National Geographic | Mind, Body, Wonder

This week brought the latest discoveries into women’s bodies. Plus, what the sun can do to us, the toll of ‘hangxiety’ ... and the overarching power of weightlifting and resistance bands.

A woman wearing a hospital gown sitting up in a hospital bed and looking out a window.

IMAGE BY STÍGUR MÁR KARLSSON, HEIMSMYNDIR/GETTY IMAGES

NEW SOLUTIONS EMERGE IN WOMEN’S HEALTH

Finally, we’re getting someplace. Historically under-researched and underdiagnosed, women’s bodies are still home to too many medical mysteries (like why it is so hard for so many to breastfeed).

But new research—OK, it’s overdue—has claimed advances in everything from hot flashes, to frozen shoulder syndrome, to severe nausea that is NOT morning sickness. Here are recent successes.

•

One challenge ahead: Why is schizophrenia in women so widely misunderstood—and misdiagnosed?

•

Why did it take so long for researchers to figure out how many women actually had ADHD?

•

What happens to your body when you’re in love—and when you’re heartbroken

A woman does a single leg weighted squat outside.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHELLE GROSKOPF

TAKE A BREAK FROM THE TREADMILL.
PICK UP THOSE WEIGHTS OR DO SIT-UPS. NOW.

Exercise is critical for optimal health. But cardio alone isn’t enough. Fitness experts say it’s also important to prioritize resistance training for it “is the antidote to the road toward frailty.” What is resistance training and where to begin?

•

Lifting heavy weights can help you mitigate osteoporosis.

•

No time? Just give exercise five minutes a day.

•

Extra credit: What it takes to build an unbeatable body

A photo of beer and liquor against an orange studio background

PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIC HELGAS, THE NEW YORK TIMES/REDUX

HUNG OVER AND ANXIOUS?

It’s called hangxiety. The morning after drinking, many people find themselves feeling a bit nervous, shaky even. What’s the cause of that fidgety sensation in the gut and brain? And what are its lingering effects? Here’s what we know.

SKIP THAT LAST COCKTAIL

•

Why is alcohol killing more women than ever before?

•

That nightcap before bed won’t help you sleep

•

How going sober, even for a month, helps your body

The Sun's South Pole

IMAGE BY ESA & NASA/ SOLAR ORBITER/ EUI TEAM

THE POWER OF THE SUN

We adore it. We fear it. Now, explosive new images of the sun (above) may help unravel long-standing mysteries—helping us predict solar activity that threatens Earth.

GET THE TANNING LOTION

•

Hello Sunshine: The Vitamin D story

•

Your eyes are very vulnerable to the sun. Here’s how to protect yourself.

•

Mystery solved: Why we sunburn

Two mushrooms with light torque hue

PHOTOGRAPH BY PHYLLIS MA

THE KEY TO CANCER BREAKTHROUGHS?

Scientists’s intrigue with fungi is twofold: the fungus in our bodies could hold crucial answers about the behavior of cancer cells, and the benefits of medicinal mushrooms (pictured above, Psilocybe cyanescens) are promising. Here’s what we know.

READ MORE TOP STORIES FROM NAT GEO

'Exploding head syndrome'? Inside a mysterious, disturbing sleep condition.

5 things you should know before trusting that supplement (Free article)

Shoes on or off inside the house? One choice is better.

Health food packaging buzzwords can be confusing. Here’s what to know. (Free article)

‘Forever chemicals’ are hiding in your kitchen. Here’s where—and what you can do about it.

What are the best weighted blankets for a calm, comforting sleep? (Free article)

Clicking on the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and National Geographic Channel links will take you away from our National Geographic Partners site where different terms of use and privacy policy apply.

This email was sent to: [email protected]. Please do not reply to this email as this address is not monitored.

This email contains an advertisement from:
National Geographic | 1145 17th Street, N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20036

Stop all types of future commercial email from National Geographic regarding its products, services, or experiences.

© 2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC, All rights reserved.