Happy Friday!
We’re still on a high from last weekend’s Women’s Health Summit in New York!
Thank you to all who filled the room. We’re so impressed by this community — the inquisitiveness, the passion, and of course the big smiles we saw all weekend long. You are a constant reminder of why we do this, and we can’t wait to do it again!
Today’s headlines:
Your tongue might be keeping score
The pesticide ingredients that might be getting ignored
The diet that might lead to cancer cell spread
It’s playtime for adults!
P.S. It’s October, which means it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Ladies, if you’re due, it’s time to schedule that mammogram. 🎀
How often do you floss?
Spotlight
The bacteria in your mouth might reveal how fast (or slow) you're aging
People whose biological age appeared younger than their calendar age were more likely to have higher levels of this one particular mouth microbe.
A new study in Nature Aging suggests one bacterium in your oral microbiome, Neisseria flavescens, may hold clues to slow aging.
What researchers found
When Peking University researchers used AI to compare people's biological age (the age your body appears to be functioning at) with their actual chronological age, they observed that ‘slow agers’ (younger biological age) had higher levels of the bacterium N. flavescens on their tongues compared to ‘fast agers.’
This association doesn’t prove the bacterium causes them to age more slowly, but it does suggest it’s a thread among healthier agers.
It may extend longevity: Separate research found that worms fed N. flavescens lived longer. Notably, the team also tested older mice given an inactive form of the bacterium and, after 10 weeks, noticed shifts in their blood, liver, and gut labs that resembled those of younger mice.
The takeaway: Your mouth may offer clues about how your whole body ages, and may one day influence it. Human trials are still needed, but a few habits already support a healthier oral microbiome.
Eat nitrate-rich vegetables. Foods such as beets, leafy greens, and celery provide dietary nitrate that oral bacteria can process.
Avoid smoking. Quitting (or not even starting) has larger health benefits, but smokers have also been found to have less N. flavescens.
Brush your teeth twice a day. And don’t forget to floss — not just the night before a dentist appointment 😉. These bacteria drop off when you skip it!
Early Bird Pricing Ends October 9
Join us January 22-23 at Loews Arlington for The Livelong Women’s Health Summit in Dallas. Spend two days focused on the latest in women’s health, practical tools, and new connections.
General Admission: $395
Premier: $495
VIP: $895
Get early bird pricing this week only.
Wellness Watch
The pesticide ingredients linked to breast cancer that barely get tested
Many of these chemicals aren’t the pest-killing ingredients that regulators check.
In a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, scientists identified 485 chemicals in U.S. pesticide products that might be linked to breast cancer.
What researchers found
Pesticides can show up in more places than you'd think, from weed killers to disinfectant wipes, mothballs, and lice shampoos.
Researchers checked U.S. government data for pesticide ingredients against chemicals that may be linked to breast cancer. Of the 485 chemicals, the Environmental Protection Agency lists only a third of them as active pesticide ingredients. The rest are inactive ingredients.
Why this matters
Non-active ingredients, such as solvents and preservatives, often get labeled as "inert" ingredients on pesticide products.
That means they receive less extensive health and safety testing and fewer public disclosures than active ingredients.
Breast cancer also has many factors that can increase risk, and this study points to the widespread and specific use of environmental chemicals as a potential one.
Even if you don’t have a lawn or use weed killer, pesticides can show up in food and other everyday household products.
More research still needs to be done, but simple, everyday actions may reduce unnecessary pesticide exposure:
Avoid wearing shoes indoors. Outdoor residues, including pesticides, can be tracked indoors and become part of household dust.
Reconsider flea collars. They contain pesticides, so ask your vet about safer alternatives.
Rinse produce under running water. A baking soda soak may reduce some additional surface residue.
In other news
Could a high-fat diet help colorectal cancer spread?
New MIT research ties fatty foods and extra weight to a protein that helps tumors reach the liver.
Most colorectal cancer deaths don't come from the original tumor but from metastasis, when cells from the original tumor spread and grow in another organ.
Most often, that’s the liver.
Now biologists think they've found one of the contributors behind that spread.
What researchers found
Scientists found that in mice that ate a high-saturated-fat diet, cancer cells showed stronger activation of YAP1. This protein normally helps repair tissue, but in cancer, it can also help tumor cells multiply and move.
When researchers blocked YAP1 production, cancer spread to the liver dropped sharply. In addition:
Patients with the most YAP1 activation in tumors experienced lower survival rates.
In patient data, higher BMI was linked with an increased risk of YAP1 switching on.
What does this mean for you? This study suggests what's on your plate could affect colorectal cancer spread. Reducing intake of high-fat foods and also staying on top of colon cancer screenings are two simple moves worth making.
Short longevity hits
An ‘uncertain’ Oura: Why is the health ring holding back from launching its latest version?
Your heart loves pomegranates: A pomegranate-derived compound could improve heart function by 80% in an animal study.
Exercise in a vial? Not yet. But aerobic exercise rejuvenates aged cartilage by improving blood vesicles, and the future of healthy knees might be injecting them.
Long-levity
Five ways to play outside (for adults)
Tomorrow is National Play Outside Day. You could use it to reminisce about the good old days… orrrr you could play outside instead.
Harvard writes that outdoor play gives kids sunshine, exercise, problem-solving and creativity, safe risk-taking, socialization, and an appreciation of nature… why on earth would we not do this as adults?!?!
More movement, a chance for vitamin D, connection, and gratitude are reason enough. Add time in green or blue space, which can benefit sleep, blood pressure, cognition, and chronic-disease risk.
Five ways to play outside, as an adult:
Draw with chalk on the driveway
Host a game of backyard volleyball
Visit an animal sanctuary
Go apple-picking
Sit on a swing. Swing!
Do it for you. Have fun, keep it simple, and appreciate that caring for yourself can be a little silly.
New at Livelong
If you attended The Livelong Women’s Health SummitTM, don’t forget to fill out our feedback form so we can deliver what you find most valuable!
Early bird pricing for Dallas tickets ends this weekend! Will we see you there? 🤠
Reader response
Highlighting your responses to last week's question, featured in Heart Rehab in Your Living Room. We asked:
Which of these is a guaranteed whole grain?
Between multigrain bread, wheat bread, popcorn, and white rice, over 45% of you guessed right — popcorn is, in fact, the only whole grain in the bunch.
Popcorn keeps the entire kernel, including bran, germ, and all. “Multigrain” only tells you that a bread uses more than one grain, and “wheat” bread often includes refined flour. White rice loses its bran and germ during processing.
Enjoy a movie night with popcorn this weekend! 🍿
Thanks for reading!
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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.
