Have you ever taken a sip of black coffee and immediately regretted it? Or maybe you’ve bitten into a grapefruit and felt like your tongue was under attack? If so, you’re not alone. Bitterness is one of the most misunderstood flavors, but it plays a huge role in our health and survival. From keeping us from eating toxic foods to helping digestion, bitterness has a bigger impact on our bodies than most people realize. So, let’s dive into the bitter truth—why some people hate it, why your stomach can actually taste it, and how it has been used as medicine for centuries.

To begin with, bitterness exists for a reason. In nature, many poisonous plants contain bitter compounds. Long ago, humans who could detect bitterness had a survival advantage. In other words, their ability to taste bitterness kept them from eating something deadly. As a result, our bodies evolved to be extra sensitive to bitter flavors.

However, not all bitter foods are dangerous. Many are incredibly healthy. Take kale, dark chocolate, and turmeric, for example. These foods may taste strong or even unpleasant to some people, but they are packed with antioxidants and nutrients that support overall health.

So, why do some people love bitter foods while others can’t stand them? The answer lies in our genes. Scientists have discovered that a gene called TAS2R38 determines how sensitive we are to bitterness. If you are a super-taster, bitter foods might seem unbearably strong. On the other hand, if you are a non-taster, you may barely notice the bitterness at all.

Interestingly, your tongue isn’t the only part of your body that detects bitterness. Your stomach can taste it as well. But how does that work? Well, your stomach has bitter taste receptors that serve a very important function.

First, these receptors help control digestion. When bitter foods enter your stomach, the receptors slow down gastric emptying. In simpler terms, they make food stay in your stomach longer. As a result, you feel full for a longer period. This is one reason why bitter greens like arugula or dandelion leaves can help with weight management.

Second, these bitter receptors act as bodyguards for your digestive system. If your stomach detects a bitter substance that shouldn’t be there—like a potential toxin—it delays digestion to prevent harmful substances from moving too quickly into your intestines. This process gives your body extra time to neutralize any potential threats.

Because of their digestive benefits, bitter herbs have been used in medicine for centuries. In the past, people took bitters—herbal mixtures containing bitter plant extracts—to help with digestion, bloating, and nausea. Some of the most common bitter herbs include:

• Gentian root – A powerful bitter used to stimulate digestion.
• Dandelion – Helps with liver function and gut health.
• Wormwood – Historically used for digestive problems and gut health.
• Burdock – Supports digestion and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Over time, bitters made their way from medicine cabinets to cocktail bars. During the 1800s, bitters became a key ingredient in alcoholic drinks, including the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan. In fact, some of today’s most famous bitters, like Angostura and Peychaud’s, were originally marketed as health...

For decades, the humble egg was treated like a ticking time bomb for your arteries. Nutrition guidelines told us to avoid them, doctors warned us about cholesterol, and many Americans swapped their morning omelet for a sad bowl of processed cereal. But here’s the kicker—those recommendations weren’t based on strong science. Instead, industry interests heavily influenced them, outdated theories, and a lot of fear-mongering.

Now, eggs are back on the menu. Science has finally caught up, and experts agree that dietary cholesterol isn’t the villain it was made out to be. But just when we thought we could enjoy eggs guilt-free, bird flu struck, prices skyrocketed, and suddenly, eggs became the new luxury item. So, how did we get here? Let’s crack open the truth.

If you grew up in the 90s, you probably remember the Food Pyramid. It told us to eat 6-11 servings of bread, pasta, and cereal every day, while foods like eggs, meat, and fats were placed at the top—basically labeled "Eat Sparingly."

But was this pyramid built on solid science? Not exactly.

The grain industry played a huge role in shaping these guidelines. In the 1970s and 80s, low-fat diets became the gold standard for heart health. The idea was simple: eating fat leads to heart disease, so cutting out fat would make us healthier. Unfortunately, that’s not what happened.

