Happy Wednesday!
Today, we're exploring what makes women happier—and it's not what you'd expect. We're also examining why movement reduces stress more effectively for women than for men, how to get enough protein without the anxiety of cutting back on meat, and why "grandma hobbies" like knitting and gardening are experiencing a science-backed revival. Plus, what wastewater can reveal about measles outbreaks before anyone shows symptoms.
As always, we share women’s health and wellness news that’s evidence-based and thoughtfully explained.
Wishing you good health and happiness!
Nicolle Sloane
Editor
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🧠 MENTAL HEALTH
The Habits That Can Keep Us Happier
Many women assume happiness is something you arrive at once everything is handled — when the kids are settled, the work calms down, the body feels better, and things are quiet. Until then, joy can feel indulgent, postponed, or oddly undeserved.
But the research that keeps surfacing suggests something more forgiving. Happiness, for most women, isn’t a personality trait or a permanent state. It’s often situational, rhythmic, and borrowed in small doses from ordinary moments: a song shared with friends, moving your body alongside other women, laughing at something silly, noticing an animal, a plant, or a stranger’s kindness.
Across different ages, stages, and circumstances, the common thread isn’t discipline or positivity, but rather permission — to play, connect, rest the nervous system, and to just step out of productivity for a few minutes without guilt. These moments don’t necessarily solve anything, but they do soften things.
What to Try This Week
Most women don’t need another goal to hit. What we often crave is a small pocket of relief in a full life.
The happiest women are sneaking joy into the margins: a song, a call, a walk, a laugh, a moment that belongs only to them.
If you’re open to it, here’s a gentle experiment for the week ahead:
Choose one small anchor.
Choose something that feels steady rather than impressive, like a morning coffee in silence, smoothing your sheets before bed, or stepping outside for five minutes of daylight.
Add one moment of lightness.
A ridiculous video, singing loudly in the car, dancing in the kitchen, laughing with someone who knows you well. Joy doesn’t have to be deep to be real.
Reach for connection without effort.
A spontaneous call, a shared playlist, sitting next to someone instead of talking. Presence counts more than words.
Notice what softens you.
Not what’s “good for you” but what leaves you feeling a fraction calmer afterward.
😅 STRESS REDUCTION
Why Movement Lowers Stress More for Women
If stress feels like it’s living in your body lately, not just your mind, you’re probably not imagining it. And you’re not alone. But there is something that can help lessen it fairly quickly, and it seems to work better for women than for men.
A new Gallup report found that exercise reduces stress far more dramatically for women than for men, even when workout habits are similar.
Among women who didn’t exercise at all, more than half reported high stress. But for women who moved their bodies for about 30 minutes most days of the week, stress levels dropped by roughly 20%. The effect was especially strong for younger women (18–44) and women over 65.
Men benefited too, just not nearly as much.
Researchers think part of the reason is that women tend to carry higher baseline stress, giving movement more room to make a difference. Exercise also helps lower cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone) while increasing mood-supporting chemicals like endorphins and dopamine. Add in better sleep and the social side of movement — walking with a friend, a group class, a familiar routine — and the stress-buffering effect compounds.
Women don’t need harder workouts. We need regular, moderate movement, which seems uniquely effective at helping women regulate stress physically and emotionally.
Try this experiment and see how you feel:
Aim for 30 minutes of movement on most days — walking counts.
If possible, do it with someone or in a supportive setting.
Notice how your body feels afterward, not how productive you were.
🍝 WHAT’S ON YOUR PLATE
Protein, Without the Pressure
If you’re trying to eat less meat—for energy, digestion, hormones, or just because it feels better—protein anxiety tends to follow. Many women worry they’re “not getting enough,” even when they’re eating well.
The good news: plant foods contribute more protein than most people realize, especially when they’re layered together.
Legumes like chickpeas, lentils, and beans are protein workhorses that also bring fiber and minerals. Soy-based options such as tofu and tempeh offer especially high protein per serving and cook like meat. Whole grains — think quinoa and farro — add meaningful protein on top of carbs and micronutrients. Even nuts, seeds, and certain fruits (hello, passion fruit) can help close the gap.
The pattern researchers and dietitians keep seeing isn’t “one perfect protein,” but stacking: grains + legumes, tofu + vegetables, seeds sprinkled where they fit. Over the course of a day, it adds up — without protein bars or forcing foods you don’t enjoy.
Recipe: Try this plant protein-rich red lentil dahl for a cozy winter’s night meal.
🍎 APPLE OF THE DAY
Grandma Hobbies Are Having a Moment
Knitting, gardening, baking, bird-watching, even LEGO sets — so-called “grandma hobbies” are having a comeback, and for good reason.
Research suggests that slow, tactile hobbies help calm the nervous system, improve focus, boost mood, and even support brain health by engaging both hemispheres. These activities often create a sense of “flow” where your attention settles into the present moment while also offering small feelings of accomplishment and connection. Unlike scrolling, they give your hands something to do and your mind a place to land.
What to Try This Week
Spend 10–15 minutes doing something with your hands (knitting, baking, doodling, tending a plant)
Try it without multitasking — no phone, no TV
Notice how your body feels after, not during
A few things you should know…
Flu treatment options now extend beyond Tamiflu, with single-dose Xofluza gaining traction for convenience, alongside inhaled and IV alternatives.
Emerging evidence links diets high in ultraprocessed foods and sugary drinks to a higher risk of colorectal cancer precursors and more aggressive tumor behavior, underscoring growing concerns about diet quality and gut health.
Two CDC studies show that wastewater monitoring can detect measles outbreaks days to weeks before clinical cases rise, giving public health officials an early warning system for faster response.
A new Stanford AI system can use data from just one night of sleep to predict risk for more than 100 diseases, highlighting sleep as a potential early warning window for long-term health.
While weight-loss injections can produce meaningful short-term results, studies show much of the weight may return after stopping, underscoring how challenging long-term maintenance can be.
Researchers are exploring whether guanfacine, a drug commonly used for ADHD and blood pressure, could help reduce heavy drinking and cognitive impairment linked to alcohol use disorder.
😂 FUN LAB
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