Living past 100 does not require magic potions or futuristic science; Dr John Scharffenberg proves it with simple daily habits. At 101, this Harvard-trained physician is still actively sharing what he calls the very simple, very human secrets to longevity. His approach is not about chasing immortality but about maintaining a body and mind that allow you to enjoy your years—whether you are at 30, 60, or, in his case, well past a century.

Exercise Like Your Life Depends On It

Dr Scharffenberg insists exercise is not just a nice-to-have; it is non-negotiable. He puts it bluntly: a woman who is overweight but exercises daily will outlive a lean woman who avoids movement. That is how powerful regular activity is.

What is more, he stresses that midlife is the most crucial time to stay active. Consistent exercise during those years does not just help with weight; it may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and slow down other age-related declines.

Even at 101, the doctor has not hung up his walking shoes. While he no longer pushes himself through intense workouts, he makes sure to walk daily, recommending seniors aim for at least two miles a day. Walking, he says, builds muscle strength, maintains independence, and could even add hours to your lifespan for every hour you put in.

Eat Like An Adventist

As a Seventh-Day Adventist living in Loma Linda, California—one of the world’s rare “blue zones” where centenarians thrive—Dr Scharffenberg follows a largely vegetarian diet. And it is not a trend. Research shows Adventists live longer than the average American, with vegetarians among them adding up to two extra years on average.

The Adventist kitchen is built around five food groups that Scharffenberg swears by:

• Legumes like beans, lentils, and chickpeas are rich in protein and fibre.
• Whole grains such as barley, brown rice, and oats are proven to cut the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
• Nuts, which may reduce heart attack risk by as much as half—though he warns portion control is key.
• Fruits and vegetables, an obvious but essential pillar for lowering disease risk.
• Soy, which he personally recommends, particularly tofu, for its protein and protective compounds.

He also has a soft spot for mangoes, praising them not just for their taste but also for their brain-boosting vitamin B6 and antioxidants that protect eyesight and may even reduce cancer risks.

Vitamins You Are Probably Missing

One of Dr Scharffenberg’s biggest concerns is how many people, even those who think they eat well, are quietly deficient in crucial vitamins. He points out three that are often lacking, especially in older adults:

• Vitamin A: Almost half of Americans do not get enough. Without it, your immune system weakens, your eyes suffer, and your risk of infections skyrockets. Instead of popping pills, Scharffenberg recommends foods high in beta-carotene like carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, and dark leafy greens, which convert into vitamin A naturally and safely.

• Vitamin B12: Age makes it harder for the body to absorb this nutrient, even if you eat meat. After 50, many lose the ability to produce the stomach factor needed for absorption. For vegetarians and older adults, he recommends supplements as the most reliable way to maintain healthy levels.

• Vitamin D: Here, the numbers are alarming. Dr Scharffenberg says that up to 95 per cent of Americans may be deficient. The “sunshine vitamin” is critical for strong bones, calcium absorption, and possibly even cancer prevention. But depending on where you live, especially in northern regions, sunlight might not be enough. If you cannot get daily sun exposure, take a supplement to safeguard your long-term health.

No Shortcuts, Just Simple Choices

Dr Scharffenberg has seen health fads come and go, some with more harm than good. His philosophy is almost shockingly ordinary: eat mostly plants, stay active, avoid smoking and alcohol, and keep an eye on vitamins that silently decline with age. He believes these basics do not just add years to your life but add life to your years, keeping both body and brain in shape.

In his words, you do not need miracle cures. You need to walk, to eat beans and greens, and to give your body the nutrients it quietly depends on. It’s the steady choices, repeated daily, that build the foundation of longevity.

The Centenarian’s Prescription

As people look for high-tech hacks to outsmart ageing, Dr Scharffenberg embodies a simpler truth: living long and well is not about beating biology; it is about working with it. His century-long experiment in health proves that small, consistent habits can outpace even the best modern medicine.

After long work weeks, all we look forward to is a nice weekend, whether you like spending it relaxing or spending time with your friends. People use these days to catch up on different things, whether it is their time with their families, friends or overdue work. Since you do not have the pressure to wake up for work the next day, you have the luxury of staying awake for as long as you want. However, many people think this applies to their healthy habits as well. Eating healthily throughout the week so that they can eat junk at the end of it or sleep early every day so that you can stay awake. However, the 2-day de-stressor you take could be the reason why you reset all your progress to zero, especially those who have pre-existing conditions like sleep apnea.

For many, the weekend means going into social overdrive—but a recent study suggests this can come at a cost to your health. Researchers have found that the bad habits that often go with partying, like overeating, drinking, smoking, and staying up late, can worsen a serious condition called obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder where a person's breathing repeatedly stops and starts while they sleep. This can lead to gasping for air and loud snoring. A new study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine which was based on data from over 70,000 people across 23 countries, found that participants were 18% more likely to have moderate to severe sleep apnea on weekends compared to weekdays. Researchers are calling this phenomenon "social apnea."

