This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
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Over the past few years, the story about microplastics has shifted from a focus on ocean pollution to human health, and the science has moved faster than many people realize. Researchers have detected these tiny particles — fragments that often are invisible — in human blood, breast milk, and most recently cardiac arteries and brain tissue. The question is no longer whether we’ve been exposed. It’s about what that exposure means and what, if anything, we can do about it.
It’s next to impossible to opt out of microplastic exposure. I want to say that upfront, because too much writing on this topic implies that the right combination of shopping and lifestyle choices will keep you clean. It probably won’t. By the time food gets to your kitchen — whether it’s labeled organic and brought home in a cloth bag or it was handed to you at a drive-through window — it has already traveled through a plastic-intensive supply chain. Factory equipment, storage, and transport all contribute layers of plastic exposure — often with the intention of preventing you from being exposed to other contaminates — long before you go shopping or open the refrigerator.
There’s a growing body of evidence showing <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822">harm from microplastics</a>, but some of the findings might feel distant from daily risk calculations. That’s where the animal studies on endocrine disruption come in. What we now understand is that <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12249724/">microplastics can disrupt the hypothalamus</a>, the part of the brain that sends hormonal signals that tell you when you’ve eaten enough or that it’s time to go to bed. I know that some people who are reading this are saying to themselves: The studies she’s talking about were done in mice, not people. Fair enough. We don’t have human randomized controlled trials on microplastics, and we probably never will. But we’ve been here before. We acted on the endocrine disruption that we saw in the animal literature related to BPA before we had definitive proof of human harm. We didn’t wait before pulling it from baby bottles. The precautionary logic was sound, and the same reasoning applies here.
So where is the exposure actually coming from? It turns out that it’s everywhere, everything, and all at once, but not equally. A recent study found that <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749123022352">chicken nuggets</a> contain significantly more microplastic contamination than plain chicken breast. Same animal, radically different plastic load because every additional processing step means more contact with plastic manufacturing equipment. Ultra-processed foods aren’t just nutritionally inferior; they carry a higher plastic burden as a result of the process used to produce the food.
What you can do about it comes down to two habits, neither of which costs anything.
Heat is the enemy. Microwave heating causes the highest release of microplastics of any common kitchen scenario. One <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c01942">study</a> found billions of nanoplastic particles per square centimeter were released within three minutes of heating time. The label “microwave safe” means the container won’t melt. It says nothing about what it does to your food. If you’re heating something that was packaged in plastic — a frozen meal or leftovers in a takeout tray — transfer it to a glass or ceramic dish first. Same microwave, dramatically lower microplastic exposure.
Your dishwasher is doing more damage than you think. Heat degrades plastic, and repeated dishwasher cycles accelerate that breakdown, increasing the rate at which particles shed into whatever you store or eat from those containers. Wash plastic by hand.
That’s it. I’m not telling you to throw out your Tupperware. In an ideal world, replacing plastic storage with glass and stainless steel makes sense, but that’s a financial commitment that not everyone can make right away. I’m a doctor and a mom and I’ll admit to having heated up more than a few meals in whatever container they came in. The goal isn’t perfection or beating yourself up over your past choices. These are two easy habits that don’t require new equipment and address the highest-exposure moments in your daily routine. The science on microplastics is evolving, but the direction of the evidence is clear. Meaningfully reducing your exposure is free. That’s a pretty easy call.
***
Monique Yohanan, MD, MPH, is a senior fellow for health policy at Independent Women. As a physician executive and healthcare innovation leader, Yohanan has more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of clinical medicine, technology, and health policy.

GettyImages-2203432251

The Plastic Problem No One Can Opt Out Of And Two Easy Fixes You’re Probably Ignoring

Health

MAHA

Upstream

A doctor asked the Supreme Court to intervene in her battle against woke California medical education requirements she says stifle her free speech.
Dr. Azadeh Khatibi and the medical watchdog organization Do No Harm filed a <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/1032366223/Khatibi-Pet-for-Cert-1?_gl=1*158e1y2*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTg1NjQ4MTE0NS4xNzc3Mzg2MDE2*_ga_Z4ZC50DED6*czE3NzczODYwMTUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzczODYwMTckajU4JGwwJGgw*_ga_8KZ8BV0P5W*czE3NzczODYwMTUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzczODYwMTckajU4JGwwJGgw">petition</a> on Tuesday asking the Supreme Court to take up a case challenging continuing medical education requirements that mandate instructors teach doctors about “implicit bias,” which is the claim that a person can unconsciously discriminate against another. Khatibi argues that the requirements, which were signed into law by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, force medical professionals to push politically charged ideas.
“By mandating ideologically charged racial theories be taught in continuing medical education courses, California infringes on physicians’ free speech rights,” Do No Harm Chair Stanley Goldfarb told The Daily Wire. “We are asking the Supreme Court to intervene to protect these critical rights in the field of medicine. Doctors do not need lawmakers telling them what to think when providing medical advice to patients.”
The petition filed Tuesday wants the court to address the question of whether a state can “compel private professionals to convey a contested ideological message as a condition of teaching courses required for a professional license.” Khatibi and Do No Harm are both represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation.
The requirements being challenged say that those giving continuing medical education must give examples of “how implicit bias affects perceptions and treatment decisions of physicians and surgeons, leading to disparities in health outcomes,” or suggest strategies to address how “unintended biases in decision-making may contribute to health care disparities by shaping behavior and producing differences in medical treatment.”
Previous attempts to challenge the requirement at the federal district and appeals court levels have been unsuccessful. Those courts have said the requirements are part of the state’s prerogative to regulate medical practice.
The petition filed with the Supreme Court argues that the implicit bias mandate exceeds the state’s regulatory power.
“That sweeping ruling erases the constitutional boundary between government and private speech, threatens the speech rights of countless professionals, and directly conflicts with this Court’s precedents limiting the government speech doctrine and protecting against compelled speech,” the petition said.
Goldfarb said that there is no evidence of implicit bias in health care and that doctors should be trained to address each patient’s unique needs rather than focusing on race.
“There is no evidence so-called systemic implicit bias exists in health care, and propagating such debunked pseudoscience only deepens suspicion between patients and providers,” he said. “We urge the Court to take up our case and resolve California’s overreach once and for all.”

Governor Gavin Newsom in Hayward, California

Government Forcing Ideology Into Medicine Vs. Doctors’ Right To Think And Speak Freely

California

Courts

Gavin Newsom

Health Care

medicine

Supreme Court

U.S.