Instead, food companies removed fat from products and replaced it with sugar and processed carbs—because, let’s face it, fat-free food tastes terrible without something to make it palatable. As a result, Americans ended up eating way more refined carbs and sugar, leading to a spike in obesity and type 2 diabetes (Ludwig et al., 2018).

Meanwhile, eggs—one of nature’s most nutrient-dense and affordable foods—were put on the naughty list.

The real egg panic began in 1968 when the American Heart Association (AHA) declared that dietary cholesterol was a major cause of heart disease. They recommended eating no more than three eggs per week (Kritchevsky, 1999).

But here’s the problem—this recommendation wasn’t based on strong human studies. Instead, it was based on:

1. Animal Studies – Scientists fed cholesterol to rabbits, which are naturally herbivores, and (shocker!) their cholesterol went up. But rabbits process cholesterol differently than humans (McNamara, 2000).
2. Epidemiological Correlations – Early studies linked high cholesterol intake to heart disease, but they didn’t separate it from other factors like saturated fat, smoking, or lack of exercise (Hu et al., 1999).
3. Clinical Studies With Unrealistic Diets – Some studies tested cholesterol intake using six eggs per day—which is way more than most people eat (Fernandez, 2006).

Meanwhile, many scientists already knew that dietary cholesterol had minimal impact on blood cholesterol for most people. Our bodies naturally regulate cholesterol production—when we eat more cholesterol, the liver produces less to balance it out (Griffin & Lichtenstein, 2013).

But by the time the science caught up, the damage was done. Food companies had already flooded the market with...

Health wearables have exploded in popularity, promising better sleep, fitness, and recovery tracking. But with so many options—Apple Watch, Whoop, Withings, Oura, and Ultrahuman Rings—which one is actually worth your money?

More importantly, do these devices improve your health, or are they just expensive digital trophies?

In this breakdown, we’ll compare features, accuracy, HRV (Heart Rate Variability) and “strain” tracking, battery life, hidden costs, and privacy concerns—so you can make the best choice for your lifestyle.

We have come a long way since the pedometer - which I used to buy and give to my post op surgery patients to encourage them to walk.

Most modern wearables track heart rate, sleep, HRV, activity levels, and even blood oxygen and temperature. More than just steps - which they all track, but each device has its strengths:

• Apple Watch – Tracks HRV, ECG (FDA-cleared for atrial fibrillation), and fall detection. However, cellular models require a monthly subscription for full use, and it no longer tracks blood oxygen (SpO2) due to a patent dispute.
• Whoop – Focuses on recovery, strain, and sleep—but requires a costly subscription and has no screen.
• Oura Ring – A discreet ring tracking sleep stages, HRV, and body temperature.
• Withings – The only one besides Apple to be FDA-cleared for atrial fibrillation detection, with a focus on medical-grade tracking (smart scales, blood pressure monitors, and sleep mats). Unlike Apple, Withings still tracks blood oxygen (SpO2). Withings also tracks heart rate continuously during sleep, and thanks to its long battery life, it can be worn at night for weeks without interruption. No subscription required.
• Ultrahuman Ring – A newer ring with a focus on metabolic tracking and recovery.

A 2020 Nature Digital Medicine study found that wrist-based devices overestimate activity but underestimate calories burned, while rings tend to be more reliable for sleep and HRV.

HRV is the variation in time between heartbeats—a measure of how well your autonomic nervous system is functioning.

• Higher HRV = Better recovery, lower stress, and improved cardiovascular health.
• Lower HRV = Fatigue, overtraining, stress, or even illness.

However, HRV is highly variable based on factors like hydration, sleep, and time of day.

How Wearables Measure HRV:

• Apple Watch, Whoop, Oura, Withings, and Ultrahuman all track HRV, but accuracy depends on when and how it’s measured.
• Whoop and Oura measure HRV during deep sleep, which is considered more stable than spot-checks.
• Apple Watch and Withings measure HRV periodically throughout the day, which may be less reliable due to external...