#1 Joyspan

Instantly into this concept. I might even like it more than longevity 😱. Longevity is all about extending your life, and, sure, that sounds good. Buuut it’s not nearly as motivating as the idea of extending your joy. That’s the idea behind joyspan—not just living your longer life, but liking it, too.

The term was coined by Kerry Burnight, a longtime professor of geriatric medicine at UC Irvine and author of the just-released book Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half. In her research, Burnight suggests you can lengthen your joyspan through everyday choices, zeroing in on four nonnegotiable categories: Grow, Adapt, Give, and Connect.

And, unlike some longevity protocols, it’s never too late to stretch your joy. Case in point: Burnight poses the question, “What are you looking forward to?” to her 96-year-old mother (a big inspiration behind the book) and her friends on Instagram and, well, 🥹🥹🥹:

#2 Naturally boosting GLP-1

Since starting my weight loss journey in January, I’m down 40lbs 🙌. I’m super proud of myself and feel like a whole new person. (And plan to share more about what I did to get here.)

As many of you know, part of the formula was microdosing GLP-1s. I always planned to stop, and I did so about six weeks ago. Since then, I’ve lost another 10lbs 😮. (Done losing weight FWIW.) Now that I’m off GLP-1 meds, I’ve shifted focus to naturally boosting my body’s built-in GLP-1 function. Let me explain what I mean:

Since the rise of prescription GLP-1s, a wave of supplement brands emerged to support natural GLP-1 production. If you remember from our special edition, GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone produced by your small intestine that helps boost insulin, slow down digestion, and signal fullness. It makes sense brands are trying to turn the volume up on what’s already happening.

I’m currently trying Supergut’s Gut Healthy GLP-1 Booster and Veracity's Metabolism Ignite. (Disclaimer: Veracity is a client of Healthyish Content.) Why both? Well, they’re very different! 

Supergut’s powder is a high-fiber blend designed to nourish your gut microbiome and support natural GLP-1 production (and yes, this replaced PaleoFiber in my smoothie). Veracity’s supplements target metabolism and hormone balance through the Metabolaid blend of polyphenols from Lemon Verbena, Hibiscus Extracts, and more.

Other brands on my radar worth checking out 👇

You’ll likely see some common ingredients across blends like berberine (sometimes called “nature’s Ozempic”), chromium, green tea extract, cinnamon, and other polyphenols. Research is still very early, but some ingredients (like green coffee bean and cinnamon) have shown promise in supporting glucose control and mild weight loss. 

To be clear, yes, people are just putting “GLP-1” on products right now. The term and its “support” are more or less in a legal grey area. Regulation with basically all supplements is fuzzy! So you might see phrasing like “metabolic balance” or “natural weight support” on TikTok or Instagram. (And if not, you will now 😆.) 

Buuut I’m also sold on the idea that a lot of this will naturally stimulate GLP-1. No, you probably won’t drop 15% of your body weight with supplements alone. But paired with gut-focused nutrition, mindful habits, and movement, your body’s own GLP‑1 is likely to increase (plus, hey, all of those things are worth doing anyway 🤷) and help with the transition off them (or skipping them entirely). I’ll report back!

#3 DEXA scan

I just got my first DEXA scan last week… annnd I regret not doing it sooner along my weight loss journey 😬. Basically, a DEXA scan (which stands for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometrysay that 5x fast 😅), uses spectral imaging to give you an accurate snapshot of your body composition.

I got mine done here in Austin at BodySpec (they even operate out of vans parked all over the city), and the whole thing took under 10 minutes. (Plus, it’s less expensive than other body scans and clocks in at less than $50 per quarter.) Lay still, get scanned, and walk out with a detailed report covering everything from body fat percentage to bone density to resting metabolic rate. Shockingly easy.

Here’s where I’m at (TMI 🤔?):

  • 20.1% body fat

  • 150.5 lbs of lean tissue

  • 8.7 lbs of bone

  • RMR: 1,835 cal/day

And here’s what my report looked like:

Compared to my Withings Body Smart scale (which I talked about last week), this was way more precise. Though FWIW, the Withings scale was super close and last estimated my body fat at 22.8% (just 10% different). 

Having reached my goal weight, my next fitness goal isn’t weight loss but recomp. Think of recomp (aka recomposition) as optimizing your body’s fat-to-muscle ratio. My goal? Reduce my body fat to 15%, bringing me to the top 20% percentile for my age. A far cry from when I was the biggest kid in the class!