A watchdog group is launching a new campaign targeting two of the nation’s largest nonprofit hospital systems, arguing they have strayed from patient care and should risk losing their tax-exempt status as a result.
Consumers&#8217; Research is set to roll out its “Woke Hospitals” initiative on Monday, ahead of a Tuesday hearing by the House Ways and Means Committee focused on rising health care costs. The campaign singles out New York-Presbyterian and CommonSpirit Health, accusing both of prioritizing political and social initiatives over core medical services.
The campaign includes a mobile billboard expected to circulate near Capitol Hill and <a href="http://wokehospitals.com/">a dedicated website</a> detailing the group’s allegations — what the group describes as “ideological overreach” by nonprofit hospitals benefiting from federal tax advantages.
Will Hild, executive director of Consumers’ Research, said the effort is intended to draw attention to what he describes as a misalignment between public subsidies and hospital priorities. “It is appalling to see hospitals indulge in woke politics while their patients struggle with long waits, surprise bills, and a continuous lack of price transparency,” Hild said in an exclusive statement to The Daily Wire. “Nonprofit status is not an automatic right; it is a public subsidy granted in exchange for a public benefit.”
According to the campaign materials, Consumers’ Research is highlighting programs at New York-Presbyterian that it says reflect an institutional focus on “health equity” and social justice. Among them is the hospital’s <a href="https://www.nyp.org/daliocenter">Dalio Center for Health Justice</a>, which promotes initiatives aimed at addressing disparities tied to race, socioeconomic status, and access to care. The hospital has described these programs as a core part of its mission, with leadership emphasizing that addressing long-standing inequities is essential to improving patient outcomes.
<div id="attachment_1084581" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1084581" class="size-medium wp-image-1084581" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/NY-Pres-MBB-300x169.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/NY-Pres-MBB-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/NY-Pres-MBB-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/NY-Pres-MBB-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/NY-Pres-MBB.jpeg 1280w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Billboard content provided by Consumers&#8217; Research</div>
Consumers’ Research points to the hospital’s own language as evidence of a broader shift in priorities. “Our goal is to contribute to equal healthcare and equal education because we believe that these are the most fundamental building blocks of equal opportunity and just society,” said Ray Dalio, founder of Dalio philanthropies and a hospital trustee.
Hospital CEO Dr. Stephen J. Corwin similarly emphasized the institution’s focus on broader social goals, stating, “We are living in a profound time where social, economic and health crises are converging at once. … New York Presbyterian hopes to be a leader in health justice.”
The group also points to New York-Presbyterian’s Compass Program, which provides support services for trans-identifying youth, including counseling, family assistance, and medical referrals. Hospital leadership has publicly affirmed its commitment to “gender-affirming care,” describing it as an important part of serving the patient population.
At CommonSpirit Health, Consumers’ Research is focusing on the system’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, which coordinates a multi-pronged strategy aimed at reducing disparities in health care access and outcomes. The hospital network has described its work as an effort to improve care delivery through better data collection, community partnerships, and workforce diversification.
The campaign also highlights CommonSpirit’s participation in initiatives such as the <a href="https://www.chausa.org/news-and-publications/publications/catholic-health-world/archives/november-1-2023/commonspirits-five-pillars-approach-is-about-creating-equity-for-all">Race to Zero climate effort</a>, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as partnerships designed to expand opportunities for underrepresented groups in the medical field.
The timing of the campaign is designed to intersect with congressional scrutiny of nonprofit health care systems. Lawmakers in both parties have increasingly questioned <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hospitals-posting-real-prices-before-care-could-soon-be-the-new-reality">pricing transparency</a>, executive compensation, and whether nonprofit hospitals are providing sufficient community benefit to justify their tax status.
Consumers’ Research says it hopes the campaign will push Congress to more aggressively scrutinize whether hospitals that engage in political or ideological initiatives should continue receiving favorable tax treatment. The group has also indicated that this is only the first in a series of efforts targeting nonprofit health care providers. Hild said the group plans to continue highlighting what it sees as misuse of taxpayer-supported resources. “As this new campaign shows, Consumers’ Research will continue exposing hospitals and hold them accountable,” he said.
“Consumers are right to be fed up,” Hild added. “They’re dealing with long wait times, high costs, and a lack of transparency—while the institutions meant to serve them are pursuing agendas that have little to do with patient care.”
The targeted hospital systems have not yet publicly responded to the campaign’s Monday launch, though both have previously defended their equity and community health initiatives as central to their missions.

Close-up of sterilized and ready for use surgical instruments on medical tray during surgery operation in operating room at hospital

Are Hospitals Putting ‘Woke’ Politics Over Patients? New Campaign Targets Major Systems.

Congress

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Healthcare

Hospitals

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spent a lifetime staring down death—whether it was Egyptian fire in the Suez Canal, a terrorist’s bullet during the Sabena Flight 571 rescue, or the crushing weight of leading a nation in a multi-front war for survival. On Friday, the world learned that he has spent the last two months quietly staring down a new enemy: cancer. And, true to form, the cancer blinked first.
In a characteristically <a href="https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2047625296396845425">blunt announcement</a>, Netanyahu revealed that a routine medical screening recently detected a &#8220;tiny spot&#8221; of a malignant tumor in his prostate. While many men his age might opt for the &#8220;wait and watch&#8221; approach, the former Sayeret Matkal commando—a man who once refused to let fellow soldiers carry his stretcher during grueling navigation exercises—chose the path of maximum aggression.
“You already know me,” Netanyahu said, in a statement that served as both a medical update and a warning to Israel’s enemies. “When I’m given information in time about a potential danger, I want to address it immediately. This is true on the national level and also on the personal level.”
Netanyahu delayed the publication of his annual medical report by two months, a strategic move designed to deny the Iranian &#8220;terror regime&#8221; the opportunity to weaponize his health for propaganda purposes during the height of the current conflict. It was a classic &#8220;Bibi&#8221; maneuver: subordinating personal vulnerability to national security.
Much like the resolve of a certain president who rose powerfully to his feet after an assassin&#8217;s bullet nearly took off his head, the prime minister’s resolve is backed by a medical history that reads like a manual on physical toughness. In July 2023, after undergoing emergency surgery to implant a pacemaker under general anesthesia, Netanyahu was discharged on a Monday morning and was back in the Knesset by Monday afternoon to vote on historic judicial reform. Less than a year later, in March 2024, he underwent hernia surgery and was back at his desk within 24 hours.
This latest skirmish with a malignant tumor was no different. Netanyahu opted for targeted treatments that he claims have now &#8220;removed the problem,&#8221; leaving no trace of the disease. During the procedures, he reportedly read a book and continued working.
For the man who survived the &#8220;Unit,&#8221; the message was clear: a tumor is just another insurgent to be neutralized. Whether it is Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in the north, or a rogue cell in his own body, Netanyahu’s philosophy remains the same: identify the threat, strike it with precision, and return to the mission.
&#8220;Thank God, I overcame this too,&#8221; Netanyahu stated. &#8220;I am in excellent physical condition.&#8221;
The prime minister concluded his announcement by urging Israeli citizens to take care of their own health—a rare moment of paternal warmth from a leader whose political identity is forged in the fires of elite special forces combat.
But make no mistake: the &#8220;commando&#8221; is still very much in the room, and he has no intention of retreating.

