• This one’s for our NYC Tribe: Did you know that city dwellers are at higher risk for having anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses than those who live in suburban settings? New research presents a simple solution: walking in nature can change our brains in ways that improve our long-term mental health. —the new york times
• Most people meditate to help themselves, but could your daily practice be helping others? There may be a connection between meditation and increased compassion towards others. —the atlantic
• Nothing good lasts forever: Well and Good rounds up everything you need to know about makeup expiration dates. —well and good
• Want sustainable + continued success? You’ve got to practice “habit creep.” —james clear
• When you work out from a place of loving yourself instead of hating yourself, everything shifts. Read up on the six things that body-positive people do every day. —mind body green

1. There are no federal guidelines that recommend a sugar limit. We do know that the average American consumes 19.5 teaspoons per day (and that this amount is making us sick) — but how much is too much? A new tool says that we should not consume more than 9 teaspoons per day for men and 6 teaspoons per day for women. —npr
2. Want to exercise more? Sign a contract. —the wall street journal
3. If healthy food were more convenient (and affordable), would more people eat it? A salad vending machine test run attempts to find out. —the atlantic
4. Ready to quit something that’s no longer serving you? Check out the quickstart guide to quitting a bad habit. —zen habits
5. How a national food policy could save millions of American lives — Mark Bittman, Michael Pollan, Ricardo Salvador and Olivier De Schutter weigh in on the importance of creating a U.S. National Food Policy. —the washington post

1. The silver lining to California’s drought: it may have produced more nutrient-dense fruit. —npr’s the salt
2. We like our burpees and bouncing with a side of good beats: here’s how music can boost a high-intensity workout. —the new york times
3. If not for your body, rest for your brain; sleep deprivation can take a heavy mental toll. —the atlantic
4. Choose systems over goals to see results. —summer tomato
5. As Breast Cancer Awareness month comes to a close, read this reminder on why prevention must be a priority. —the huffington post

1. A science startup is brewing a natural produce spray to double the lifespan of fruits and vegetables. Worldwide, we throw $750 billion in food away each year, often due to food rot, so this would be huge. —npr
2. If your nutrition label told you that 250 calories of soda equated to a 50-minute run, would you still drink it? Research shows that when people think about sugar calories in terms of the physical activity required to burn them off, they make smarter choices. —the atlantic
3. Your “fitness age” — determined by one’s measure of cardiovascular endurance — may be a better predictor of longevity than your chronological age. So, sweat your way younger. —the new york times
4. To snooze or not to snooze? That shouldn’t even be a question: here’s why the snooze button ruins your sleep. —greatist
5. Harder, better, faster, stronger — why are Americans so obsessed with extreme fitness? —the new york times magazine

1. How real is a gluten sensitivity that isn’t celiac’s disease? A growing body of research suggests that many may be suffering a condition called non-celiac gluten sensitivity. —the new york times
2. A guide on how to stop every kind of headache ASAP? Yes, please and thank you, Greatist. —greatist
3. Working on building healthy habits? (Yea, you are.) Read up on the biggest reasons why you haven’t changed your habits, then nip those roadblocks in the bud. —zen habits
4. Could a high-carb diet be the pathway to a lean body and metabolic health? A recent study exams the metabolic effects of a traditional Asian high-carb diet. —whole health source
5. You are… who you eat with. New research shows that eating with overweight people makes us more likely to serve ourselves bigger portions and choose unhealthier foods. —the atlantic

1. Exercise as medicine? New research suggests that exercise may safeguard the mind against depression. —the new york times
2. Round two of exercise as medicine: Exercise may improve symptoms of ADHD. Physical activity improves mental focus, memory and cognitive flexibility — all of which influence academic performance. —the atlantic
3. Meet your local produce police, California. Gov. Brown is trying to employ produce inspectors to crack down on whether farmer’s market produce is being properly labeled and represented (i.e. local, organic). —npr
4. Have you ever done an elimination diet? Check out this detailed, first-hand account of how one woman cleared her skin and healed her gut. —mind body green
5. Looking to eat local this fall? Don’t head out to the farmer’s market before skimming this fall produce guide. —nutrition stripped

We’ll leave you with this incredible Thug Kitchen cookbook trailer. Happy Friday!

1. This is why ‘The Biggest Loser’ isn’t — but could be — TV’s most important show ever. —The Daily Beast
2. There’s more than $160 billion in food waste in the U.S. each year; part of the growing problem is that, in an attempt to woo shoppers with presentation and displays, supermarkets are left with overage that ends up in the trash. —NPR
3. New research shows that teenagers trying to lose weight will lose more fat when they do both resistance and aerobic exercise. barimacro, anyone? —The New York Times
4. Do you associate exhaustion as a status symbol of an effective workout? Here’s why the militarization of fitness is actually bad for your health. —Greatist
5. We know probiotics are good for the gut, but they may also be a natural antidepressant. —The Atlantic

1. Another strike against diet soda: a new study suggests that the artificial drink can alter our gut microbes and raise the risk of diabetes. —npr
2. Shifting the focus away from the scale, american waistlines are expanding, and this positions us at greater risk for heart disease and metabolic diseases like diabetes. —the new york times
3. The science behind the midnight snack: this is why the body craves junk food late at night. —the atlantic
4. Meet freekah: the supergrain that might end your relationship with quinoa. —greatist
5. Next time you feel like skipping class in favor of happy hour, remind yourself of how exercise makes you feel. —mark’s daily apple

1. why does the U.S. chill its eggs when the rest of the world doesn’t? —npr
2. being a beach bum may do the brain good: here’s how being near the water can make us calmer and more creative. —the huffington post
3. dieting to lose weight? you’re doing it all wrong. check out these seven reasons why dieting makes losing weight harder. —summer tomato
4. think happy thoughts? the power of positive thinking certainly has its limits, and this piece digs into the upside of pessimism. —the atlantic
5. the sweet spot of sleep? new research finds that the most reliable workers get seven to eight hours of sleep each night. —the new york times

1. We’re all for transparency when it comes to anything food related (thank you, NYC Department of Health letter grades); Oxfam is attempting to nudge food companies to make their inner workings more visible by scoring them on everything from workers’ righters to climate change. —npr
2. Is there a connection between sports and ALS? —the new york times
3. Hot off the presses — and just in time for back-to-school season — the freshman 15 is a myth. —the atlantic
4. When it comes to brains, size matters. And if you’re not getting enough sleep, your brain may shrink. —the huffington post
5. Good news for veggie haters: You may be able to train your brain to love greens just as much as cookies. —the atlantic