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#4 Noom’s Microdose GLP-1Rx Program

Noom is a company I’ve watched closely for years. (They basically launched the same time I launched my first company, Greatist.) What started as a weight management app is now more or less a digital health company focused on chronic disease prevention. 

This week, they launched their Microdose GLP-1Rx Program, pairing a weight loss intervention that (from personal experience) works with everything else they’ve built (clinical care, coaching, personalization, and a gamified app experience). I think it’s super smart and strategic (shouts to friend Alexander Fabry, CEO Geoff Cook, and, always, founder Saeju Jeong).

The idea is that a microdose-focused program will be more tolerable (less side effects) and more sustainable (far cheaper). They’re offering this program starting at $119, then $199/month–meaningfully less than going through LillyDirect (where a 4-week supply of the 2.5 mg Zepbound is $399) and way less than concierge clinics, online subscriptions, etc.

I also love their overall approach, saying (reminding?) weight loss is not the destination, but a vehicle for a larger goal: Adding healthy, vibrant years to life. Joyspan, anyone? That’s why I started my own weight loss journey this year—and if I were starting again today, I’d seriously consider Noom’s solution here.

#5 Breast milk ice cream

Cue a topic I never expected to cover in 5HT: Breast milk-flavored ice cream

Frida (a cult-favorite parent product company) and OddFellows (a small-batch ice cream company based in NY) teamed up to release limited edition pints of breast milk-flavored ice cream nationwide.

While the ice cream isn’t actually made from human breast milk, the flavor is meant to mimic it. Whichhh, according to their statement, means it’s “sweet, a little salty, smooth, with hints of honey and sprinkles of colostrum, and features a distinct colostrum yellow tinge." 

There are many benefits of breastmilk, buuut I think I’ll stick to Mint Chocolate 😬. If you’re curious, you can get your pint on Frida’s site for $12.99. If you give it a try, I need to know: Did it take you back? 👶😂

Neural signals

Okay, you know what I’m curious about—but here’s what everyone else is Googling, according to a few trusty platforms.

  • 1️⃣ AI Mattresses. Recently went mattress shopping, so more thoughts on this soon.

  • 2️⃣ Cooling blankets. These recently went viral on social (but do they actually work?)

  • 3️⃣ Filtered shower heads. I’m a fan of Rorra’s! (Disclaimer: Minor investor.)

  • 4️⃣ Date syrup. This one is new to me!

  • 5️⃣ Midi Health. Not just adding them here because they’re a Healthyish Content client (and this is our bomb case study), but they are exploding in search. Also, FYI: They launched their supplement store this week.

🍿 Brain snacks

  • This cat 🐱 sitting on a vibration plate. (That’s all.)

  • Equip raises $47M (!) to expand virtual eating disorder treatment. Well done. 👏

  • On the topic of GLP-1s, the current administration is considering a 5-year pilot program to cover weight-loss drugs under Medicare and Medicaid. That’d be game-changing.

  • The administration is also considering bringing back the Presidential Fitness Test for schoolchildren. (Stuck between being for this and the trauma of that rope climb.)

  • Froyo was a major hit back in the 2010s, and some say it's making a comeback, but I’m over it, just for the record. 🙄

  • From 5HT+ member Cory Z, “Japanese walking” is a simple workout worth trying.

  • Where did potatoes come from? Tomatoes, apparently. 🤯 At least that’s what this new research suggests. (If tomatoes are a fruit,  are potatoes now a fruit?!)

  • I bought this fan exercise bike during a super Amazon sale, and it’s officially been added to my home gym (after two sweaty hours of assembly).

  • A new negative GLP-1 side effect has emerged called “Ozempic teeth😬. It’s oral issues stemming from dehydration and reduced saliva production.

  • Most clicked last week: Mankeeping (aka why more women stay single).ey diet. Might share some more thoughts on this in a future edition. 👀🍯

👋 Who are you again? I’m Derek Flanzraich—founder of two venture-backed startups in Greatist (👍) and Ness (👎). I’ve worked with brands like GoodRx, Parsley, Midi, Ro, NOCD, and Peloton. I now run Healthyish Content, a premium health content & SEO agency (among other things).

Every Thursday, I share 5 health things I feel strongly about so you can live healthyish. (Disclaimer: I’m more your friend with health benefits. None of this is medical advice.) Annnd follow me on LinkedIn for more hot takes on health.

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