Float for your health
It’s like being weightless. In the dark. For an hour. Think you can handle it? You might want to try floatation therapy. You’re floating on a shallow depth of water in an enclosed pod, with Epsom salts keeping you buoyant. Studies suggest it may help alleviate muscle pain post-workout, lower blood pressure or combat anxiety. The sensory depravation can lull you into a near trance, if you let it. “It’s like the best sleep you’ve ever got,” says Naples Massage & Neuromuscular owner Tabatha Peterson. It may take some getting used to, but if you do, feeling weightless may start not to feel so weird.
Track your workout results in precise detail—if you dare
A 3-D fitness tracker is giving the most complete results yet for your workout. Are you ready to face the music? The Naked 3D Fitness Tracker might be for you. Using a scale and a mirror, the device scans your entire body and pings the results to your mobile app. Then, over time you can see how your body is changing. Of course, you may not want to see that much detail. On the other hand, the tracker is good for telling where you’re building muscle and losing fat. So, it’s showing you the benefits of exercise even if the weight loss starts to trail off. However, don’t slack off in your workout. It’ll show that, too.
A computer that can tell you how long you’ll live
Doctors at the University of East Angola are creating software, based on data from millions of patients, that can predict—roughly—how long you are going to live at any point in your life.
Pass the crickets, please
Don’t get too grossed out. But maybe it’s time to find a good recipe for cicadas. As pressure mounts to find ways to feed a growing global population, more studies are coming out taking a look at the nutritional value of insects. No, this doesn’t sound too appetizing, but keep in mind that various insects are a staple of diets overseas, such as the water bugs that can be found in many Thai recipes. One of the latest studies, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, compared a range of bugs to the meat we Americans traditionally eat—beef, pork and chicken. The results: Crickets, palm weevil larvae and mealworm were found to have more nutritional value than beef or chicken. Does a cricket burger sound good about now?
Heartbreak may be an actual thing
A study in Open Heart shows that people who have a loved one die or leave are at a higher risk for atrial fibrillation for as long as a year after the event.
The running shoe of the future
New Balance may be redefining how we think of running shoes. The company has been experimenting with 3-D printing for its next generation of sneakers. The latest and greatest is the Zante Generate. It’s three years in the making, and its sole is made from a powder that has been hardened with high-tech lasers. The idea is that it can give a runner the most comprehensive support for running. In the future, the company says it could start producing customizable shoes. The price tag on the Zante Generate currently is $400. It’s up to you if it’s worth it compared to your tried-and-true Nikes.
Weekend warrior? Don’t go too hard
More Americans are getting ACL injuries than ever before—up to 250,000 people annually, according to the American Journal of Sports Medicine. A major contingent of those are adults over 40 years old. The problem: They’re weekend warriors. The issue is that many adults live sedentary lifestyles during the week, then go out and vigorously exercise during their time off. It’s putting too much stress on unconditioned bodies, especially knees if the sports involve lots of running. Dr. Kate Hernandez told The Washington Post: “They’re aerobically drained, and their bodies can’t withstand the activity.”
