Editorials

You might be eating enough calories and still running low on one of the most important nutrients your body needs to function.

Most people assume that if they feel reasonably okay, their diet must be reasonably okay. But protein deficiency does not always announce itself loudly. According to nutrition researchers and public health experts, many adults — especially women over 40 — are quietly falling short on protein in ways that show up slowly, and in places they might never connect to what they eat.

Here is what the science says happens to your body when protein intake drops too low, even when you feel fine on the surface.

If you or someone you love has PCOS, understanding this one metabolic connection could change everything about how you manage it.

You may have heard that polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormone problem. That's true — but it's only part of the picture. For many women with PCOS, insulin resistance is the hidden engine driving the most frustrating symptoms, from weight gain and irregular periods to fatigue and hair changes. Here's what the science says and what you can do about it.

That 2 p.m. slump may not be about needing more coffee — your blood sugar could be calling the shots.

You make it through the morning feeling sharp. Then lunch happens, and by mid-afternoon you can barely keep your eyes open. Sound familiar? Before you reach for another cup of coffee, it's worth asking whether your blood sugar is behind the slump — and what you can do about it.

Protein is having a moment — but more isn't always better, and the science tells a nuanced story.

Everyone seems to be loading up on protein these days. Fitness influencers push it, food companies plaster it on packaging, and chances are someone in your life is tracking grams like it's a second job. But is there a point where eating more protein stops helping — or even starts to hurt? The research says yes, and the answer depends a lot on who you are and what you're trying to accomplish.

Your sleep isn't broken—but it is changing, and there's solid science behind what actually helps.

If you've noticed that sleep doesn't come as easily as it used to, you're not imagining it. Research shows that sleep patterns shift significantly as we age—but that doesn't mean restless nights are inevitable. Here's what's really happening in your body, and what evidence-based strategies can make a real difference.

Wearables have gotten smarter, but sleep science is complicated. Here's what your device can and can't tell you about your night.

You woke up exhausted, but your smartwatch says you crushed it — eight hours, plenty of deep sleep, high sleep score. So who's right, you or the wristband? It turns out the answer is more nuanced than the app wants you to believe.

Before you crack open another can, here's what the research actually says about energy drinks and cardiovascular risk in men.

You probably know energy drinks aren't exactly health food. But most men who reach for one assume the worst that can happen is a little jitteriness or trouble sleeping. The science tells a more complicated story — and if you're over 40, it's worth paying attention.

Falls are the leading cause of injury death in older adults — and one simple training habit may be your best defense.

You probably track your cardio minutes. Maybe you lift weights or take a yoga class. But there is one type of exercise that most people over 50 completely overlook — and according to public health experts and growing research, skipping it could be one of the costliest mistakes you make for your long-term health and independence.

That exercise is balance training. And it deserves a permanent spot in your weekly routine.

New research suggests the ovaries don't simply shut down after menopause — they may take on a surprising new biological role.

Most of us were taught that menopause marks the end of ovarian function. The eggs are gone, estrogen production drops, and the ovaries quietly fade into the background. But a striking new study is challenging that long-held assumption — and what researchers found may change how we think about women's health after 50.

The supplement aisle is overwhelming — here's what the science actually supports for men in their 50s and beyond.

Walk into any pharmacy and the supplement aisle can feel like a maze. Hundreds of bottles, all promising something. But most men over 50 have the same handful of real nutritional gaps — and a short, smart list of supplements may actually help fill them.

Surgery isn't always the answer — and a growing body of research is showing what actually works for knee osteoarthritis.

If your knees have been aching, you may have assumed it's just a matter of time before you end up on an operating table. But new research is changing that story in a meaningful way. Several non-surgical approaches — from targeted exercise to weight loss to newer injections — are showing real promise for people living with knee osteoarthritis, the most common form of joint disease in adults over 40.

You might be working out, eating right, and still falling short — and your sleep schedule could be why.

Most men think about testosterone in the gym or the doctor's office. But one of the biggest factors affecting your levels might be happening — or not happening — in your bedroom every night. Research suggests that how long and how well you sleep has a direct impact on your body's ability to produce this critical hormone.

A new experimental injection showed a 12% reduction in dangerous organ fat in early-stage trials — here's what the research actually means.

Most people think of body fat as the kind you can pinch. But the fat wrapped around your internal organs — called visceral fat — is a different story. Early trial results on a new injectable therapy suggest it may be possible to target that deep fat directly. Here's what the science actually shows, and what it doesn't.

Getting kids moving early may do more than build strong bones — it could literally rewire the brain to love exercise for life.

Most adults who struggle to stay active blame willpower, a busy schedule, or just not being "the athletic type." But what if the real window of opportunity opened decades earlier — back when you were on a playground? Emerging research suggests that physical activity habits formed in childhood may make it easier — biologically and behaviorally — to stay active as an adult.

You might be working hard in the gym and sabotaging your results in the recovery room.

Most of us have been told that recovering smarter means recovering harder — ice baths, antioxidant supplements, and stretching after every session. But a growing body of research suggests some of the most popular recovery habits may actually blunt the very adaptations you're training for. Here's what the science is starting to show.