Hold on

The Brief

Welcome back, Wellworthy readers.

An everyday health metric is gaining attention as a predictor of overall health. 

You rely on it more than you realize —  carrying groceries, hauling a suitcase, opening a jar, or picking up a dumbbell.

But this simple measurement of strength reveals more than physical power. Now, researchers say it's a window into how well you'll age.

Here’s what’s inside:

• What carrying groceries says about your lifespan

• HYROX is turning the fitness event into a family affair

• NEW THIS WEEK: A patch that digests dairy for you, a barbell-free squat rack, and Google’s screenless fitness tracker
  

Here we go!

— Jake & Joana

The Breakdown

A major study tracked 50,000 adults to see how grip strength predicted long-term health. Researchers used a simple benchmark: whether participants could lift 5 kilograms (about 11 pounds, or roughly the weight of a bag of groceries).

Those who struggled were significantly more likely to develop more than a dozen chronic conditions over time, including hypertension, heart attack, Alzheimer's, and stroke.

Why it matters

Grip strength is essentially a shortcut for measuring your total muscle mass. If your hands are getting weaker, the rest of your body is too, increasing the risk of falls, frailty, and loss of independence later in life.

And the connection goes way beyond muscle. Since muscle helps regulate blood sugar, energy use, and inflammation, a weak grip often acts as an early warning sign for broader metabolic health issues. It even speeds up the clock — lower grip strength accelerated biological aging.

The takeaway

It’s easy to dismiss weaker grip as a normal part of getting older. But if everyday tasks suddenly feel harder, it may be your body’s cue to prioritize physical resilience.

Muscle loss starts in your 30s

^{Presented by Tonal.}

You don't lose strength in old age. The decline starts in your 30s, and drops 3-8% per decade after that. Cardio protects your heart, but it can't preserve muscle. As muscle fades, your metabolism, bone density, and joint stability go with it. Good news: it's reversible, and you don't even need a gym to make it happen.

Tonal cuts the intimidation out of strength training. With the Tonal 2 Trainer, you get a tool that builds your progressive lifting plan, adjusts digital weight by the pound, and uses the built-in Spotter feature to manage your form and intensity in real time.

Take all the guesswork and planning out of lifting.

You get a smarter workout you can actually stick to, so you can finally stop overthinking your routine.

Through May 31, take $750 off during the Tonal Summer & Military Sale.

Discount applies automatically at checkout. Military and first responders can stack a free 4-year warranty.

Just Dropped

New products and drops spotted → 

Performance & tech

Google finally released Fitbit Air, a screenless wrist tracker built for 24/7 passive wear. The minimalist band tracks heart rate, activity, recovery, and sleep continuously, funneling all of it straight to the new Google Health app. The best part? It’s just a $99.99 one-time fee. Pre-order yours.

while on earth launched the Rhythm Runner, its first running shoe built for people who do more than just run. Developed to be a versatile, reliable utility shoe, it leans heavily into the comfort and stability required for both standard weekly miles and athletic training. Grab a pair.

1080 Motion dropped the 1080 Squat, a digital belt squat that eliminates the need to load up heavy barbells. It delivers up to 771 lbs of smooth motorized resistance and tracks real-time data on force, velocity, and power data for every rep. Preorder now.

Ladder just rolled out a major update that allows the app to collect data from Garmin, Oura, Whoop, and Fitbit. It’s a neat update for those of you who prefer non-Apple trackers. The data flow both ways: It pulls in your heart rate and calorie stats post-workout, while pushing your training data back to your preferred wearable so everything lives in one place. Sign up here.

Supplements & nutrition

Barrière launched Dear Dairy, a transdermal lactose patch that ends the era of carrying lactase pills in your pocket. The patch uses body heat to continuously deliver enzymes for up to 12 hours, meaning you can pivot from an AM latte to PM ice cream with zero stomach dread. Get dairy freedom. 

Carrie Underwood just launched HiNote, a daily nutrition and energy mix built to simplify wellness for busy days. Its Everyday Energy Mix comes in flavors like Juicy Peach and Strawberry Lemonade and packs protein, fiber, and superfoods. Grab it here.

HIDE is built around a simple idea: food should be made with real ingredients. The brand’s whole angle is its tagline — “Real food. Nothing to HIDE” — which suggests they’re tired of ultra-processed products dressed up as wellness food and believe better-for-you meals shouldn’t sacrifice taste. Now at Tesco.

On Our Radar 

What's moving in wellness this week → 

HYROX makes room for the kids. After a successful pilot run, the fitness racing giant is officially making HYROX Youngstars a permanent global series. The youth division mirrors the traditional adult course but scales the movements for athletes aged 8 to 15. It feels like a natural evolution for the brand's community, especially since at a recent London event, 22% of the young racers had a parent competing in the main race. Nothing says family-bonding like sled pulls. 

Testosterone's new demographic. A new peer-reviewed study positions testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) as a legitimate intervention for menopause. Tracking 332 patients, researchers found TRT boosted energy in 84% of women, improved moods for 65%, and raised overall quality of life for a massive 90%. Women's hormonal healthcare has a long way to go, but optimizing testosterone may be on the map.

Williamsburg gets a wellness corner store. The Goods Mart, billed as the OG better-for-you convenience store, is opening in Williamsburg. The brand pushes back on the idea that "convenience food" has to mean artificial ingredients and an inevitable sugar crash. They’re also known for spotting the next big thing, having carried brands like Olipop and Siete way before they were everywhere.