The six letters that could save your life

Cue the muzak. That Alphaville banger has been stuck in my head since our senior graduation slideshow, and lately, it feels… relevant in a way it definitely didn’t when I was 18. 

Healthspan chatter is louder than ever right now, and encompasses everything from clinically established “longevity medicine” to whatever’s up with fillers for aging feet. (To be fair, the experimental treatment does serve a health purpose.)

I’m still figuring out what’s worth it for me. But a few things have made me put down my red-light mask and pay attention: 

• The habits that actually move the needle aren’t the flashy ones. They’re probably already on your to-do list (and yes, I ignore at least one of them).

• “Pinky time” is having a moment, but it’s not the brain boost it’s being sold as. 

• If your tween is suddenly more into antiaging skincare than you (raises hand), it’s not just unnecessary, it can backfire.

• There’s now a pill that claims to help your dog live longer, and it just cleared a major hurdle. 
  

— Anna “Still an (Eighties) Baby“ Davies, writer

Sandra Lee, MD, better known as Dr. Pimple Popper, says this six letter mnemonic may have saved her life when she had a stroke on camera.

A gastroenterologist says there’s a lot people get wrong about pooping. Turns out, we’re all guilty of mistake number, ahem, two.

Researchers found a short digital detox made people perform like they were 10 years younger on attention tests. Sign us up.

Not all olive oil is created equal, with one type shown to help boost brain health better than others. *Runs to pantry.*

Think you’re just not a morning person? Your sleep timing might be the real issue.

We were today years old when we learned that there are four different types of introverts. But it makes total sense. 

We all think we have vitamin D figured out. Sunshine, maybe a supplement, done. But it’s not quite that simple. Vitamin D isn’t exactly a vitamin. It acts like a hormone, which helps explain why it does more behind the scenes than we give it credit for.

Yet, a lot of us are walking around without enough — and wouldn’t necessarily know it. The symptoms don’t exactly scream “nutrient deficiency.” They’re the same things many women chalk up to being busy, stressed, or burnt out: fatigue, low mood, muscle aches, and joint pain, AKA the Four Horsemen of aging. (If you suspect you’re low, it’s worth asking your doctor for a blood test.)

It would be nice to feel better day to day. But getting enough now is also a bit like contributing to a 401(k) for your brain. Some new findings point to a connection between vitamin D levels and the buildup of proteins linked to Alzheimer’s. These cognitive changes can begin quietly in midlife, long before symptoms show up. So, what’s happening in your 30s, 40s, and 50s may shape brain health decades down the line. 

Is sunlight actually enough? Yes… but under very specific conditions. Your body does make vitamin D when sunlight hits your skin. But the amount you make depends on where you live, the season, your skin tone, and daily exposure. All these factors also affect how much you actually need.

In peak summer, it can take just minutes to produce vitamin D. In winter, especially north of that 37-degree latitude line (hi, everyone who lives above Arizona), you may not make much at all, even if you’re outside. 

OK, I’ll just supplement. That seems logical. But more isn’t always better. Vitamin D is fat-soluble, which means your body stores it. Overdo it, and it can throw off how your body handles calcium, which is where things start to get dicey. Like so much of life, the key is balance.

For Your Sanity:

• Put it on your plate. Vitamin D isn’t in a ton of foods naturally. That said, many are kitchen staples. So glad our favorite fish made the list. 

• Don’t skip sunscreen. In lab studies, SPF can reduce vitamin D production. In real life, the story looks different.

• Supplement strategically. It’s not just what you take — it’s when. Timing, as they say, is everything.

No apps. No potential for late-cancel fees. Just your sneakers and an open road. Even with a packed schedule, a walk (or run) is one of the easier forms of movement to squeeze in without overthinking it.

Chances are, you’re already doing it. You’re just not getting as much out of it as you could. Here are three ways to change that this week:

• Pay attention to pace. It’s a snapshot of your overall health and how you’re aging. 

• Set up a structure. A few tweaks can turn it into a real workout — and if you’re trying to get faster, there’s one step most people skip.

• You don’t need a plan… but it helps. If you’ve fallen out of a routine, even a simple prompt in ChatGPT can help you build one and actually stick to it.

“Exosomes may sound futuristic, but they’re fairly simple microscopic vesicles released by cells to communicate with one another. In the skincare world, they’re being studied for their ability to deliver signaling molecules, such as proteins and growth factors. This increase in signaling can influence how skin cells regenerate and may help support collagen production, reduce inflammation, and improve overall skin health.

The science is still evolving. Early research has shown promise, particularly when exosomes are applied topically after procedures like microneedling and laser resurfacing. Many over-the-counter products vary widely in quality, and regulation is limited. Patients focused on post-procedure healing may see the most value under medical supervision.

Exosomes are a fascinating area of research with real potential, but they’re not magic. For now, it’s best to think of them as a promising tool rather than a standalone skincare essential.”

PS: If collagen is the goal, there’s a lot more that actually helps boost production than buzzy ingredients. 

Of course, it was inevitable that where fibermaxxing goes, “fartmaxxing” follows. (Click at your own risk.) Which might explain why dietitians keep talking about “fiber training” instead. It’s just a slower way to build up your tolerance to these plant-based carbs, so your gut can keep up.

Because the reality is, most people don’t eat enough fiber. There’s a pretty big gap between what you probably get and what counts as enough. 

The easier way to close it isn’t to overhaul anything. Just make sure there’s one solid source of fiber in every meal. That alone tends to change the math pretty quickly. From there, it’s about making it easy to eat more of it.

A few go-tos that do the work without feeling like it:

A smoothie that actually pulls its weight. Nutrient packed, but tastes like a milkshake and contains one of our favorite fiber sources. 

That bean salad everyone keeps making. There’s a reason it keeps showing up. It’s easy, filling, and takes care of lunch for a few days. 

Savory oats for breakfast or dinner. It sounds wrong until you try it, and then it just makes sense when you want something warm and savory. 

Reach your full potential with these posture correctors. They don’t just help you stand up straight, they can also help sidestep the aches and pains that come from slouching. We won’t say it… but your mom called it.

Here’s the full list of the best posture correctors, according to experts.

Fresh off our first Off the Page event, we have our second pick ready. This spring, we’re reading Kin by Tayari Jones, the national bestselling author of An American Marriage.

A peek into the story: Two girls grow up side by side in the 1950s South, bound by the absence of their mothers. Then life starts pulling them in different directions — one steps onto a traditional path, the other goes off-script, chasing answers in ways that break all the rules.

It's about friendship, class, and the decisions we make that shape who we become.

Read with us — then join us on June 17 to meet Tayari Jones and ask her your questions about the book and the choices her characters make.

Psst… With your RSVP, you'll also get 15% off the book + a Skimm-exclusive reading guide.

Have a question, comment, or just want to be friends? Reach out to us at well@theskimm.com

Written by Anna Davies. Edited by Jordan Galloway and Kylie McConville.
Fact-checked by Barbara Kean and Sara Tardiff.