Drinking tea, particularly green tea, is linked to better heart health, improved metabolism, and lower risks of chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer. It may also help protect the brain and preserve muscle strength as people age. However, processed teas-such as bottled and bubble varieties-often contain sugars and additives that may cancel out these benefits. Moderation and choosing freshly brewed tea appear key.
"Drinking water first thing in the morning helps you catch up after several hours without fluids," explains Chris Mohr, a registered dietitian and fitness and nutrition advisor at Garage Gym Reviews. "Most people wake up mildly dehydrated because we lose water through breathing overnight. Having a glass of water early sets you up to meet your hydration needs more evenly throughout the day instead of playing catch-up later." Essentially, only good can come from hydrating right away.
In the last few years, I've seen an increasing number of wellness and fitness influencers yap about fixing their metabolisms. For some, that means hawking supplements like Foodology's Coleology Cutting Jelly, NAD+ pills for improving insulin sensitivity, or powders that claim to "balance your hormones." Right now, my TikTok FYP is full of girls talking about the viral Korean Switch-On diet - a seemingly brutal regimen of intermittent fasting, protein shakes, and tofu. An obesity researcher purportedly designed the diet, which will "reset your metabolism."
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have uncovered a new way that brown fat, a type of fat that burns energy, can boost the body's metabolism. This process allows cells to consume more fuel and generate heat, improving overall metabolic health. Conducted in mice, the research points to new possibilities for using brown fat to address metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance and obesity.
Cortisol is essential for biological processes, helping manage stress responses, regulating blood sugar, modulating inflammation, and supporting metabolism and immune responses.