Age strong

Welcome back to Wellworthy. This week, we’re covering: 

• The supplement stack of Seed Health’s co-founder.

• Food additives to avoid at all costs and why "strengthspan” may be a key indicator of healthy aging.

• New drops for endurance athletes, hitting the trails, and getting better rest. 

— Let’s go!

Health Stack: Ara Katz’s daily supplement stack

Each week, we tap our network of health and fitness experts to offer personal insights and recommendations.

This week: Ara Katz is the co-founder and co-CEO of Seed Health, a microbiome science company. 

Ara’s day typically begins between 5:30-6am, often with early morning meetings. Her short morning commute is a key part of her wellness routine: "I pick up a matcha and walk .5 miles to our office by 7:15am, getting early sunlight and light cardio before I start work."

Exercise fits into her schedule later — "hot yoga and resistance training" before family dinner and bedtime routines. Her secret to balancing it all? "I live by my Google calendar. If it's not on the calendar, life simply doesn't work." This structured approach ensures time for deep work, self-care, and family: "It’s the only way I've been able to find space for what's most important."

Here’s Ara to explain her current supplement stack: 

• DS-01® Daily Synbiotic: “Contains 24 clinically and scientifically studied probiotic strains to promote whole-body benefits, including regularity, ease of bloating, immune support, gut-barrier integrity, skin health, and heart health.”

• Magnesium Glycinate: “Supports muscle function and improves sleep quality, which are key to recovery and maintaining resilience as stress and metabolic demands shift with age.”

• Omega-3: “Helps reduce inflammation and promotes cardiovascular and brain health, essential for longevity and cognitive performance as aging can accelerate systemic inflammation.”

• Astaxanthin: “A powerful antioxidant that protects against oxidative stress and UV damage, supporting skin health and cellular longevity as oxidative damage increases with age.”

• VS-01™ Vaginal Synbiotic: “Specifically supports the vaginal microbiome, which becomes more vulnerable to imbalances and infections due to hormonal shifts during perimenopause and beyond, promoting long-term vaginal and overall health.”

Ara is also experimenting with: Creatine for muscle maintenance, strength, and energy production — particularly for combating age-related muscle loss; Butyrate to enhance gut health, reduce inflammation, and improve metabolic efficiency; Red Yeast Rice for its potential to improve cholesterol levels; and low-dose L-Theanine to promote better sleep and relaxation.

On Our Radar 

Interesting stories we spotted this week → 

Hiding in plain sight. A study of 92,000 adults found emulsifiers used in processed foods may increase cancer risk by up to 46%. In particular, E471 raised overall cancer risk by 15%, while carrageenans (used as a thickener) increased breast cancer risk by 28%. Even foods marketed as “healthy” can be packed with emulsifiers. Not taking any chances, Dr. Mark Hyman recommends avoiding these additives at all costs — "discard them immediately,” he warns. 

Strong for life. Researchers say a new longevity metric known as "strengthspan," the measure of muscular strength throughout your life, is a key indicator of healthy aging. Regular strength training reduces all-cause mortality, helps combat depression, and adds years to our lives. But, muscle mass declines as we grow old. Combating atrophy, strength training isn't just for athletes – it's for anyone seeking to live a longer, active life. 

Get up. Endurance athlete Mike Aidala shattered the Guinness World Record for the heaviest Turkish Get-Up, lifting 255 lbs — smashing the previous 200 lb record. This movement — rising from lying to standing with weight overhead — has broad benefits. For those focusing on mobility, coach Dan John recommends simple, weightless get-up variations like “Get Back Ups.”

Keep it simple. Sweetgreen’s new Ripple Fries are made with just five ingredients — all of which you probably recognize. Calling out competitors who use additives and seed oils, Sweetgreen’s real food approach is challenging the status quo. When choosing your next meal, opting for fewer ingredients — and words you can actually pronounce — is a simple way to eat healthier. "We ate fries in the 1960s but weren't chronically obese. It's about real food," adds Calley Means. 

Just Dropped: Cadence Core 40 Bars

Cadence expanded beyond electrolytes with the launch of the Core 40 Bar, delivering 40g carbs from puffed rice, dates, and honey, plus sodium, potassium, and magnesium for proper hydration and muscle function.

Developed with nutrition advisor Matt Jones, who works with the Boston Celtics and Premier League teams, the bars come in Peanut Butter & Jelly and Chocolate flavors for $36 per 12-pack. Order now or read more on Wellworthy.

More drops perfect for:

• Max support. Nike dropped the Vomero 18, featuring its tallest stack height ever with double-stacked ZoomX and ReactX foams. The ultra-cushioned shoe, designed for all runners, comes in vibrant colorways, including "Atmosphere Pink." Shop here.

• Balanced nutrition. Urban Remedy unveiled Organic Protein Collagen Shakes with 30g of protein, 10g of grass-fed organic collagen, and zero added sugar in Chocolate and Vanilla flavors. The ready-to-drink meal replacements support hair, skin, nail, and joint health with type 1 and 3 hydrolyzed collagen peptides and are naturally sweetened with dates, stevia, and monk fruit. Find out more here or shop at Whole Foods on Amazon.

• Daily miles. Salomon debuted the Aero Glide 3, its latest max-cushioned road trainer, engineered for runners seeking comfort and performance across their training schedule. Check it out here.

• Trail tech. Arc'teryx expanded its footwear lineup with four new models: Norvan LD 4, Vertex Speed, Konseal, and Norvan Nivalis, all designed for technical mountain terrain. Learn more.

• Back relief. Therabody launched the ThermBack LED, a wearable device combining heat therapy, far infrared, vibration, and LED light in one unit. The multi-therapy system targets lower back pain by improving mobility, reducing stiffness, and accelerating recovery. Shop now.

• Sleep sanctuary. Kip announced a device to help you disconnect from your phone, wind down, and prioritize quality rest. The brand's debut product, the Disconnect Tag, will be available in limited quantities later this month. Join the waitlist here.

• Optimized absorption. Phi Health launched a new approach to supplements with time-released micropills designed to deliver essential nutrients when your body can best utilize them. The science-backed formula condenses what would typically require 22 pills into just two daily capsules—one for morning, one for night. Read more on Wellworthy or order now.

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