Power shift

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

• F1 star Daniel Ricciardo’s performance coach shares his go-to gear

• Why run clubs and workout groups are replacing nightlife

• Plus, new launches from Represent 247 x PUMA, Athletic Brewing, NBA star Jalen Brown, Create, and more

Let’s go!
- Ash Read and Joe Niehaus

Health Stack: Michael Italiano

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

This week: Michael Italiano. A high-performance coach with over a decade of experience helping elite athletes optimize performance, including six years in Formula One with Daniel Ricciardo.

Michael starts his day at 5:30 am with a cold shower and morning workout. “I’ll always train in the mornings to remove any potential excuses I may run into throughout the day,” he says. After a day of meetings and dinner, he gets outside to hit his daily steps.

Here’s Michael to share his Health Stack:

• Eight Sleep: “I love the app’s analytics database, which breaks down your sleep metrics and quality; it’s very accurate. The best thing about it is the automatic temperature regulation, which supports your ideal core body temperature for optimal rested sleep.”

• Garmin Epix Pro: “It has every intrinsic measurement you need as an athlete and excellent watch face options. You can get a very accurate daily readiness summary with a quick glance at your watch. I also love playing golf, and their golf GPS is unreal.”

• ICIW Apparel: “I love the variety and quality of the apparel. It is durable, very light, and comfortable, and most importantly, it withstands the gym environment when dumbbells are flying (not literally, I hope).”

• AG1: “The first thing I have in the morning is my AG1 with an electrolyte sachet. I like to hit my vitamin and hydration goals early before any exercise or start the day to really sharpen the brain and get rid of any morning brain fog.”

• Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23: “I’ve been training to complete my first marathon, so I wanted to invest in a quality pair of running shoes. This is my first pair of Brooks, and I absolutely love them. The comfort and response when I run are fantastic. I’ve done a solid 200km in them, and they are still kicking very strongly.”

• Kinetica Creatine Monohydrate: “My favorite go-to supplement for recovery, overall strength gains, and brain cognition is creatine. One of the most widely researched supplements on the market, creatine is very safe and pure gold for any athlete looking to enhance their overall performance.”Balancing act

Fitness fuels social shift 

Social habits are shifting as more people prioritize wellness experiences over alcohol-centered gatherings. 

Fit friends. A survey of Strava users found that 4x more people want to meet new friends through a fitness group than at a bar. And 95% say they’d reduce alcohol to achieve their fitness goals.

Seeing is believing. Wearables make alcohol’s negative effects impossible to ignore, with WHOOP data showing decreased recovery scores with each drink — leading members to consume less and less alcohol every year.

Echoing this sentiment, Sean Golden, CEO of online retailer The Zero Proof said “...alcohol consumption is very much down” while interest in nonalcoholic and THC beverages is growing. 

Cut back. Resetting after holiday indulgences, Dry January has become a popular movement. 

If you’re thinking about going alcohol-free to start–or throughout—2025, give these brands a try: 

• Athletic Brewing is leading the craft NA beer category

• Seedlip, Ritual Zero Proof, and Lyre's offer spirits alternatives

• New entrants like Ghia (botanicals), Kin (adaptogens), and CANN (THC) are creating unique alcohol-free elixirs

Making waves, actor Tom Holland recently launched NA beer Bero, Lapo’s revamped the classic Negroni sans alcohol, and BRĒZ crafts THC-infused “social tonics”.

Punchline: The rise of wellness culture is changing how younger generations connect and celebrate. As health metrics become more visible and alternatives more appealing, alcohol’s dominance in social settings is fading. 

The Nike V2K Run: Retro style meets modern innovation

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Inspired by the iconic Vomero, the Nike V2K Run blends early 2000s running style with modern comfort and sustainability.

Flashy metallics, translucent plastic accents, and a chunky heel channel vintage vibes, while the dual-density foam midsole and breathable mesh upper deliver a smooth, comfortable ride. Plus, this shoe is part of Nike’s journey toward zero carbon and zero waste, crafted using recycled materials to reduce environmental impact.

Whether you're running errands or making a statement, the V2K Run combines nostalgic design with everyday wearability. Shop now. 

Just Dropped: PUMA x Represent collaboration

British fashion brand Represent partnered with PUMA for a landmark 12-piece collection of training apparel, footwear, and accessories.

Fronted by Olympic 800m semi-finalist Phoebe Gill and HYROX Master Trainer Jake Dearden, the collaboration marks Represent's first foray into women's performance wear and includes a reimagined PUMA Elite Nitro shoe featuring 247's distinctive design elements. Available now at Represent and PUMA.

More drops perfect for:

• Mocktail moments. Athletic Brewing launched two cocktail-inspired non-alcoholic brews: citrusy Paloma and zesty Moscow Mule, designed to be served over ice with lime. Shop exclusively at Athletic Brewing.

• Retro running. Saucony revived its influential 2010 ProGrid Omni 9, bringing back the model's signature Grid Technology cushioning and metallic accents for a blend of heritage comfort and style. Order now.

• Daily gains. Create simplifies creatine supplementation with its new single-serve powder sticks, featuring 5g of premium Creapure® monohydrate in Lemon Lime, Mixed Berry, and Unflavored options. A 30-day supply starts at $40 ($1.33/day). Order here.

• Natural hydration. Pludo Labs debuted its first electrolyte drink, combining essential minerals with natural energy boosters in a clean formula that skips sugar and maltodextrin in favor of organic ingredients. Shop now.

• Sleep support. Eight Sleep announced Sleep Elixir, a natural supplement developed with Dr. Peter Attia using insights from 600 million hours of sleep data. Join the waitlist.

• Mindful drinking. Kin Euphorics partnered with matcha.com and integrative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil to create Matchatini, a creamy non-alcoholic elixir blending ceremonial-grade matcha with euphoric botanicals for elevated focus and mood. Shop here.

• Futuristic fashion. NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown unveiled 741, a luxury athleisure brand featuring premium puffer coats, hoodies, and accessories, each adorned with an iridescent emblem and crafted from high-performance materials. Explore here.

• Holiday gifting. Bandit Running simplifies holiday shopping with curated gift sets featuring their most popular gear—from caps and socks to bags—bundled at 10% off individual retail prices. Shop here.

• Smart health. Lotus Health launched an AI-powered health platform that securely aggregates personal health data to serve as a primary care copilot. Learn more.

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

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