Illustration of a young woman running while looking at her fitness watch.

From sore muscles to smartwatches and stubborn belly fat: answers to six of the most common fitness questions

In a world flooded with fitness fads and “quick-fix” workout plans, solid evidence can often get drowned out. Yet the science is clear: jogging for just five to ten minutes a day can lower your risk of dying from heart disease and even reduce your overall risk of dying from any cause. This kind of research rarely gets the attention it deserves.

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A claymation-style illustration of a medicine cabinet filled with pill bottles.

Threat in Your Medicine Cabinet: The FDA’s Gamble on America’s Drugs

The FDA has given more than 20 foreign factories a special pass to continue sending drugs to the U.S. even though they were made at plants that the agency had banned.

The medications came mostly from plants in India where inspectors found contaminated drugs, filthy labs and falsified records.

The agency did not proactively inform the public when drugs were exempted from import bans, and it did not routinely test the medications to ensure they were safe.

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AN illustration of a rural doctor's office with a 'closed' sign hanging on the front door. the building is small and simple, with a wood

Report: Rural Patients Losing Access to Independent Physicians and Medical Practices

Between 2019 and 2024, the number of independent physicians in rural areas fell by 43%. Nearly 9,500 rural physicians left independent practice. The loss impacted the Midwest and Northeast the most, with Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, and South Dakota losing more than 50% of their independent rural physicians. Additionally, the study found 7,300 rural medical practices either closed or were acquired by health systems or corporate entities.

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Photo of a forest fire with billowing smoke.

Wildfire smoke and extreme heat can occur together: Preparing for the combined health effects of a hot, smoky future

It’s well understood that exposure to either wildfire smoke or extreme heat poses a significant threat to health. For example, there is substantial evidence linking wildfire smoke to an increased risk of hospitalizations for lung or heart complications, with emerging evidence that exposure may also affect birth outcomes and cognitive function. Similarly, we know that extreme heat can increase the risk of illness or death from conditions related to our lungs, hearts and brains.

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Dall·e 2025 05 01 09.10.31 a claymation style illustration in a wide aspect ratio of a cheerful woman natural health promoter with long flowing hair and a flower in her hair, we

When it comes to health information, who should you trust? 4 ways to spot a dodgy ‘expert’

When it comes to our health, we’re constantly being warned about being taken in by misinformation.

Yet for most of us what we believe ultimately comes down to who we trust, including which “experts” we trust.

The problem is that not everyone who presents themselves as an expert is actually an expert.

And an expert in one area isn’t necessarily an expert in everything.

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