Game plan

Welcome back to Wellworthy. Here's everything happening in health and wellness this week:

• An elite strength and conditioning coach shares his go-to gear

• New tech from CES and Dr. Rangan Chatterjee’s approach to making better choices

• The latest launches from Samsung, PUMA x HYROX, and more

  
  - Ash Read and Joe Niehaus

Health Stack: Jason Walsh

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

This week: Jason Walsh, co-founder of RISE311 and strength and conditioning coach who’s helped Hollywood stars to “train like athletes.” At 48, he's focused on health and longevity, aiming to “build on what I've created while keeping myself healthy for the long run."

Here’s Jason to share his Health Stack

• Fat Gripz: “I find that grip is a limiting factor in the gym and really limits your output if it’s not something you’re training. Fat Gripz latch onto any barbell, dumbbell, or machine to provide a thicker diameter that activates additional muscles in your forearms and biceps to aid grip strength. I use Fat Gripz to ensure I’m getting my grip strength work as part of my workout.”

• Katalyst. “Katalyst is an amazing new training technology. This cutting-edge Electro Muscle Stimulation (EMS) Suit delivers unparalleled muscle activation with incredible efficiency. With Katalyst, you can achieve a full-body workout that engages 90% of muscle fibers in just 20 minutes without any weights or wear-and-tear on your body.”

• RISE311: “I spent years searching for the best protein to recommend to my clients for post and in-between workouts and found almost every option out either didn’t hit the mark on nutrition, caused uncomfortable bloating, or wasn’t made with ingredients that I trusted. After a year of development and testing, we released RISE311, a small-batch, plant-based protein that’s easy to digest, tastes incredible, and provides 30g of protein paired with leucine for maximum absorption.”

• SmartCuffs: “SmartCuffs® blood flow restriction (BFR) training is a technique that combines low-intensity exercise under reduced arterial flow conditions. As a result of the momentary reduction of blood flow, BFR allows individuals to use low weight loads, yet achieve results similar to high-intensity training. Perfect for muscle strength and hypertrophy, especially in injured or movement compromised individuals.”

• Pillow Cube. “I’m a nightly Pillow Cube user and recommend it to clients regularly, especially side sleepers. Pillow Cube has definitely helped with my sleep by properly supporting my head and neck alignment.”

On Our Radar 

Interesting stories we spotted this week → 

Nat Friedman's Plasticlist is going viral for highlighting the amount of plastic chemicals found in everyday foods. Testing 300 Bay Area foods, from fast food to fresh produce, here's what Plasticlist discovered:

• It's everywhere. Plastic chemicals appeared in 86% of foods tested, with phthalates in 73% of products. Less processed foods contained fewer chemicals, though even organic options weren't immune. Surprisingly, water in glass and plastic bottles showed similar chemical levels, 

• Heat matters. Hot foods left in takeout containers for 45 minutes showed 34% higher levels of plastic chemicals than food tested directly from restaurants. 

• Regulation gap. While most foods met US FDA and EU regulations, 22 products exceeded European safety limits for Bisphenol A (BPA) – a common plastic chemical used in food packaging and containers – by 450% to 32,571%

Plasticlist’s findings reveal a complex challenge, with regulations varying widely between agencies and countries – making it difficult for consumers to understand their true exposure levels.

In other news… 

Make it automatic. Having clear rules can eliminate decision fatigue and help you make better choices. Speaking to Rich Roll, Dr. Rangan Chatterjee shares that he always takes the stairs unless there's "an exceptional reason" not to. Another example Dr. Chatterjee discusses is limiting Netflix to one episode on weeknights, since late nights often lead to "moodiness, more sugar, more caffeine" the next day.

Sobering stats. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy wants alcohol to carry cancer risk warning labels, citing 100,000 alcohol-related cancer cases and 20,000 alcohol-related deaths annually. As the third-leading preventable cause of cancer after tobacco and obesity.

Future of wellness. Withings unveiled Omnia at CES, a concept smart mirror offering daily 360-degree body scans, health metrics, and telemedicine capabilities. While the full product may never reach consumers (Withings says it’s likely to be cost-prohibitive for consumers), Omnia points to a future where comprehensive health monitoring seamlessly integrates into our daily routines.

Focus mode. When she wants to focus before podcasts, Dr. Rhonda Patrick jumps on her Peloton for 15-20 minute Tabata sessions. These "quick hits" help get "blood flow to my brain" and provide an "extra energy or boost," she says, highlighting how exercise can be strategically used beyond just fitness goals.

Just Dropped: Hatch’s smart sleep clock

Hatch unveiled Restore 3, a phone-free smart sleep clock with customizable routines, physical controls, and 60+ sleep sounds. Includes premium content via Hatch+ for $4.99/month.

The latest model features a "Big Button" for alarm control, a Swap Button for unwind routines, and enhanced bass response. Available in Cocoa, Greige, and Putty for $169.99. Shop here.

More drops perfect for:

• Smart tracking. Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Fit 3, a $59.99 fitness tracker featuring a 1.6-inch display, 13-day battery life, and health monitoring including sleep tracking and blood oxygen readings. Find out more here.

• Health monitoring. Silicone ring maker QALO debuted QRNT, a $189.95 health-tracking ring that monitors heart rate, SpO2, sleep, and stress levels without requiring a subscription. The device features interchangeable silicone covers and connects to a free companion app. Order here.

• Increasing strength. Tonal launched its second-generation smart gym with more power, built-in form coaching, all-new HIIT workouts, and more. Get the details here.

• Daily defense. New wellness brand Zephira introduced its signature supplement combining KSM-66 Ashwagandha, Boswellia, and probiotics to tackle stress, recovery, and immune support in one daily capsule. Subscribe for $42.50 per month.

• Morning fuel. Magic Spoon launched a protein-packed granola featuring 13-14g protein and 2g sugar per serving. Available in Honey Almond, Peanut Butter, Dark Chocolate Almond, and Mixed Berry at Walmart, Target, and online. Try all the flavors here.

• Protein power. David launched two new protein bar flavors: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk and Salted Caramel Peanut Butter. Each packs 28g of protein and zero sugar in 150 calories. Shop here.

• Smarter recovery. Therabody launched Coach, an AI-powered recovery platform that analyzes real-time health and activity data alongside user goals and feedback to create dynamic recovery plans. Available now in Beta on Therabody’s app.

• Long-distance running. Speedland and Under Armour joined forces for their first collaboration, the UA Infinite Mega trainer features BOA's innovative heel lock system and max cushioning for precise, customizable fit. Order here.

• Nutrition boosts. TV host and fitness entrepreneur Amanda Kloots debuted Proper, a colorful line of flavor-focused supplement powders — each packed with targeted nutrients and superfoods at $28 per month. Shop here.

• Fast-paced hiking. Merrell's SpeedArc Surge BOA reinvents trail footwear with dual-layer FloatPro+ SC foam and a nylon Flexplate, delivering 100% more energy return than leading hikers. Check it out.

• Training. PUMA teamed up with HYROX for its first co-branded collection, featuring performance wear and three NITRO-powered training shoes: the Deviate 3, Deviate Elite 3, and Velocity 3. Available today at HYROX events, PUMA stores, and online. Browse the line here.

Today’s newsletter was brought to you by Joe Niehaus and Ash Read.

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