As a food writer, I practically live on TikTok, saving recipes and nutrition hacks to try. One ingredient that keeps popping up in my social media feed? Aloe vera.

When you type 鈥渁loe vera鈥� in the search bar of TikTok, you鈥檒l come across clips of creators touting the purported health benefits of this ingredient. You鈥檒l spot home cooks blending the jelly-like substance into smoothies and hikers rubbing the plant鈥檚 juices on their skin to soothe sunburns.

I鈥檝e appreciated aloe long before it became a trend. As a Haitian-American, Caribbean culture runs through my veins, so I鈥檓 familiar with the gel as the succulent grows on many islands. (Fun fact: Aruba even has an entire dedicated to the plant.) My grandmother, whom I grew up with, often kept aloe leaves on the kitchen counter, right beside her other natural remedies. Whenever the sun got the best of me, I knew she鈥檇 have a cool slab of that green leaf ready for me. She听was ahead of her time.

I鈥檒l always follow her advice without hesitation, but I鈥檓 wary of听viral trends. Let鈥檚 be honest: people often exaggerate the effectiveness of wellness hacks. Luckily, you can鈥檛 really go wrong with aloe vera.

The Health Benefits of Aloe Vera Gel

Let鈥檚 start with a quick disclaimer: eating either aloe vera gel from the plant鈥檚 leaves, unprocessed gel with no additives, or drinking aloe juice is safe, but you should not ingest aloe vera gel-based skincare products. While you can find aloe vera skincare products marketed as pure, some may actually be 98- or 99-percent pure. This means they can include other ingredients that are OK for your skin, but not for consumption, like alcohol, an antiseptic, or lidocaine, a numbing and pain-relief agent that is great for treating sunburns or itchy bug bites.

Aloe Vera Is a Hydration Powerhouse

Aloe vera helps hydrate your body when ingested (and when applied to the skin) due to its high water and electrolyte content (particularly magnesium and potassium), says , a registered dietitian based in New York. 鈥淭hese minerals help replenish electrolytes lost through sweat, making aloe vera a potential addition to post-exercise hydration,鈥� she says.

Scientific evidence also suggests that consuming aloe vera gel improves blood circulation and supports kidney, liver, gallbladder, and digestive functions, says , a registered dietitian nutritionist based in Hawaii.

It Can Reduce Pain and Inflammation When Applied to the Skin

show that aloe vera offers natural analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory properties, says , a board-certified dermatologist based in Toronto. This is thanks to compounds in the plant called anthraquinones, which 鈥渂lock the synthesis of enzymes and hormones responsible for pain and inflammation, relieving discomfort, swelling, and redness,鈥� she explains.

For sunburns or scrapes, you don鈥檛 need much鈥攋ust a thin layer of aloe vera gel will do the trick. Be sure to avoid applying it to open wounds, Yadav says. 鈥淚鈥檇 also recommend refrigerating the aloe gel if possible鈥攖he added cooling sensation can be very soothing,鈥� she says.

How Much Aloe Vera Gel Is Safe to Ingest Daily?

Nutritionists typically recommend starting small, with about two ounces (approximately one-quarter cup) per day, until your body adjusts. This is because anthraquinones also have a laxative effect, which can cause diarrhea when consumed in excess, says Amy Davis, a registered dietitian nutritionist based in New Orleans, Louisiana.

I Tried These 4 Aloe Vera-Based Recipes

Despite all of the amazing health benefits of aloe vera, I鈥檒l be honest: it鈥檚 not that appetizing on its own. It tastes bitter, and its slimy texture doesn鈥檛 feel great on the tongue, so I set out to find delicious ways to enjoy the clear goo. These are the few recipes I discovered and tested. Here鈥檚 how it went.

1. Fruity Mint, Avocado, and Aloe Vera Smoothie

TikTok creator shared a smoothie recipe that involves blending one cup of frozen pineapple, half an avocado, half a cup of spinach, four mint leaves, half a cup of water, half a cup of aloe vera gel (I substituted this for instead because it鈥檚 easier to find in grocery stores and helps you skip the process needing to extract gel from the plant), and the juice from half a lime.

鈥淭his smoothie contains healthy fats from avocado, fiber from the pineapple and spinach, and added electrolytes and nutrients from the aloe vera,鈥� says Davis. To make it even more balanced, try adding a source of protein, like half a cup of Greek yogurt or a few spoonfuls of protein powder,听she says.

Emerick recommends reaching for this smoothie as a hearty snack or post-workout drink to aid recovery.

The Verdict: Creamy, Refreshing, and Nostalgic

This smoothie transported me to my maternal homeland of Bermuda. The pineapples and citrus give it a bright, tropical, and sweet taste. The avocados impart a delicious creaminess, too. All the ingredients blended together nicely, masking the bitterness of the aloe vera.

To test its effects on satiety, I blended up this shake after my morning barre class to see if it would keep me full until lunch. It definitely did the job.

(Watch the author make the fruity mint, avocado, and aloe vera smoothie in her kitchen. Video by Ashia Aubourg)

2. Aloe Vera and Agave Lemonade

Lemonade is one of my go-to hacks for loading up on good-for-you ingredients. (If you haven鈥檛 tried creatine lemonade, you totally should.)

This recipe by on TikTok is simple and took me less than five minutes to make. To prepare this lemonade, I combined half a cup of aloe vera juice with the juice of two lemons, one-and-a-half cups of water, and a tablespoon of agave. Then, I poured it over ice once I was ready to enjoy it.

This drink is packed with hydrating ingredients like aloe vera and water, says Emerick. It also has a good dose of vitamin C, thanks to the lemon, which 鈥渂oosts immunity and supports skin health,鈥� she says.

The Verdict: Crisp and Refreshing听

I’ve been hiking more now that the weather is warming up, so I jumped at the chance to pour this lemonade into my insulated water bottle and take it with me. As I tackled the steep inclines, sipping this drink kept me feeling good.

The sourness from the lemon and sweetness from the agave masked any harsh notes from the aloe vera. Moving forward, I鈥檓 keeping a pitcher of this in my fridge.

3. Grainy Mustard and Aloe Vera Salad Dressing

I was first introduced to aloe vera vinaigrette while traveling to St. Lucia, and I鈥檝e been hooked ever since. I鈥檝e made a few variations of this topping on my own, but recently, while Googling how to incorporate aloe juice into salad dressings, I came across an idea from the food blog that had a similar ingredient makeup to the one I tasted during my travels. I knew I had to try it.

Following this recipe, I blended half a cup of olive oil, a quarter cup of grainy mustard (which tends to be spicier and more robust in terms of flavor than the yellow squeeze-bottle stuff), three tablespoons of honey, a third of a cup of aloe vera juice, or gel from a four-inch piece of an aloe leaf, three tablespoons of fresh basil, and two tablespoons of lemon juice.

鈥淭his aloe vera dressing has plant-based fats (from the olive oil), a touch of sweetness from the honey, and overall, healthier ingredients compared to many store-bought options, which can contain high amounts of sodium, added sugar, or artificial ingredients,鈥� says Davis. To kick it up a notch, Hoch recommends adding ground flaxseeds (about a quarter cup) for an extra boost of omega-3s.

The Verdict: I鈥檒l Be Putting It on Everything.

While it didn鈥檛 taste exactly like the one I first enjoyed in St. Lucia, this version still exceeded all of my expectations. It鈥檚 filled with basil flavors, similar to pesto, which helps calm the bitterness of the aloe vera in this recipe.

I poured it over a simple salad of crunchy lettuce, yellow peppers, red onions, and croutons. This topping was the star of the show. I can鈥檛 wait to use it again. I plan to drizzle it on pasta, wraps, or grilled chicken in the future.

4. No-Churn Chocolate Coconut and Aloe Vera Ice Cream

Perhaps the most exciting recipe I found was this tutorial from TikTok creator , who turns this gooey plant gel into ice cream. The best part? No fancy machine is needed.

Instead of using an ice cream maker, the creator relies on a no-churn method, and all you need is a freezer-safe bowl. To make this frozen dessert, I blended a cup of coconut cream, a cup of cashews, three tablespoons of maple syrup, one tablespoon of cocoa powder, and three tablespoons of aloe vera juice. Then, I poured the mixture into a bowl and let it thicken up in the freezer for at least six hours.

鈥淭his recipe, which combines coconut cream, cashews, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and aloe vera, is rich in calories, healthy fats, and protein,鈥� says Emerick. (One cup of cashews has over a whopping of protein.) But since it鈥檚 pretty high in sugar, she recommends enjoying it as an occasional sweet treat rather than a daily dessert.

The Verdict: Unreal.

Honestly, I鈥檓 predicting that aloe vera ice cream might be the next viral trend. For starters, it鈥檚 so easy to pull together. It took me under five minutes to get it in the freezer (though you鈥檒l need to be patient while it solidifies!).

The result was a creamy, light, and smooth frozen dessert filled with delicious chocolate flavors. You can鈥檛 taste the harsh taste of aloe at all. It satisfied my sweet tooth, and I can鈥檛 wait to make it again with other fun add-ins like matcha, strawberry syrup, or vanilla.

As a bonus: if you鈥檝e got leftover aloe from any of these recipes, don鈥檛 toss it鈥攖rust me, your skin will thank you.

Want more of听国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Health stories?听.

The post Aloe Vera Is Going Viral. I Put Four Recipes to the Test. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Certain populations, like seasoned outdoor sports fans, are likely well aware of the need to wear sunscreen in winter. After all, developing burns and chapped skin after a day on the slopes is an experience most people don’t easily forget.

But a 2024 conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) found that nearly one in five Americans don鈥檛 know that you can get sunburned in the winter. The survey went on to note that even those who are aware of the risk aren鈥檛 using sunscreen properly during the colder months and that only six percent听protect their skin while working out or playing sports in the winter.

According to dermatologists, this is cause for concern. 鈥�Ultraviolet (UV)听radiation is present year-round, so proper winter sun protection is very important,鈥� says assistant professor of dermatology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Excessive UV radiation exposure is linked with a higher risk of , along with and even of your immune system, raising your risk of getting infections.

If you make a point to put on sunscreen before spending time outside in the winter, congrats鈥攜ou鈥檙e doing more than the majority of Americans. But dermatologists say that your winter sunscreen game still may not be as strong as you think. Here鈥檚 what to know about using sunscreen in the winter for the best possible skin protection.

Don鈥檛 Wait Until You鈥檙e 国产吃瓜黑料 to Put On Your Sunscreen

Under ideal circumstances, you鈥檇 apply your sunscreen about 15 minutes before you head outside, says Dr. ,听a dermatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. This gives the sunscreen time to absorb into your skin to protect you.

