Health Tips Line

I admit, I usually grocery-shop on autopilot, but the other day, as I reached my hand through a light rain to grab broccolini and cilantro, I wondered: What’s up with the wet veggies? When did vegetables start getting their own weather? You’ve probably noticed the same thing, or maybe just wondered why grocery-store produce is often gleaming with droplets … as if it were just picked five minutes ago. As a health reporter, I had so many questions: How come grocery stores keep vegetables damp? Why do veggies need misting, while fruit apparently doesn’t? Is there a downside to buying slightly soggy produce? To get to the bottom of this shopping mystery , I reached out to three experts: a food scientist, a microbiologist and a professor of public health. Here’s what they had to say about the benefits and risks of this retail practice. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter  for more humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. How do grocery stores keep...

The first time I saw a visible sign of how heat can affect flying was while boarding a flight in Louisiana: Fog was pouring from the vents inside the cabin. It was pretty alarming, but I eventually realized that the witch’s-cauldron effect was caused by the soupy, humid air seeping in as we boarded mixing with the plane’s ice-cold AC , creating extreme—and very eerie—condensation. Once the cabin’s air temperature and humidity evened out, the fog vanished (as did my worry). It was hot enough that day to make it look like the plane was literally steaming, but we still took off without an issue. Today, with global temperatures on what seem like a relentless march upward and heat records toppling seemingly every day and everywhere, it raises a bigger question: Is there a point at which it actually gets too hot to fly? My foggy experience is quite common and not a danger for passengers or planes, but could heat cause a serious problem if it gets too steamy outside? It’s definitely a ques...

Princess Kate attended her first state banquet in two years at Windsor Castle on July 8, and it’s safe to say she stole the show. Appearing by her husband Prince William’s side to welcome French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, it was a statement in many ways. Not only was it a return to royal form after a hiatus due to her cancer treatments, but if there were any doubts that she wasn’t ready, she also laid those to rest the moment she stepped out in her crimson gown and showstopping tiara. If you’ve followed the British royal family over the decades, that tiara might have looked familiar. Yep, it’s one of Diana’s—and Kate’s choice to wear it was loaded with symbolism and strength. Read on to find out everything you need to know about this serious sparkler and why she may have chosen it for her big comeback. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more royals, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. Which tiara did Kate wear to ...

Retirees have different requirements than recent college graduates or families with young children when it comes to a hometown—though the overall livability of a city is crucial for everyone. While retirees have historically flocked to sunny states like Arizona and Florida—abundant with golf courses, beaches and bingo nights—or moved closer to family, that’s starting to change. Many retirees simply want to live in one of the least stressed states or a place where their retirement dollars go a little further, such as one of the U.S. states where you can retire on $65,000 a year . However, this isn’t your grandparents’ retirement, and many retirees want to use their hard-earned spare time to enjoy activities they fell in love with during their working years but didn’t have the time to appreciate fully. Think hiking, skiing, mountain biking, fishing, hunting and more. Online insurance agency BizInsure published a report last month sharing details on the Western state retirees have bee...

There’s one thing both frequent fliers and occasional travelers have in common: the dread of having to take off their shoes when going through airport security. Airport floors feel dirty, it’s time-consuming and it can be just plain awkward. If you’re nodding your head in agreement, you’re in luck. On July 8, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ditched this rule, announcing a new policy that allows passengers to keep their shoes on while going through security at domestic airports. That’s right—after nearly 20 years of having to untie and retie your shoelaces every time you fly, you can finally walk through without having to do any of that. The best part? The new policy goes into effect immediately, so if you have a flight to catch later today, your shoes can stay firmly planted on your feet. And that’s not the only change you might see at airports across the country . In fact, Homeland Security is currently reviewing a slew of other rules that you’ve probably rolled your eyes...