👋 Welcome to Healthy, Again. I'm Max, and this publication is all about taking your health back: real food, straight talk, and time-tested wisdom, for you and your family.
01 We're beating heart disease. Here's how we finish
Real good news for once: American deaths from coronary heart disease have fallen more than 50% since 1990, a major new study found, mostly thanks to less smoking and cleaner air. Here's the exciting part. Of the deaths that still happen, researchers say nearly 89% are preventable, driven by things we control. The new problem areas are rising weight and blood sugar, and we know the fix: real food, daily movement, real sleep. We are almost there. Let's close it out.
02 Don't judge: I'm addicted to TikTok. Here's what I do about it
A new study put numbers on the brain rot: the heaviest short-form video watchers scored measurably slower on working memory. The same data found the antidote. Students who exercised at least three times a week kept their memory sharp, even with heavy scrolling. I say this as someone with a serious animal vid habit: keep the scroll, just earn it with three workouts a week.
03 New evidence points to a liver gene behind IBS
The cause of IBS has always been fuzzy. Now a study of 2.8 million people points to a specific liver gene, revealing that a lot of it comes down to how your body handles sugar and fat. That is a big deal, because it ties IBS to the same biology as cholesterol and heart drugs we already have. Treatments for the millions who get no relief today may finally be around the corner.
✿ QUICK HITS — ON OUR RADAR
230 million people a week now ask ChatGPT about their health, per OpenAI's own health lead. Handy for a quick read, but your body still deserves a real second opinion.
The CDC may finally get a lasting director: Dr. Erica Schwartz, Trump's third pick in two years, went before the Senate this week. The last one lasted 29 days, so here's hoping she sticks.
Captain "Sully" Sullenberger, the Miracle on the Hudson pilot, revealed he has early Alzheimer's at 75. He's going public to push families toward earlier diagnosis and support.
✿ ONE GOOD THING
To end on a good one: a 64-year-old art teacher gave one of her kidneys to the finance manager at her tiny arts nonprofit, after he mentioned his 15-year battle with kidney disease at a staff meeting.
They turned out to be a perfect match. His verdict now: “Today I feel better than I did when I was 35.” Coworker of the year, hands down.