLIP
Things You Can Stop Doing in 2026
Every January tells us to add more: more habits, more goals, more self-improvement. But a growing body of research (and common sense) suggests that removing friction may be just as powerful — especially for women managing hormones, mental load, and chronic exhaustion.
A few things experts increasingly agree you can stop stressing about:
You don’t need a supplement for everything. Most multivitamins and probiotics haven’t been shown to help healthy adults. Food, sleep, and consistency still matter more.
Your workouts don’t need to be complicated. Simple, repeatable movement you don’t dread beats novelty every time.
You don’t need to cook for applause. Repeating meals is normal. Feeding yourself is the win.
Messiness isn’t a moral failure. Systems that work for your brain count — even if they’re not Instagram-ready.
You’re allowed to say no without a reason. Chronic people-pleasing drains the energy your body needs elsewhere.
Sometimes the healthiest reset isn’t adding another habit — it’s taking one off your plate.
🍎 APPLE OF THE DAY
One Habit That Makes Every Other Resolution Easier
Every January, more than half of the people who set New Year’s resolutions abandon them before summer. That’s not because they lack discipline — it’s because most resolutions rely on willpower, which is exhausting to sustain.
A more innovative approach is to focus on a keystone habit: one small, foundational behavior that quietly improves many other areas of your life at once.
The term was popularized by Charles Duhigg, who found that certain habits have an outsized effect. When you establish one, it reduces mental friction, improves regulation, and makes other healthy choices easier without requiring constant motivation.
Try this today
Pair six slow, deep breaths with something you already do every morning — like drinking coffee, brushing your teeth, or sitting on the edge of the bed.
It’s easy and effective. Here’s why:
Slow breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping your body downshift from stress
It improves emotional regulation and focus throughout the day
It creates a calm baseline that makes better decisions easier later on
Because the habit is attached to an existing routine, it becomes automatic — a strategy known as habit stacking, popularized by James Clear.
The takeaway
You don’t need to overhaul your life to feel better this year. One small habit, repeated consistently, can create momentum that carries into sleep, movement, mood, and even how you handle stress.
Start with one and let everything else build from there.
A few things you should know…
Heart risk scores may help predict future eye disease.
Hundreds of brand-name drugs — including vaccines and cancer treatments — are expected to get more expensive in 2026, despite federal efforts to curb prices.
Candida auris, a highly drug-resistant fungal pathogen, is spreading globally and becoming more virulent, raising growing public-health concerns.
Medical advances in 2025 ranged from new non-opioid pain treatments to gene editing and brain implants that restored function for patients with severe disease.
Environmental pollution and neighborhood disadvantage — including proximity to Superfund sites — are linked to more aggressive breast cancers in women.
Regular physical activity — even short bursts — is associated with a 20% lower risk of bowel cancer, with new evidence showing benefits after just 10 minutes.
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