Speeding Up Your Daily Walk Could Have Big Benefits

By Rachel Fairbank, The New York Times 

We’ve all probably heard that 10,000 steps a day should be everyone’s goal , though evidence for this standard is thin. Now researchers have found that the intensity of walking plays the largest role in seeing optimal health outcomes. While the volume of steps taken is still important, walking faster than your normal pace has been shown to lower risk of premature death, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. It is paramount that you find something, whether it be a brisk walk or some other form of aerobic activity, that is challenging and sustainable for you. At the end of the day, everyone is at a different place in their fitness journey, and what really matters is the relative effort you put forth.

– by Gabriella Salazar

‘Sobering’ Study Shows Challenges of Egg Freezing

By Gina Kolata, The New York Times 

Egg-freezing has become more popular as people have children later in life. However, new research describes some warnings regarding the procedure: How old a woman is and how many eggs she freezes may play a significant role in whether or not she will successfully have a baby when she is ready. Researchers at the New York University Langone Fertility Center showed that when women who tried to get pregnant later in life were unsuccessful, they often had waited until they were older to freeze their eggs. Clinicians working in the field call the findings “sobering.” The president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine says that many women are “overly optimistic” about their chances of having a baby, calling egg-freezing “a chance to get pregnant.”

~ by Madison Woods

Is Natural Wine Actually Better for You?

By Jesse Hirsch, The New York Times 

Natural wine — produced from organically farmed grapes, without the addition of yeast or any modifications — is all the rage lately. But many claims about it can be disproved. The first is that conventional wine is loaded with pesticides; in fact, wines sold in the US contain only an “infinitesimal” amount of pesticides that pose no threat to human health. Second, that natural wine causes less severe hangovers, a claim for which there is no proof. And third, that natural wines are lower in sulfites. By law, conventional wine may contain 350 parts per million of sulfites, while natural wine caps at 100 parts per million — but exposure to legally permitted sulfite levels in food and drinks will not negatively impact health. The most important takeaway is that any alcohol can cause significant harm, and natural wine might not be the superior health choice.

– By Chris Ejike

Items contributed by: Gabriella Salazar, Madison Woods, and Chris Ejike