Israeli Authorities Announce Rescue Of Four Hostages From Gaza

No Room For Weakness: Why Bibi Refused To Let a Tumor—Or Iran—Slow Him Down

Benjamin Netanyahu

Cancer

Israel

World

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
Two massive cultural trends have begun to reshape American conservatism.
The first is that conservatives are becoming “crunchy.” Not long ago, natural-health advocacy seemed to belong to a small but vocal tribe of stereotypically left-leaning, organic-loving, non-deodorant-wearing activists. But after the Fauci fiasco of 2020, culminating in today’s MAHA movement, things have changed. Regular moms are baking sourdough, raising backyard chickens, and avoiding vaccines and seed oils. Conservative men, once content to guzzle Diet Coke and microwave Hot Pockets, are now experimenting with carnivore diets and cold plunges.
The second trend is more surprising: the apparent halt of decades of secularization and a renewed openness to religion. Poll after poll suggests increases in church attendance and religious interest, particularly among young people and men. Some commentators suggest that this movement may even be accelerating as a result of the “Charlie Kirk Effect.”
Taken together, these two trends have created a cultural moment for something that would have sounded strange not long ago: health advice rooted in Scripture — especially dietary advice. Many Christians are now asking a simple and reasonable question: Does the Bible tell us how we should eat?
The answer is not as straightforward as many people assume.
The Bible is not a nutritional field manual. Attempts to treat it as one almost always lead to cherry-picking verses from the broader biblical story to support whatever health trend happens to be in vogue. 
Take the so-called “Garden of Eden” diet. In this approach, whatever foods were available to Adam and Eve in the Garden are considered ideal, while meat and other animal products are ruled out. Of course, this arrangement lasts only until the great flood, after which God explicitly gives the animal kingdom into the hands of mankind. Still, the argument goes: If plants were God’s original design for humanity, then a plant-based diet must represent the gold standard.
Another approach points to the Jewish dietary laws as the pinnacle of biblical nutrition advice. God gave Israel detailed food regulations: no pork, no shellfish, no camel, and certainly no deep-fried rattlesnake or vulture stew. Surely, some argue, the diet prescribed for God’s chosen nation must represent the healthiest way to eat.
Then there’s the &#8220;what would Jesus do?&#8221; approach to nutrition. If Jesus was a first-century Mediterranean Jew, and if Christianity is about following Jesus, then perhaps Christians should adopt a Mediterranean diet as well. Jesus presumably ate fish, bread, olive oil, dates, pistachios, and perhaps milk, honey, curds, and other delicacies of the ancient Near East. As it happens, many of the world’s so-called “Blue Zones,” regions famous for longevity, follow a broadly similar pattern of eating. The conclusion seems obvious: If it worked for Jesus, it must work for us.
Add in the “Daniel Fast” and a handful of other biblical trends, and almost any modern health movement can find some scriptural support and some reason to believe it represents God’s gold-standard advice even today.
But while the Bible contains many diets and countless references to food, the real question is this: What does the New Testament say about the Christian diet?
In reality, it says surprisingly little (at least directly). What guidance it does give is fairly simple. We should receive food with gratitude (1 Timothy 4:4). Our dietary choices should not create unnecessary division among believers (Romans 14:1–3). And our freedom should never lead others into sin (Romans 14:13–21 and 1 Corinthians 8:9).
These instructions remain relevant, but they address a different set of concerns than the ones that dominate modern conversations about food. In the early church, the central questions were theological and communal: Could Jewish and Gentile believers eat together? Should Christians observe Old Testament dietary laws? Would certain foods create scandal among new converts?
Today, our questions look different because our problems are different. Modern societies face an unprecedented wave of chronic disease: diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, alongside rising infertility, autoimmune disorders, and autism. At the same time, the food environment itself has become increasingly complex. Grocery store aisles are filled with engineered “food-like substances,” while a booming health industry promotes countless supplements and restrictive diets. Amid this complicated landscape, many well-meaning people find themselves caught somewhere in the middle.
Yet the Bible’s relative silence about our modern diet questions does not leave Christians without guidance. 
When read in its proper context, the entire story of the Bible, Old Testament included, ultimately points to Jesus Christ, “the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). And it is only when we understand food in relation to Him that a truly Christian approach to eating begins to come into focus.
The Bible may not give us a diet plan. But it does give us something far more important: a framework for understanding the body, health, and food themselves. And Jesus is at the center of that framework.
Start with the body. Christianity does not treat the body as a disposable shell or a temporary “earth suit.” The Son of God took on human flesh (John 1:14), lived in a real human body, and rose again in a glorified body (Luke 24:39). In doing so, Christ affirmed the goodness and future of embodied human life. Our bodies are not incidental to who we are; they are a visible expression of our personhood and a gift through which we live, work, worship, and serve one another.
Next comes health. During His ministry, Jesus was often known as the Divine Physician, healing the sick and restoring the broken. Yet these miracles were never simply demonstrations of medical power. They were signs pointing to the restoration of the whole person in the kingdom of God. The theologian Karl Barth once defined health as “strength for life,” and it’s a worthwhile pursuit — so long as Christ Himself animates our lives.
Finally, Christ does something even more striking: He describes Himself as food. In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). Our daily need for food is not accidental. It constantly reminds us that we are dependent creatures, sustained by gifts we did not create. In the deepest sense, our hunger for food points beyond itself to our deeper hunger for God.
Put these truths together and a distinctly Christian picture of nutrition begins to emerge. The body is affirmed and redeemed, health is reoriented toward faithful living, and food itself becomes a sign pointing us back to the Creator who sustains all life.
This is not yet a diet plan, and it is not meant to be. It is a way of seeing. A Christian approach to nutrition begins not with a list of approved foods, but with a vision of reality shaped by Christ Himself. Only within that vision can the science of nutrition be properly understood and applied.
In a cultural moment obsessed with both health trends and rediscovered faith, Christians don’t need to invent a “biblical diet.” What we need is a Christ-centered approach to nutrition. When we start there, the question is no longer simply, &#8220;What should we eat?&#8221; but, &#8220;How can even the ordinary act of eating reflect the goodness and wisdom of the God who made us?&#8221;
***
Andy Felton writes about the intersection between nutrition and theology and is the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nourished-Design-Christ-Centered-Approach-Nutrition/dp/B0F7GJDK4K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2C15C0A5QG41Q&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7CaR8DykxETvy9V8QhFu-eVzuelbIBFxJMBx6qKD4Vs.4lZrjLTYTpH9RP7S8FV6gwnchZWmmb5fi7m-OasofFI&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=Nourished+by+Design%3A+A+Christ-Centered+Approach+to+Nutrition&amp;nsdOptOutParam=true&amp;qid=1776793991&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=nourished+by+design+a+christ-centered+approach+to+nutrition%2Cstripbooks%2C82&amp;sr=1-1">&#8220;Nourished by Design: A Christ-Centered Approach to Nutrition.&#8221;</a>

