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#1 Food noise

Before I started microdosing GLP-1s, my mind would do some pretty extraordinary backflips to get me to eat something bad at night. The stories I would tell myself about why I deserved a little treat would impress even Pierce Brown.

Now, I go into the store, and it's hard for me to buy stuff that isn’t good for me. I'm just not that drawn to it anymore 🤷‍♂️. Annnd that’s got me thinking more about food noise and how GLP-1s turn it way down ⬇️. 

Turns out I’m not alone and Noom’s CEO Geoff Cook recently dug into this concept in his recently published narrative review, breaking down why GLP-1s may change cravings and food noise.

I find this super fascinating and, when I got a chance to catch up with Geoff last month, I asked him to dive in deep. First, the way Geoff describes food noise is “persistent thoughts about food that are perceived as unwanted.” A lot of people don’t even realize they’re experiencing it until it goes quiet. Even Geoff didn’t fully clock food noise until the desire to eat chips from the pantry completely went away. (Now he just can't get enough blueberries 🫐.) 

A few things from our conversation really stuck with me:

  1. Making room for better habits. Geoff’s theory is that if a GLP-1 takes some of the food-related self-control load off your plate 🍽️ (literally), you may have more reserve left to build healthier habits. And ideally, some of those habits outlast the medication. 

  2. Less wanting, more liking. Geoff told me about an fMRI study on food reward suggesting that GLP-1s may lower the brain’s “wanting” response before a tasty food arrives, while preserving—and possibly even increasing—the “liking” response during actual consumption. (In this case: chocolate milk.) Honestly, I was nervous GLP-1s would dull my enjoyment of food, and I’m glad to report they haven’t! 😄

  3. Shifting self-image. Geoff also sees GLP-1s as a catalyst for identity change. Instead of being the person who has to white-knuckle it past the cookie aisle 🍪, you simply become the person who doesn’t go down. Identity shifts happen from repeated action, and the medication makes that action easier to repeat.

This all begs the question: Is it possible GLP-1s are more mental health than metabolic health drugs? As more and more evidence comes out around their effects on addiction, I’m beginning to think this may be how we view them eventually. In a world that feels increasingly loud these days, maybe the real promise of GLP-1s is simply less noise. 

Also, worth saying: I really appreciate Geoff taking the time to chat with me on this. In a world where the GLP-1s themselves are increasingly commoditized, it’s companies like Noom that are innovating new, awesome programs to drive lasting behavior change around them that I think will win long-term. Go Geoff, go!

#2 Pink noise

Now… let’s talk about a noise I actually like!

White noise has long been my ride-or-die for sleep 😴. We run LectroFans in every bedroom, and when I travel, I default to the fan setting on my white noise app. That was until I found pink noise.

I landed on it while cycling through sound profiles on my fave Ozlo Sleep Buds. Partly because it sounds cuuute (and is my oldest daughter’s favorite color), but mostly because it feels softer and warmer—more like steady rain than radio static.

Turns out, there’s a whole universe of colored noises. According to BetterSleep (a Healthyish Content client), each color corresponds to a different mix of frequencies and volumes, with profiles that may be better suited for sleep, relaxation, or focus.

The noise rainbow sounds like:

🤍 White noise: fan, vacuum, AC, TV, radio static
💖 Pink noise: rustling leaves, airplane cabin hum, fridge hum, steady rain on a tin roof
🤎 Brown noise: rumbling thunder, strong wind, a purring cat, crackling fire
💚 Green noise: heavy rainfall, rolling waves, soft forest breezes, distant driving sounds
💙 Blue noise: a hissing hose, steam leaking from a pipe, computer fan noise
💜 Violet noise: a high-pitched hiss or sizzle, like water running from a faucet
🖤 Grey noise: a softer, smoothed-out version of white noise

Pink noise sounded even better 😉 when I looked at the research. A 2012 study in the Journal of Theoretical Biology found steady pink noise during sleep was associated with more stable sleep and improved sleep quality. 

Then, a 2017 Northwestern Medicine study found pink-noise stimulation, timed to sleepers’ brain waves, increased deep sleep and improved next-day recall in older adults. The studies are small, sure. Buuut if you’re going to pick a noise, why not the one with some interesting evidence? I’m all in.

