an avocado a day

+ David Beckham's new snack line and Kris Jenner's new face

Good morning everyone.

Today we’ve got many fascinating stories to highlight: David Beckham has launched a healthy (?) snack brand, there are reports of botched Botox procedures, ticks are increasing in America, an avocado a day might keep the doctor away, wellness retreats are on the rise, GRWM videos on TikTok are sparking health concerns, and much more.

David Beckham, the beekeeper: After taking up beekeeping during lockdown, Mr. Posh Spice is launching a fruit snack line with honey as an ingredient. When I first saw the news, I was stoked.

Honey is an incredible antioxidant powerhouse. Genuinely healthy. And not enough food companies use it.

But after a few clicks to investigate the snack’s ingredient list, I was so, so disappointed:

If honey is so great, why is David adding white sugar and tapioca syrup to the mix? Where honey is anti-inflammatory, sugar is pro-inflammatory. Same goes for the highly processed tapioca syrup. Honey isn’t even a distant relative.

And honestly, based on the current claims made on the company’s website, there may be grounds for a consumer protection lawsuit on the basis of false or misleading advertising:

Groundbreaking veggie news: A new study tracking over 120,000 people for more than a decade found that antioxidant diversity—not just quantity—is linked to a longer lifespan and a lower risk of cancer and diabetes.

The key takeaway? Prioritize variety in your fruits and vegetables.

A cucumber isn’t the same as celery, and an apple is vastly different from an orange, even if their vitamin profiles look similar on paper. The greater the variety, the greater the benefit.

(P.S. You Buttercups better be eating fresh cherries right now, as I am. It’s prime cherry season, and they’re absolute powerhouses for your health.)

An avocado a day: In a six-month study of 800 participants, those who ate an avocado daily showed improved blood lipids, better overall diet quality, and even reported higher-quality sleep compared to the control group.

At the start of the study, there were no significant lifestyle differences between the groups.

Fascinating, huh?

I think this is a great testament to the power of habit. One healthy choice often leads to another. It’s the make your bed principle. In this case, a daily avocado seemed to be the catalyst for broader improvements in diet and sleep.

Similar results have been seen in studies involving the simple addition of a single apple a day.

If you're in a food or diet slump, consider eating an apple or avocado daily. See what happens. What it could possibly unlock.

The ticks are coming: A recent NYT report highlights a surge in ticks and tick-borne illnesses across the U.S. If there are two things I dislike more than seed oils, it’s Hamas and ticks.

There’s something spiritually unsettling about how they embed themselves into the body.

And I’ve seen the increase firsthand. I grew up spending endless hours in the woods and never once came home with a tick. Now, my nieces and nephews, playing in the same woods, are getting ambushed by those creepy little insects. I hate it.

Blackmarket Botox: There have been 14 reported cases of botulism linked to Botox injections at a Massachusetts med spa. Botulism is exactly what it sounds like: too much botox, leading to serious health complications. The lesson here? Make sure your Botox provider is a licensed medical professional.

Another thing to consider? Maybe skip the neurotoxin altogether.

Speaking of aesthetic enhancements: Kris Jenner, aka the matriarch of the Kardashian clan, recently debuted a new face. And honestly, it’s impressive.

It was only a matter of time before plastic surgeons figured out how to make people actually look younger, not just like a Capitol character from The Hunger Games. Kris somehow looks thirty years younger. Happy for her.

The doctor behind the transformation has been identified. I suspect he’s fully booked through 2035.

On spiritual drumming: I’ve come across a few stories recently about wellness retreats. A growing trend, apparently.

Part of me was half-interested in learning more about what these actually involve. I’m into wellness, and I’m not against a little spa rejuvenation moment. I even found one here in Arizona.

Highlights include: “unique activities such as equine therapy, spiritual drumming, beekeeping, and courses on crystals.”

To the ladies in the midst of a midlife crisis purchasing these retreat packages: (1) David Beckham probably isn’t teaching the beekeeping and (2) you don’t need spiritual drumming. You—like Kris Jenner—need Jesus.

The GRWM girls: You know all those “Get Ready With Me” (GRWM) videos cluttering social media? Turns out, they’re not just annoying. They might also be harmful.

A new study analyzed hundreds of TikTok videos and found that girls ages 7 to 18 are spending an average of $167 on skincare routines—many of which likely increase the risk of allergic reactions, the authors found.

These skincare products are loaded with hormone-disrupting chemicals that are undoubtedly harming girls’ health and development.

Many researchers point to these endocrine disruptors as key culprits in the alarming rise of early puberty in girls.

Also…

The fact that 7-year-olds are posting GRWM videos is just plain saddening. Girls that age should be playing Little House on the Prairie (like my nieces do) not promoting skin serums on CCP-run state media.

Running On Butter unapologetically judges parents who allow their children to (1) have a smart phone and (2) allow their children to consume and contribute to the dumpster fire that is TikTok.

Moms and dads: Get a grip. Wake up.

With the overwhelming amount of research we now have on social media’s harmful effects on mental health, let me say it plainly: if you’re allowing your minor children to have social media, you’re failing them.