The Feeding Of The Five Thousand

Why Some Conservatives Are Opening The Bible Before Deciding What’s For Dinner

Food

The United Kingdom is taking a dramatic step beyond discouraging smoking, moving to eliminating the choice altogether for future generations after Parliament approved legislation banning cigarette purchases for anyone born on or after January 1, 2009.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill has now cleared both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, but it does not become law until it receives Royal Assent from King Charles III. The last time Royal Assent was refused was in 1708.
If formally approved, the law will set up a system where the legal smoking age effectively rises every year, meaning a 17-year-old today born in 2009 will never be legally allowed to buy cigarettes.
Government officials are celebrating the measure as a sweeping victory for public health. As British news <a href="https://www.nationalworld.com/health/tobacco-and-vapes-bill-to-introduce-complete-ban-on-smoking-7059426">reported</a>, Health Secretary Wes Streeting called it “a historic moment for the nation’s health,” adding, “Children in the UK will be part of the first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm.” 
“Prevention is better than cure – this reform will save lives, ease pressure on the NHS, and build a healthier Britain,” he said.
Health minister Baroness Merron echoed that sentiment in the Lords, calling it “a landmark Bill&#8221; that &#8220;will create a smoke-free generation.”
Public health advocates have gone further, presenting the legislation as the culmination of decades of anti-smoking activism. Hazel Cheeseman of Action on Smoking and Health said, “This is a decisive turning point for public health… the end of smoking, and the devastating harm it causes, is no longer uncertain – it’s inevitable.” Michelle Mitchell of Cancer Research UK called it “a historic achievement that will shield our children from the devastating grip of tobacco addiction.”
By tying restrictions to birth year, the law effectively creates a lifetime ban on purchasing tobacco products for those affected.
Even within Parliament, that approach has raised concerns. Conservative peer Lord Naseby warned that the bill risks missing the deeper issue. “What we really need is a proper understanding of how we educate people not to take up smoking,” he said, noting the legislation “does upset a great many people in that industry,” particularly small retailers now tasked with enforcing the rules.
The bill extends beyond cigarettes to include hand-rolled tobacco, cigars, and pipe tobacco. It grants ministers broad authority to regulate vaping and nicotine products, including their flavors and packaging, and expands restrictions on where they can be used. 
The legislation introduces financial penalties for stores in England and Wales that sell tobacco or vaping products in violation of the law.
New smoke-free zones will include playgrounds, schools, and areas around hospitals, while leaving private homes and some outdoor venues untouched.
Supporters argue these measures are necessary given the scale of smoking-related harm, which remains one of the UK’s leading causes of preventable death. Groups like <a href="https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/">Asthma and Lung UK</a> have described the bill as “transformative,” with CEO Sarah Sleet <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn08jy6w0l5o">saying</a> it will help ensure “the tobacco industry will no longer be able to wreak havoc on the lungs of the next generation.”
For a policy framed as a landmark, the precedent may prove just as significant as the public health gains it promises. The government is betting that this approach of phasing out smoking by design rather than discouragement will succeed where past efforts have only reduced the habit. Whether it becomes a model for future public health policy or a flashpoint in debates over government authority will depend on how it is implemented and how the public responds in the years ahead.

FDA To Propose Ban On Menthol Cigarettes And Flavored Cigars

Major Nation Slaps Lifetime Smoking Ban On Youth Just As Cigarettes Become ‘Cool’ Again