If you happen to forget to put on sunscreen before you go out, slather it on as soon as you can. Just keep in mind that your skin is for about 15 minutes after the time you put it on, so you can still burn.

You Need to Reapply Your Sunscreen in Winter (And Often)

As in the summer months, it鈥檚 important to reapply your winter sunscreen to maximize your protection. The听AAD recommends reapplying every two hours or anytime after sweating.

鈥淵ou should pay special attention to areas on your face that are exposed, especially your cheeks, nose, lips, and ears,鈥� Massick says. If you鈥檙e planning to spend the day outside, she suggests carrying a sunscreen stick (like this ) or a travel-sized tube, which are petite and easier to carry with you than a full-sized bottle of sunscreen.

Again, if you鈥檙e sweaty, you鈥檒l need to reapply sunscreen more frequently. Parker recommends being extra aware of that if you鈥檙e spending time on the slopes or in any other situation where you鈥檙e surrounded by snow. 鈥淯V intensity is , and snow absorbs very little UV, reflecting 80 percent听of rays,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his means greater potential for UV exposure during winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding.鈥�

One more thing to keep in mind, per , an assistant professor at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School: you鈥檒l want to reapply sunscreen if you wipe your face with a towel or your gloves.

The SPF You Use Is Still Important

The AAD recommends applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all skin not covered by clothing. 鈥淚n the winter, stick to hydrating formulas or moisturizers with SPF to help moisturize the skin and protect the skin barrier from the cold, dry weather while giving UV protection,鈥� says ,听director of cosmetic and clinical research at The Mount Sinai Hospital.

Wassef agrees. 鈥淕iven the dry weather, using sunscreen in cream form may be more moisturizing for the skin,鈥� she says. Some popular choices include , which is reef-friendly and water-resistant, or , which contains vitamin C to protect your skin from free radicals as well as the sun.

Pay Attention to Your SPF’s Ingredients

Keep in mind that there are two main categories of sunscreen ingredients: chemical sunscreens and mineral sunscreens.

Chemical Versus Mineral Sunscreens

Ingredients in mineral sunscreens act as physical blockers that reflect the sun鈥檚 rays off the skin and are primarily formulated with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, Massick explains. Because the UV rays are reflected off the skin, mineral sunscreens provide protection from both UVA rays, which cause skin aging and are linked to skin cancer, and UVB rays, which can cause sunburn and skin cancer.

For those with sensitive skin, Parker says that paying extra attention to ingredients, particularly those found in chemical sunscreen, is a must.

鈥淐hemical sunscreen, such as oxybenzone and avobenzone, cover specific UVA and UVB ranges, so a combination or mixture of chemical ingredients are needed to provide broad-spectrum coverage,鈥� she says. These sunscreens tend to rub in easier than mineral sunscreens, but the chemicals in them mean they have a higher risk of causing topical issues. 鈥淭hose with sensitive skin might experience irritation from chemical sunscreens and should instead use a mineral-based sunscreen which contains zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide,鈥� she says.

She adds that while physical sunscreens tend to be more听opaque and harder to rub in (resulting in that undesirable “white cast” we all strive to avoid), they are less likely to cause rash and irritation.听As a bonus, they鈥檙e also usually more environmentally friendly than their chemical counterparts.

If You Use Chemical Peels or Retinol Creams, Be Extra Mindful of Sun Protection

Chemical peels and retinol creams make your skin extra sensitive to the sun.

This increased sensitivity happens because these treatments thin the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of skin, Massick explains. 鈥淭he stratum corneum serves an essential role as a barrier layer, protecting our skin from environmental insults including UV and maintaining skin hydration,鈥� she says. 鈥淭herefore, for those who routinely use exfoliants, year-round UV protection is critical to minimize sun sensitivity.鈥�

Zeichner agrees. 鈥淚f you are exfoliating the skin or using retinol, it is even more important to wear sunscreen as those ingredients can increase your risk of a sunburn,鈥� he says. Using a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and reapplying every two hours should protect you, Zeichner says. But, if you鈥檙e particularly concerned about burns or sun damage, you can increase the SPF.

Coat Your Lips With SPF, Too

Dermatologists agree that it鈥檚 a good idea to use a lip balm with SPF鈥攍ike 鈥攖oo.听鈥淯V protection for the lips is also essential to prevent precancerous damage known as actinic cheilitis,鈥� Parker says. 鈥淭his affects the bottom lip more than the upper lip and presents as rough, scaly patches which can develop small erosions or fissures.鈥�

Parker notes that in addition to being aesthetically irritating, this can develop into skin cancer with time. Skin cancers on the lip can be more challenging to treat and can progress more aggressively if not detected, Massick says. 鈥淧rotect your lips just like you would your skin with SPF directly applied on the lips, whether through a sunscreen product or specific lip product,鈥� she says. 鈥淚f using lip balm, make sure that you are applying liberally鈥攕wipe across the lips three times.鈥�

Can You Still Get Vitamin D from the Sun with Sunscreen On?

Don鈥檛 worry: you鈥檙e not sacrificing your daily dose of vitamin D while wearing SPF. 鈥淓ven with sunscreen, the skin gets enough UV light to create vitamin D,鈥� Zeichner says. However, if you鈥檙e concerned about your vitamin D levels, he suggests having vitamin D-rich foods like milk, salmon, mushrooms, and fortified orange juice.

If you鈥檙e still concerned, Parker suggests consulting with a healthcare provider to have your vitamin D levels checked. If they鈥檙e low, your doctor may suggest a supplement. 鈥淏ecause of these alternative options, it is not worth the risk of developing skin cancer from unprotected sun exposure,鈥� Wassef says.

Just because you can get sunburned in the winter doesn鈥檛 mean you will. Adding a few simple steps to your cold-weather skincare routine will go a long way toward protecting yourself鈥攁nd the quality of your outdoor play.

Want more of听国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Health stories?听.

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There are always going to be days when there鈥檚 not time to make it to a studio yoga class or even stream a quick online practice at home. That鈥檚 when you need a short sequence you can practically practice from memory and take advantage of anytime, such as a 10-minute yoga for core strength sequence.

It can help to create a mental library of several quick 10-minute yoga sequences (of course, if you can鈥檛 always remember them, you can always check back here). That way you have something on standby if you want a hip-opening practice after cycling or a full-body yoga stretching sequence if it鈥檚 your only opportunity to move throughout the day. The idea is you can opt for yoga, like this 10-minute yoga for core strength practice, even when you can鈥檛 access your abs exercises at the gym.

Of course, what makes these shapes yoga and not just core-strengthening exercises is how you show up to them. Slow your breath, focus on your alignment, and practice quieting your thoughts even in discomfort. And stay self-aware so if you鈥檙e underworking or overtaxing yourself, you can adjust accordingly.

10-Minute Yoga for Core Strength

This yoga sequence is unique in that it includes a couple bodyweight exercises that aren鈥檛 yoga although you can approach them with the same focus and breathwork. If time allows, practice a short warm-up first with some seated or reclined twists and some 鈥�. If you鈥檙e already warmed up, start your yoga for core strength practice straightaway, saving you even more time.

Tabletop to Bird Dog Pose

Start on your mat on all fours in Tabletop and draw your belly button toward your spine. As you inhale, extend your right arm forward and your left leg straight back. Squeeze your glutes to help you find balance and keep your shoulders and hips square to the floor. Remain here for 20 seconds.

Slowly and with control, bring your right arm and left leg back to the mat. Pause here and then extend your left arm and right leg. Stay here and find your balance for 20 seconds. Come back to Tabletop.

Plank Pose

From Tabletop, step your feet back and come into . Stack your wrists, elbows, and shoulders and continue to focus on drawing your belly button toward your spine. Also squeeze your inner thigh and pelvic floor muscles to engage your entire core. Breathe here for 30 seconds.

Four Limbed Staff Pose (Chaturanga Dandasana)

From Plank Pose, lower yourself into , which places more emphasis on the core muscles, rather than the shoulders, as you hold yourself in a straight line. Press your hands and toes into your mat and draw your pubic bone toward your belly button to engage the deep core and pelvic floor muscles. Also, squeeze your glutes to relieve strain on your lower back. Breathe here for 30 seconds.

Cobra Pose

Slowly lower your feet, thighs, and hips to the mat and press your hands into the mat to lift your chest in . Stay here for a breath or two to stretch your abs. Then lower your head to the mat and rest for a moment.

Side Plank Pose (Vasisthasana)

Push yourself up to Plank Pose and roll onto the outer edge of your left foot. Shift your weight into your left hand and slowly lift into by stacking your shoulders and your hips and reaching your right arm toward the ceiling, which requires you to work the obliques (side abdominal muscles).

If you have trouble balancing or supporting your body, stagger your feet by bringing your top foot on the floor ein front of your bottom leg. If the pose bothers your wrists, . Breathe here for 20 seconds.

Take a moment to relax in before repeating on the other side.

Boat Pose (Paripurna Navasana)

Next, flip over so you鈥檙e sitting on your mat. Lean slightly backward and keep your back straight as you lift your feet off the mat and straighten your legs to create a V shape. Reach your arms straight in front of you in . Stay here for 30 seconds. Remember to breathe!

Continue to keep your back straight and shoulders drawn back to build strength in the hip flexors, lower abs, and back. If you can鈥檛 hold the shape without rounding your back, bend your knees and hover your calves parallel to the mat.

Dying Bug

Finally, relax all the way onto your back.Pause here before you rally for your last exercise. Although not technically a yoga pose, Dying Bug is essentially Bird-Dog flipped over. Instead of being on your hands and knees, you鈥檙e lying on your back in the same starting shape as Savasansa and moving your arms and legs in space above your body. This varied relationship to gravity targets different muscles of the core, including the tricky-to-isolate hip flexors and including the , and lower part of the rectus abdominis.

From Savasana, lift your opposite arm and leg off the mat, extending your arm behind your head and your leg straight forward. Move slowly but continuously, alternating sides, for a total of 30 seconds.

Then collapse on the mat in Savasana. Linger here for as long as your schedule allows.

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No one needs to be convinced that our health is the most important thing we have. But living a healthy lifestyle? That鈥檚 easier said than done. Our bodies are like an ecosystem, with many interconnected factors affecting our overall health, and we need to consider all of them鈥攏utrition, exercise, sleep, stress, and more鈥攖o achieve optimum health. That鈥檚 why Craig Primack, MD, trusts the holistic approach of & . Dr. Primack, co-founder of the and co-author of the book , says the personalized treatment plans offered through Hims & Hers 鈥渢ake your entire self into account.鈥� Here, Dr. Primack, a senior vice president at Hims & Hers, explains how the program works and why it鈥檚 so effective.

