Health Tips Line

We’ve all been there. A tiny ant crawling across the kitchen counter. A mini panic, followed by an attempt to remove it unharmed, which often ends with a frustrated squish. You think the problem has been solved, but then the masses descend. No matter what state I’ve lived in, I’ve dealt with this particular problem. Ants in my kitchen in Virginia. Ants in my bathroom in Washington. What am I doing wrong? While they’re not as worrying as illness-carrying pests like mosquitoes and ticks , I still don’t want to share my home or my food with them. Well, according to Laurel Hansen, PhD, a certified ant biology expert, I am indeed making one huge mistake that’s causing an entire ant army to invade my home on the regular—and you’re probably doing the same thing. Read on to find out the common misstep that makes your problem worse, what to do instead and how to prevent ants from getting in your house in the first place. Get  Reader’s Di...

Online dating is hard enough without having to wonder whether the person you’re chatting with is exactly who they say they are. We all want to make a good first impression , but somewhere between choosing flattering photos and crafting the perfect bio, some people start veering into a trend known as kittenfishing . Younger singles are revisiting the dating term that first emerged nearly a decade ago—and thanks to AI and social media, it’s more relevant than ever. And while it’s not as dramatic as catfishing, it can still lead to awkward first dates and the feeling that someone wasn’t entirely honest from the start. So what is kittenfishing, exactly, and why are Gen Z daters suddenly talking about it again? Read on to find out, as well as learn how to avoid becoming a victim—or accidentally doing it yourself. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more trends, relationships, humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week lo...

Wearing the same outfit as someone else always carries a bit of risk: Do they wear it better than you? What will people say? And if you’re a royal, there’s the extra scrutiny of the public and the rabid British press—especially if the person who first wore the look is the late, great and oh-so-fashionable Princess Diana. Kate Middleton is no stranger to these emotions (or the whispers). The Princess of Wales stepped out this past weekend at Trooping the Colour wearing a blue-and-white dress that immediately called to mind a look made famous by her late mother-in-law. The event, held every June to celebrate the monarch’s birthday, brought together Kate, William and other royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch a parade complete with 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians. So have you seen both dresses? What do you think? Ahead, we’ll take you through the latest fashion question lingering after the princess’ weekend appearance . Read on ...

We tend to leave home in two modes: slightly rushed or slightly paranoid. Either way, the exit routine usually looks the same—quick checks, double checks and a lingering sense that you might be forgetting something important. Most of us know to turn off the stove , close the windows and lock the doors. But there’s one simple habit that can make your routine even more reassuring. Not only that, but it can produce something genuinely useful if things go wrong while you’re away. And all it involves is taking a photo. I spoke with Paul Grattan, a licensed home inspector and security expert who founded Graypoint Strategies, to learn more about the easy step you can take to bring you peace of mind when you leave your home. Read on for what to do and when. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more home tips, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. Which room should you take a picture of before leaving the house? It turns out the m...

Who doesn’t love a fun viral trend? Looking at you, Roman Empire and Socrates vs. Skeleton ! No, baby-name trends aren’t usually quite that wild or random, but the ones just released by BabyCenter surprised us. In fact, these 2026 trends have it all, combining global flair and throwbacks to beloved TV shows with names that are kind of on fire. For help explaining these out-of-the-box baby names , we turned to Rebekah Wahlberg, a specialist on the topic at BabyCenter, who notes these mid-year groupings differ a bit from what was predicted when 2026 began. Back then, NBA stars, Cowboy Carter and Francis (the Pope) variations, among others, were trending for baby names. Still, in both cases, “pop culture is prevalent—it always has our attention,” she explains. “As such, it holds a significant amount of front-of-mind real estate in people’s consciousness, so it makes sense that what parents are watching and listening to plays a big role in their b...