Locked in

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

• WHOOP’s head of performance shares her favorite recovery products. 

• How nature can reduce inflammation. 

• New drops for athleisure fans, runners, and reproductive health.

— Let’s go!

Health Stack: Dr. Kristen Holmes' recipe for optimal recovery

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

This week: Dr. Kristen Holmes, global head of human performance and principal scientist at WHOOP. 

Four years after the fitness wearable company emerged from Harvard Innovation Labs, the psychophysiologist was recruited to accelerate the brand's mission to unlock human performance. "Nine years ago when I joined, no-one really had a handle on recovery," Holmes tells Wellworthy. 

A former US field hockey player and coach, the mother-of-two straddles multiple advisory boards while writing her PhD on the impact of circadian behaviours on physiological and psychological resilience. "I'm busy, like most folks," she says. 

Here are the tools, tech, and supplements that keep Kristen firing on all cylinders: 

• Huel: "I try to get all of my nutrients from food, but I'm bullish on Huel. It's quick and convenient. I travel a lot. I have two kids. I'm a mum. I have a big job. So, I'm busy, like most folks. Sometimes I just need to grab something quick, and Huel's ready-to-drink is so great. And I love their daily greens as well." 

• Bon Charge Red Light Face Mask: "I love my Bon Charge face mask. For skin health and improving overall skin tone and texture, red light therapy is pretty well studied." 

• Nike Zoom: "I'm a Nike Zoom girl. I love to sprint and do hill work and long zone 2 runs. I find being outside in nature so therapeutic. For me, that's the mother of all recovery modalities.”

• LMNT electrolytes: "I use LMNT electrolytes every day. I eat pretty cleanly, so I don't have a ton of salt in my diet, but that combination of sodium, potassium, and magnesium is such a great little stack. I have one of those in the morning, specifically when I'm traveling." 

• Circadian light: "I use a basic circadian light from Amazon. It mimics natural light and helps with seasonal affect disorder and alertness. Principally, if you want to be alert, you want to view as much light as possible.”

• WHOOP: "Of course, I also rely on my WHOOP band. I love the health monitor feature, sleep planner to help recalibrate when I'm traveling, and the haptic alarm setting. I also love the stress monitor, it’s such a cool feature that I think is underutilised. Some people question technology, but I believe it allows you to take the guesswork out of what inputs work and don't work so you can make clear decisions about your life.”

Check out Dr. Kristen Holmes’ full Health Stack here.

On Our Radar 

Interesting stories we spotted this week → 

Nature is medicine. When researchers planted 8,000 trees in a Louisville neighborhood, residents showed 13-20% lower inflammation levels – a key marker for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. This real-world experiment was the first to establish a direct cause-effect relationship between trees and our health. Want to improve your well-being?  The best prescription might be right outside your door.

Belonging > browsing. As Americans' social time dwindles to just 34 minutes daily, retail spaces are becoming hubs for connection. MAAP, Bandit Running, and lululemon opened spaces for group events, runs, and workout classes, complete with coffee shops and social areas. This shift transforms stores into sanctuaries where products are an entry point to something far more valuable – authentic connection with like-minded people.

Padel's moment. While Americans flock to pickleball courts, another racket sport is building momentum. Padel – a tennis/pickleball hybrid played on enclosed courts – is one of the world's fastest-growing sports. The appeal goes beyond competition. Highlighting the social benefits, Santiago Gomez, founder of Padel Haus, told Wellworthy: "People spend more hours at Padel Haus off the court than on it.” More athletic than pickleball but easier to learn than tennis, padel clubs are expanding, including NYC's Padel Haus (with Denver and Nashville locations coming), San Francisco's Park Padel, and Austin's Padel 39.

Beyond the screen. Rural patients in Tennessee are now seeing specialists as life-sized holograms. Unlike pixelated video calls, West Cancer Center's $70,000 system projects three-dimensional doctor images into satellite clinics, preserving crucial nonverbal communication. "You get my body language, my hand motions, expression – which in oncology visits is vital," explains Dr. Sylvia Richey. Currently limited to specialty care, this technology hints at a future where geography no longer hinders healthcare quality.

Just Dropped: Just Dropped: PUMA x SAYSKY

PUMA partnered with SAYSKY for a 25-piece collection that launches today, built on their shared passion for running performance and community.

The "Forever. Stars" collaboration includes three footwear lines for men and women (the ForeverRun 2 for training, Deviate 3 for tempo workouts, and Deviate Elite 3 for racing) plus performance and lifestyle apparel in women's, men's, and unisex fits. Shop the collection.

More drops perfect for:

• Family nutrition. Baby food pioneer YUMI expanded with the Organic Super Bar, a soft-baked breakfast option with 0g added sugar and 8 essential nutrients from 7+ superfood vegetables. Available in three flavors at Whole Foods and Amazon. 

• Reproductive health. Luminary Vitamins launched Create for Men, a doctor-formulated gummy supplement supporting male fertility and sperm health. The daily packets complement the brand's women's fertility line with research-backed nutrients. Shop here

• Fitness tracking. WHOOP added VO2 max estimation using a proprietary algorithm that combines physiological metrics, activity data, and demographics. The feature provides weekly updates with trend views and comparative analytics, developed through extensive testing at WHOOP Labs and validated to within 8% of gold standard measurements. Learn more.

• Designer movement. lululemon x Saul Nash debuted SLNSH, a multi-season collaboration merging Nash's elevated activewear design with lululemon's technical innovation. The Spring 2025 collection features metamorphosis-inspired pieces for men and women, designed for layering and personalization. Discover the collection. 

• Social sipping."Alt-Beer" FABRIC is launching soon with non-alcoholic and low-dose THC-infused options for beer taste without hangovers. The sustainable brand donates 2% to mental health initiatives. Register your interest here.

• Indoor training. Trueform unveiled a complete redesign of its manual treadmill lineup, featuring an overhauled Trainer model and the new Runner with integrated connected screen technology. Learn more.

• Digestive health. Kourtney Kardashian Barker's supplement brand Lemme launched No. 2, a strawberry-flavored daily fiber and probiotic gummy. Each sugar-free serving provides 4g prebiotic fiber and two clinically studied probiotics for gut health. Shop now.

• Active recovery. Nike launched the ReactX Rejuven8, a $70 clog made entirely from responsive ReactX foam. The Crocs-inspired slip-on features rippled design and breathable perforations in multiple colorways. Shop here.

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

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