Here’s to 100+ more

The Brief

Welcome back, Wellworthy readers.

Most advice on keeping your brain sharp focuses on what to eat or how often to exercise.

But a massive 20-year study found a surprising key to longevity that has nothing to do with the gym.

And the benefits might be more accessible than you think.

Here’s what’s inside:

• How a simple to-do list habit can slow brain aging

• Why an elite athlete is obsessed with the air we breathe 

• PLUS: An AI nutritionist, pocket-sized protein, and ballet-style trainers

Here we go!

— Jake, Joana & Ash

P.S. This is our 100th edition! Whether you’ve been here since day 1 or just joined, thank you for reading.

The Breakdown

Showing up for others supports long-term brain health.

Why it matters

A 20-year study of 30,000 older adults found that formal volunteering and everyday acts of help, like running errands, giving rides, or helping a neighbor, were associated with a 15–20% slower rate of cognitive decline.

The sweet spot was 2-4 hours per week, and the results were cumulative. The key wasn't the title of the activity, but consistently engaging with others outside your own bubble. 

According to the researchers, your brain registers the social connection and sense of purpose, regardless of the setting. Add in the mental effort of planning, problem-solving, and decision-making, and it helps explain why the effect is so meaningful.

The takeaway

Though this was observational research, it aligns with evidence that purpose and social connections help keep our brains sharp. 

The best part? Showing up for others doesn’t require a major time commitment. Just like any habit that actually works, it’s the little things—done consistently—that make the difference.

🏆 Your favorite brands might've won a Wellworthy Award

If you missed it, we announced our first-ever awards last week. The best in recovery tech, functional nutrition, performance optimization, and more are now live on Instagram.

Check it out and let us know if your favorite launch made the list 💪

Just Dropped

New products and drops spotted → 

Supplements & nutrition

Beast Health launched Blended in Steel, a personal, stainless-steel blender for your smoothie. Besides the biggest win being that no plastic touches your food, it’s also double-walled, keeps drinks cold for 12 hours without ice, and looks totally chic. Shop Beast.

Mel Robbins launched Pure Genius Protein, a pocket-sized (3.38 ounces, to be exact) protein shot with 23 grams and no sugar. It's a unique product, and perfect for when you need protein but don't want to deal with powder. Get it.

sleep or die™ launched the Sleep Strips for the chronically sleep-deprived. Infused with 5-HTP, melatonin, and L-theanine, they dissolve on your tongue in 10 minutes. Most sleep pills take 45 minutes to absorb, so they’re designed to be a faster way to power down. Users are loving the minty flavor. Join the strip club.

The Absorption Company formulated five common supplements so your body actually uses them. Their Magnesium Glycinate absorbs 8× better than standard magnesium, and their Curcumin is 149× more effective. The pitch? Most people take supplements but stay nutrient-deficient because absorption rates are subpar. See the rest here.

Lucky Energy launched gummies with 128mg of caffeine, 7 grams of fiber, prebiotics, and L-theanine. Most energy supplements skip digestive support, but these smooth out jitters while supporting your gut. If you're going to try one flavor, let it be Son of a Peach, their best-selling drink flavor now in gummy form. (Yes, they really named it that.) Try them. 

Divi launched Hair Growth Vitamins that condense what's usually 4+ pills into just two tablets daily. It's designed for hormonal shifts, postpartum recovery, GLP-1 use, or age-related thinning—basically, life moments when your hair needs extra help. Shop Divi.

Endocrinologist Dr. Eiriny Eskander launched Caloria, a nutrition app that lets you snap a photo of your meal instead of weighing it. The brand’s AI identifies calories and macros instantly, then shows how meals affect things like metabolic health and muscle preservation, not just weight loss. Download Caloria.

Wellness tech & programs

Mave announced a wearable headset built to address daily brain fog, stress, and scattered focus. It targets the prefrontal cortex (aka the brain’s executive center) using low-intensity electrical currents in 20-minute sessions. Brain stimulation for self-optimization? Bold move. Find your focus.

WellTheory launched a Postpartum Program for women dealing with autoimmune flare-ups after birth. Pregnancy is a major hormonal trigger, yet standard care usually stops after 6 weeks. This program extends that timeline, offering 1:1 coaching and advanced hormonal testing to catch root causes that standard checkups miss. Find out more.

Fitness & training

NikeSKIMS is back (following its debut collection) with Rift, a split-toe sneaker that sits somewhere between a ballet flat and an athletic shoe. It swaps laces for a single midfoot strap and keeps a minimal, low-profile sole. Think studio to coffee to errands. Get it.

247 released ARC-4, a hybrid shoe built for running and strength training. While most plated racers are made strictly for road miles, this one pairs a carbon fiber plate with 65% energy-rebound foam and enough stability for lateral movement. Designed for hybrid athletes who don't want to switch shoes mid-workout. Drops Feb 4th.

On Our Radar 

What's moving in wellness this week → 

SuppCo wants in on research. One of the industry's most trusted supplement trackers is funding its own studies instead of just summarizing others'. They’ll answer questions that aren't commercially viable—like where benefits plateau, which nutrients actually matter, and how consumers prioritize certain ones. Their first target? None other than creatine.

Air quality reaches pro-level. World No. 6 tennis player Jessica Pegula partnered with Blueair to make a point: performance isn't just what you ingest, it's what you breathe. She travels with a purifier to every tournament and runs it in hotel rooms to reduce respiratory triggers that can stress her lungs. When elite athletes start optimizing air quality, the rest of us pay attention.

All eyes on WHOOP, still. Top players, including Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, were told to remove their WHOOP trackers before matches at the Australian Open. The devices are approved everywhere else on tour, but Grand Slams have their own rules. WHOOP's CEO responded by overnighting their Body Collection with embedded sensors to Melbourne.