Cigarettes

United Kingdom

President Donald Trump on Saturday signed a sweeping executive order aimed at fast-tracking access to psychedelic-based treatments for veterans suffering from PTSD, depression, and other severe mental health conditions.
On paper, the order directs agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs to accelerate clinical trials, cut bureaucratic delays, and expand “right to try” access for patients who have exhausted traditional treatment options. But the real-world impact is far more immediate, and far more personal. For millions of Americans, this isn’t an abstract policy debate, it’s about whether treatments that show real promise are stuck in years of red tape while people continue to struggle, relapse, or fall through the cracks of a mental health system that often relies on trial-and-error prescriptions.
Trump framed the move as a long-overdue shift toward urgency.
“These treatments are currently in the advanced stages of clinical trials to ensure that they&#8217;re both safe and effective,” Trump said. “But usually with things like this, nothing ever happens … we’re changing that.”
The executive order builds on a growing body of research suggesting psychedelic therapies, particularly compounds like ibogaine, can deliver dramatic results where conventional treatments fail. Trump pointed to a Stanford study in which special operations veterans saw an 80 to 90 percent reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms within a month.
At the signing ceremony, one veteran put it more bluntly.
“This treatment saved my life,” he told the president. “Helped me get off opiates … sleep for the first time in over 10 years.”
“And you have no doubt?” Trump asked.
“Zero,&#8221; he answered.
“To me, that’s the best research of all,” Trump said.
More than 14 million Americans suffer from serious mental illness, according to the White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-is-accelerating-medical-treatments-for-serious-mental-illness/">fact sheet</a> accompanying the order, and for many, existing medications and therapies simply don’t work. Even when they do, they often come with significant side effects or require years of adjustments. Among veterans, the crisis is even more acute, with more than 6,000 suicides per year for over two decades, a statistic that has remained stubbornly high despite billions in federal spending.
The order attempts to break that cycle by not just funding research, but forcing the system to move faster. It directs the FDA to prioritize psychedelic drugs already designated as “breakthrough therapies,” a classification reserved for treatments that show substantial improvement over existing options. It also pushes regulators to shorten review timelines that can typically stretch close to a year, and in some cases, much longer.
At the same time, the administration is expanding access before full approval. By opening a clearer pathway under federal right-to-try laws, patients with treatment-resistant conditions may be able to access these therapies under medical supervision rather than waiting years for final regulatory clearance.
That shift could prove significant not just for veterans, but for civilians facing similar conditions; first responders, trauma survivors, and millions of Americans dealing with depression, addiction, and anxiety disorders.
Health agencies are also being pushed to coordinate more aggressively. The order mandates increased data sharing between federal departments, expanded clinical trial participation, and at least $50 million in federal support for state-level research efforts. States like Texas have already invested heavily in ibogaine research, and the federal government is now stepping in to match those efforts.
Even skeptics in the medical field say the evidence is becoming harder to ignore.
“One single administration can change behavior toward a therapeutic effect,” a researcher at the signing said. “We have a tool that could allow the body to heal itself, if we know how to properly use it.”
That’s the gamble behind the order: that accelerating access doesn’t just help veterans, but could reshape how the country approaches mental health treatment altogether, moving away from long-term symptom management and toward therapies that may offer more lasting change.
For everyday Americans, the implications are straightforward. If these treatments continue to show results, they won’t remain confined to niche trials; they could become part of mainstream medicine, available through doctors rather than years-long waitlists or costly alternatives abroad.
If these therapies work — and early data suggest they might — the question is no longer whether they should exist, but how quickly people can access them.
Trump’s answer, at least for now, is simple: faster.

The Wait Just Got Shorter For Veterans Seeking Breakthrough Mental Health Care

Donald Trump

Drugs

Mental Health

Politics

Veterans

The Trump administration is moving to more closely track and study microplastics and pharmaceuticals in Americans&#8217; drinking water, marking the first time federal regulators have formally flagged them as potential contaminants.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that microplastics are a “growing threat to human health.”
The effort is split into two initiatives, first shared with The Daily Wire.
The Environmental Protection Agency will consider microplastics and pharmaceuticals a “priority contaminant group” in a current draft list. At the same time, a Health and Human Services-backed agency is launching the Systematic Targeting of Microplastics (STOMP) project to investigate the impact of microplastics and their effects on human health.
&#8220;For too long, Americans have vocalized concerns about plastics and pharmaceuticals in their drinking water. That ends today,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said on Thursday.
Microplastics have been detected in water, food, and household products, and some research has linked them to serious health issues like cancer, though scientists say more study is needed to understand their full impact, according to <a href="https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2025/01/microplastics-in-body-polluted-tiny-plastic-fragments.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stanford University School of Medicine</a>.
“Americans deserve clear answers about how microplastics in their bodies affect their health,&#8221; Kennedy Jr. said. &#8220;Through [Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health’s] STOMP program, we will measure microplastic exposure, identify sources of risk, and develop targeted solutions to reduce it,” he said.
As for the administration’s initiatives, the goal of STOMP is to focus on the impact of microplastics in the body, specifically how to “measure,” “target,” and “remove” them. It will identify the most dangerous microplastics and how they affect the human body.
The EPA’s decision to include microplastics on its draft Contaminant Candidate List “does not constitute regulation, but signals that a substance warrants serious scientific attention and may be considered for future regulatory action,” the agency told The Daily Wire.
“By placing microplastics and pharmaceuticals on the Contaminant Candidate List for the first time ever, EPA is sending a clear message: we will follow the science, we will pursue answers, and we will hold ourselves to the highest standards to protect the health of every American family,” Zeldin explained.
Kimberly Wise White, Ph.D., who serves as vice of regulatory and scientific affairs at the American Chemistry Council, said the organization supports &#8220;science-driven monitoring of microplastics in drinking water and research to better understand potential impacts.&#8221;
&#8220;People want clear answers on microplastics, and any drinking water monitoring program must address <a href="https://2244cf6a.streak-link.com/C1L0mjfUFGcEd_K5ZA0yrYvB/http%3A%2F%2Flink.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com%2Fls%2Fclick%3Fupn%3Du001.Qyj58FigvMRC96dcC2S4KNjCL20O7sP-2B4Pjq84SIXsEHUfMcmsBXBIl8DmU73q7pkMjL_SRyOrIcdwJbpfaG7RzzySYK8nAywSKGplH3LOjf4JVtkcvJrNDWVwpIurOw1tOLOU8IlSbJpQxLsxantCzquhbBXxlYNYtGXx9jLylLa4TmmrSrNcYZTV90UX2gJpZg-2B4QM4t7n2iNMEZX9KlwWHDxFMZWa9Z-2B1QTMDYG1BZIxbO1fhmIIajpIJMYEwHwjfONpNpI5UYWWaWr7r4pTlNsGKK5JzokpzVUBV7Tc9yyS3DTLgaZ6jr1OAJHqvS-2BUbTte2eSvXf7TpqKOLO2sUxfA6OIDxLnZ-2Ffyb7Fx7317OgFVi9xe0q7QKqDCCXxO6-2BOooz-2FuVNZEmrSOMQLUAwfFs1nc-2BLnUZ8Q6xJEw5Z6Aaj-2F8qXwwUkME-2BBSxTH1AOYHKzsLwq00fT2ILtrVxZ2cMA-3D-3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">several existing hurdles</a>, including developing clear definitions, ensuring adequate lab capacity, and standardizing sampling and testing methods to be used consistently across the country,” she added.
Zeldin and Kennedy Jr. are expected to formally announce the effort in Washington, D.C. on Thursday afternoon.