国产吃瓜黑料: Why is it so important to take a comprehensive, holistic approach to managing your health?

Craig Primack, MD: Taking a comprehensive and holistic approach to managing your health is important because it addresses the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and your environment. A comprehensive approach focuses on supporting every aspect of your health and wellness, preventing illness, and improving your general quality of life.

A holistic approach emphasizes lifestyle choices, nutrition, exercise, stress management, medications where appropriate, and early detection to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. It also considers genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, leading to more personalized and effective health strategies rather than one-size-fits-all treatments.

This approach promotes the importance of sustainable habits and behaviors that enhance lifelong health, energy, and vitality, supporting not only physical health but also mental well-being and emotional stability, which leads to an overall more fulfilling life.

How does weight management impact an individual鈥檚 total health?听

There are an estimated 230 medical conditions affected by weight, including blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease, and joint pain, to name a few. Weight loss also impacts kidney and liver health, sleep apnea, and at least 13 different kinds of cancer.

In addition to these medical conditions, weight loss plays a significant role in other aspects of your health, including mental, behavioral, and emotional health, as well as sexual health. Many people who lose weight report feeling healthier, more confident, and more social, along with improved sexual well-being.

How does weight loss figure into a holistic health plan?

A successful and sustainable weight-loss journey requires a comprehensive approach that takes your entire self into account. Most individuals who are overweight have previously tried to lose weight and have either been unsuccessful or have lost weight but cannot keep it off. They need a more holistic approach. When we change gears and take a medically based approach, then people are more successful. Today, comprehensive weight-loss care uses a four-pronged approach, taking into account:

1. Diet and nutrition
2. Movement and strength training
3. Behavioral education and stress control
4. Medications for weight loss

When you have been unable to lose weight on your own or if you can lose weight but cannot keep it off, it鈥檚 time to consider a comprehensive, medically based approach that takes these four pillars into account.

What kinds of tools best support a successful weight-loss journey?

The successful outcomes that Hims & Hers weight-loss customers see through our platform aren鈥檛 just thanks to medication alone鈥攖hey鈥檙e byproducts of Hims & Hers鈥� holistic, comprehensive, and personalized approach to wellness. Our weight-loss program demonstrates the positive impact of individualized treatment plans that include medication management, holistic support, educational resources, and convenient access to a care team. We offer access to personalized treatments based on individual goals, history, and preferences, including compounded oral medications and GLP-1s. Our platform also provides nutritional support, exercise recommendations, mental health resources, sleep guidance, and progress tracking for hydration, movement, and sleep鈥攁ll within the Hims & Hers app.

As part of this approach, our customers have unlimited access to personalized clinical guidance from a dedicated care team that provides the support and partnership that best works for their needs, along with educational content and resources, protein-based meal replacements, movement and strength training recommendations, as well as dietitian-approved recipes and nutritional guidance鈥攁ll of it leading to meaningful impact in weight management and beyond.

Why is movement and spending time outside important?

Movement and exercise have been described as keystone habits for weight loss. If you picture an arch made of stones, the keystone is the stone that holds the whole arch together. Remove the keystone, it all falls apart.

When we move and are more active throughout our days, our entire health is positively impacted, including improving mental well-being, mood, and the length and quality of sleep. There are studies comparing movement鈥攅specially movement in the outdoors鈥攖o antidepressant medications; when compared head to head, the outdoors wins!

Why is it important to have a personalized weight-loss treatment plan?

Throughout my 20 years of medical experience, I have seen firsthand the difference that a comprehensive, individually tailored treatment approach makes in people鈥檚 weight-loss journeys. Every person鈥檚 experiences and needs are unique鈥攖heir care should be, too.

Weight-loss medications in personalized treatment plans from Hims & Hers include individualized titration schedules and dosages that serve each individual鈥檚 specific needs and preferences. Each patient’s medical provider takes an in-depth look at their medical histories, their tolerance for side effects, their background, and their goals. Customers also have 24/7 access to a dedicated care team to support them on their journey and answer any questions they have related to their plan.

What results can people expect?

Every individual experience is different, but based on the self-reported data we analyzed from thousands of Hims & Hers customers as of October 1, 2024, we found that customers have experienced meaningful results while using our personalized, comprehensive weight-loss plans. Customers using oral weight-loss medication reported having lost an average of 7.5 pounds by day 28 and nine pounds by day 56.* Customers using compounded GLP-1 medications reported having lost 9.3 pounds in the first month and 12.5 pounds by day 56. Additionally, after 56 days, over 90 percent of Hims & Hers weight-loss customers reported feeling healthier and experiencing improvements in various health conditions, confidence, and mood.

Hims & Hers is on a mission to help the world feel great through the power of better health. We believe how you feel in your body and mind transforms how you show up in life. That鈥檚 why we鈥檙e building a future where nothing stands in the way of harnessing this power. No two people are the same, so we provide access to personalized care designed for results. At our core, our mission is deeply personal鈥攂ecause we too are customers. This is the enduring power of & .

Compounded products are not approved nor evaluated for safety, effectiveness, or quality by FDA.听

*Based on self-reported data from approximately 1400 Hims customers and听 2100 Hers customers on a personalized treatment plan including compounded GLP-1 injections, along with a reduced calorie diet and exercise. Customers reported their weight at their initial medical consultation and their first check-in approximately 4 weeks later. Hims customers reported an average weight loss of 11.7 pounds and Hers customers reported an average weight loss of 9 pounds. Stopping weight loss treatment has been shown to result in weight regain.听

Not available in all 50 states. Weight Loss by Hims & Hers is a holistic program that includes nutrition support, technological tools, and compounded GLP-1 injections听 or medication kits including customized compounded medications prescribed based on what your provider determines is medically appropriate and necessary for you. See website for full details, important safety information, and restrictions, including online provider consultation requirements.

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After a run in the sun or a day spent on the windy ski slopes, I usually come home to discover that my hair is a sweaty, tangled mess. Trying to pull a comb through it only seems to make it worse, forcing me into yet another wash, which I鈥檓 pretty sure we鈥檙e not supposed to do daily, right? And considering how much of a beating our hair takes when exercising, it’s important to take good care of your hair during and after a workout.

The good news is that protecting your hair doesn鈥檛 mean you have to sacrifice your fitness goals. With the right routine for your hair type and a few mess-free styling tips, you can ensure your hair and scalp stay as healthy and strong as you.

A Build-Up of Sweat Creates the Perfect Environment for Bacteria to Grow

According to a Colorado-based dermatologist, and avid hiker and climber, when we work out, sweat sits on the scalp and increases moisture and oil, which can lead to excess fungal growth.

She explains that this kind of fungi, also called , is a type of yeast that naturally exists on our skin. But, if it overgrows, it can lead to inflammation, itching, scaling, excessive oiliness or dryness, and flaking on the scalp.

Sunlight and Elements Dry Out鈥攁nd Break鈥擸our Strands

鈥淪un exposure can damage the actual hair shaft, and it can lead to excessive dryness, which can lead to breakage,鈥� says Shao, who adds that sun exposure over time on the scalp itself can also increase your risk for skin cancer.

If you are doing an activity like skiing or biking, wind may also cause damage. 鈥淲hen your hair is getting whipped around, it gets super knotty, and you have to get all that out; that is definitely going to cause hair breakage and damage,鈥� says Shao.

She adds that it鈥檚 important to avoid doing outdoor activities while your hair is wet. 鈥淲et hair is really weak, making excessive heat and cold when your hair is wet a potential problem.鈥�

Too-Tight Buns and Ponytails May Cause Hair Loss

Keeping your hair pulled taut and away from the face with a scrunchie can lead to , a type of hair loss caused by prolonged or repeated tension on the hair strands. 鈥淭his pulling can lead to hair loss and scalp damage,鈥� says Shao.

Swim Caps Are, Ironically, Not Great Either

Wearing tight swim caps may also cause the hairline to recede.

鈥淪wim caps are great in one sense because they have the benefit of protecting our hair from chlorine,鈥� says Shao, who explains that the chemicals can damage the protective hair cuticle, drying out your strands and scalp. 鈥淏ut swim caps鈥攅specially if they are too tight, or worn for extended periods of time, or not put on properly鈥攖hey can cause a lot of excessive pulling force.鈥�

Silicone caps are better than other materials, like latex, because they tend to fit better and don鈥檛 pull on the hair. Regardless of your chosen material, Shao suggests applying a leave-in conditioner to your hair before putting on a cap, which can allow it to slip on more easily. Put both hands inside the cap facing each other and stretch the cap as wide as you can, pulling it over your forehead.

How to Manage Your Hair While Working Out

Your active hair care routine should be tailored to your specific hair profile.听Hair knowledge and routine adjustments will go a long way in protecting and nourishing your hair.

Consider Your Hair Type

Hair types divide your hair鈥檚 growth pattern and texture into numbered, lettered categories. The accompanying letters, A, B, and C, align with section width, aka the tightness of your curl. Coily hair, for example, may be categorized as type 4b or 4c.

In terms of texture, there are :

• Straight (Type 1): lays flat and can be harder to curl
• Wavy (Type 2): has more volume than straight hair; the tightest waves can be mistaken for curls
• Curly (Type 3): can be loose or tighter, springy curls; because oil has a harder time traveling down the winding strands, curly hair can get dry and frizzy
• Coily (Type 4): tight curls and strands have a zigzag pattern

Additionally, your hair may be naturally thick or thin, oily or dry. And while anybody can experience scalp conditions like psoriasis or alopecia, different hair types are often associated with different conditions. 鈥淚n general, coarse, coily hair is going to be more prone to dryness and breakage, while more fine hair can be more susceptible to oiliness and scalp irritation,鈥� says Shao.

Choose Accessories Best Suited to Your Hair Needs

While getting to know your locks is a must, proper styling is another can’t-miss step. , co-founder of , an organization dedicated to elevating Black women distance runners, suggests wearing hats with satin linings to prevent snagging.

That said, Shao notes that cotton hats can trap sweat and moisture against the scalp鈥攕o if you are going to wear a hat, make it a moisture-wicking one. 鈥淢ake sure that you are washing those caps frequently and allowing them to听 fully dry before using them again, as caps, as well as headbands, can hold on to bacteria, and that can lead to acne, folliculitis, and breakouts,鈥� she says

In terms of all styles, loose is better. Shao recommends a low bun, loose braid, or hair twists rather than tight braids for those with type 4b or 4c hair. Silk or snag-free hair ties can help ensure that there’s no unnecessary tearing.

