Ravi Desai

About the author

Ravi covers health, fitness and sleep science, with a focus on habits that are easy to keep.

Halloween Night Is Riskier for Young Pedestrians. Here’s What the Research Says, and How to Stay Safe

A study of 42 years of U.S. crash data found pedestrian deaths rise on Halloween evening, especially among kids ages 4 to 8. Here is what that means and how families and drivers can lower the risk.

Lab Study Finds Many Low-Calorie Sweeteners Alter Gut Bacteria. Here’s the Fine Print

A Cambridge lab study tested 39 sweeteners on 25 gut bacteria species and found most affected at least one. It was done in dishes, not people, so here is what it can and can’t tell you.

Just 10 Minutes of Daily Exercise Was Linked to Deeper Sleep in a Study of Young Adults

A Fitbit-based study of University of Texas students linked as little as 10 minutes of daily activity to more deep sleep. Here’s the fine print.

Flu Shot Season: What to Know Before the End of October

The CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine by the end of October. Here’s who should get one, what’s new for 2026–27 and answers to common questions.

Hard Intervals Helped Adults in Their 70s Lose Fat Without Losing Lean Mass, a 6-Month Study Finds

In a trial of 123 healthy older adults, high-intensity interval training trimmed fat while preserving lean mass. Other research is more mixed, and the differences were small.

Loneliness and Isolation May Cost Years of Healthy Life, a Study of 277,000 Adults Finds

People who were both lonely and socially isolated could expect up to 5.8 fewer years free of mental disorders. Healthy habits helped with one of the two, but not the other.

Nicotine Vapes Helped More Smokers Quit Than Patches or Gum, a Review of 80 Trials Finds

An updated Cochrane review of nearly 30,000 smokers found regulated nicotine e-cigarettes beat nicotine patches and gum for quitting. Here’s what that does and doesn’t mean.

How Much Strength Training Do You Really Need? What the Research Says

Official guidelines call for strength work twice a week, and a 147,000-person study points to a sweet spot of about 90 to 120 minutes. Here’s what the evidence says and how to start.

Even Weak Sunlight Can Damage Skin DNA Without a Burn, a Small Trial Finds

In a trial of 58 adults, UV doses too low to turn skin pink still caused measurable DNA damage, and weaker light was no gentler. Here’s what that means for sun protection in fall and winter.

Colorectal Cancer in Teens and Young Adults Is Often Found Late, a Study of 84 Patients Finds

A review of 84 patients age 21 or younger found most were diagnosed at an advanced stage, and only one in five had a family history. Here are the warning signs doctors say shouldn’t be brushed off.

Silent Artery Plaque Is Common Even in Young Adults, a Study of 16,800 People Finds

A large imaging study found plaque in the arteries of more than half of apparently healthy adults, including about 1 in 13 people in their 20s. Here’s what it does and doesn’t mean.

Do You Really Need 10,000 Steps a Day? What the Research Says

The 10,000-step goal may trace back to a 1960s pedometer ad. Large studies suggest about 7,000 steps captures most of the benefit, and even small increases help.

Categories