5HT: 5 Healthyish Things, including sleep hacks and food in Europe part II

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Earlier this week, the Internet found itself in a wee stramash over a viral post claiming ChatGPT would no longer give health advice. Good news: it still can. Phew. 😮‍💨

The viral post was referencing some updates to OpenAI’s policy, buuut what it really comes down to is: ChatGPT can’t replace your doctor. And it shouldn’t! Having a real doctor to turn to is still important. (Annnd recently launched Counsel Health offers a hybrid solution with a personalized health AI tool PLUS a button to bring in a real doctor anytime.) 👩‍⚕️

Actually, if anything, ChatGPT has only gotten better at health. Back in August, they started implementing wellness checks for people who were using Chat for a long time without taking a break. 

More recently, they updated the model to better recognize—and support—people in moments of distress, working with 170 mental health experts to make it happen. 

And it looks like prevention is a part of their solution, too.  Just check out this email 5HT reader Michael F. sent me👇: 

All in all, I’m team Dr. ChatGPT—and glad this healthyish helper isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. (I recently used it to interpret my echocardiogram results for my heart stuff—all okay so far—and optimize supplements for my MTHFR gene variation.)

Whether you’re a health optimizer or a health marketer, one of my favorite things about the health space right now is how openly people admit we’re still figuring it out. That willingness to learn out loud—to share tests that failed, ideas that clicked, and questions still on the table—that’s where I think real progress comes from. Staying curious and flexible is what turns experiments into improvements, and that’s true whether it’s your biomarkers or your business model. 

That’s what I love most about Marketing Digital Health 🎙️, the new podcast from my friends at Matchnode. It’s refreshingly honest about how complex this space is, featuring real people using real strategies to build brands that help others live healthier. Even if you’re not a builder, it’s 💯 worth tuning in—because understanding how these companies grow helps all of us make smarter decisions about our own health.

I had the chance to catch up with host Chris Madden off-mic at The Assembly (and then later at HLTH!) last month. We got to talking about how we’re showing up more—on the podcast, on LinkedIn, etc. Our conversations reminded me how health gets better when we don’t hoard what we know, but share what we’ve learned. Because learning out loud doesn’t just move us forward individually—it moves the whole industry forward.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, I can’t recommend Marketing Digital Health enough. There are 10 banger episodes out now 💥 (including two with me, here and here). Start one, and you might end up binging. (There’s a reason it’s rocking a 5-star rating ⭐.)

Like 5HT, new episodes drop every Thursday—so don’t sleep on it. (But do get your sleep!)

Speaking of sleep!! Here are three products I’ve recently tried as a part of my goal to double my restorative sleep 😴. 

👃 Intake Breathing: I first tried this at The Assembly last month and have been using it at home for a couple weeks. The best way to describe it is a magnetic nose strip that opens your nasal passageways wider. It can help with things like snoring (not a problem for me, luckily) and open-mouth breathing (more of a problem). Here’s how it works: Pick the right band size for your nose, apply the sticky magnetic tabs to the outside of your nostrils, and snap on the band. That’s it! Super simple—and honestly, I dooo think it’s improved my breathing overnight. (Their data suggests 87% of users report deeper, more restful sleep.) My only gripe is the refill tabs are pretty pricey 😬. But if you have trouble breathing while sleeping, it could be worth a try, IMO. (And yes, fine, I’m planning to try mouth tape.)

💤 The Feed Dream Shot: I tried this 2oz “revolutionary” sleep formula 30–60 minutes before bed for about a week… before calling it quits. The liquid shot claims to address all three phases of sleep—falling asleep, staying asleep, and reaching deep sleep. It carries some solid ingredients: Magnesium, glycine, L-theanine, ashwagandha, and real tart cherry juice (which does have solid research behind it). Did it help me sleep? Maybe. Maybe not. I love the idea of a sleep shot, buuut this one ultimately gets a tepid review. Most of the ingredients are already in my stack—and the taste? Not it. It’s suuuper sweet. Plus, with 16g of sugar, 17g of carbs, and 75 calories, it’s a pretty heavy nightcap. 😬 Should you try it? Taste and REM may vary. 