鈥淓veryone鈥檚 hair is unique to them and how they care for it is also something that is deeply personal to them, so finding what works best for you is important,鈥� says Robinson. 鈥淚f one thing doesn鈥檛 work, just try something else.鈥�

5 Easy Workout Hairstyles

Not sure which updo is right for you? These simple styles are worthy contenders.

1. French Braids

鈥淢y go-to is two French braids that lead into a ponytail,鈥� says running influencer听. 鈥淚t keeps hair out of my face and is super cute, too.鈥�

SAVE FOR LATER! Instructions below! What you鈥檒l need: two clear elastics, regular hair tie, brush Step 1: Part your hair down the middle Step 2: Start a French braid on the left side. When you reach the back of your head, don鈥檛 gather more hair and instead pivot to a regular braid! Tie off at the end. Step 3: Repeat on the right side Step 4: Gather all hair in a ponytail and that鈥檚 it! Optional Steps: Use a wax stick to keep any flyaways down. You can also untie the smaller elastics once the ponytail is secure and undo the braids in just the pony so they still stay up top but the ponytail is brainless. If you try this out, defo let me know!

2. Loose Bun or Puff

A not-too-tight bun or puff is a good choice to keep your hair off your neck on hot days. Spiral hair ties 听are a good option if you want to toss your hair up; they can stretch to accommodate thick hair, are durable, and are gentle on your strands.

A hair tutorial for hair or any babes.

3. Bubble Ponytail

Justine also often wears a bubble pony (where you use elastic bands to create puffy sections in a ponytail). This is a great style for an intense workout because gathering the hair down the ponytail can prevent nasty tangles which then cause breakage when you try to comb them out.

Now accepting ideas for my next running hairstyle! I need fun inspo and I love trying new things!

4. Rip Tied

Shao suggests a , a brand of hair tie that keeps your hair contained. 鈥淭hose are really nice, especially if you are a skier and you want to wear your hair in a braid, or if you’re a surfer, because the wind factor is a problem, so having your hair a little more tied up is nice.鈥� As a bonus, Rip Tie offers ties in an array of vibrant colors to suit whatever vibe you’re going for.

This @RipTieHair are such a game changer for my tangled hair girlies

5. Softly Secured

Robinson likes to wear wide elastic headbands if she is wearing her hair straight and loosely clipped back to avoid the dreaded ponytail dent. 鈥淚f I鈥檓 wearing a protective style, same thing: I just loosely tie my hair up so it doesn鈥檛 give my edges too much tension,鈥� she says.

Need more headbands

How to Care for Your Hair After a Workout

Ultimately, intentional hair care is just one part of a healthier whole. After working out, the correct cleansing schedule and between-wash products can make all the difference.

Cleanse with Care

鈥淚n general, it鈥檚 important to maintain a regular hair wash routine, but that is going to be a little different for everybody,鈥� says Shao. 鈥淚t really does depend on the type of scalp and hair that you have, and also your activity level.鈥� If you are exercising daily and have an oily scalp, for example, you may need to wash your hair daily or every other day. For frequent cleansing, Shao suggests using a mild, sulfate-free shampoo and applying it directly to your scalp before lathering. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 necessarily need to put shampoo on your hair shaft, and definitely not your hair ends unless you rolled around in the dirt or something,鈥� she says.

People with coily, type 4b or 4c, hair may not need to wash every day. Shao notes that these hair types tend toward dryness and brittleness, making the natural oils that come with skipping a wash essential. For people with extensions, weaves, or braids, Shao recommends diluting your shampoo into a spray bottle鈥攋ust spray your scalp and rinse.

Refresh Between Showers

There are ways to refresh your hair after a workout without fully washing it. If you have coily hair, Shao recommends doing a water rinse of your scalp after workouts to get some of the salt and sweat buildup out. Robinson says she only washes her hair about once a week but uses the to revamp her hair between washes.

If you are washing infrequently and still struggling with dry hair or dandruff, Shao suggests using an anti-dandruff serum ( from Jupiter, a scalp repair and haircare brand), which she says can help control yeast growth.

鈥淒on鈥檛 be discouraged by your hair getting messed up because the bigger picture is making sure you are well,鈥� says Robinson. 鈥淵ou can always style your hair in a different way, try something else, wash it, and start over, but you only get one you, one life, to be healthy. That鈥檚 the priority.鈥�

The post Your Workouts Are Destroying Your Hair appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Last fall, tech entrepreneur and multi-millionaire Bryan Johnson spent two hours having all the plasma in his body removed. There was nothing wrong with his plasma; he simply hoped that replacing it would help him achieve eternal听youth. 听So, despite very limited scientific evidence, Johnson swapped it all for a protein-based fluid called albumin.

It鈥檚 not the first time Johnson鈥檚 pursuit of immortality has made the news. The 47-year-old allegedly spends about $2 million on anti-aging treatments each year. In 2023, he injected himself with a liter of plasma harvested from his then-17-year-old son. At the time, Johnson he was trying to 鈥渂ecome like an 18-year-old.鈥�

I turn 32 this spring. That鈥檚 not old, but it鈥檚 old enough to have gotten my first few wrinkles. Over the last few years, I鈥檝e watched my friends get laser facials and boob jobs. I鈥檝e watched them spend a fortune on face creams and dyes, an endless and expensive game of whack-a-mole with their laugh lines and battle scars. Sometimes it doesn鈥檛 work, and I feel validated. Sometimes, it does, and I feel I鈥檝e been left to grow old alone.

As women, we鈥檙e taught that we are desirable as long as we鈥檙e beautiful. We鈥檙e useful as long as we鈥檙e young. But it鈥檚 not just the cosmetic aspects of aging that scare me. I鈥檓 also afraid of the pain and endless surgeries my grandparents鈥攂oth in their mid-80s鈥攁re enduring right now. I鈥檓 afraid of having to hang up my ice axes and skis, and give up steep trail runs for slow walks around the pond. I鈥檓 afraid of the day that achy knees cost me access to all the places I love.

That fear is very human鈥攁nd very common. While Johnson may be one of the more extreme longevity obsessives, he鈥檚 far from the only one.

You may have heard of 81-year-old real estate mogul Kenneth Scott, who spends about on 鈥渧ampire facials鈥濃�攁 skin treatment involving injections of your own blood plasma鈥攕upplements, and other unproven therapies. Or posh gym chain Equinox, which recently launched a $40,000-per-year membership aimed at helping its members live longer. Other folks go the budget route, paying just $10 to $100 per month for , an off-label immunosuppressant that鈥檚 recently become the darling of longevity zealots.

With the advent of experimental new therapies, pop-science books like The Blue Zones, and big-name wellness influencers like Andrew Huberman and Wim Hof, more people than ever are tapping into the longevity trend. According to research firm Grandview, the current longevity market was valued at $37 billion in 2020. By 2028, it鈥檚 projected to .

I get it; I鈥檓 not immune to the allure. But still, when I first started reading about the extreme lengths people go to for longevity鈥攖he plasma swaps, the drugs, the weird diets鈥攎y initial reaction surprised me. It wasn鈥檛 bemused curiosity; it was a flash of fist-balling, brow-sweating, red-hot anger. It pissed me off. I just couldn鈥檛 put my finger on why.

Bound By Biology

It鈥檚 said that there are two certainties in life: death and taxes. And while a privileged few have proven that extreme wealth can help you avoid taxes, they have yet to successfully fend off death. With infinite money and resources, most problems seem solvable. But how much control do we really have over our lifespans?

To find out, I called up Cambridge professor Dr. Venki Ramakrishnan, a Nobel laureate in chemistry and author of Why We Die: The New Science of Ageing and the Quest for Immortality.

I chose Ramakrishnan because of his expertise in this field. But, more importantly, he鈥檚 not peddling anything. Unlike other top longevity authors and researchers,听Ramakrishan isn鈥檛 selling a training plan, video course, or pill. He doesn鈥檛 own any longevity-coaching startups, and he doesn鈥檛 have any supplement sponsors forking over a commission.

Our lifespan is dictated by factors outside of our control, Ramakrishnan told me. All our cells undergo regular wear and tear just from living, eating, and surviving. Different species have adapted different strategies for dealing with that wear and tear. Some animals have robust mechanisms for cleaning out problematic cells, which helps them live longer. But developing and maintaining those mechanisms takes energy and biological resources.

That cost might be worth it for a large animal, which isn鈥檛 likely to get eaten quickly. An elephant, say, is going to last a while, so it makes practical sense for the species to develop some strategies for cleaning out dead cells and living longer so it can reproduce more and defend the community group.

Small animals, on the other hand, tend to get eaten pretty early in life. To work with that constraint, they evolved to grow, mature, and reach reproductive age as fast as possible. It never benefitted them to develop sophisticated biochemical machinery for dealing with old age because they never got there. For millions of years, small animals evolved under that constraint. Everything about a rabbit or mouse鈥攆rom their rapidfire puberty to their litter size to their fast metabolisms鈥攁dapted within the bounds of this shorter life. Same with human beings. All of our machinery is adapted to work within a medium-sized lifespan.

In other words, our capacity for longevity is built into the blueprint of our species. It鈥檚 the framework鈥攏ot a feature you can freely dial up or down.

The Illusion of Control 听

Still, some human beings live longer than others. Take Jeanne Calment, the oldest woman who ever lived. She died in 1997 at the age of 122. Allegedly, she also smoked a cigarette and drank a glass of port wine every night.

鈥淪he was simply lucky that she didn鈥檛 come down with cancer or other diseases,鈥� Ramakrishnan says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 definitely luck involved.鈥�

There鈥檚 also genetics. In an old but often-cited on twins, researchers found that about 25 percent of longevity was heritable鈥攊n other words, predetermined by your genes. The remaining 75 percent can be influenced by individual lifestyle factors.

But when it comes to those lifestyle factors, we don’t have as much control as we’d like to think. According to the Social Determinants of Health, a for thinking about factors that influence overall health, our personal habits鈥攍ike eating, smoking, drinking, and exercising鈥攐nly account for about 30 percent of influencing factors. The rest are structural and social forces far harder to control: about 40 percent of a person鈥檚 health is determined by socioeconomic factors, 10 percent by their physical environment, and 20 percent by their access to healthcare.

Even if radical new therapies did come online in our lifetime, there are bigger forces at play here. A in the journal Nature indicates that people cannot live much longer than they do now. There is a cap on the human lifespan, and we鈥檝e reached it. No one has lived to 120 since Calment died. There鈥檚 no guarantee that anyone ever will. At least, not until we cure all cancers, dementia, and other neurological diseases鈥攕omething Ramakrishnan says is still very far off.

