Happy Friday!
❄️ Cold plunges aren’t the only good thing to come out of cold weather. Today, we’re exploring the “Siberian Miracle” berry as a longevity food that may prevent cancer. 🍊Plus, we’ll also learn how a single word swap can boost your motivation and help you achieve goals.
Before you scroll: What is one word that’s changed your life? Mine is ease.✨ It reminds me that the ‘hard’ road isn’t always the happiest.
Let’s go!
Spotlight
The “Siberian Miracle”
What was a supplement for 1940s space travel is now being studied as a treatment for leukemia. 🧬
No bigger than a blueberry with up to 16x the vitamin C of an orange 🍊, sea buckthorn is emerging as a longevity essential. It turns out this Arctic berry also has potent anticancer properties.
Combating Cellular Damage Since the 1940s 🧬
Also known as the ‘Siberian Pineapple,' this hardy berry thrives in -40°C weather. 👩🚀👨🚀 Nearly 100 years ago, Russian cosmonauts were prescribed sea buckthorn berries to prevent cellular damage caused by radiation. Modern science now confirms its wide-reaching benefits.
Sea buckthorn is rich in vitamins C and E 🥝, omega-3s, and antioxidants like quercetin, polyphenols, and phytosterols that destroy free radicals, unstable molecules that damage DNA.
⏳ High levels of quercetin also help slow aging, one of the largest cancer risk factors. Other compounds in sea buckthorn, like isorhamnetin, can even trigger cancer cells to self-destruct. 💥
Meanwhile, its exceptionally high’ levels of palmitoleic acid, a fatty acid, could be useful for managing insulin resistance, and may also help manage metabolic diseases linked to cancer.
Why it matters: ✅ Science may just be starting to catch up to the powers of this ‘miracle berry.’ Considered safe for daily use, the anticancer compounds appear most concentrated in the juice and oil.
The Dose
Supplement: One or two (500mg) pills
Fresh berries: Quarter cup
Oil: Half to one teaspoon
Juice: Four to 6 tablespoons
Checklist: How many of these superfoods are in your diet?
Wellness Watch
“Gassy” Can Be a Good Sign for Your Gut
People think about fiber-rich foods like beans, and the word ‘gassy’ comes to mind.
That gas (yes, the kind down there) is methane, a byproduct of a specific gut bacterium called Methanogen. It supports digestion. 💨
New research published in The ISME Journal also suggests something else that is really interesting about this gas, especially in people who eat a high-fiber diet 🍽️.
The more methane a person’s gut bacteria produces, the more calories they’ll effectively absorb.⚡
This is positive for digestion, and it might explain why different diets work for different people, says study lead Blake Dirks of the Biodesign Center for Health Through Microbiomes in SciTechDaily.
The study: 🔬 To understand this complex relationship, researchers from Arizona State University and the AdventHealth Translational Research Institute used a tool to measure how much methane people are releasing from their breath… and below.
They also collected blood and stool samples from participants to measure how much food was converted to energy.
The big picture
Methane is more than the butt of jokes. It could serve as a biomarker of how efficiently your microbes convert food to fuel. This could lead to more research into the impact of methanogens on weight loss and microbiome optimization. 🥗
Claim your seat today: The Livelong Women’s Health Summit
📍 San Francisco | 🗓️ April 2026
Longevity isn’t just about years—it’s about how fully we live them. Join us at The Livelong Women’s Health Summit to explore the science of women’s vitality with 75 leading thinkers in one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Use code ERIN for $50 off.
In Other News
This Walking Habit Slashes Heart Disease Risk By Two-Thirds
⏰ There are days when life feels too busy. Even a 15-minute walk feels like a reach. But you may want to push the guilt aside. New research in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that walking continuously for just 10-15 minutes offers far greater heart-health benefits than scattered steps throughout the day. ❤️
In the study, inactive adults who walked regularly slashed their risk of cardiovascular disease by half and their risk of heart attack by two-thirds compared to walking in short bursts. 💓
“Simple changes can make all the difference to your health,” says co-lead author Dr. Borja del Pozo from the Universidad Europea.
Considering 1.8 billion adults worldwide are falling short on movement, this science could reframe what counts as ‘enough.’ It also shows that you don’t need the gym 🏋️♀️, step count, or sweat to make a difference in your heart. 👇
Longevity CAN be simple. That’s why we started a WhatsApp group for our female readers to connect, share tips, and learn how to simplify and take action to promote women’s health. We’d love for you to join us! Join the Livelong Woman WhatsApp group
The Brief
⚠️ Blood pressure medicine recall: Prazosin hydrochloride, a popular blood pressure medicine, faces recalls because it contains a potential carcinogen.
🧬 The mysterious protein: Dsup, a unique protein found in ‘water bears,’ could one day stop cells from becoming cancerous.
🐶 Pupp-ertunities in canine cancer care: A safer radiation is being used to treat cancer in dogs, with limited side effects. Human trials might be next.
Long-levity
Make Time
🕰️ Time is the secret sauce of goal-setting. Whether it’s working out, eating better, or getting out of the house more. You can’t change how many hours are in a day, but you can change how you talk about them.
When time shifts from something you have to something you make, it becomes a choice, writes psychologist Janina Steinmetz in Psychology Today.
For example:
Old script ❌: “I didn’t have the time to go to the gym.”
New script ✅: “I didn’t make the time to go to the gym.”
It transforms us from passive bystanders to active managers of our hours. Research shows the small linguistic shift boosts motivation and resilience in our pursuits. 💪
One word really can be the difference between feeling helpless or empowered, ultimately shaping your sense of control and helping you take charge of your health.
Longevity We’re Loving
SIMPLY STRONG: Most workouts make things harder than they need to be. This simple doctor-approved program was built for women who want lasting strength. Read more.
SLEEP WITH THE SEASON: People sleep more in winter, but it’s not just about how long you sleep. How well do you sleep? Learn how to tune in to your body and the weather to get better sleep. Read more.
BREATH OF LIFE: Air gives us life. It also makes us sick. Dr. Chris Cappa, a professor at UC Davis, explains how air quality shapes longevity, and what you can do to breathe better at home. Read more.
Poll response
We asked, you answered:
Do you do alternative forms of healing?
Science prevails among Livelong readers. Most of you only use the data-driven approaches to healthy aging. Still, some of us are a wee bit curious about the unconventional: whether it’s exploring herbs, energy work, and even medicine-free living. Perhaps the science just hasn’t caught up yet? We shall see.
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.
