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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

FEATURES

Modern Friendships: The 3 “Ds” of Lasting Connection
Friendship journalist Anna Goldfarb explores why meaningful friendships require intention in adulthood and introduces three qualities that help them thrive: desire, diligence, and delight. Learn how to build deeper, more fulfilling connections that stand the test of time.

Why Cutting Additives, Not Whole Foods, Can Calm IBS
Internal medicine physician Dawn Harris Sherling, MD, traces her own IBS and her patients’ persistent symptoms to the emulsifiers and additives hidden in “healthy” foods. She explains why returning to real food may help settle the gut.

Male Menopause: Natural Ways to Support Hormonal Balance
Herbalist and author Stephen Harrod Buhner looks at the hormonal changes men may experience in middle age, including declining free testosterone and shifts in the balance between androgens and estrogens. He examines four supplements that may help support testosterone levels, energy, sexual health, and overall well-being.

Reset Your Body: 5 Morning Rituals for Better Health
Ayurvedic practitioner Shivani Gupta, PhD, presents five simple morning rituals designed to help the body recover from the demands of daily life. From hydration and elimination to tongue scraping, oil pulling, and dry brushing, she outlines a practical self-care routine for digestion, oral health, and circulation.

Hepatitis C and Vitamin D: What the Research Reveals
Biophysicist Monte Lai, PhD, examines the often-overlooked relationship between chronic hepatitis C and vitamin D status. He explains why deficiency is common in people with liver disease, what research suggests about its association with fibrosis and inflammation, and why vitamin D levels may remain low even after successful antiviral treatment.

Fertility Starts with Egg Quality: A Natural Approach
Clinical herbalist Liane Moccia, RH (AHG), explains why egg quality is not fixed and how the months before ovulation offer an opportunity for support. Drawing on nutrition, antioxidants, and everyday herbs such as green tea, she presents evidence-based approaches to nourishing fertility.

Are Peptides Safe? The Epigenetic Risks, Gray-Market Dangers, and What You Are Not Being Told
Naturopathic physician and epigenetics expert Ben Lynch, ND, takes a critical look at the booming peptide market and the safety questions surrounding many popular therapies. From potential effects on gene expression and cancer risk to contaminated gray-market products, he explains what the evidence shows, who may be most vulnerable, and what to consider before using peptides.

How to Disagree Without Losing Each Other
Penn State professor and longtime meditation teacher Jeremy David Engels, PhD, considers how political disagreement can divide relationships and proposes another way forward. Blending mindfulness with the practice of democracy, he shows how pausing, listening, and remaining open can preserve connection when opinions run strong.

Singing as Medicine: Evidence from the Clinic and the Choir
Acclaimed soprano Renée Fleming brings together cardiologist Jacquelyn Kulinski, MD, FASPC, and cognitive neuroscientist Julene K. Johnson, PhD, to explore singing’s potential role in health and wellbeing. Their research examines singing’s effects on vascular function, loneliness, and engagement with life, suggesting that both solo and group singing may offer meaningful support as we age.

Acupressure for Pain Relief: Simple Pressure-Point Techniques for Headache, Facial Pain, and More
Physician and acupuncturist Roger Dalet, MD, demonstrates simple acupressure techniques that may help ease headaches, facial pain, and other common aches. Learn where to find key pressure points and how to stimulate them for relief almost anywhere.

Hearty Smoothies That Eat Like a Meal
Human performance expert and bestselling author Ben Greenfield serves up four thick, spoonable blends for cold mornings. These inventive recipes pair superfoods with satisfying flavor for a quick, satiating start to the day.

Nature’s Medicine Cabinet: Herbs and Teas to Strengthen Your Immunity
Physician and health researcher Joseph Mercola, DO, shares herbal teas, tonics, and broths designed to support the body’s natural defenses. He also explains the science behind the herbs and spices in nature’s medicine cabinet.

Simple Secrets to Reading More
Award-winning classical pianist and author Jeeyoon Kim reflects on the small, forgiving habits that have kept reading at the center of her life, from always carrying a book to reading several at once and giving herself permission to quit those that no longer spark joy. Her approach warmly invites readers to make more room for reading in everyday life.

In Brief: Health & Wellness

Creatine’s Midlife Muscle Advantage • Falling Back May Be Easier Than We Think • Not All Sitting Is Equal For Brain Health • Can Dogs and Cats Help Preserve Memory? • How Everyday Choices Shape Better Health