#3 Starbucks Protein Cold Foam

ICYMI: Starbucks launched cold foam drinks last September, and it’s been a hit. Naturally, I had to try it for, you know, research. Buuut what started as a little treat became a little habit, and I need to confess. 🫣

Basically, Starbucks Protein Cold Foam is a 15g protein topping you can add to any coffee drink. And I’ve been ordering the chocolate cream on top of a cold brew with alarming regularity.

As someone who has only had iced black coffee since college and tells everyone not to drink their calories, how did I get here? 😳

Easy. My brain did its own math: cold foam + protein = justified. Embarrassing, but not uncommon. Research shows that when “protein” is in the title, people tend to see the product as healthier. Even people who write health newsletters, apparently. 🤷‍♂️

I recognized I had a problem when I recently tried to order one at 2pm in an airport with my wife. So I did what I had been avoiding and looked at the ingredients.

The good news: the protein itself is pretty fine, and the foam base is also fairly harmless on its own. The issue is the flavoring. That’s where you get the sugar, corn syrup, and a bunch of other junk. Not exactly what I had in mind when I told myself I was making a healthyish choice. 🫠

Ultimately, it’s a perfect example of protein washing, which is everywhere right now—including at this year’s Expo West. Friend and fellow newsletter writer Melissa Urban also got into it in her newsletter. And while the protein isn’t the problem here, it did give me permission to ignore everything else in the cup—turning my 5-calorie drink into a 300-calorie drink with sugar and fat. 

Sooo I’m going to stop 🛑. Not saying I’ll never get it again. Buuut for now, it’s back to cold brew and getting my protein elsewhere.

And if you see me out in the wild with one…

FWIW if you want more protein in your Starbucks, the smarter move is probably their protein-boosted milk, made with 2% milk and whey protein.

#4 Trying to see the doctor

Raise your hand if you’ve ever had to fill out an online form, fill it out again at the doctor’s office (but with a pen), and then recite it to the doctor. 🙋‍♂️

@seandoleezarice

Never mind I’ll just pay an Etsy witch to heal me

#5 Cat Ozempic

We’ve officially reached a new meowstone in pet health. I recently learned about a new GLP-1 clinical weight loss trial for cats in our 5HT+ Slack channel. Yes, cat Ozempic is here.

Tbh, I wasn’t surprised when I read it. You dooo kinda see a lot of fat cats 😬. Some estimates say 60% of cats (!) are overweight or obese. And while their rotund bodies look adorable on Instagram, a healthy weight is one of the most powerful ways to protect a cat’s longevity.

The study is called MEOW-1 (because ofc it is 😹), and it’s testing a tiny implant called OKV-119 in cats with obesity. The way it’ll work is a mini implant (roughly the size of a grain of rice) will go under the cat’s skin and then slowly deliver a form of GLP-1 called exenatide for up to six months. 

About 50 cats will be enrolled, with researchers checking in at the three-month mark and owners given the option to continue for another three. The first kitty has already been dosed, and results are expected next summer. If it works, OKAVA says it hopes to keep OOP costs around $100/month and seek FDA approval in 2027 or 2028. 

And yes, an implant sounds intense. Buuut it may be a whole lot easier than the alternatives. As any cat owner knows, getting a cat to take a daily pill is notoriously tough. This sidesteps that entirely and could meaningfully improve their well-being.

I'm betting it'll be a huge hit in the purr-suit of longevity. (Nailed it. Pawed it?)

⚡ Neural hacks

Directions: Copy, paste, and fill in the prompt below to create a hydration protocol.

Act like an expert music curator and build me a custom playlist that feels like a serotonin boost—grounded, uplifting, emotionally lighter, and mood-shifting in a good way.

First, ask me:

  • How I’m feeling

  • What I’m doing while listening

  • What artists or songs I already love

  • Anything I want to avoid

Then create:

  • A 15-song playlist in a deliberate order

  • A short, fun title for the playlist

Keep it: thoughtful, energizing, and actually mood-lifting.

🍿 Brain snacks

Shoutout to KB, Michael C, Vanessa C, Amy M, Kara G, Ken R, Erica F, Sonya M, Anna T, Joshua K, Donna W, and Tanya E for sending emails or contributing to 5HT+ Slack community!

Want in on 5HT+? Two referrals get you in. Share your unique code, and join the chat. → {{ rp_refer_url }}

👋 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.) Also some links are affiliate links, but they influence my decisions zero.

Oh, you also feel strongly about some health things? Hit reply—I’d love to hear it.

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