Would you try this buzz-free experience?

92-year-old elite sprinter Emma Maria Mazzenga keeps breaking world records, but scientists are more excited to uncover the secrets to her exceptional performance. From mitochondria to the muscle fibers of a 20-something, her biology is uncharacteristically young. Read more here.

Now, onto this week’s headlines…

Would you step into that future?

👣 A study published in The Lancet Rheumatology shows that slightly changing the direction your foot points when you walk can prevent knee osteoarthritis pain and slow disease progression.

Pain relief rivaled that of medication, landing between ibuprofen and narcotics, says Scott Ulrich of the University of Utah. 

🔬 The science: Knee osteoarthritis can occur when excess force is put on the knee joints. Researchers from Utah, Stanford, and New York University wanted to see if modifying the foot’s walking pattern could naturally take stress off the knee.

For such a small shift, results were profound. After one year, patients reported less pain, and MRI scans showed slower cartilage degeneration.

That could be the difference between needing surgery, or not.

Gait retraining is effective, but it takes time, personalization, expensive technology, and intensive physical therapy. In time, the process could one day be done at PT, with smart sensing shoes that keep patients accountable for their new gait.

💧 “Water isn’t just water,” says Michellin star chef Joseph Rawlins, head chef at North England’s La Popote, to CNN. That realization surprised him. At first. Now, Rawlins is cashing in on a bubbling wellness trend. Water tasting. Like wine tasting, but with fine water.

There could be a few reasons for this trend:

“The measurement of minerals in water is what drives taste and flavor,” says water sommelier Doran Binder.

And, depending on mineral concentration, natural water can elevate the dining experience. Similar to wine, certain waters will pair better with different foods.

Big picture: La Popote is only the first UK restaurant with a water tasting menu, but interest in the fine water has been steadily rising. From water sommelier training to water cellars and water influencers, hospitality and luxury brands are tapping into the saturated wellness market.

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On the lookout

…in age-related diseases

Fat might fuel cancer growth: New research from the University of San Francisco suggests that some breast cancer cells build ‘molecular tunnels’ in fat cells. This causes the fat cells to leach stored energy, feeding the cancer’s toxic growth, according to a UCSF press release. Researchers noticed this pattern in patients triple-negative breast cancer, the most aggressive form of breast cancer. 🚫 Finding effective ways to block the tunnels could prevent breast tumor growth, and it is already showing promise with certain types of brain cancer 🧠🎗️.

Short reads

You made it to Week 5 of the August Wellness Reset Challenge! Today, we’re diving into cognitive and brain health. 🧠

💪 Think of your brain like a muscle; ‘use it or lose it’ rules apply. Training your brain builds cognitive strength and flexibility that translate into sharper memory, quicker thinking, neuroplasticity (adaptability), and lower risk of dementia.

✅ I’ve been digging into tips from brain coach Jim Kwik, author of Limitless, and wanted to share three effective and easy brain-boosting strategies.

🕺 Cross crawls:
Raise your left knee and tap your right elbow to it. Now lift the left elbow to the right knee. Repeat. Integrates the left and right hemispheres in your brain.

Stop ANTs:
Train yourself to counter automatic negative thoughts, he suggests. “I can’t do it” becomes “I am capable.” It’s simple, but positive thinking contributes to a longer life.

Easy as PIE:
Place, Imagination, and Entwine. When you want to remember information, turn the information you want to remember into a mental image, and associate it with a place.

Brain-boosting apps:

Recently, I was swimming in a pool and managed to forget that pools have walls. Needless to say, my head and nose (and ego) were bruised for a week.
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Sebastian Conti from T.A. Sciences will unpack the science of aging. Sign up here to claim your spot at the upcoming webinar.

Dr. Erin Faules from Wild Health broke down the most important markers of longevity. Get all her practical and actionable insights.

Until next time,

Look good, feel better, live longer