How Do Weekends Affect Sleep Apnea?

The study also found that men were at a higher risk for this "social apnea" than women, and people under 60 were more affected than those over 60. The study suggests several reasons why our weekend routines can make sleep apnea worse.

Social Jetlag

On weekends, many people sleep in later and longer, which can shift their body clock. This is similar to the effects of jet lag and can increase the risk of worse sleep apnea. In fact, sleeping an extra 45 minutes or more on weekends raised the risk of severe sleep apnea by 47%.

Alcohol and Smoking

Alcohol relaxes the throat muscles, making it easier for the airway to collapse and block breathing. It also makes it harder for the brain to wake a person up when breathing stops, so these events last longer. Smoking also makes the condition worse by causing swelling and inflammation in the airway.

Overeating

Gaining weight from overeating on the weekends can put pressure on the throat and make it harder to breathe.

REM Sleep

People often get more REM sleep on weekends, which is a deep sleep phase where throat muscles can become almost paralyzed, making the airway more likely to collapse.

Health Risks of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious health condition that affects at least 30 million adults in the U.S. When breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, it can lead to a variety of serious health risks, including:

• Diabetes
• Strokes
• Heart attacks
• Dementia
• Depression

Can You Combat Social Apnea?

To avoid the negative effects of "social apnea" on your health, experts recommend a few simple changes like keeping a consistent sleep schedule. Try to go to bed and wake up at similar times, even on the weekends. Try to limit alcohol and avoid smoking, especially on weekends. If you use a CPAP machine or another medical device for sleep apnea, make sure to use it every night, including on the weekends.

By being mindful of your weekend habits, you can improve your breathing and overall health without needing more medical help. If you have concerns about sleep apnea, you should talk to your doctor.

Microplastics have been a major cause of concern for many people. Not only have many people made the switch to paper straws, plates or glass bottles, but people are also changing what kind of packages enter their homes. However, was that enough? It may not have been.

Many of us assume that drinking from a glass bottle is better than a plastic one. However, a new study suggests this might not be true. The research found that some beverages in glass bottles actually have more microplastics—tiny plastic particles—than those in plastic bottles or cans. Scientists believe the caps on the glass bottles may be the main reason for this surprising finding.

Microplastics are everywhere: in our oceans, soil, air, and even our bodies. They have been linked to health problems like infertility, hormone issues, and even cancer. This study challenges the idea that glass is automatically the safest option, and highlights that seemingly small parts of packaging, like caps, can be a big source of microplastic exposure.

What Has Higher Chances Of Microplastic Exposure?

To see how different containers affect microplastic levels, French researchers tested various drinks in different types of packaging. They looked at water, soda, iced tea, lemonade, wine, and beer. The results were surprising:

Cola, Iced Tea, Lemonade, and Beer

These drinks contained significantly more microplastics when they were in glass bottles. In some cases, there were nearly 50 times more microplastics than in plastic bottles and cans.

Water

Water in glass bottles had slightly more microplastics, but it was the least contaminated drink overall, no matter the container.

Wine

Wine in cardboard "brick" cartons had more microplastics, but generally, all the wines tested had very low levels of contamination.

The study showed that the amount of microplastics a person is exposed to can vary widely depending on what they drink and what container it comes from. For example, a single liter of lemonade from a glass bottle might have over 100 microplastics, while the same amount of water from a plastic bottle might have only about 1.6.

It’s important to note that the study only tested for microplastics and not even smaller particles called nanoplastics, which might have gone undetected.

Why Are Glass Bottles Contaminated With Microplastics?

It seems strange that a glass bottle would be more contaminated than a plastic one. The researchers were surprised by their own findings, but they have a theory: the cap.

They believe the paint used on the metal caps of glass bottles may be the source. During testing, they noticed that the microplastics found in the drinks often had the same color and material as the paint on the caps. They also saw tiny scratches on many of the caps, suggesting that friction during bottling, storage, or sealing could cause the paint to flake off as microplastic particles.

When the researchers cleaned the caps, the amount of microplastics in the drinks dropped significantly. The use of a cork on most wine bottles may also explain why wine had a much lower level of contamination.

While cleaning the caps won't completely solve the problem—microplastics can also come from airborne particles, contaminated water, or factory equipment—the findings suggest that beverage companies should rethink their packaging to protect consumers.

How Do Microplastics Affect Our Health?

According to Association of American Medical Colleges although we don't have proof that microplastics harm humans, scientists are concerned. A study on mice found that even "clean" plastic particles caused negative effects. The worry is that real-world plastics contain harmful chemicals that disrupt hormones, which can affect important body functions like growth and reproduction. Experts suggest reducing plastic exposure as much as possible, especially for pregnant women and children.

How to Reduce Your Microplastic Exposure?