The truth is we have little control over our lifespans. Many of us obsess over what we eat and how we exercise not because these habits hold the secret to health and longevity, but because we feel helpless, and are comforted by the illusion of control. But even if you eat and exercise perfectly, you can still die young.

When The Plan Goes Awry

My father wasn鈥檛 perfect. He often worked too much. He stayed up too late. He had a weakness for Little Debbie Nutty Buddies. He once binged an entire season of Game of Thrones in a single sitting even though he鈥檇 sworn to my brother and I that he鈥檇 wait to watch it with us (we鈥檒l forgive him someday). And often, at the dinner table, he would make me laugh so hard I鈥檇 shoot orange juice out my nose.

But he did a lot of things right, both as a dad and as a health-conscious American man. He ate mostly rice and vegetables, wore sunscreen, and woke up at 5:00 A.M. every day to run five miles and lift weights. He was thin. He had a rich social life. He was a good husband and father. He spent time outside. And despite all that, he died from an out-of-nowhere heart attack at age 53.

Six months before my dad鈥檚 funeral, I lost my dear friend and former boyfriend Alexander. He was a vegetarian. He fasted. He鈥檇 just taken the MCAT and was on track to be a doctor. He exercised and stretched. He even flossed every day. And he right before he turned 25.

Both of them听did practically everything right. And they鈥檙e gone.

And that, I realized, is why I鈥檓 angry.

Johnson often wears a T-shirt that says 鈥淒on鈥檛 Die,鈥� as if it was that easy. As if, for my dad, it was avoidable鈥攁nd all his fault for not doing the right things or adopting the correct obscure therapies soon enough.

As if, instead of spending his free time with his family, he should have been flying to Dallas to get his plasma replaced or consulting with overpaid doctors about a custom nutrition plan. As if that would have saved him. As if any of us could be so arrogant as to pretend to play defense with the Reaper.

Can You Extend Your Life?

Of course, it鈥檚 Johnson鈥檚 prerogative to spend his free time pursuing various therapies and longevity-boosting routines. We all have our hobbies. And maybe it鈥檚 not my place to say this is a less-worthwhile use of time than dodging cactuses on a steep trail run under the hot Colorado sun, which is how I spend many of my free afternoons.

The good news is that some studies show that lifestyle choices can make some difference鈥攁nd even help offset our genes. One long-term study published in 2021 examined more than 350,000 individuals with DNA markers indicating they were genetically predisposed to early death. The study showed that exercise and other healthy habits reduced that chance of early death in those populations by . The effects aren鈥檛 necessarily dramatic. The researchers estimated that even if you adopt such habits by age 40, they鈥檙e only likely to add about five years to your life. Still, eating relatively healthy and exercising: definitely good for you.

The nitty gritty of what you eat or how you exercise tends to be less important. A recent study shows that only exercising on weekends is just as beneficial for your health as sticking to a strict daily routine. Concepts like the Blue Zone Theory鈥攚hich purports that people living in certain areas of the world hold the secrets to longevity鈥攔est on shaky science, according to critics.

However, some research shows that how much you eat does matter. In animal studies, animals placed on restrictive diets tend to live longer than those that aren鈥檛. A quick caveat, though: these fasting studies often use animals on a gluttonous, all-you-can-eat diet as the control group. They don鈥檛 always compare fasting mice to mice who eat in moderation.

鈥淪o these studies might just show that all-you-can-eat isn鈥檛 healthy, not necessarily that fasting is the benefit,鈥� Ramakrishnan says. Regardless, the science does indicate that caloric intake makes a difference.

Sleep is another big lever you can pull. One of more than 700,000 U.S. veterans showed that folks who slept at least seven hours a night lived 18 percent longer on average. And even if you don鈥檛 sleep a ton, sticking to a can also increase your life expectancy.

Cold-exposure therapy and contrast therapy (the practice of alternating between heat and cold) are also commonly touted as ways to boost longevity. But while cold therapy has been shown to help 鈥攂oth contributors to chronic disease鈥攖he effects aren鈥檛 necessarily long-lasting. Longevity studies thus far have mostly been limited to mice and worms. There鈥檚 no evidence that cold exposure can make human beings live longer.

Does Biohacking Really Work?

So, what about the biohacking stuff鈥攖he rapamycin and the lasers and the thing Kenneth Scott does where he bathes his face in his own blood? Does that give us the power to take back control?

Ramakrishnan calls some of these therapies 鈥減romising.鈥� Rapamycin, for example, mimics the effects of calorie restriction by targeting similar metabolic pathways. In mice, rapamycin has been shown to extend lives by 20 percent. But humans aren鈥檛 mice.It’s also only FDA-approved as an immunosuppressant for organ transplant patients, because it helps prevent the body from rejecting the new organ. Its side effects include slower wound healing and a higher risk of infection鈥攖he opposite of what you want if you鈥檙e trying to live forever.

Stem cells are another promising (albeit new) area of research, Ramakrishan says. So are genetics鈥攊.e., reprogramming cells. However, both involve injecting human beings with new cells or new DNA, which is difficult to do safely.

Johnson鈥檚 plasma replacement strategy represents another approach: cleaning out senescent cells that have stopped dividing because they鈥檙e too old. Scientists think they can have a domino effect on nearby cells, causing them to become senescent, too. This is an enormously complex process, though. And while plasma replacement sounds good in theory, it might not actually address any of the root causes of senescence. We just don鈥檛 know yet.

In other words, the science on all of this is new. The studies that do exist are small and mostly inconclusive. And many of the folks who say otherwise are trying to sell you something.

Yes, there are some promising therapies and drugs on the horizon, Ramakrishnan says, but it could take decades before they鈥檙e available. Plus, they鈥檙e expensive and time consuming.

As I researched, I started to do some mental math, adding up all the time I鈥檇 spend planning out therapies, working to pay for them, and agonizing over whether or not they worked. I realized it wasn鈥檛 worth it: I was more likely to spend years missing my life by trying to extend it. Perhaps the right question to ask isn鈥檛 how to live a longer life, but how to live a better life.

The Gift of Growing Old

When I started writing this story, I wanted to punch Johnson in the teeth. For his dumb shirt. For his arrogance. But now, I just want to shake him. He鈥攁nd all of his adherents鈥攁re missing the point: the hours you spend swapping plasma or getting your skin lasered to look younger are hours you could be spending with your family and friends. The money you spend on rapamycin could go toward a plane ticket to visit that college roommate you haven鈥檛 seen in ages, or to a date night with your partner. Spend it on a scuba certification, a telescope that lets you see the stars, a skydive, a dance lesson, a concert. On any one of a million things that make this life worth living.

I think of the afternoons I鈥檝e spent flopped on my housemate鈥檚 bed, talking between sunbeams about what it means to grow older. I think of the pre-party minutes we鈥檝e spent examining each other鈥檚 roots, our new freckles, the pudgy bellies we laughed over. I have such fond memories of growing up鈥攅ven when it was hard or painful or ugly. I want fond memories of growing old, too.

Alexander never got the chance to watch his hair go gray, or to see time etch his laugh lines into place. He will be 24 forever. I think often of how much he鈥檚 missed.

If I鈥檝e learned anything from his death鈥攐r that of my dad鈥攊t鈥檚 that aging is a privilege. It鈥檚 precious and bittersweet and wonderfully human. It isn鈥檛 easy. But nothing worth doing is.

The post It鈥檚 Time to Give Up on the Longevity Experiment appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Chick fil-A used to be my guilty pleasure, especially when traveling. When I’m rushing through airports that seductive red and white sign always calls for a detour and a Chicken Deluxe. Now, thanks to about the plastic chemicals found in food packaging, that sandwich is dead to me. A team of scientists and concerned citizens recently tested more than 300 unique foods for harmful plastic chemicals. My beloved treat sat near the top of the inauspicious leaderboard.

My regular readers know that I have long been concerned with the scary amount of plastic chemicals that we interact with as we 听go about our daily lives.

There鈥檚 the black plastic in our utensils. And the PFAS (a.k.a forever chemicals) found in everything from our clothing and furniture to our beauty products and toilet paper, the foaming agents in our toothpaste and laundry soaps.

The list goes on and on. We are a society addicted to plastic chemicals and all the modern conveniences they afford. Meanwhile, cancer rates in people under 50 are . I am in doubting that this is merely coincidence.

But nothing freaks me out more than chemicals making their way into my family鈥檚 food. Who among us could ever enjoy a bite of a Chicken Deluxe听again if we knew it were laced with poison?

I decided to look into what we know about chemicals in food packaging, what regulators are doing about it, and how we can protect ourselves.

Plastic Chemicals Pervade Our Everyday Food

I鈥檝e been seeing pop up in my newsfeeds about plastic chemicals in food. I鈥檝e had moments of paralysis in the grocery story trying to find a decent head of lettuce that wasn鈥檛 swathed in a plastic.

A group of Californians felt the same way. They听embarked on a six-month research project to test common food items鈥攆rom local grocery stores and take-out joints鈥攆or the presence of chemicals that enhance the performance of plastics. Phthalates, for instance, are a class of chemicals used to make plastic more pliable. Think: milk jugs and yogurt cups. Bisphenols are plastic hardeners found in beverage bottles and linings of canned goods.

The independent group, working under the name PlasticList, purchased 775 food samples of 312 items. Everything from Almond Breeze milk (currently sitting in my fridge) and grass-fed steak from Whole Foods to Taco Bell chicken burritos and, yes, my beloved Chicken Deluxe from Chick fil-A. They then tested those items for the presence of 18 common plastic-related chemicals that fall under the umbrella of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (or EDCs). Ample proof exists that EDCs cause like cancer, diabetes, and reproductive and neurological disorders.

The is pretty shocking: the PlasticList team detected plastic chemicals in 86 percent of the food tested. 鈥淏ut this doesn鈥檛 mean we should all freak out,鈥� says Yaroslav Shipilov, the PlasticList team leader. 鈥淎lthough it was surprising to discover the presence of plastic chemicals in such a huge percentage of the food we tested, in all but 24 specific cases, the items are still safe to eat according to the three major regulating bodies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).鈥�

Shipilov hopes that his findings will spawn more testing. He also hopes that the regulating bodies will update their outdated safety limits, which are decades old and often contradictory. 鈥淔or example, in some cases we have chemicals that have been banned from children鈥檚 toys, but not food. This suggests that they are not safe for toddlers to touch, but are fine for them to ingest,鈥� he says.

Are Plastic Chemicals Harmful to People?

Make no mistake about it. A rapidly growing body of evidence proves that plastic chemicals are really bad for human health, not to mention the harm they cause the environment.

To get an overview of the health impacts, I reached out to Philip J. Landrigan MD, a pediatrician and biology professor at Boston College. Landrigan serves as director of both the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good and the Global Observatory on Planetary Health.

