There are three things almost all Boulderites have in common: we like to stay active, we value our health, and we LOVE our coffee. And for good reason! The caffeine and antioxidant content in coffee give it some big health benefits that make it a no-brainer for Boulder’s biohacking health-centric community. To be fair, coffee can have some doppio-sized disclaimers – compromised sleep, enhanced anxiety, gut agitation, and exposure to cancer-causing toxins in the beans, water, and to-go cups. But overall, the research shows that daily coffee consumption can save you years of healthy,... Read More

Antioxidants are like the superheroes of your body.  They’re tiny molecules that protect your cells from harm caused by toxins and stress like midterms, air pollution, poor sleep, and even too much exercise. How does this happen? Toxins and stress can produce free radicals, unstable molecules that wreak havoc in the body.  But what are these free radicals? Think of them as little troublemakers – they’re unstable compounds that can mess things up inside your body, including your skin, cells, organs, and even your DNA! Never fear though, antioxidants – which we consume through... Read More

You’ve probably heard of cold plunging, the wellness trend that involves jumping into ice water for a few minutes. Sounds crazy, right? Well, not so fast. There’s actually some science behind this practice, and it might have some surprising benefits for your health and well-being. But before you grab your swimsuit and head to the Boulder Creek, here are some things you should know. Take the Plunge into Type-2 Fun Type II Fun refers to experiences that are hard or difficult in the moment but beneficial (and fun) in the long-run or in retrospect. While cold plunging may be uncomfortable (excruciating?)... Read More

Americans are still getting fatter.  Here are some eye-opening statistics about the health of American adults. About half of all adults get the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Only 3% of Americans meet the definition of a healthy lifestyle: Have a healthy body fat percentage (less than 20% for men and less than 30% for women) Meet exercise recommendations Are non-smokers Score in the top 40% on the Harvard Healthy Eating Index   Obesity is not just an issue for your health.  Obesity as a nationwide issue impacts our ability to defend our nation and respond to crises. ... Read More

If there’s one thing that residents of Boulder do well, it’s keep in shape! Boulder has regularly been ranked by Gallup and Healthways as the fittest metropolitan region in the United States, with just 12.4% of its residents considered overweight. Gallup and Healthways have been measuring obesity rates across the country since 2008 through the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which surveys Americans’ self-reported height and weight to measure their Body Mass Index. In five of those six years, Boulder has taken the number one position for fitness (let’s just call 2009 a “cheat year”). On... Read More

It may not seem like a Colorado issue to talk about obesity but, make no mistake, our state is getting fatter, we just aren’t as fat the rest of the U.S. When my sister died of ovarian cancer 17 years ago, scientific research didn’t really make a connection between obesity and that particular cancer.  My sister was obese when she was diagnosed and I wondered if that wasn’t a contributing factor at least. A recent study conducted by an international team of researchers has identified eight additional types of cancer linked to excess weight and obesity: stomach, liver, gall bladder,... Read More