5HT: 5 Healthyish Things, including getting heart surgery (!) and why açaí bowls are BS

Did someone forward this to you? Join 95,000 readers finding their next health hack. Come hang→

I’ve been warming up to woo lately—or at least paying closer attention to the kind of woo that starts outside traditional Western validation systems, and earns its way in over time. Many of these practices originate in Eastern or Chinese medicine, and eventually, Western medicine catches up with better measurement, better funding, and better studies. Some of them become real, evidence-based care. 

Acupuncture is a great example. The practice originated in China thousands of years ago, with early references dating back to 6000 BCE. The first formal documentation of the procedure appeared around 100 BCE in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. Welcome to the History Channel. (Kidding, that’d obviously be about aliens.)

Point is it’s been around forever. But fast forward ⏩ to today and while acupuncture has only gained mainstream acceptance in the US over the last 50 years, 7.3 million adults now use it. Over time, we’ve built a body of evidence and increased funding to validate its use. One of the largest applications is pain management, with usage rates rising from 55% in 2002 to 72% in 2022.

A recent randomized clinical trial found acupuncture to be an effective treatment in older adults with chronic lower back pain, the American College of Physicians recommends non-drug options like acupuncture for low back pain, and, in 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began covering acupuncture for chronic low back pain. 

There’s also solid evidence for migraines and headaches. A major Cochrane review found acupuncture can reduce headache frequency. And many private health plans—like Aetna and Cigna—now cover it for pain management. 

Tbh my personal experience with acupuncture is mixed. Given my bad back, I've basically tried everything—including acupuncture. While I usually feel better afterward, the relief doesn’t last long. And, honestly, I can't quite get over the needle thing 😅, but that's just me. I know plenty of people who swear by it—and they’re quick to remind me it takes time to sink in… and they’ve got a point! (Nailed it? Sorry.) Most real-world protocols suggest acupuncture works best as a course of sessions over weeks rather than a one-off experiment.

My take: Acupuncture isn’t magic or a cure-all, but it is one of the “woo-adjacent” therapies that’s earned enough evidence, funding, and institutional buy-in to be worth a serious try, especially for back pain and headaches. And if you’re a little needle-averse like me, find a beginner-friendly acupuncturist, ask for the thinnest needles, and treat the first session more like exposure therapy vs. a performance review. And remember: it’s worth sticking with. 😉

Between running Healthyish Content, building my first CPG company, writing this newsletter, and being there for my kiddos, my time is limited and precious. Annnd because my body isn’t what it used to be as I inch toward 40 😅, I strongly believe a night of fun shouldn't cost me an entire day of productivity or being present with my family. 

Sooo, I was pretty pumped when I heard about ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Drink, the world’s first genetically engineered probiotic invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Obviouslyyy, I had to try Pre-Alcohol, for, you know, science. 🤓

The first time I had a Pre-Alcohol, I was going to a holiday party called “Martinis and Weenies.” Top tier party theme. They had a gourmet hot dog truck 🌭 and pigs in a blanket. As you can imagine, it was amazing. I had three martinis 🍸 (which is above my self-imposed late-30s Dad limit of two) and normally I’d feel it the next morning. But because I drank Pre-Alcohol, I felt great the next day. Like surprisingly great.

Basically, the way it works is: When you drink, alcohol gets converted into a toxic byproduct in the gut. It’s actually the buildup of this byproduct, not dehydration, that’s to blame for rough days after drinking. And the way Pre-Alcohol works is by producing an enzyme to break this byproduct down. Pretty cool, right? 

It’s worth saying ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol isn’t a free pass, but it does mean you’re more intentional. I’ve tried it enough times now that I’ve developed a simple rule: If I think there’s a chance I’ll end up having more than two drinks, I drink this probiotic first.

If you value your mornings but still want to enjoy a few drinks here and there, make Pre-Alcohol the first drink of your night, drink responsibly, and you’ll feel refreshed tomorrow. Annnd because you’re a loyal reader… you can score 15% off your first order when you use “5HT” at checkout!