In October 2023, Landrigan published , a wide-ranging report covering the many health and environmental implications of plastic chemicals.

鈥淧lastics have allowed significant benefits to humanity in the fields of medicine, electronics, aerospace, and more. But it鈥檚 also clear that they are also responsible for significant harms to human health, the economy, and the earth鈥檚 environment,鈥� says Landrigan. 鈥淭housands of chemicals鈥攊ncluding carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxicants, and persistent organic pollutants鈥攍each out of plastics and harm human health at every stage of the lifecycle, from production to discard.鈥�

For example, Landrigan says, consider the coal miners and oil field workers who suffer from cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. (These workers extract the raw materials that create plastic.)听The plastic production workers who have an increased risk of leukemia, lymphoma, and brain and breast cancer. The plastic recycling workers who contend with high rates of toxic metal poisoning and neuropathy. The workers in the plastics textile industry die of bladder cancer and lung disease. And the families who live near plastic production facilities who have increased risks of premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, childhood leukemia, lung cancer, and a host of other life-threatening ailments.

The report says that these harms exceed $500 billion per year in health-related costs in the U.S. alone.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 most concerning to me as a pediatrician,鈥� says Landrigan, 鈥渋s the risk that chemicals in our food pose to pregnant women and young children. We all need to be more aware of plastics鈥� threats to human health. And we need to take intentional steps to reduce our exposure and our children’s exposure to plastic.鈥�

Food Packaging Regulations Are Rolling Out鈥揃ut Not Fast Enough

The federal government has been slow to respond in a meaningful way to the growing body of evidence that plastics in our food system are poisoning us.

Just last week, a group of environmentalists filed a new lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the use of phthalates in plastic food packaging. For close to a decade, the FDA has ignored calls to take stronger action against phthalates. We lag far behind the European Union in this regard.

Reporting from suggests that this refusal is due to pressure from the chemicals industry, which would surely suffer in the face of a phthalates ban.

Still, some states have begun to take independent action to protect our food from plastics chemicals.

鈥淪tates have taken the lead on phasing out dangerous chemicals from food packaging and containers,鈥� says Gretchen Salter, policy director for Safer States, a national alliance that works to protect people and the environment from toxic chemicals. 鈥淥ur shows that 16 states have adopted 29 policies to remove chemicals like PFAS, phthalates, and bisphenols (chemicals like BPA and BPF)听from food packaging. Additionally, Washington state has recently 听to ban all听bisphenols in drink can liners and require disclosure of the use of all听bisphenols in food can liners.鈥�

5 Ways To Protect Yourself From Plastic Chemicals in Food

Try as we might, avoiding plastic food packaging altogether is downright impossible. But there are some things we can do to not only limit our exposure to their inherent chemicals (like phthalates, bisphenols, and PFAS), but to be part of long-term solutions that will protect our kids, grandkids, and all the generations to come.

1. 1. Avoid fast food and take-out. When you can鈥檛, get that hot food out of its packaging as soon as possible to avoid chemical leaching. Even pizza boxes contain PFAS.
   2. Bring your own take-out containers. When dining out, bring a glass or metal container from home for leftovers. And avoid putting plastic take-out containers into the microwave. Although the specific research around this practice is , most experts believe this can cause additional contamination and leaching.
   3. Opt for fresh, whole foods. Skip the packaging whenever you can. For example, buy loose veggies rather than those ensconced in plastic. For meat and fish, buy direct from the counter. Ask for it wrapped in paper, rather than picking up a package from the chiller, where it’s been resting in a plastic package for who-knows-how-long. (Note: even that butcher鈥檚 paper likely has chemicals on it, so unwrap it as soon as you get home.)
   4. Ditch all plastic from your kitchen. Yep, you heard me鈥攁ll of it. Storage containers, colanders, utensils, cereal bowls. Start to replace all of those items with glass, wood, metal, and ceramic. I鈥檝e scored some really high quality replacements at the second-hand stores I love to frequent. And don鈥檛 forget the Saran Wrap and Zip-Lock bags. Transition away from those, too, and go with beeswax bowl toppers and silicone baggies.
   5. Speak up! It takes one minute to to create a Global Plastics Treaty. Do it! Another powerful action you can take is to write a letter to your state congress representatives. Urge them to support the Global Plastics Treaty as well as state laws to ban toxic plastic chemicals. Here are to get you started.

Kristin Hostetter is 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 sustainability columnist. Sadly, she has eaten her last Chick fil-A Chicken Deluxe. But she’s currently working on recreating a healthier version in her home kitchen.听 Follow her journey to live more sustainably by for her twice-monthly newsletter.听

The post Proof That Our Food Is Filled with Plastic Chemicals appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

New Year鈥檚 resolutions are all well and good鈥攚e鈥檝e even made a few ourselves. There’s nothing wrong with setting goals to improve your wellbeing, and the fresh start of January can be a great听motivator. But not every aspect of our lives needs optimizing.听Eating dinner at midnight, watching trashy reality TV, and blaring music through our headphones during a run鈥攖his is听the spice of life. Here are all of the vices that we鈥檙e hanging onto in 2025.

Not Planning My 国产吃瓜黑料s More Than Absolutely Necessary

At school and work I鈥檝e always managed to be organized enough to get by, but it鈥檚 a constant struggle against my true Type B nature. In real life, I don鈥檛 even try to pretend that I鈥檓 a planner.

There are undeniable consequences to the seat-of-my-pants approach to life鈥擨 don鈥檛 make it to some really amazing backpacking spots because I don鈥檛 think to enter the permit lottery months in advance, for example. But even if you put aside the headache of making plans, I also just genuinely enjoy making last-minute decisions throughout a loosely planned adventure. I love being able to shape my weekend based on how far I feel like driving and what the weather鈥檚 like to the south versus the west and if, at that moment, I want to go for a hike or a bike ride. And I like that a loose itinerary leaves me flexible to jump on any unforeseen opportunities that might arise.

Obviously there鈥檚 a point when not making plans becomes inconsiderate (like when other people are trying to coordinate their schedule with yours), or even downright unsafe (like when you don鈥檛 have the right gear because you didn鈥檛 know the conditions you were getting into). That kind of thing is worth the extra effort. But in 2025, I fully intend to continue leaving town on a Friday afternoon with a full car and only the vaguest idea of what I鈥檒l do the next day, or even where my campsite that night will be.鈥擬iyo McGinn, assistant editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

Spending Way Too Much Time on Facebook Marketplace

Every night after we put our daughter to bed, my wife and I pour ourselves steaming cups of tea, curl up on the couch, and then scroll for hours on Facebook Marketplace. We hunt for the items we need and sell the items we no longer use. We bargain, lowball, and negotiate with random people on the internet. It鈥檚 not exactly the romantic ritual that we anticipated when we got married almost a decade ago. But back then, we never anticipated that parenthood, homeownership, and normal middle-class suburban life would require so much stuff. And with American wages still trailing far behind the post-pandemic wave of inflation, our checking accounts are far too empty to pay retail for the items we need. Enter, Facebook Marketplace: a user-friendly platform for buying and selling used stuff, where every asking price is negotiable. Winter jackets, toys, tools, books, ski poles, bathroom vanity units, automobile tires, shelves, and bicycle parts鈥攖hese are just some of the items that I鈥檝e bought and sold on Facebook in recent months. And while I could听abandon this practice and spend my evening hours reading or pondering the meaning of life, that鈥檚 just not going to happen.鈥擣rederick Dreier, articles editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

Not Letting My Skins Dry Out In Between Tours

Skiing is my all-time favorite activity, but there are way too many pieces of gear involved. I鈥檓 not always the most organized person, so it鈥檚 essential to me that my gear is as simple and streamlined as possible. I try to be on top of it and let my touring skins dry out every time after a backcountry ski. But there have been way too many instances when I forget to re-pack them and drive halfway to the trailhead (or sometimes all the way there) until I realize I left them at home. And when I鈥檓 touring before or after work on weeknights, there just isn鈥檛 enough daylight to waste time like that. As a shoddy solution, I鈥檝e taken to leaving my skins inside my pack right where I left them when I transitioned鈥攔eady to go for the next time I need them. My skins won鈥檛 stay as sticky for as long since they won鈥檛 dry out as well, but if it means it鈥檚 one less piece of gear to remember, that鈥檚 a price I鈥檓 willing to pay.鈥擪elly Klein, gear editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

Scrolling on My Phone Before Bed

I know, I know. The blue light , the flood of information my brain, and what I鈥檓 really doing is . But with a toddler, a stepdaughter, a farm, and a full-time job, I鈥檓 on the go from sunrise until the moment my little one is tucked into bed, and I just want an hour or two to myself. I want to catch up on the news I missed while I was in meetings all day and mindlessly watch cooking videos on TikTok鈥攅ven if it means sacrificing a bit of quality sleep.鈥擜bigail Wise, digital director, 国产吃瓜黑料

Driving an Absolutely Filthy Truck

In 2025, I might try and establish more of a morning routine, or make a habit of walking during my lunch break. But I will not wash my damn truck.

I live down a dirt road, on a dusty piece of desert land with a big garden, tall cottonwoods, four horses, and no garage to speak of. I park outside, in the baking sun and the driving rain. I spend my weekends romping through the mud to get to the bend in the river where the big browns live. I climb into the driver’s seat with dust from dozens of miles on high-alpine trails on my shoes. I road trip endlessly in the winter, through salt- and sand-treated roads, to chase storms. And as much as I love my cherry little 2002 Toyota Tacoma, I just can’t be bothered to try and keep her in mint condition. I will spare no expense when it comes to the parts that matter: her engine, suspension, good tires. But cosmetics? I don’t have the time or the money. She looks better with a little rooster tail of mud on either side, anyways.

Come to think of it, I’ll take the same approach to my body, too. I’ll happily pay for the things that make me go, like physical therapy, great food, and a comfy bed. But the crows feet gathering around the corners of my eyes? Well, it wouldn’t look right to drive a filthy truck with a flawless face, now, would it.鈥擜bigail Barronian, senior editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

Eating the Whole Jar of Nutella

Long ago, in my twenties, I went on a women鈥檚 climbing exchange to France, climbing in Buoux, on Corsica, and in the Verdon Gorge. Among my cohort from America was Rhea Dodd, of Boulder, Colorado, and on that trip we were introduced to the Italian-made hazelnut-cocoa paste Nutella, which may not even have been available yet in this country. In La Palud, somehow, we five visitors were each given a little plastic sampler of it along with something鈥攁 cookie, a cracker?鈥攖o eat it on, and a tiny popsicle stick to dig it out. I thought it was the best thing I鈥檇 ever had, and Rhea, with a mock mournfulness that cracked me up, said, of our little bites, “That just makes me want more.”