Richmond Water Crisis

Trump Admin Announces Major Steps Countering Big Pharma And Microplastics

Health and Human Services

Lee Zeldin

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
My husband and I are expecting our fourth baby, but it took us a few births under our belt to figure out which birth plan worked for us. After two hospital births and a home birth, our decision for baby number four was easy: We’re planning to have another home birth.
Not every baby can or should be born at home. But if you’re lucky enough to have a healthy baby and a healthy pregnancy, home birth is a beautiful option. And it’s one that more and more families are choosing. While home births are still a small share of overall births in the United States (<a href="https://www.nacpm.org/communitybirthdata?utm">less than 2% of total births</a>), this rate has <a href="https://theweek.com/health/home-births-rise?utm">increased roughly 60%</a> over the last seven years. 
It’s not a mystery why we’re seeing such rapid growth in this seemingly radical birth plan. There is something seriously wrong with how hospitals handle childbirth in America. The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among wealthy countries. In the 1980s, maternal <a href="https://www.americanactionforum.org/insight/maternal-mortality-in-the-united-states/?utm">mortality rates began to increase</a> after about 50 years of decline. Some studies suggest that between 2000 and 2021, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2021/maternal-mortality-rates-2021.htm?utm">maternal mortality in the United States nearly doubled</a>. That’s pretty shocking considering the medical advancements we’ve made. Childbirth has been around as long as people have. How are we still getting this so wrong?
When I first explored home birth during my third pregnancy, I found the philosophical differences between OBGYNs and home birth midwives staggering. OBGYNs are doctors. They are looking for medical problems and often find them. Midwives, by contrast, do not see childbirth as a medical problem to be solved. And, if you have a good midwife, she will guide you during pregnancy to set you up for a healthy delivery, preventing problems before they arise. 
In every meeting with my midwife, she checked in on my diet. I was given a nutrition plan (my pseudo-vegetarian diet had to go), encouraged to exercise, eat a lot of protein, and cut out sugar. “Sugar is hard on you, and it’s hard on the baby,” my midwife told me. This really struck me. It’s hard on the baby. Would an OBGYN ever be that brutally honest? Maybe. But usually after a mother has already been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Women in the United States face a cascading series of complications during pregnancy and birth. It is reasonable to assume that poor maternal nutrition plays a role.
But my decision to have a home birth didn’t come from a belief that doctors are bad or doing something inherently wrong. It came from my two experiences with hospital births. 
I went into my first childbirth having no “birth plan.” I gave birth at a hospital because that’s what you do. I had an epidural because why not? I want to be clear: There is nothing wrong with getting an epidural. But there are some things to consider before making this choice.
The ability to move your body during labor can be vitally important. If the baby is in an undesirable position for birth because you’ve been lying immobile on your back for hours due to the epidural, the baby could get in a bad spot. This could put the baby in distress and lead to an emergency C-section or, in the case of my oldest son, a vacuum birth.  
Flash forward to my second pregnancy, and my plan was to try to go without the epidural, but I would get one if I needed it. This was a ridiculous plan. If you would like a natural childbirth, you cannot leave the door open to the epidural. You need to be committed, your husband needs to be committed, and your doctors need to be committed. Because once things get hard, you will ask for the epidural. And that’s exactly what I did.
Everything was going well with the epidural until it wasn’t. The pain was gone, I was starting to feel like I might be able to get some rest, and then I started feeling exhausted. I couldn’t keep my eyes open. My heart rate and blood pressure tanked quickly, and I lost consciousness. The next thing I remember, nurses were screaming at me to open my eyes. I felt horrible. I felt weak. I felt like I was dying. 
They backed off the epidural medication, and my vitals improved. I was able to start talking, but I felt so weak. I couldn’t imagine how I could deliver a baby feeling this way. That’s when they told me they wanted to try the epidural medication again, confident that they could do it while keeping my vitals strong. I very groggily said, “Ok.” Minutes later, I was unconscious again. 
I have now learned that what I went through was just something that happens sometimes, but apparently, it’s not common enough for any of my nurses to have seen it before. They all looked terrified. Once they stabilized me, they shockingly wanted to try the epidural medication a third time. I had the wherewithal to say absolutely not. I need to be awake.
After about an hour, the pain of the contractions came back, and I was relieved. I didn’t want any remnants of the epidural medication in my body (although I’m sure there were some). I was still feeling very weak. After begging for and guzzling a strong cup of coffee, I delivered my beautiful second baby boy, and I felt incredible. I was completely connected to what was happening because I could feel it. It was hard, but I did it. I felt happier and stronger than I ever had in my life. The weakness was gone, replaced by pure euphoria. I felt like I could do anything.
When it was time for baby number three, I knew what I wanted. No epidural, no Pitocin (the drug given to almost every woman in a hospital, unless they specifically opt out, to speed up the labor process). I wanted a completely natural childbirth, which led me to pursue home birth.
My home birth was beautiful. I was in the comfort of my own home, with my own things. My midwife was with me the entire time. In a hospital, the doctor basically comes in when it’s time to push; it’s impersonal, rushed, and dehumanizing. At home, I didn’t have to ask permission to drink a cup of coffee. I didn’t have to ask permission to stand up and move around. There were no other patients for a doctor to tend. I felt completely taken care of.
When I gave birth at home, I felt the same way I did after my second. I can do anything. I felt euphoric because women have a natural hormone release that is supposed to happen during birth, which is vitally important for bonding with your baby and avoiding postpartum depression. An overly medicated birth can disrupt that important hormone release. Many women who have struggled with postpartum depression in the past choose an unmedicated birth for exactly this reason.
After I gave birth, my midwife stayed for about an hour and then left. We were able to rest. After being up all night, my husband, baby, and I took the best nap of our lives. No nurses came to wake us up every hour. Our baby wasn’t subjected to endless unnecessary tests that could wait until her first pediatrician appointment. We got what all three of us needed: sleep. We were comfortable, happy, and at peace with our beautiful baby girl. My midwife came back several times to check on us. I didn’t have to go anywhere.
Home birth isn’t for everyone, but my husband and I discovered it’s definitely for us. And if God continues to bless us with a healthy pregnancy, I am looking forward to another beautiful, unmedicated birth in the comfort of my own home.
***
Mary Clare Amselem is a stay-at-home mother and a former education policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation.