Given that microplastics are everywhere, it's almost impossible to avoid them completely. The study found that even bottled and tap water contain them. However, you can take steps to reduce your exposure:

• Use cups made of glass, stainless steel, or bamboo.
• Avoid putting plastic containers in the dishwasher or microwave, as heat can cause them to release microplastics into your food and drinks.
• When you buy a drink, consider switching between different types of packaging, like plastic, glass, and cans.
• The ultimate goal, experts say, is to reduce our overall dependence on packaged drinks and snacks in general.

TV presenter Davina McCall first received news of a brain tumour during a routine health check tied to her menopause advocacy work, her world tilted. Though doctors confirmed the tumour was benign, the 57-year-old star spiraled into a deep fear that her time was running out. What followed was both sobering and transformative: she began preparing an end-of-life checklist—an exercise she now describes as the “best gift” she could have given herself and her family.

This story is not just about one woman’s health scare. It’s about how facing mortality reshapes priorities, strengthens family bonds, and forces conversations many of us spend a lifetime avoiding.

The growth, identified as a colloid cyst, was discovered in November 2024. For months, McCall admits she lived in denial. It wasn’t until her fourth neurosurgeon gave a blunt assessment—warning that if she didn’t act quickly, she could die—that she finally moved toward surgery.

“He told me it was a big tumour and that if it grew any more, I’d risk water on the brain,” McCall recalled. “Even flying could have triggered a medical emergency.”

That stark warning snapped her out of hesitation. By the time she went into surgery, she had already reorganized her personal life, written letters to her children, and found peace with the possibility of not waking up.

The procedure to remove a colloid cyst is no small undertaking. Surgeon Kevin O’Neill, who performed McCall’s operation, described it as “like defusing a bomb.” The team drilled into her skull and used GPS-guided precision to excise the cyst without damaging her memory pathways.

The risks were real, if anything went wrong, she could have faced a stroke or permanent short-term memory loss—an outcome that would have ended her television career. Yet the alternative was equally grim. Leaving the cyst untreated meant the risk of sudden death remained.

When McCall woke up, she was disoriented, even believing for a time that her late father was still alive. But once her mind cleared, she felt something remarkable: her mental fog had lifted. The “fuzziness” she once attributed to menopause, she now believes, was partly the tumour pressing on her memory.

What makes McCall’s story resonate so deeply is not just the surgery, but the way she prepared herself and her family beforehand. She created what she calls her end-of-life checklist, ensuring her children would be supported and that her affairs were in order.

“I had to make sure my kids would be okay if I didn’t make it. That’s all I really cared about,” she said. Her daughter Holly eventually reassured her: “You’re not dying.”

By confronting her fears head-on, McCall says she gave herself a profound sense of peace. “I could go to sleep on the operating table knowing they’d be okay. It was the best gift, I am not afraid of dying.”

What Is Colloid Cysts?

Davina’s diagnosis underscores a crucial point about brain tumours: not all are cancerous, but even benign ones can be dangerous.

Benign tumours, like colloid cysts, grow slowly and do not spread. Still, their location can cause life-threatening complications if they press against vital structures in the brain.

Malignant tumours are cancerous, often fast-growing, and can spread to other organs through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

Pre-cancerous tumours sit in a gray area, not malignant yet but carrying the potential to develop into cancer if untreated.

Colloid cysts are rare but potentially fatal. Though benign, they can block cerebrospinal fluid, leading to hydrocephalus (fluid buildup in the brain). According to NHS data, non-cancerous brain tumours are more common in people over 50 and often present with headaches, drowsiness, and vision problems.

One of the most striking aspects of McCall’s experience is how it shifted her relationship with mortality. She now hosts Begin Again, a podcast focused on helping people live lives without regret—so that when the time comes, they can face death without fear.

“I have lived the life I wanted,” she explained. “I’m not lying there thinking, ‘I wish I’d done that thing, that job, or left that relationship.’ Begin Again is about starting over and living the life you want.”

Her words point to something bigger than her diagnosis: how health crises can catalyze clarity. For McCall, the fear of dying was replaced by gratitude for living.

Symptoms Davina Ignored

McCall now admits she overlooked two warning signs: brain fog and memory issues. Initially, she dismissed them as symptoms of menopause. Only later did she realize they were likely caused by the cyst pressing on her short-term memory pathway.

This misinterpretation is not uncommon. Brain tumours can mimic other conditions, making early detection difficult. Her story serves as a reminder to take persistent or unusual symptoms seriously, especially as we age.

Perhaps the most enduring lesson from McCall’s journey is the value of facing death directly. The very act of writing her checklist—organizing her thoughts, her finances, and her farewells—brought her calm rather than despair.

In Western cultures, conversations about death often remain taboo. Yet McCall’s openness reframes these discussions as empowering rather than morbid. Preparing for the inevitable, she argues, isn’t about expecting the worst but about ensuring peace of mind.

Now fully recovered and with her final MRI scan showing no recurrence, McCall describes herself as profoundly changed. She is closer to her children, grateful for her health, and more committed than ever to advocating for women’s wellbeing. She has also formed an unlikely bond with the surgeon who saved her life.