Unfortunately, when I get a jar of Nutella鈥攚hich contains 12 grams of fat per two tablespoons, and a primary ingredient of sugar鈥攖here is no stopping me. Only last week, my husband said, 鈥淲hat happened to the Nutella?鈥� There had been a jar here…On a hiking trip to Patagonia two years ago, I was thrilled to be offered Nutella at breakfast, but OK, we were hiking eight to 12 miles a day, so we could eat a lot.

Rhea, who became a dear lifelong friend, who was a veterinarian and lifelong champion of animals, including elephants, is gone now, lost young to cancer; and I think of her every time I see a jar. Because I eat too much of it, I don’t always keep Nutella on-hand, but I never go too long between jars.鈥擜lison Osius, senior editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

Not Unpacking from Trips Until the Next One

Few things bring me more joy than returning home after an all-day spring skiing mission, tossing my pack on the floor next to my bed, and not looking at it again until I鈥檓 about to head out the door for my next expedition. It makes me frantic to clean dormant electrolyte mixes out of stinky water bottles and throw out old, moldy snacks five minutes after I text my adventure partners, “On my way.” But the simplicity of not unpacking hits like hard drugs.

The spare bedroom of my apartment sits at an ambient 48 degrees Fahrenheit because the woodstove is upstairs and, shocker, heat rises. It isn鈥檛 good for much but a gaping, disorganized gear closet. It houses bikes, skis, and touring packs full of dubious goodies. It鈥檚 a nightmare, but it鈥檚 my nightmare, and I鈥檒l keep it looking like someone tossed a hand grenade in a ski shop this year, and into the next one.鈥擩ake Stern, digital editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

Hoarding Chapstick

I try to be extremely conscious of my consumption and buying habits, which goes only as far as purchasing chapstick. Living and working in the world of skiing, my lips get pretty dry in the winter and I鈥檓 no stranger to a bluebird ski day lip sunburn. I have at least ten different types of chapstick for all sorts of purposes鈥擲PF for the day, endless tubes of Aquaphor for the night, ultra-moisturizing, aloe, and of course a treasure trove of some that are just for fun. I don鈥檛 need anyone to tell me I don鈥檛 need this many lip products, or even worse, that they don鈥檛 work (I won鈥檛 hear of it). Here鈥檚 the thing: I don鈥檛 care. Keeping a rotation of chapstick products is fun, and ultimately harmless. I鈥檒l be bringing all of my chapstick with stride into the new year, and probably the year after that as well.鈥擩amie Aranoff, digital editor, SKI

Bringing a Gourmet Picnic on Every Outdoor 国产吃瓜黑料

When I moved to Croatia last year, I quickly realized I鈥檇 need to reassess my adventure fuel. My beloved Cliff Blocks, and the wide variety of protein bars I鈥檇 come to rely on in the states, were nowhere to be found. After attempting to choke down my 47th Corny Big (don鈥檛 ask) bar of the year, I decided it was time to branch out. What started as salami and a little bit of cheese from the deli blossomed into over-the-top sandwiches. My husband and I perfected our “mortadella, bresaola, fresh mozzarella, greens and pickled peppers piled on fresh-baked ciabatta with a hefty drizzle of olive oil” combo and it became a staple of every hike, ski day and road trip. Unfortunately, it pairs really well with a half-bottle of wine, so my backpack鈥檚 gotten way too heavy. I鈥檓 freshly back in the U.S. now, but I can鈥檛 imagine a Kind Bar is going to cut it after discovering the good things in life. I think, unfortunately, my snacks are never going back to ultralight.鈥擬ikaela Ruland, editor-in-chief, National Park Trips

Not Wearing a Coat

Ever since I was a kid, I鈥檝e found winter coats to be a sensory nightmare. Somehow, they鈥檙e always too tight, too bulky, and too warm. I hate the feeling of wearing them more than I hate being cold. And to be clear, I am cold. I have enough sense to bundle up for a hike, but I can鈥檛 bring myself to put a coat on when I鈥檓 only walking across the grocery store parking lot. 鈥淚鈥檓 just going to be in and out,鈥� I say, even when the temperature is below freezing. The ease of forgoing this one article of clothing somehow makes running errands in the winter more bearable. My parents still tsk-tsk me for my ill-advised sartorial choices, but unfortunately, I鈥檓 an adult now and nobody can make me change.鈥擨sabella Rosario, associate editor, 国产吃瓜黑料听

Eating Dessert Every Single Night

I have a major sweet tooth. I believe I inherited this from my Dad because he鈥檚 a late-night dessert eater, too. Maybe I have a sugar addiction鈥攚ho knows? And who cares? The comfort and excitement that I feel when I warm up a brownie (I always heat it for exactly 23 seconds in the microwave) and top it with Ben and Jerry鈥檚 Half-Baked ice cream is worth the calories. I was born in April, and we Taureans like a little bit of luxury when it comes to treating ourselves. Each night, around 11, I sit at my dining table with my brownie-and-ice-cream-filled bowl, turn on my electric fireplace, ask Alexa to play smooth jazz, roll out a place setting, and dig in. When I鈥檓 done, I lift the bowl to my lips and drink the melted ice cream. As I type this, I鈥檓 already salivating. I can鈥檛 wait for tonight.鈥擜yana Underwood, senior health editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

Sitting Like a Bird

When I鈥檓 working, the only way I can focus is sitting perched on top of my chair. It鈥檚 hard to explain unless you鈥檙e also prone to perching but let me try: I put my feet on the seat, knees bent and tucked up to my chest with my upper body curled forward to type or write. When I worked in an office setting, this position would alarm people. I got a lot of, 鈥淗ow do you sit like that?鈥� from colleagues. Embarrassed, I鈥檇 attempt to put my feet on the floor like a professional, but it felt like a prison for my legs. (According to the medical handbook of Instagram, this is typical for neurodivergent folks with concentration problems, and yeah, that鈥檚 me.) At some point, I鈥檒l probably need new joints. I could resolve to save up enough money to get myself this but I don鈥檛 know if it will let me feel as bird-like as I need to do good work. So professionalism and physical health be damned, I鈥檓 sitting like a weirdo for life.鈥擜li Nolan, digital editor, RUN

Drawing the Line at Cheese

Over the last few years I鈥檝e made some significant changes to my diet for environmental reasons. For instance, I grow a ton of my summer produce. And 95 percent of my home cooking is plant-based. I only eat meat when I鈥檓 dining out or someone else serves it to me. That鈥檚 because the meat and dairy industries account for about 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gases worldwide. I also switched to plant-based milk (coconut is my fave). But don鈥檛 come after my cheese. Cheddar, feta, parm, gruyere, mozzarella, it doesn鈥檛 matter which type: I鈥檓 nothing without these gooey, salty, satisfying cheeses. I鈥檒l skip meat for the rest of my days if I have to. Just don鈥檛 come after my cheese.鈥擪ristin Hostetter, head of sustainability and 国产吃瓜黑料 contributing editor

The post These Are All the Bad Habits We鈥檙e Keeping in 2025 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The tradwives of TikTok have superhuman trend-setting abilities. They’ve revived and have made whipping up complicated recipes and even everyday household goods from scratch鈥攍ike and 鈥攃ool again. Now, is a staple in their skincare routines and on their plates.

Over the last month, TikTok has exploded with videos of people applying beef tallow as a moisturizer, claiming that it heals skin conditions from acne to dryness to hyperpigmentation. In other , users share how they make their own tallow to cook with as a substitute for more conventional saut茅ing fats like olive oil and butter.

You might be wondering: What makes it so special? Registered dietitians and dermatologists help us get to the greasy bottom of it all below.

What Is Beef Tallow?

Beef tallow is the product produced after removing fatty tissues from cow meat and melting them down, a process that鈥檚 also called rendering. Once rendered, any solids are strained from the liquid, and the remaining liquid is tallow, explains , a registered dietitian at Balance One, a supplement company. 鈥淭he fat generally used is found around the loins or the kidneys of the cow,鈥� she adds.

Once the tallow cools down, it solidifies into a butter or margarine-like texture. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been used for centuries in traditional cooking methods and even in non-food products like candles and skincare,鈥� explains , a registered dietitian and owner at Bravespace Nutrition, a nutrition therapy service. In the beauty world, much of the buzz around tallow stems from its alleged success in treating stubborn skin problems.

From an environmental and ethical standpoint, consuming or using tallow comes with the baggage of the beef industry, which is responsible for 3.7 percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions nationally, per the . (But if you’re down to eat beef, tallow shouldn’t raise any concerns.)

TikTokers Are Adding Beef Tallow to Their Skincare Routines

According to a that analyzed the scientific data on tallow鈥檚 benefits,听 the big draw to tallow is that it鈥檚 biocompatible with human skin, meaning it鈥檚 made up of lipids and fatty acids that mimic the composition of the epidermis. There are dozens of videos of alleged complexion transformations with nothing but a beef tallow balm to thank鈥攂ut dermatologists aren鈥檛 jumping on the train just yet. 鈥淲hile it does show some potential for hydration, the research is limited and inconclusive,鈥� says , a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.

Dermatologists Say Beef Tallow Can Be a Good Moisturizer

The hydration perk comes from its store of fatty acids like stearic acid and oleic acid, which help restore and strengthen the skin barrier and lock in existing moisture, explains dermatologist .

鈥淔rom a moisturizing perspective, it can work for some people, especially those with very dry or compromised skin,鈥� Kopelman explains. 鈥淗owever, when it comes to clearing acne and scars, I鈥檓 skeptical. Acne scars are deeper issues caused by skin damage and collagen loss, and while a good moisturizer can improve the overall look of the skin, tallow isn鈥檛 going to regenerate collagen or repair scars,鈥� she says.

But Beef Tallow Might Clog Your Pores

Because tallow is quite heavy and occlusive, meaning it acts as a protective, impermeable shield, it can also trap oils, sweat, and bacteria on the skin, Kopelman adds. 鈥淔or someone with acne-prone or oily skin, this could lead to clogged pores and even more breakouts,鈥� she adds. 鈥淎nother concern is hygiene鈥攊f the tallow isn鈥檛 processed properly, it could introduce contaminants or bacteria.鈥� She notes that it also has the potential to cause allergic reactions in those with sensitive skin.

The review mentioned earlier was inconclusive about other potential side effects of using beef tallow cosmetically. Some studies conducted on animals found it to cause eye and skin irritation. There is also concern about other ingredients brands could put into beef tallow skincare. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 marketed as 鈥榖eef tallow鈥� may actually be a mix of fats from various animals,鈥� says Dr. Kazlosukaya.

