https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well Service journalism, wearables, habits, and claims worth testing. en-us https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/stevia-glucose-hormones-crossover https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/stevia-glucose-hormones-crossover In 69 people across normal weight, overweight and type 2 diabetes, a stevia drink behaved like water — no shift in glucose, insulin, gut hormones, appetite or how much they ate next. Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/green-space-child-attention-abcd https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/green-space-child-attention-abcd In nearly 12,000 US children, tree and park cover was linked to sharper directed attention and higher crystallized intelligence — and cleaner air seemed to explain part of it. Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/working-from-home-health-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/working-from-home-health-evidence A Swiss study tracking people who switched to remote work found no measurable change across 13 health outcomes. A review of pandemic homeworking found the relationship varies so much that no consensus emerged. Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/periconception-folate-b12-birth-defects https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/periconception-folate-b12-birth-defects A Shanghai study of 3,032 couples measured nutrients before conception. Predicted birth-defect prevalence fell across maternal B12 levels — and, more weakly, across paternal ones. Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/cycle-syncing-workouts-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/cycle-syncing-workouts-evidence A meta-analysis of 78 studies found the menstrual cycle has at most a trivial effect on performance. A randomised trial found timing strength training to cycle phase built no more muscle than training consistently. Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/which-fibre-supplement-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/which-fibre-supplement-evidence A meta-analysis of 30 randomised trials found fibre supplements work in IBS, with the benefit concentrated in psyllium. Wheat bran was the most-studied type and did not carry the effect. Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/picky-eating-phase-or-problem-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/picky-eating-phase-or-problem-evidence A cohort of 4,018 children found nearly half were picky at some point, but two-thirds remitted within three years and prevalence fell to 13.2% by age 6. About 4% stayed persistently picky. Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/physical-activity-facilities-child-obesity-china https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/physical-activity-facilities-child-obesity-china The association was strongest where the air was worst — which is the tell. A parallel US survey finds the indoor facilities are the ones vanishing from low-income neighbourhoods. Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/tens-and-pain-devices-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/tens-and-pain-devices-evidence Across 29 studies the overall effect on chronic back pain was not significant. Split by whether the current was strong enough to be clearly felt, one subgroup showed a large effect and the other none. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/social-connection-longevity-15-cigarettes https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/social-connection-longevity-15-cigarettes The famous cigarette comparison is a communications gloss on a robust but observational finding: people with stronger social ties are markedly more likely to survive follow-up. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/running-knee-cartilage-4haie-mri https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/running-knee-cartilage-4haie-mri A matched study compared recreational runners, non-runners and adults with obesity, one triplet at a time. The first two groups were indistinguishable on structure and function. The third was not. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/late-night-eating-weight-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/late-night-eating-weight-evidence A tightly controlled crossover trial found late eating increased hunger, cut waking energy expenditure and shifted fat-tissue gene expression. The population data show a 17% higher odds of obesity. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/coffee-alcohol-and-the-gut-lining https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/coffee-alcohol-and-the-gut-lining The human intestinal-permeability literature lists endurance exercise, NSAIDs, pregnancy and surfactants as stressors. Coffee is not on that list, and alcohol's case is largely inferred. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/snowfall-hip-fracture-nagano-temperature https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/snowfall-hip-fracture-nagano-temperature In 2,292 hip fractures across six cities in Nagano, snowfall raised the odds of admission — until the models adjusted for how cold it was, at which point the association disappeared. Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/glp1-cost-why-expensive-off-patent https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/glp1-cost-why-expensive-off-patent A study estimated semaglutide's class could be produced for under $75 a month; it lists near $1,000. The gap is patent protection, and in the US it runs to 2032. Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/biological-age-tests-what-the-evidence-supports https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/biological-age-tests-what-the-evidence-supports Consumer clocks report an age, an age gap or a pace of ageing. Expert panels agree no single biomarker is sufficient — and clocks have failed to move when an intervention demonstrably worked. Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/red-light-ketone-esters-null-results https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/red-light-ketone-esters-null-results Photobiomodulation raised skin temperature by 8 °C and left mitochondrial respiration exactly where it found it. Ketone esters across an eight-day stage race did nothing for performance, cognition or sleep. Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/potty-training-timing-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/potty-training-timing-evidence A prospective study found that beginning intensive training before 27 months did not bring completion any sooner — and lengthened the process. Normal completion ages span well over a year. Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/at-home-led-devices-acne-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/at-home-led-devices-acne-evidence Pooled across 216 participants, the devices beat control by 45.3% on inflammatory lesions. The trials are small, none of the devices tested is necessarily one now sold, and the market is barely regulated. Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/residential-greenness-wellbeing-uk https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/residential-greenness-wellbeing-uk A UK survey of 26,322 urban adults finds a small but consistent life-satisfaction gain from neighbourhood greenery. A Stockholm study of 46,282 shows who ends up living without it. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/how-much-fibre-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/how-much-fibre-evidence A Lancet series covering 135 million person-years found the largest risk reductions in that range. Trials of isolated fibre supplements produce much smaller effects on much narrower outcomes. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/coffee-liver-cirrhosis-cancer-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/coffee-liver-cirrhosis-cancer-evidence Two meta-analyses tie an extra two cups a day to roughly a third lower risk of both liver cancer and cirrhosis, with decaf showing a smaller effect. It is all observational, and the evidence quality is graded very low. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/purpose-in-life-healthspan-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/purpose-in-life-healthspan-evidence Two large cohorts link purpose in life to lower mortality and lower Alzheimer's risk. Whether purpose protects health, or health sustains purpose, is what the studies cannot fully separate. Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/magnesium-l-threonate-sleep-cognition-trial https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/magnesium-l-threonate-sleep-cognition-trial Participants on Magtein scored better on memory and reaction-time tests after six weeks. On sleep — the reason most people buy it — an Oura Ring found no measurable difference at all. Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/high-deductible-plans-change-how-people-use-care https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/high-deductible-plans-change-how-people-use-care When a large firm moved everyone to a high-deductible plan, spending fell about 12-14%. The catch: people cut valuable and low-value care alike, and barely shopped on price. Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/period-tracking-apps-ovulation-accuracy https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/period-tracking-apps-ovulation-accuracy In a study of 543,167 cycles, calendar-based apps misclassified a fertile day as safe in two-thirds of cycles. Apps that track a real biological signal do better, but plain calendar apps remain the most common kind. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/local-honey-hay-fever-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/local-honey-hay-fever-evidence A randomised trial gave one group unfiltered local honey and found no relief beyond placebo. A later trial found a benefit — using a dose of about 70 grams a day alongside an antihistamine. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/how-loud-is-too-loud-headphones https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/how-loud-is-too-loud-headphones OSHA and NIOSH use different rules for how fast allowable exposure falls as sound gets louder. WHO's venue standard permits an average of 100 decibels. The headline 'one billion at risk' figure is a modelled range. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/annual-physicals-what-trials-show https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/annual-physicals-what-trials-show A Cochrane review of 251,891 participants found no effect on total, cancer or cardiovascular mortality, at high certainty for the first two. The finding is about check-ups, not about all screening. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/acupuncture-versus-sham-chronic-pain https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/acupuncture-versus-sham-chronic-pain The gap between those two numbers is the whole argument. An individual-patient meta-analysis of 20,827 people found real effects on both comparisons, and found that the choice of sham changed the answer. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/reducing-pfas-exposure-what-is-known https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/reducing-pfas-exposure-what-is-known A Copenhagen team has just published the protocol for the first study designed to test whether reducing PFAS exposure changes anything. That it is still a protocol tells you where the evidence stands. Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/nad-iv-therapy-evidence-review https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/nad-iv-therapy-evidence-review A systematic review of 113 studies found real biology in NAD+ supplementation — and not one eligible human trial testing the IV or IM version clinics actually sell for anti-aging. Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/exercise-timing-morning-versus-evening https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/exercise-timing-morning-versus-evening A review screening 14,125 articles found evidence neither for nor against morning or evening training — only that testing and training at the same hour helps. Evening sessions may cost some sleep continuity. Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/what-actually-helps-a-cold https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/what-actually-helps-a-cold Cochrane reviews covering more than 19,000 participants found no reduction in cold incidence from regular vitamin C, a possible reduction in duration from zinc, and a clear increase in adverse events. Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/caffeine-how-much-is-too-much https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/caffeine-how-much-is-too-much The FDA's threshold traces to a Health Canada assessment and a 2017 systematic review of 381 studies. It describes a population, not a person, and the variation between people is large. Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/air-purifiers-allergy-asthma-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/air-purifiers-allergy-asthma-evidence A placebo-controlled trial in 164 children reduced fine particles 64% and found no improvement in symptoms. A smaller crossover trial found a benefit, but only in children whose asthma was poorly controlled. Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/weekend-warrior-activity-pattern https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/weekend-warrior-activity-pattern Across 89,573 accelerometer-monitored adults and 678 conditions, no disease showed a significant difference between activity concentrated in one or two days and activity spread through the week. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/sit-stand-desks-workplace-sitting-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/sit-stand-desks-workplace-sitting-evidence A Cochrane review found sit-stand desks reliably reduce workplace sitting, but graded the evidence low quality and could not tie it to better health. WHO backs cutting sedentary time but set no number. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/herbal-supplement-liver-injury-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/herbal-supplement-liver-injury-evidence Bodybuilding steroids, green tea extract and multi-ingredient blends are the products most often implicated. A liver injury from a supplement often can't be traced to a single named ingredient. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/glucosamine-chondroitin-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/glucosamine-chondroitin-evidence GAIT randomised 1,583 people and found neither supplement beat placebo overall. A later network meta-analysis found effects below the clinically important threshold, and smaller still in industry-independent trials. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/scrotal-heat-underwear-fertility-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/scrotal-heat-underwear-fertility-evidence The scrotal-cooling theory is sound and the semen findings are real. A 2026 review found the prospective data show no difference in pregnancy outcomes by underwear type. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/protein-healthy-kidneys-myth-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/protein-healthy-kidneys-myth-evidence The fear that a high-protein diet damages normal kidneys is not supported by the trial evidence. Protein restriction is a therapy studied in people who already have kidney disease — a different question entirely. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/oil-pulling-charcoal-toothpaste-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/oil-pulling-charcoal-toothpaste-evidence Oil pulling and miswak have real short-term data on plaque and gum inflammation. Charcoal dentifrices have almost none, and a third of the products reviewed contained bentonite clay. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/flu-vaccine-effectiveness-what-it-measures https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/flu-vaccine-effectiveness-what-it-measures Three surveillance networks put 2025/26 effectiveness between 22% and 45% against a drifted H3N2 virus. The figure is a comparison between vaccinated and unvaccinated people who all got tested. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/topical-antiaging-actives-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/topical-antiaging-actives-evidence A 19-trial review of peptides prints two different wrinkle effect sizes in its own abstract. A vitamin C trial ran four weeks against retinol, with nothing inert to compare either of them against. Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/menstrual-cups-period-underwear-safety-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/menstrual-cups-period-underwear-safety-evidence A systematic review of 43 studies judged cups a safe option, with leakage similar to or lower than pads and tampons. For the newer reusable products, published research is mostly about acceptability, not safety. Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/co-sleeping-bed-sharing-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/co-sleeping-bed-sharing-evidence The AAP advises room-sharing without bed-sharing. Pooled case-control data show bed-sharing raises SIDS risk — sharply when parents smoke or drink, and more modestly even when they do not. Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/sugar-hyperactivity-children-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/sugar-hyperactivity-children-evidence A meta-analysis of 23 blinded studies found no effect on any of 14 behavioural and cognitive measures. A separate trial fed children extreme doses and found nothing. The belief survives anyway. Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/fermented-foods-what-the-evidence-shows https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/fermented-foods-what-the-evidence-shows It found rising microbiome diversity and falling inflammatory markers in the fermented-food arm — and no change in its own primary outcome in the high-fibre arm it was compared against. Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/fall-prevention-what-works-evidence https://www.healthnewspapers.com/living-well/fall-prevention-what-works-evidence Falls are the leading injury killer of older adults. The intervention with the strongest evidence is unglamorous — exercise that trains balance, gait and strength — and the trial data behind it is unusually solid. Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT living-well