Wellbeing

Years ago, when I was still a kid, I was sprawled on the sofa, watching TV, when I suddenly felt a tingling in my fingertips. My senses heightened as the electric sensation rippled up my arms and spread across the rest of my body. My insides twisted…

Pennsylvania politicians are using the vape crisis as leverage for decriminalizing recreational cannabis use in the state, Vice recently reported. Vaping has been linked to 2,291 cases of illness and 48 deaths to date nationally, according to the…

All foods are not created equal. Most are palatable, or tasty to eat, which is helpful because we need to eat to survive. For example, a fresh apple is palatable to most people and provides vital nutrients and calories. But certain foods, such as…

The holidays are stressful. Judging from the number of survival guides out there, it seems pretty clear that many of us are exhausted by the ostentatious cultural charade we call the holidays. Amidst this season of consumerist escapism, please try…

Parents who want to raise their children in a gender-nonconforming way have a new stocking stuffer this year: the gender-neutral doll. Announced in September, Mattel’s new line of gender-neutral humanoid dolls don’t clearly identify as either a boy…

I run, but I’m not a "runner." I’m the kind of person who buys the most expensive running shoes I can afford, runs as long and fast as seems manageable, and just hopes for the best. But just because I'm not a professional doesn't mean my body…

I teach a course on ethics and philanthropy and have written about how to donate to charities ethically. Recent news about people who make big charitable gifts acting badly is making me wonder whether philanthropy really does make the world…

Cruises have recently already garnered a decent amount of backlash for their damaging environmental impacts. Now, data from the U.S. Department of Transportation points to another reason to worry about them: the increase in alleged sexual assaults…

Biohacking is fully mainstream and the smart drinks that were promised by sci-fi in the 70s are officially here. I’ve been on this bandwagon for years, so when my favorite brain-enhancing supplement company started sending me ads for their smart…

Generic prescription drugs have saved the U.S. about $1.7 trillion over the past decade. The Food and Drug Administration approved a record 781 new generics in 2018 alone, including generic versions of Cialis, Levitra, and Lyrica. They join generic…

The internet is swooning over the Tracy’s Dog vibrator, one of the latest additions to the suction sex toy craze. In her Amazon review, commenter Cloud D said that it cured her depression and she didn’t need to go to therapy anymore. It gave another…

Early in my current relationship, I fell into the habit of reading a little too much into my partner’s social media likes. One day, I confronted him about how he had liked multiple marathon finish photos posted on Instagram by someone in our friend…

The benefits of massage are widely touted by influencers, the self help obsessed, and everyone else wholly consumed by the wellness industrial complex.. As a person who has been a practicing body worker (what massage therapists call themselves) for…

About a quarter of children in the United States are born two to three weeks before their due date, which qualifies them as “early term.” Pregnancies typically last 40 weeks, so you might think that being born two to three weeks early wouldn’t…

Long-distance running times are dropping — and the first sub-two hour marathon was completed recently by Kenyan athlete, Eliud Kipchoge. Some are arguing that innovations in trainer design are playing a pivotal role in these improvements. But what…

It's safe to say that a large percentage of us are obsessed with skin care, so much so that Vogue recently dubbed it “the new makeup.” A report by market research company NPD Group found that skin care product sales rose 13% last year, whereas…

Being saddled with a massive amount of financial debt can be a very isolating feeling. But unfortunately, it's a reality that tons of people deal with, whether it's due to student loans, medical bills, mortgages, or something else. No matter the…

Gift giving is a big deal this time of year. To find the “perfect” gift, Americans will spend about 15 hours shopping. Women will do about twice as much as men. And they’ll shell out about $1 trillion on gifts. While retailers relish the holiday…

Americans will eat about 210 million turkeys this year, amounting to over 16 pounds per person. Much of that will be eaten on Thanksgiving Day. Over time, our Thanksgiving meal has become considerably more affordable. Turkey will probably average…