It’s Black Friday! Yes, the season of spending is upon us. And incessant social media advertisements won’t let us forget it. To be a savvy spender, consider ‘hiring’ things that will thank your body. As Harvard Business Professor Clayton Christensen describes in his ‘Jobs Theory.’
“Products have no value on their own. Value is created in the context of using the product to achieve the goal of the customer.”
This week: flossing 🦷, retail therapy 🛒, and what a longevity expert hires for his health 🧬.
Let’s go!
Quick Poll
Which part of longevity feels most worth spending on right now?
Spotlight
It’s not flashy, but today is National Flossing Day!🦷
Flossing offers a string of benefits for your heart and metabolism.
After last night’s Thanksgiving feast, maybe you brushed your teeth and called it a night. But brushing only cleans 60% of your teeth. Without incorporating other oral hygiene practices like flossing, the risk of diabetes, stroke, and even mortality shoots up.
Why do dentists actually want you to floss?
To answer that, consider what happens when you don’t.
🚫 Not flossing significantly increases the risk of gum disease, which has many other downstream effects.
📈 Observational studies show that never flossing is linked to a 30% higher risk of death compared to daily flossing (2011 study).
❤️ Newer studies link flossing with a 44% lower cardioembolic stroke risk and 12% lower risk of irregular heartbeat.
🍬 Gum disease can worsen blood sugar control in diabetes and is linked to increased risk of diabetes, says Carly Cassleman, DDS, owner of St. Clair Tooth Co. in St. Clair Shores, Michigan.
Flossing prevents bacteria from building up in your gums. The risk is that bacteria can travel through the bloodstream to your heart, causing arterial inflammation and increasing the risk of heart events.
Four guidelines for successful flossing
Experts at the University of Colorado, Anshultz, have four rules for flossing.
🕒 The routine: Experts recommend flossing once a day (based on some clinical trials, nighttime is more effective). Floss throughout the day if food is stuck between your teeth.
➡️ The form: Curve the floss in a C shape around the tooth. This gets between the teeth and up and down the sides. Use the same shape to clean under implants.
📏 The length: 18” of floss is long enough, using a clean section of floss between each tooth to prevent bacterial spread.
🧶 The type: Choose a thicker, woven type of floss that does not pass as easily between your teeth. Think of it like very thin yarn.
Will we see you in San Francisco? | 🗓️ April 2026
Join us at the Livelong Women’s Health Summit, one of the world’s largest women’s health events. 💛
Spend two days with 75 leading experts, including a breakthrough session with legendary actress and fitness icon Jane Fonda 💪🎬. Dive into hands-on experiences, connect with incredible women, and walk away with a clear, actionable roadmap for better sleep, hormones, mental health, and aging well.
Seats are limited—grab yours now. Use code ERIN for $50 off.
In other news
🛍️ Can you buy happiness?
Why a little retail therapy might actually help you live longer.
In-store shopping feels nostalgic, but retail therapy is good for longevity. A 2011 study found that older adults who shopped daily had a 27% lower risk of death. Why?
Steps. Even a one-hour shopping trip to the grocery store can add up to 4,000 steps.
Socialization. It usually involves many social interactions that can literally make your brain happier and healthier.
Sensory engagement. It’s a sensory experience that can offer various physical and cognitive benefits.
“You've got to feel the goods…smell the goods….take it in,” says actress Ellie Kemper on shopping.
So, before swiping for Black Friday deals, consider grabbing a friend and doing some old-school retail therapy. 🛍️✨
Special announcement!
We are on the hunt for Ambassadors to work with us on the upcoming Livelong Women’s Health Summit. Interested in becoming an Ambassador or learning more? Send an email to [email protected] to get the conversation started.
The Stack: Featuring Chris Mirabile
Every health decision is an investment, so we are tapping our network of longevity experts to learn what’s in their routine.
👤 The expert: Chris Mirabile, Founder & CEO of NOVOS, focuses on making longevity accessible and achievable for all, focusing on the 12 hallmarks of aging.
We asked: What have you added to your personal longevity routine?
NOVOS Core. This longevity formulation is backed by scientific research in both humans and animals.
Pure Encapsulations ONE Multivitamin. Not all multivitamins are created equal. This brand is particularly trustworthy and has a wide spectrum of the proper forms of micronutrients.
Life Extension Time Release Melatonin (300 mcg). Night-time plasma melatonin declines after age 35–40. This dosage is 300 mcg — approximately what [our bodies] naturally produce — and is time-released, which is ideal for sleep architecture.
Nordic Naturals ProOmega 2000 (or Thorne Super EPA Pro). I look for low-ORAC, highly purified fish oil because it minimizes oxidation while giving a concentrated dose of EPA and DHA for vascular health, mitochondrial function, and systemic inflammation.
Astaxanthin (3 - 6 mg). Astaxanthin is up to 6,000 times more potent than vitamin C as an antioxidant, and the NIA’s ITP found it extended median lifespan in mice. I notice better skin quality, stronger endurance, and sun protection.
Retina-A (tretinoin Rx). [Retinol] is still the gold standard for skin longevity—few things are as proven for increasing collagen, improving texture, and keeping skin biologically younger over time.
The Ordinary Copper Peptides. Copper peptides support regenerative signaling — collagen remodeling, wound healing, and skin repair — without being harsh on the barrier.
Microneedling with PRP. Microneedling with PRP fits my whole philosophy: stimulate your own biology to regenerate. It boosts collagen and elastin naturally, without fillers or anything that compromises long-term facial integrity.
Sleep Mask + Ear Plugs. A completely dark, silent environment makes a tangible difference in melatonin production and sleep architecture. It’s one of the simplest longevity tools I rely on every night.
NOVOS Bars. By eating them, I can actually replace my multivitamin and astaxanthin and get more comprehensive longevity nutrition with whole-food ingredients and functional longevity compounds.
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Longevity We’re Loving
THE BEST VACATION IDEA FOR 2026? Hint: it’s not a spa. Read more.
IT’S A STEEP PRICE: The healthy habit that not enough women are following. Read more.
POLL RESPONSE: Which part of sleep feels hardest right now?
Staying asleep. By far, this is the most common sleep concern among Livelong readers. And in your comments, I noticed a pattern. People are waking up at specific times: 1:30, 3:00/3:30, or 4:00/4:30 am. Based on research, the most common culprits are hormones, stress, and sleep habits, so get curious about what could be driving your sleep patterns.
Thanks for reading!
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.
