Look at it like this: You could keep washing down your nightly Entenmann's with Franzia and die happy but younger than you might have otherwise, or you could read up on the latest scientific research, recognize that this is destructive behavior, and maybe cut back to one slice of Salted Caramel Iced Cake a week or something.
All I'm saying is that science is like your mom in that, underneath all the nagging and fear-mongering, there are noble intentions. And maybe I'm also saying that I'm just the messenger here, so don't be directing bad vibes toward me when you get to the part about pizza.
A nine-year study published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society found that people who drank at least one diet soda every day demonstrated a 3.16-inch increase in their waistlines. Correlation doesn't equal causation and all that, but more belly fat is just another bullet point on the long list of Reasons You Should Quit Now If You're Still Downing Aspartame-Laced Fizzy Water.
In a massive analysis of 70 other studies, researchers found that the likelihood of death increased by 26 to 32 percent for those who live alone and have infrequent social contact. More good news: The effect was more pronounced in participants younger than 65, so yeah, I'm going to skip the rest of today and go talk to so many strangers. Of course, the results depend largely on feeling lonely and socially isolated, but even if you prefer your own company, keep in mind that friendship is associated with higher self-esteem, lower levels of cortisol, and, you know, the Roseto effect.
Hide your (Sour Patch) kids, hide your fries—this study from the University of Michigan finds that not all foods are equally addictive and that highly processed ones may "share characteristics with drugs" most of all. While this isn't terribly, terribly surprising, it's like a fork in the gut that researchers felt the need to single out cake, pizza, and chocolate.
Ta-ta, Two-Buck Chuck? Kevin Hicks, who spent 15 years in the wine industry before opening his own lab,says budget vino can contain up to five times the max amount of arsenic the Environmental Protection Agency considers safe for drinking water. Arsenic levels varied by vintage, variety, and brand, but overall, the lower the price, the higher the amount of carcinogenic chemical element. Chateau Margaux, here we come.
You should also check out:
Is It Safe to Work Out Hungover?
Science Wants You to Get Enough Sleep So You Can Have More Sex
Nail Biters, Rejoice: Your Chewed-Up Fingers Are Proof That You're Perfect
-
Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt Reminiscing Over 'The Devil Wears Prada' Quotes Is as Adorable as It SoundsStrangers still quote the movie to them till this day.
-
Don’t Underestimate Niacinamide
It’s a multi-talented ingredient.
-
Of Course 'Squid Game: The Challenge' Is Getting a Season 2
Cue the green-light puns.
-
Senator Klobuchar: "Early Detection Saves Lives. It Saved Mine"
Senator and breast cancer survivor Amy Klobuchar is encouraging women not to put off preventative care any longer.
-
How Being a Plus-Size Nude Model Made Me Finally Love My Body
I'm plus size, but after I decided to pose nude for photos, I suddenly felt more body positive.
-
I'm an Egg Donor. Why Was It So Difficult for Me to Tell People That?
Much like abortion, surrogacy, and IVF, becoming an egg donor was a reproductive choice that felt unfit for society’s standards of womanhood.
-
The 20 Best Probiotics to Keep Your Gut in Check
Gut health = wealth.
-
Simone Biles Is Out of the Team Final at the Tokyo Olympics
She withdrew from the event due to a medical issue, according to USA Gymnastics.
-
The Truth About Thigh Gaps
We're going to need you to stop right there.
-
3 Women On What It’s Like Living With An “Invisible” Condition
Despite having no outward signs, they can be brutal on the body and the mind. Here’s how each woman deals with having illnesses others often don’t understand.
-
The High Price of Living With Chronic Pain
Three women open up about how their conditions impact their bodies—and their wallets.