And that鈥檚 why, for now, you may not find many derms joining the chorus on this one. 鈥淚 approach these trends with caution. There are already so many wonderful moisturizers available,鈥� says Dr. Kazlosukaya. 鈥淯nlike tallow, these products are backed by extensive research, ensuring their safety and efficacy.鈥�

Kopelman adds: 鈥淲hile tallow鈥檚 properties may warrant further investigation, this should happen in controlled lab settings where its physical properties and safety can be thoroughly evaluated. For now, it鈥檚 too early鈥攁nd too risky鈥攖o start slathering animal fat on your skin.鈥�

Is Adding Beef Tallow to Your Diet a Good Idea?

鈥淏eef tallow is rich in healthy fats but also contains less healthy saturated fats,鈥� explains Best. It contains fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and K, too, 鈥渂ut those levels depend a lot on the diet and quality of the animal,鈥� adds Metzelaar.

The Saturated Fat Content Can Be an Issue

In comparison, olive oil, for example, contains more heart-healthy unsaturated fats, Best says. 鈥淭oo much saturated fat can impact cholesterol and heart health negatively. And while the science around saturated fat is evolving, eating too much of it while not balancing other nutrients in your diet could still pose risks for some individuals,鈥� says Metzelaar.

It鈥檚 Great for Cooking Veggies and Frying

The real pro of using beef tallow in the kitchen is its high smoke point, which makes it versatile and ideal for frying or roasting vegetables compared to more delicate oils, Metzelaar says. It has a rich, savory flavor, which may not always gel well with sweet notes but can be used as a substitute for butter or shortening in recipes like pie crusts because it creates a flaky, tender texture, she adds.

Metzelaar says that you can also use it to fry eggs, sear meats, or make french fries, but that it鈥檚 best to eat tallow in moderation. 鈥淯ltimately, it鈥檚 another tool in your cooking arsenal,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 the right fit for you depends on your preferences and how it fits into your overall diet,鈥� she says.

The post What Is Beef Tallow Actually Good For? appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Update (January 9, 2025): The study cited in this article had a mathematical typo in calculating the exposure risk of a harmful chemical called deca-BDE, inflating the number by tenfold. As a result, some news outlets have canceled the study. But the recommendations to avoid black plastic in the kitchen remains, according to co-author of the study, Megan Liu: 鈥淒ue to our miscalculation (not included in the abstract, highlights, or conclusion) the estimated exposure of one of the chemicals detected, deca-BDE,听in kitchen utensils is an order of magnitude lower than we originally reported. But our recommendation to use alternatives such as wood and stainless steel, especially with kitchen utensils, remains. Deca-BDE is a banned flame retardant that can still pose health hazards, especially to children. Plus, our study also found 10 other harmful flame retardants in certain black plastic items. None of the chemicals tested are regulated in recycled plastics. And they should be.鈥�

Fair warning: if you invite me to dinner at your house and I spy a black plastic spatula in the utensil canister on your counter, I鈥檓 confiscating it. Not because I鈥檓 a thief, but because I care about you. I don鈥檛 want black plastic anywhere near your scrambled eggs or anything else that goes into your mouth.

A published in Chemosphere, a scientific journal covering environmental chemistry, sounds the alarm on the toxicity of black plastic, which is commonly used in kitchen utensils, take out containers, sushi and meat trays, and even childrens鈥� toys.

The study tested 200 household items for bromine, a chemical that indicates the presence of dangerous brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Of the 87 items that contained bromine, the 20 with the highest concentrations were then analyzed for BFRs. 17 came back positive. The items with the highest levels of BFRs: a take-out sushi tray, a black plastic spoon, and a children鈥檚 pirate necklace.

For me, the scariest part of this discovery is that BFRs have been banned in the U.S. since 2004. So why are they showing up in products on our shelves today? It鈥檚 because we鈥檝e recycled BFRs into places that they were never intended to go and it raises big questions about the safety of plastics recycling in general.

Is It Safe to Use Black Plastic?

The growing consensus among experts is that black plastic poses risks to human health and the environment. BFRs are linked to including endocrine, liver and kidney toxicity, cancer, adverse effects of fetal and child development, and more, according to The National Institute of Health Sciences.

鈥淥ur study showed that BFRs (including one called deca-BDE which has been banned in the U.S.) still exist in a percentage of new black plastic household items,鈥� says Megan Liu, co-author of the study and the science and policy manager for , an environmental health and advocacy nonprofit.

The problem, she says, is that BFRs is a broad class of chemicals and only a handful of them have been outlawed. (This is a common challenge with chemical regulations, as I discovered when researching an article on PFAs, aka forever chemicals.) When a specific iteration within a large class of chemicals is banned, companies often switch to a similar鈥攁nd equally harmful鈥攐ne. It鈥檚 been likened to a dangerous game of whack-a-mole in which companies technically stay compliant but exacerbate the danger.

Liu says black plastic contamination traces back to electronics or e-waste recycling. For decades, BFRs have been added to electronics to prevent fire-related injuries and damage to property. BRFs鈥攂oth the banned ones and their cousins鈥� are still in circulation as old and new e-waste makes its way into the recycling system.

鈥淲ithout regulations to end the use of harmful chemicals and prevent them from being recycled, toxic flame retardants will continue to enter our homes through the back door and show up in products,鈥� says Liu.

Plastic Was Never Meant to Be Recycled

This black plastic study reveals an inherent and much deeper problem with our plastic recycling system. Despite how desperately we want to recycle the plastic we consume, it was designed to be durable by its very own founding fathers.

Consider this听 against Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. The suit alleges that the mega companies contributed to the plastics crisis by misleading consumers with advertising that praises the recyclability of single-use beverage bottles. 鈥淓xcept at the margins,” the suit reads, 鈥渋t is theater鈥攁 show designed to make consumers feel good about, and be willing to, consume unprecedented volumes of defendants鈥� single-use plastic.鈥�

But don鈥檛 take my word for it. Take it from one of the early champions of disposable packaging. At a 1963 plastics conference, Lloyd Stouffer, editor of Modern Plastics magazine, gave a horrifyingly听celebratory speech about the disposable nature of their darling packaging material and all the money it would make them.

鈥淭he package that is used once and thrown away, like a tin can or a paper carton, represents not a one-shot market for a few thousand units, but an everyday recurring market measured by the billions of units,鈥� he espoused. 鈥淵our future in packaging does indeed lie in the trash can. You are filling the trash cans, the rubbish dumps and the incinerators with literally billions of plastics [sic] bottles, plastics jugs, plastics tubes, blisters and skin packs, plastics bags and films and sheet packages–and now, even plastics听cans,鈥� he said. I picture him raising his fist in celebration, dollar signs in his eyes. 鈥淭he happy day has arrived when nobody any longer considers the plastic package too good to throw away.鈥�

You can read the text of for yourself, and you should because it will blow your mind. It reads like an SNL parody. He waxed on and on about how all the different types of throw-away plastic鈥搄ars, bottles, cigarette boxes, shrink wrap鈥搘ere replacing reusables at a staggering rate. All while saving companies millions.

In this room full of industry titans, Stouffer was leading a pep rally for pollution.

Jackie Nu帽ez, advocacy and engagement manager for Plastic Pollution Coalition, summarizes the fundamental in four words: 鈥淭oxics in and toxics out.鈥� In other words, that should be taken out of the recycling system all together, and dealt with as the toxic/hazardous waste that it is.

鈥淚t鈥檚 ludicrous,鈥� says Nu帽ez. She even takes issue with the word 鈥渞ecycling鈥� when it comes to plastics. She argues that when plastics are reclaimed and melted down, they deteriorate and lose some of the function they were originally designed for. 鈥淓very time you heat up plastic, the chemical bonds weaken,鈥� she says. 鈥淭o turn it back into usable new plastic, virgin plastic must be fed in, perpetuating our hunger for plastic.鈥�

It sounds like the evil twin of a sourdough starter that needs to be fed in order to rise.

Is It Better to Not Recycle Plastics?

Our long-term goal, according to both Liu, Nu帽ez, and many other environmental and health experts, should be to phase out plastic production.

According to Plastic Pollution Coalition, about 460 million metric tons of plastic are now produced annually. That number is expected to triple by 2050. Yet, ever made has been reclaimed. Recycling rates for other materials, like aluminum, glass, and paper, are far higher.

鈥淭his black plastics study brings to light a disturbing fact about plastic recycling,鈥� says Liu. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 recycle our way out of the toxic plastic crisis. It is critical that governments adopt strong restrictions on harmful chemicals and plastics to protect the health of all people.鈥�

While Nu帽ez agrees that we need strong policies and regulations, and that polluters should pay for the harm they鈥檝e done, she does not think that we should just give up and stop recycling.

鈥淵es, consumers should still separate out and sort their plastic according to their local guidelines,鈥� says Nu帽ez. 鈥淭his is our current, albeit flawed, system. It鈥檚 not broken, it鈥檚 just contaminated with plastic.鈥�

How Can You Be Safe from Plastic?

While it鈥檚 clear that single-use plastic is bad for us and for the planet, it鈥檚 also, very hard to avoid it in today鈥檚 world. That听 said, here is an听ever-growing list of ways that I try to keep myself and my family safe from its harmful effects.

• Speak up! This is perhaps the most important thing you can do to create meaningful change. Ask your grocers and favorite restaurants to offer packaging choices that are nonplastic. Ask them to allow and embrace reusables. Write to your legislators and local officials and tell them we need to break free from plastic. Vote for politicians who support these views.
• Throw out your plastic kitchen utensils. This includes spatulas, spoons, strainers, bowls, cups, cutting boards, and containers.
• Shop smart. When you have the choice between plastic and any other material, steer clear of plastic. This is especially important when it comes to food packaging and anything that touches food.
• Adopt a reusable mindset. Carry听your own water bottle. Bring your own cup to the coffee shop. Even tote your own container to restaurants for leftovers. This not only keeps you听safe, it sends a message to the proprietors that you do not approve of single-use plastic.
• Know your local recycling guidelines. Really know them. Call your town or local recycling center and ask specific questions about exactly what they鈥檒l take and won鈥檛 take.
• Sign petitions. It鈥檚 a fast, easy way to be part of collective action. Here are two you can sign today in minutes: supports federal legislation that would limit plastic pollution. supports a global treaty with the same goals.

Kristin Hostetter is 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 sustainability columnist. She is on a perpetual quest to banish plastic from her life. Follow her journey to live more sustainably by for her twice-monthly newsletter.

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