🛌 Saatva Zenhaven Latex Mattress: After months of rigorous sleep research (seriously, as usual we built out a completely insane spreadsheet to compare all options), my wife and I finally landed on this mattress—and so far, I LOVE it! It’s supportive, breathable, and flippable! No notes. 👌

Last month, I wrote about food in Europe, and y’all ate it up. (Literally—it was our highest open rate that month.) While that post focused on the experience, now let’s talk about the quality. 

Everyone says food tastes better in Europe. I agree—and I’d add it’s almost certainly better for you. As I mentioned before, I literally dropped 10lbs (without skipping a single pastry 🥐) after spending six weeks there this summer. That, and my inflammation—from back pain to stuffy nose—basically vanished. It reminded me of all those stories about people who can’t eat gluten in the U.S. but have no problem with pasta in Italy.

Why is that? A bunch of reasons. Let’s snack on ’em:

1️⃣ Less processing. This one’s obvious, but huge. In the U.S., 53% of total calories in the average adult diet comes from ultra-processed foods. In Europe? A review of 22 countries found that number ranges from 14% to 44%. That gap is enormous—and it’s partly about policy, partly convenience, and partly culture.

2️⃣ Regular shopping. There’s no Costco culture in Europe. People shop smaller and more often—some daily—and walk their groceries home 🛒. Bread that lasts weeks here (thanks, additives) is a one-day affair there. Fewer preservatives means fresher food—and fewer mysteries on the label. (I do love Costco fwiw.) 

3️⃣ Seasonal eating. Europeans are hyper-aware of what’s in season—and many stores don’t carry what’s not. One of our Healthyish writers in Vienna gets giddy when mandarins 🍊 return each winter... I don’t even know when blueberry season is. Plus, according to the American Heart Association, seasonal eating gives you a nutritional edge because you’re eating foods at their peak (versus shipped overseas). 

4️⃣ Local sourcing. Europeans take pride in their local land, climate, and craft that make food distinct. Butchers and bakeries are part of everyday life. You’ll see meats and even produce, like berries, marked by origin. That connection to place runs deep—and we really don't have a ton of that here. FWIW, I think that’s changing. Farmers markets are blowing up—80% of Americans say they’ve visited a farmers market at least once a year. 

5️⃣ Balanced farming. European farms tend to use less industrial monocropping and more diverse systems—which means healthier soil and more nutrient-dense crops. Animals are more likely to be grass-fed, not corn- or soy-fed. Their wheat varieties differ, too. Even the basics—like eggs and milk—are handled differently. In many EU countries, eggs aren’t washed or refrigerated before sale. In countries like France, milk isn’t even refrigerated! 😮 

6️⃣ Stronger policing. Europe’s food regulations are simply stricter. They’ve got tighter limits on additives, dyes, and preservatives—and require premarket reviews for new ingredients. They’ve even rolled out Nutri-Score labels that flag foods high in sodium, sugar, or saturated fat (which I first wrote about here). 

The good news: Americans want better food—and are willing to pay for it. One study found 41% of consumers would spend 10% more for healthier ingredients. Another from PwC showed consumers are willing to pay a 9.7% premium for sustainably produced or sourced goods. Even with higher food costs, people are asking for better quality. And while MAHA might be a touchy subject, my hope is they rise to the challenge of improving food standards—because our food (and our bodies) deserve better.

A new survey shows nearly a quarter of US workers didn’t take any (!!) vacation days in the past year. What?? 🤯 FWIW, taking time off is very healthyish! So consider this your friendly reminder to take your vacation days before the year ends. 

Here’s how I’m preparing 👇

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

👋 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.