Plus, it's backed by a 100% Money-Back Guarantee, so there's no risk! Subscriptions are also available for maximum consistency. Head to http://zbiotics.com/5HT and use the code “5HT” at checkout for 15% off.

This summer I was in Spain, and the hottest spot in town was an açaí bowl place. All these beautiful people would line up to eat açaí bowls—which I think are total BS. Much like kale, I hate açaí bowls. (Though, whoever açaí hired to do their PR is the best in the world—an area I’m hiring in right now, btw.) So what’s my beef with this Brazilian berry? 

For starters, it feels like you’re being peddled a pulverized berry bowl for $15–$20. Sure, studies do show açaí has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. Cool. Buuut it doesn’t taste great on its own, so cane sugar or another sweetener typically gets added to the base. Then, it gets slathered with granola, honey, bananas, coconut flakes, and a bunch of other stuff that’s… not all healthy. Some açaí bowls wind up packing more grams of sugar than a Coke. 😮

Acai bowls are basically dessert wearing athleisure. 

And yet we all pretend they’re incredible because, IDK, they look good on social media?l But I don’t really know anyone who genuinely loves them (or actually finishes them). Like seriously has anyone ever finished one? I blame social media for hard launching the açai craze in the 2010s, leading to a “superfood gold rush.” It drives me nuts cause 1️⃣ we’ve gotten so much smarter as consumers and 2️⃣ there are plenty of cheaper and healthier superfoods that don’t spike your glucose harder than the junk food you’re avoiding. (Shout out EVOO.) 

Look, if you love açaí bowls, they can be healthyish. And if you’re on vacation, you should totally enjoy them. (So don’t hate me 🫣.) Buuut if you’ve ever suspected they’re a bit of a scam… you’re not wrong. It’s also a great reminder that health-washing is real—and we should be berry aware.

Welcome to the dark side (of the shower) 😈🚿. Apparently, dark showers are going viral on TikTok, and, surprisingly, science says they might be onto something?

I've shared a bunch about my PVCs in 5HT over the past few months. Quick refresher: PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) are a benign arrhythmia—basically, when your heart gets a little overeager and beats early.

I discovered mine last August and have tried every lifestyle intervention since—no alcohol, no caffeine, more meditation, less protein—nothing worked. I also did a zillion heart tests—echo, stress test, CT scan, cardiac MRI, and a 2-week Holter monitor.

The good news: My full workup is reassuring. Heart structure? Excellent. Plaque? Minimal. Exercise response? Above average for my age ❤️. Buuut I have a 27% PVC load, and cardiologists want to see less than 10% (most people have <1%). If I don't act soon, this benign arrhythmia can lead to serious heart issues later.

So… I'm getting heart surgery next week.

Don't freak out. (He says, mostly to reassure himself 😅.) But really, it sounds scarier than it is. The recommended procedure is a "heart ablation," where they basically go in and zap the area of my heart causing these PVCs. (Yes, zap my heart, modern medicine is wild.) It’s common, fast (in one day, out the next), and low-recovery (I’m told I can lift weights again within a week).

Even better: The preeminent clinic that does the most PVC ablations in the country is right here in Austin, I have “very favorable anatomy” (a phrase I’ll be riding high on), and there’s about a 60-90% chance this is curative (aka no more PVCs). There’s only a 1 in 1,000 chance I die. But, hey, 0.1% chance of death is actually 10x better odds than death from driving a car (close to 1%). 

I've gotten 5+ second opinions from cardiologists and doctors I trust since (including celebrity doctor Arthur Agatston—famous for the South Beach Diet, nbd). Everyone strongly recommended moving forward. So, I'm doing it. 

As of today, here’s how I feel going into it 👇: 

But we do what we can, right? And after the research, the doctors, and many late-night conversations with AI, I’m convinced this is the right call—for my health and my future.

So, I’ll (hopefully) see you on the other side. 👋

Directions: Copy and paste the below prompt into your AI platform of choice to design a healthyish evening routine.

👋 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.) 

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