Baby sleeping on mother’s chest in bed at home

I Trusted The System For Two Births. Then I Decided To Take Control.

babies

birth

Children

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
I lay awake, mind racing, stressed about everything at once and yet nothing in particular. For years, through college, grad school, and early career, this was normal no matter how tired I was. The constant sleep advice—avoid screens, get to bed earlier, go to bed at the same time every night—never stuck long, especially the part about screens. I’m part of the laptop class by day, by night I freelance write, and sometimes at the end of a long day, after catching up on texts and group chats, I want to unwind by watching YouTube recipe tips. The damage is an embarrassing amount of screen time. And I know I’m not alone. 
Today, I’m not proud to say that my screen time hasn’t changed. But my sleep habits have, and I’m falling asleep peacefully in minutes. Here are the six tips I learned along the way.
Buy blue light-blocking glasses ASAP. For years, I lived by the “night light” mode on my phone and computer. The orange tinge was easier on the eyes, but I still lay awake anxious after putting away the comforting glow of my screens late at night. Then, last year, I finally bought a pair of high-quality blue light-blocking glasses. I’d heard mixed things about the benefits of blue-blockers, and the consensus seemed to be that not all are created equal. <a href="https://www.blublocker.com/collections/hyde-park/products/black-mod-blublocker-sunglasses-2907k">The pair</a> I ultimately bought claims to block 100% of blue light, and whether or not that is true, the glasses do truly work miracles. In the hours before bed, the orange-colored lenses color everything in a sunset-like hue, and even in the harsh daylight glow of the too-close laptop screen, my body is in twilight mode.
Find a way to be tired. I’ve thrown away all the advice about the benefits of an early-morning workout and a slow wind down in the evenings. Instead, the evenings are when I burn off all my nervous energy from sitting at a desk all day. The short-lived buzz of a social event or the adrenaline after a good workout are, for me, the perfect spike then crash to slide into the end of the day.
Turn on the incandescents. The saga of the incandescent bulb is an <a href="https://www.energy.gov/articles/debunking-myths-about-phasing-out-incandescent-lightbulb">ongoing one</a>. They’re banned under one government administration and <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91278591/trump-wants-to-bring-back-incandescent-lightbulbs-factories-dont-make-them-anymore">legal the next</a>, so most of us have switched to LED bulbs. They’re energy efficient and last much longer than incandescents, but frankly they’re just ugly. The light they put off is cold and clinical, the sort of shade you expect in a hospital, no matter the supposed “warm” shade of the LED.
In search of a small light for the evenings, I plugged in an old lamp—old enough that it still had a tiny incandescent bulb that had survived the changing electrical winds. It was the perfect light for some reading or typing before bed. But the unexpected benefit is that the incandescent bulb casts a calming, warm glow that no LED can compete with. And it’s not just aesthetics: <a href="https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/red-light-to-improve-metabolism-and-harmful-effects-of-led-glen-jeffery">Some health experts</a> think LEDS can impair mitochondrial (cell) health and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29251065/">suppress production of melatonin (the sleep hormone)</a>.
Even though incandescent bulbs are legal again, they’re not easy to find. You’ll have to search them out specifically and likely order them online. However, appliance bulbs (for your oven or microwave) are often incandescent and are still readily available at your local hardware store. Just be sure to check the wattage of whatever light you use most before bed.
Practice a routine, however short. Watching the evening routines of online personalities makes each bedtime seem as though it needs to be a full hour of skin care, reading, and unwinding. In reality, a routine can be as simple as reciting a prayer once your head hits the pillow, flipping through a few pages of a book, or putting on some white noise. Having a recurring routine each night—for me, it’s a prayer—has become a signal that it’s time to shut off the day. It’s not complicated or time-consuming. It’s recentering my relationship with God and succumbing to the peace of a familiar rhythm.
Don’t apologize for prioritizing sleep. If your bedroom gets blasted by sun hours before you need to wake up, buy blackout curtains. If, like me, you find the full moon to be a bright monthly nuisance, use an eye mask to block it out. If you have noisy neighbors, run a fan or sound machine. Whatever the problem is, don’t fret or apologize for trying to solve it. You’re not a sensitive or light sleeper just for needing a quiet, dark, or comfortable place to rest. You don’t need to power through disruptions to your sleep; there’s no medal for doing so. Just find what you need to be relaxed while you fall asleep.
Give yourself permission. At the end of every day, I have lofty goals. I think I can work on my sewing projects, take a long bath, read half a novel, flip through a cookbook, and still get to bed early. Instead, at the end of a particularly busy day, I’m lucky if I get through two pages of my latest read. Then, I lie awake feeling guilty that I didn’t get enough done or, worse, watched YouTube instead of reading. The next morning, I’m tired, and it spirals into another too-full day. Breaking the cycle simply means giving myself permission to let go of grand plans. Sometimes, scrolling or binging the latest show is the most appealing thing at the end of a long day. Sure, we can do our best to have better habits, but when it happens, stressing about it is only going to keep you up at night. Live your life, and don’t stress the little things.
***
Jordan Jantz is the assistant editor at IW Features as well as a freelance writer, editor, and website designer.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

GettyImages-5988-062080

Experts Say Ditch Screens Before Bed: I Tried These Six Tricks Instead

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued a response to Democrat Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who was defending New England favorite Dunkin&#8217; from the ire of MAHA.
The exchange came after Kennedy Jr. took aim at Dunkin&#8217; during a rally last week at Brazos Hall in Austin, Texas.
“We’re going to ask Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks, ‘Show us the safety data that show that it’s OK for a teenage girl to drink an iced coffee with 115 grams of sugar in it,&#8217;” RFK Jr. said at the time. “I don’t think they’re going to be able to do it.”
“No one is taking away your Dunkin&#8217;. But isn&#8217;t it reasonable to ask whether a drink loaded with 180 grams of sugar is safe?” RFK Jr. wrote in response to Healey’s tweet, which included an illustration of a Dunkin’ beverage cup and text beneath it saying, “Come and take it.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
No one is taking away your Dunkin&#8217;. But isn&#8217;t it reasonable to ask whether a drink loaded with 180 grams of sugar is safe? <a href="https://t.co/nV6KLOBf94">https://t.co/nV6KLOBf94</a>
— Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy/status/2029648656005996907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
His position was further clarified after the rally.
“Secretary Kennedy also announced the closure of the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) loophole, requiring any new food ingredient to provide proof of safety,” MAHA Action, a Kennedy-aligned nonprofit, said in a statement <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hhs-secretary-kennedy-announces-nutrition-requirements-for-medical-licensing-baby-formula-safety-standards-at-austin-rally-for-real-food-302701305.html">posted</a> on Monday. 
“Companies including Dunkin&#8217; Donuts and Starbucks will be required to produce safety data they were supposed to have maintained. The reforms aim to ensure American foods follow the highest safety and nutritional standards globally.”
RFK Jr. railed against the GRAS loophole during a “60 Minutes” appearance last month.
“That loophole was hijacked by the industry, and it was used to add thousands upon thousands of new ingredients into our food supply,” Kennedy said at the time. “In Europe there’s only 400 legal ingredients. This agency does not know how many ingredients there are in American food.”
“There is…no way for any American to know if a product is safe if it is ultra processed,” he added.

