courtesy of @kermitthefrog (Instagram)
🙌 Hoppy Friday!
Doing the right thing can be hard 🧭, but it may pay off in purpose and well-being—being and feeling good often go hand in hand, writes Psyche. If you need a moral compass, perhaps look to Kermit the Frog. 🐸 The ‘everyfrog’ and the happiest frog I know.
This week: Joy, morality, and aging well. Plus, bird-watching and 5 foods that may improve vitamin D absorption.
Quick Poll
We’re inviting women who want to age with intention
The inaugural Livelong Women’s Health Summit™ comes to San Francisco April 17–18. This event brings together 75+ of the world’s leading voices in longevity to discuss healthy aging across hormones, metabolism, brain health, and more. No overwhelm, just clarity. 💫
→ Explore ambassador and vendor opportunities.
Spotlight
😄 183 studies show this boosts happiness
Happiness has become a prescription culture of ‘Do this,’ ‘eat this,’ and ‘buy this.’ ☑
A review of 183 individual studies actually suggests there’s no formula—no “secret sauce”—for happiness, writes INC of the study.
The well-known habits each help a little bit, so the best one(s) are the ones you like doing.
That said… pairing a physical activity (ie, yoga) with a psychological intervention (ie, gratitude journaling ✍ ) appeared to have a slight edge, while the link between time in nature and happiness looked shockingly weak, though more data is needed.
😆 Why might happier people live longer?
It’s the downstream benefits. Happier people tend to have healthier lifestyles, and it might also buffer against the negative effects of stress (inflammation, loneliness), helping boost positive aging markers over time 🫀.
🌎 The big picture: Habits that support happiness can support healthy aging, but you don’t need to do every happiness trick. Instead, opt for the research-backed tools you enjoy doing. You're most likely to be consistent — and happy.
Read next: Just how much happiness lowers your risk of dying?
Wellness watch
👩🔬 The biology of morality and aging
Your moral standards could have a neural signature, and it may affect long-term health.
In the movies, the hero 🦸♀ almost always does the right thing. Morality is their M.O. So why do some people know what’s right, but act with looser standards themselves?
Researchers publishing in Cell Reports found that people with moral inconsistency — meaning they judging others more harshly than themselves — showed less ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) activity, a brain region 🧠 tied to decision-making and reflection.
Using brain scans, they saw a clear split:
⬆ In morally consistent people, the vmPFC lights up when their behavior matches their judgment.
⬇ In inconsistent people, brain activity drops — especially when excusing their own behavior (like cheating) while condemning others.
“Morally inconsistent people are not necessarily blind to their own moral principles,” explains the study author. They just don’t apply these principles to their own actions.
‼ Why this matters: It’s more than being ‘good.’
Moral consistency* may overlap with conscientiousness, a character trait associated with longevity.
Highly conscientious people tend to have a positive outlook 🙂 on life, handle stress well, follow healthy habits, and make fewer ‘stupid’ decisions (not my words). They are also more likely to follow moral norms linked to a lower risk of death.
The takeaway: Moral consistency may be one part of the mix of character traits that support a longer, healthier life.
*Moral consistency may be strengthened. Practicing empathy is a good way to start.
In other news
🧓 This skin patch tests aging
A new skin patch is being used to detect signs of inflammation and immune activity linked to aging — without the blood draw. When applied to the upper layer of the skin, hundreds of teeny-tiny needles can painlessly collect live immune cells for analysis within hours. 🔬
How it solves the bloodwork problem: Traditional comprehensive blood tests🩸(ie, Function Health) only capture a day’s immune activity once every 6 months—not daily.
Plus, infections and autoimmune signals don’t always show up in the circulating bloodstream.
➡ In the future: One day, the patch could help monitor skin conditions, immune responses to vaccines, infections, and cancer treatment. The hope is that we can spot small changes before they become big problems, and lifelong health improves.
This week’s highlights
💊 Warning: this popular anti-aging combo may backfire for your brain.
🥑 Help your body absorb vitamin D: Five foods that may help.
👃 Smell the sickness: MIT researchers developed a breath-based pneumonia test.
→ Ask LIV: Get personalized longevity insights with our updated AI feature.
Long-levity
🐦 The case for becoming an expert birder
Bird-watching may help rewire your brain to age more slowly.
If you can differentiate the bird song 🎶 of Common Yellowthroat from a Carolina Wren, you’re probably an expert birder.
It may be linked to a younger and more creative brain, too. In a Canadian study, expert birders had structurally different brains than novice birders, with denser brain regions linked to attention and perception.
But bird-watching is an all-around brain-booster
It’s a cognitive-enriching activity that requires lifelong learning, 🏫 a habit that can delay dementia and reduce Alzheimer’s risk by 38%.
Combined with time in nature 🏞 with mild physical activity, socialization, focus, and quiet relaxation, it’s a powerhouse for neuroplasticity.
The takeaway: You don’t have to become an expert birder to benefit, but science shows the hobby offers a fun way to challenge the brain and stave off cognitive decline.
🧑🎓 Beginner bird watcher? Start by listening to bird song, which soothes the brain.
Do you want to train to protect your body?
If you’d a woman who’d like to learn more about frailty, exercising to build muscle mass after 50, and true healthy aging, join Dr. Vonda Wright, an orthopedic surgeon and New York Times best-selling author, for a members-only CIRCLE community studio session on April 3.
Poll response
Last week, our headlining story was about decluttering the supplement drawer. We asked: What’s your supplement drawer situation right now? 💊
Top three:
Minimalist: 1-3 supplements (51%)
Solid stack: I’ve hit my Goldilocks zone (38%)
It’s overflowing, but they all have a purpose (6%)
Don’t miss: Four steps to declutter your supplement drawer
How did you like today's newsletter?
The information provided about wellness and health is for general informational and educational purposes only. We are not licensed medical professionals, and the content here should not be considered medical advice. Talk to a doctor before trying any of these suggestions.
