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6 Things You Need To Know Today (August 1, 2017)

Author:

Leigh Weingus

August 01, 2017

By Leigh Weingus

mbg Contributor

Leigh Weingus is a New York City based freelance journalist writing about health, wellness, feminism, entertainment, personal finance, and more. She received her bachelor’s in English and Communication from the University of California, Davis.

Photo by HEX.

August 01, 2017

1. More New Yorkers are riding bikes than ever.

In a city full of cars, buses, and trucks, it's heartening to know that New York has become a huge bike city. Thanks to the expansion of bike lanes and Citi Bikes, there are now over 450,000 bike trips per day. (NYT)

2. Your waistline will thank you for a good night's sleep.

There's mounting evidence that getting adequate sleep is crucial for optimal health. And now, a study published in the online journal PLOS ONE was able to link sleep deprivation to a higher BMI and waist circumference. So, if you wanted an excuse to get your full eight hours or take that afternoon cat nap, look no further! (Forbes)

3. When it comes to running, your body already knows what to do.

Even if your natural stride isn’t "perfect" by running standards, that doesn’t mean it isn’t the one for you. A new study asked participants to test out different running styles to see how their bodies reacted. In the end, the body used oxygen most effectively when people were running naturally, without trying to improve their form. (The Verge)

4. Drop the guilt over that glass of red you enjoy after a long day.

We've long known that drinking in moderation comes with its share of health benefits. Now, new research finds that enjoying a glass of wine or beer (not hard alcohol, though) with dinner three to four times a week might lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. However, more research still needs to be done, and doctors advise against increasing your drinking just to reap these benefits. (Miami Herald)

5. Digital therapy has more benefits than just convenience.

Dr. Alison Darcy, founder and CEO of Woebot Labs Inc. and a clinical psychologist, found in her research that people were much more comfortable talking to a robot about their problems than to a human. So, her creation, Woebot, aims to take affordable, convenient CBT cognitive behavioral therapy) to the masses. (Fast Company)

6. Women in countries with higher gender equality show better cognitive function past middle age.

New findings from the journal Psychological Science suggest a correlation between gender inequality and decline in cognitive function. Eric Bonsang, lead author on the study, said, "Women living in gender-equal countries have better cognitive test scores later in life than women...in gender-unequal societies. Moreover, in countries that became more gender-equal over time, women's cognitive performance improved relative to men's." (Association for Psychological Science)