Dunkin

RFK Jr. Takes Not So Sweet Dig At Democratic Governor In Dunkin’ Donuts Fight

Massachusetts

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
I&#8217;m in a very Chinese time in my life. No, you didn&#8217;t misread that.
A new trend has emerged on TikTok where Chinese-American girls are sharing the Eastern lifestyle with the rest of us. The videos have taken off, garnering millions of views from non-Chinese users looking to improve their health with the help of generations-old wellness routines.
It&#8217;s not cultural appropriation; it&#8217;s cultural appreciation.
&#8220;Tomorrow, you’re turning Chinese,&#8221; Chinese-American TikToker Sherry, one of the viral creators behind the craze, told her followers in a recent video. “I know it sounds intimidating, but there’s no point fighting it now. You are the chosen one.&#8221;
The viral fad has taken off as more and more young women are looking for ways to make America healthy again and turn to natural and homeopathic remedies. It has even converted the macho men of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXhW9H9bCmM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barstool Sports</a>, who are now starting their days with an &#8220;ancient Chinese&#8221; workout featuring &#8220;lymphatic hops&#8221; in the hopes of getting shredded.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Day 2 of the Chinese work out. We’re both insanely sore but we’re here and about to dominate the day <a href="https://t.co/tBtv1aG7wG">pic.twitter.com/tBtv1aG7wG</a>
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarstoolBigCat/status/2024135141912707213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
KB may be too brolic for the Ancient Chinese Workout™️… <a href="https://t.co/r4kcmNyATm">https://t.co/r4kcmNyATm</a> <a href="https://t.co/4TCg5aJSLD">pic.twitter.com/4TCg5aJSLD</a>
— The Yak (@BarstoolYak) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarstoolYak/status/2025963212231922044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I tried some of the ancient practices for a week to see if the routine would change my physical and emotional health.
Each day, I started my morning with warm tea before I ate anything. I then went on a short walk to promote digestion after eating my breakfast, which was usually eggs and toast. The key is to keep your digestive system warm and not shock it first thing in the morning with cold food or ice water.
A study <a href="https://www.sdsu.edu/news/2025/10/sdsu-study-links-food-and" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> last year by San Diego State University found that individuals who consumed cold drinks had &#8220;increased anxiety, more sleep disturbances, and greater feelings of abdominal fullness.&#8221; On the other hand, those &#8220;who drank more hot beverages &#8230; reported lower levels of depression, improved sleep quality, and fewer digestive symptoms.&#8221;
&#8220;Researchers found food and beverage temperature, long recognized in traditional Asian medicine, has measurable links to anxiety, insomnia and gut discomfort,&#8221; the university said in a release at the time.
I wore slippers and never went barefoot, which Sherry explains is meant to prevent illness. Some of the Chinese creators also say it promotes kidney health and fertility by keeping the womb and abdomen warm.
&#8220;You&#8217;re letting cold enter your body and thus you&#8217;re weakening your body,&#8221; Sherry said in one video. &#8220;But if you&#8217;re wearing house slippers, you&#8217;re more likely to maintain that warmth and you&#8217;re less likely to get sick.&#8221;
Some of the girls behind the trend suggested drinking broth first thing in the morning. The broth wasn&#8217;t for me and felt too heavy to start my day. Instead, I opted for peppermint tea.
If I drank or ate anything cold, I would balance it out with a hot tea to keep my digestive system warm, as directed by the Chinese baddies. I also had a warm apple drink, which I made by boiling apples, ginger, honey, and goji berries, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine to support the kidney and liver detoxification systems. It was really delicious, but didn&#8217;t change my life in a week.
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@jenniethereporter/video/7608251340040572190" data-video-id="7608251340040572190">
<section><a title="@jenniethereporter" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jenniethereporter?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@jenniethereporter</a>Chinese baddie tea!<a title="♬ Relaxed and chill lofi hip hop long version(1580488) - Koko ni studio" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Relaxed-and-chill-lofi-hip-hop-long-version-1580488-7426811894536849424?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ Relaxed and chill lofi hip hop long version(1580488) &#8211; Koko ni studio</a></section>
</blockquote>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
The routine has also helped me prioritize self-care. I&#8217;ve found myself journaling, praying, reading, and adopting tasks that promote mindfulness.
One of the biggest differences I noticed was that a few days into walking after meals, I craved movement. I am usually a low-impact workout kind of girl and like doing pilates and yoga a couple times a week. But as I adopted more of the &#8220;Chinese baddie&#8221; lifestyle of increasing my movement throughout the day, I started going ham in the gym. For days, I&#8217;ve been lifting and even running on the treadmill. The endorphins were addicting, and so were the points on my Oura ring. I found I was walking for longer periods and exceeding 10,000 steps per day.
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@mollymyattporter/video/7599784621575884063" data-video-id="7599784621575884063">
<section><a title="@mollymyattporter" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mollymyattporter?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@mollymyattporter</a> Woke up a Chinese baddie <a title="chinesebaddie" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/chinesebaddie?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#chinesebaddie</a> <a title="♬ original sound - alex" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7313321369772854048?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound &#8211; alex</a></section>
</blockquote>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
Another mood boost came from spending more time outside. As a result, I found myself interacting with the outside world more, rather than spending most of my day mindlessly scrolling on my phone. In many of the viral TikTok videos, Chinese-American girls said they intentionally make time to phone a friend or have social time in the morning to promote longevity. When I was out with the dog in the park during my walks, I ran into neighbors whom I&#8217;d never before interacted with and quickly fostered new friendships with them.
Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in 2023 <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a> an &#8220;epidemic&#8221; of &#8220;loneliness and isolation&#8221; in America.
Loneliness affects somewhere between &#8220;one third to well over half of people in industrialized societies,” <a href="https://lifestylemedicine.stanford.edu/how-social-connection-supports-longevity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">says</a> Steven Crane, a research scholar at Stanford University.
“While healthy networks of social connection provide powerful protective health effects, increasing odds of long-term survival by 50%, loneliness itself is associated with many distinct detrimental health impacts on sleep, physical health, and mental health,&#8221; Crane says.
Overall, I see no harm in implementing the &#8220;Chinese baddie&#8221; routine in your day, even if it&#8217;s just one of your habits. After this week of wellness, I plan to continue walking in the morning after breakfast and keeping my slippers on at home. But I probably will ditch drinking warm water as soon as the Texas heat takes hold.
***
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Untitled design – 2026-02-23T125029.564

I Followed TikTok’s Hottest Wellness Trend For A Week — Here’s What Happened

TikTok

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