The Livelong Newsletter

Hi everyone,

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and we are so excited to highlight groundbreaking news on finding a cure for type 1 diabetes (more on that later). 

Meanwhile, sugar-loving fruit bats could be the key to creating technologies that effectively lower blood sugar, and Ozempic may prevent diabetes.

In today’s issue:

• Doing yoga from home is basically free PT.

• You should know about this tea’s healthy ‘cousin.’ 

• In a world first, scientists reverse type 1 diabetes.

• And much more…

We love to hear from you—our community. Please share your feedback, stories, questions, testimonials, ideas, and more with us at [email protected].

👁️‍🗨️SPOTLIGHT

Online yoga can treat chronic lower pain without leaving your home, study says

Virtual yoga classes are considered effective in helping chronic lower back pain, new study finds. 

Worldwide, more than half a billion people are affected by back pain, according to recent estimates. This may climb to 843 million people by 2050. 

While you could settle for painkillers or expensive therapies, following online yoga classes at home can be just as effective, according to a recent study. 

Pain-free in 12 weeks? Virtual yoga could be the answer. 

A 12-week virtual yoga program conducted by the Cleveland Clinic took 140 participants with low back pain (average age 48, over 80% female) in a randomized clinical trial.

Here’s what researchers found:

• 👍 Participants reported six times greater reductions in pain

• 💊 34% fewer participants reported using pain medication 

• 💤 Sleep quality improved tenfold among online yoga class participants

“This research shows that a virtual yoga class program can be a safe and effective therapeutic option for the treatment of chronic low back pain,” said  Dr. Robert Saper, senior author of the study and department chair at the Cleveland Clinic.

Why this matters: One in four people suffers from chronic back pain, Cleveland Clinic says. Back pain can make daily activities such as walking, sleeping, and working a struggle, which can stop you from being active and living a longevity-forward lifestyle.

LIVELONG BOOKSHELF • Fall ‘24 🍁

Top longevity books for fall 2024

The value of taking care of yourself now means being healthy for your entire life. That’s why we curated a list of the best books on longevity. Kickstart your path to health and vitality this fall.

☝️ Find your next transformative read here.

➕ LIVE MORE

These stories caught our attention.

• 🧘‍♀️ Ultimate relaxation: These yoga poses could give you better sleep.

• 💪 Fight stiffness: The go-to stretches that relieve tight muscles caused by the cold.

• 💡 Be stretchy: You can be flexible. Here’s how.

WELLNESS WATCH - diet and nutrition

Back to the earth: Meet Yaupon: Yerba mate’s ‘cousin’

Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) is an invasive plant that may be the bane of some gardeners' existence.

Although not as popular as the closely-related Yerba mate tea from South America, it offers its own array of health benefits when consumed as a tea.

• Energizing: Yaupon is one of the only naturally-caffeinated plants from the U.S., containing less caffeine than coffee.

• Adaptogenic: The plant helps the body deal with stressors and returns it to a balanced state, according to Yaupon Tea Company.

• Polyphenol-rich: It is high in polyphenols, nutrients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Polyphenols may be chemo-protective and fight against chronic disease.

(The “holl” story) 

Dubbed the ‘cousin’ of Yerba Mate by Christine Folch of Duke University, Indigenous Americans started consuming it more than 1000+ years ago.

It later became popular among early European settlers and Black communities, but fell out of favor when coffee and imported teas were introduced.

The resurgent popularity could expose people to a diversity of new and healthy nutrients, and it’s also said to be delicious, as it’s less bitter than green or black tea.

Try Yaupon today.

📰 IN OTHER NEWS

David Beckham becomes a longevity liaison

David Beckham, one of the best soccer players in history, is hanging up his cleats for a new career in longevity.

Beckham, known to prioritize health and wellness “on and off the field,” is now the co-founder of a longevity-forward supplement company called IM8, according to a recent press release.

IM8 is offering a supplement called ‘Daily Ultimate Longevity,’ which is specifically designed to support NAD+, an anti-aging molecule in the body that supplies cells with energy.

To NAD+ and beyond: The trendy coenzyme is the key ingredient of may longevity-focused supplements and treatments (we see you, IV injections).

 Some doctors still don’t recommend it, despite growing evidence.

Quick reads

• Sesame Street Therapy: A new trend has more people turning to the iconic children’s show as a source of ‘therapy.’ 

• Sore spot: What does it mean if you don’t feel sore after doing a workout?

• Win for cannabis: Cannabis can ease dementia symptoms.

WE WANT YOUR TAKE

We know that many of you have tried all different types of supplements, treatments, and procedures, which is why we’d love for you to share your experience using NAD+.

Does NAD+ work for you?

 Let us know at [email protected]

LONG-LEVITY

🧬 Scientists Reverse Type 1 Diabetes: Here’s how

Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition that currently has no known cure.

In a world first, scientists have figured out how to reverse one woman’s type 1 diabetes, according to a report from Live Science. 

🔬 Using a breakthrough procedure, they reprogrammed fat cells to become stem cells (a nonspecific cell type that can turn into any type of cell), which were transformed into insulin-producing cells.

Insulin-producing cells are "mini-organs" in the pancreas that regulate blood sugar levels. People with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin, which can be fatal.

🔎 Insulin-free: One year after the procedure, the patient still does not need any injected insulin to control her blood sugar.

🔛 What’s next?

• 📥 Subscribe to the community — If you haven’t subscribed, please do so. You’re joining a great community of life.

• ➡️ Share this newsletter — Share with a friend so they can get fresh, actionable, and evidence-based information to support their health journey, too.

• 🔔 Find us on YouTube — Livelong is excited about our new podcast, highlighting conversations with the experts.

• 🌱 Our most recent edition —The diet to live to 100.

🦉 WISDOM FOR LIFE

About Livelong

Be your own expert. Optimize your health. Look beyond the conventional.

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Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care professional before starting any exercise, wellness, or health program. Nothing in our content, products or services should be considered, or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Livelong is a media company and not a medical provider. We try to give the most accurate possible, but sometimes information is subject to change.