National Geographic | Mind, Body, Wonder

This week: How to look beyond the organic label; what happens while we sleep; tips to stay safe under smoky skies; what breathing in wildfire smoke does to you; the truth about sugar; is yerba mate good for you?

PHOTOGRAPH BY BECKY HALE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Is organic food healthier? That's the wrong question.

Organic foods cost about 20 percent more than their conventional counterparts. A key motivator for consumers is the notion that they are healthier to eat—but decades of research have made that difficult to answer. Here's what health experts say consumers should be looking at instead—from the presence of compounds called phytochemicals to the quality of the soil used to grow your food.

HOW OUR FOOD IS GROWN

PHOTOGRAPH BY LUCAS FOGLIA

Why fruits and vegetables are less nutritious than they used to be

Mounting evidence from multiple scientific studies shows that many fruits, vegetables, and grains grown today carry less protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, riboflavin, and vitamin C than those that were grown decades ago—potentially putting people's health at risk.

Health and nutrition:

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These traditional diets can lead to long lives

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Probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics. What's the difference?

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Is algae the new kale?

PHOTOGRAPH BY JAKE PRICE

Orange skies are the future. Here's what you need to prepare yourself.

Our photographer, who has covered over 125 wildfires, shares tips on how to prepare for smoke-filled skies—from the best masks to jury-rigging your own air filtration system.

THE AIR QUALITY INDEX: What do all those colors mean—and what do you do when it's code red? +

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARK THIESSEN, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

What happens to your body when you breathe in wildfire smoke?

The chronic exposure to longer-lasting, more frequent wildfires could have serious effects on our health—from our lungs to our kidneys, liver, brain, and heart.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

PHOTOGRAPH BY MAGNUS WENNMAN

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ FROM THE ARCHIVES‌ ‌ ‌

While we sleep, our mind goes on an amazing journey

On a good night, we cycle four or five times through several stages of sleep, each with distinct qualities and purpose—a serpentine, surreal descent into an alternative world. Here's what happens in our minds and bodies while we sleep, and what happens when our circadian rhythm breaks down—including an increased risk for illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and dementia.

THE SLEEP CYCLES

SLEEP AIDS: What's in melatonin—and is it giving you nightmares? +

DOES SUGAR REALLY MAKE KIDS HYPER?

PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT CLARK, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

The idea of a "sugar rush" started gaining traction back in the 1970s, in large part thanks to a best-selling book by pediatric allergist Ben Feingold, Why Your Child Is Hyperactive. But what evidence—if any—is there that food additives, including sugar, are linked to excitable behavior in kids?

SUGAR MYTH, BUSTED

SUGAR, FAT, AND YOUR BRAIN: How processed food is made to be addictive +

YERBA MATE: A GIFT FROM THE GODS

PHOTOGRAPH BY HARRIET CHALMERS ADAMS, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Containing roughly as much caffeine as coffee—about 80 milligrams per cup—yerba mate has gained global popularity and reached billions of dollars in sales. But centuries before it reached American grocery stores, it was a traditional tea made from the steeped leaves and twigs of an indigenous plant, consumed across South America for its health benefits. Here's a look at what it is, how it's said to improve your health, and how to drink it.

IS IT GOOD FOR YOU?

ROOIBOS TEA: Prized for its medicinal qualities, South Africa's miracle tea is a way of life +

HEALTH NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

IMAGE BY ZEPHYR, SCIENCE SOURCE

A new approach could treat dozens of diseases—and mean the end of inflammation: Cancer, aging, and severe COVID-19 have all been linked to damage from inflammation. Now scientists are flipping their focus to find new drugs that may revolutionize treatments.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

ORAL HEALTH AND ARTHRITIS: Evidence shows a link between gum infections and inflammation +

Not everyone should be taking a multivitamin

Is it possible to cure hot flashes? We may be getting closer.

The keto diet could have serious health consequences. Here are the facts.

You can't detox your uterus—debunking popular myths about PCOS

Aromatherapy for kids? Doctors say it could have therapeutic benefits.

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