Winter wellness and the health benefits of getting cozy

Most of us hunker down when it’s cold outside or we’re plum-tuckered out. And we don’t need studies to know rest is good for our physical + mental health.

But to encourage coziness, this week’s newsletter delivers the latest on why we psychologically seek comfort + the proven health benefits of a short nap. Plus, Dr. B's Wellness Gift Guide + health news on salmonella outbreaks and respiratory illness numbers. But first, snuggle down + cozy up with…

• Checkup: whole-body goodness
• Cozy Up: comfort + gifting + nap time! 
• Healthcare: cantaloupe + virus numbers

The Checkup

• How to cut back on gift-giving without stressing relationships
• Have bad breath? Dentists share tips to help you get rid of it
• A study shows trigger warnings encourage (not reduce) anxiety
• This holiday, here’s how to directly support neighbors in need 
• What is coffee flower tea—and how can it support overall health?
• Therapists share eight things you should never say to a partner
• Wanna work out, but you’re sick? Follow these rules + tips
• The viral Grinch Dip uses raw boxed cake mix. Is it safe to eat?

Join the cozy cult

According to The Guardian, #cozy is trending on TikTok. Therapists aren’t surprised.

Warmth + comfort are primal survival needs that support our mental and physical health when met. So humans instinctively choose enclosed spaces that feel safe yet allow us to stay alert to any danger.

During winter, we double down on coziness inside to contrast the cold wilderness outside. Political unrest, a love for Nordic hygge strategies and pandemic quarantine habits continue to fuel our home-cozying instincts. The benefits transcend our living spaces: almost 75% of people who are happy with their homes claim to be happy in general.

Wellness gift ideas from the Dr. B team

Are you looking for wellness gift ideas? The Dr. B team's got you covered!

In our Health + Wellness Gift Guide, team members + medical advisors from around the globe share products that have directly improved our lives. Our Operations managers share apps that optimize their productivity + night-worker food habits. One of our writers (also a nurse) shares the fashionable first aid kits she’s used more than once in a crunch to stem injury. And our medical advisors share light therapy lamps guaranteed to lift winter spirits + products to help winter skin stay healthy.

Browse the guide for all that—and more! Then get something special for a loved one… or yourself! You deserve to feel good, too!

(Short) napping benefits

Until now, studies on the benefits of napping have provided conflicting results. But those who find themselves falling asleep after lunch have a reason for napping optimism. As reported in Scientific American, researchers have found a napping 30-minute sweet spot that can have us wake up feeling refreshed.

Why 30 minutes? Circadian rhythms make most of us sleepy in the afternoon. And homeostatic sleep pressure levels build the longer we’re awake.

So, officially, a short nap can revive energy levels. Cognitively, it can also increase alertness, specific memory skills, response time and information processing. Unofficially, tired people are grumpy people—so naps boost mood!

Keeping it under 30 minutes means we stay in light sleep mode, so we can get up and back to our day again easefully. Conclusion? Set an alarm, slap on an eye mask, cozy up and power nap away!

Healthcare 411

Avoid cantaloupe unless you know its origins, CDC warns amid salmonella outbreak (NPR). At least 117 people across the US have recently gotten salmonella from Malichit and Rudy brands of cantaloupe. Sixty-one were hospitalized, and two died. The contaminated fruit is also in fruit cups + trays, so read the article for details on stores with recalled products.

It’s not too late to get a flu shot (NY Times). Flu season will run into May. If you haven’t yet gotten your annual flu shot, doing so now will offer protection for months to come. Flu vaccines have excellent safety records + cause minimal side effects. The more of us that get vaccinated, the lower overall rates will be. Find a vaccine provider at the CDC. And if you get the flu, Dr. B offers same-day antiviral treatment with a $15 online consultation. Explore our flu care.

US flu cases on the rise while RSV may be peaking… (PBS). Eleven states report high flu levels, and RSV may be hitting its winter peak. Across respiratory illnesses, Covid-19 continues to cause the most hospitalizations + deaths. (About 1,000 deaths weekly.) If you’re at high risk for severe illness + have Covid-19, Dr. B can help you get same-day antiviral treatment. Start a $15 online consultation today.