Health Tips Line

Confession: I almost never wash my hands in an airplane bathroom. I promise I’m not disgusting; I’m just a little, maybe a lot, germophobic. Can you blame me? There’s just something about the idea of sharing a cramped, plastic cubicle with hundreds of strangers that makes my body hit pause on all but the most urgent functions. Generally, I see this as a curse. But there’s one silver lining: Fewer trips to the airplane bathroom means fewer encounters with its germy horrors. Sure, you expect some germs in any public restroom. Oh, hello, mystery moisture and toilet flush plumes (we’ll get to those in a minute). But did you know that even the sink water on a plane—yes, the stuff meant to clean your hands—might actually be really gross and making things worse? Suddenly, those hand-washing brownie points don’t seem worth the E. coli side effects. But how bad is it really? Should we just never wash our hands on a plane again? And if not … then what? Read on to get the expert advice you nee...

There are plenty of unspoken rules when it comes to airport etiquette , as well as lots of little tricks that can make your trip a whole lot smoother, especially when you’re racing to make your flight. But there are also some time-sinks and major stress points. The biggest one? Airport security. And it’s not just a hassle—ironically, it can put some of your personal items at risk if you’re not careful. In fact, there’s one specific security mistake that many travelers, myself included, often overlook. And while it may seem minor in the moment, it can lead to some seriously unfortunate consequences. Whether you’re a frequent flier or you only occasionally fly the friendly skies, this is one item you should never toss into a TSA bin on its own. Read on to find out what that item is and what you should do instead. Trust us—you’ll want to know this before your next flight. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more travel, tech, cleaning, humor and fun facts all we...

There are so many reasons we love shopping at Costco—the incredible prices ! The free samples! The butcher-quality meats ! But one that always draws us back to the dairy aisle, in particular, is that the milk seems to stay fresh for days past its sell-by date. And it turns out we aren’t the only ones who have noticed this. “I open milk pretty much the same day I buy it. And Costco milk lasts significantly longer,” writes one user on the r/Costco subreddit. “I prefer Costco milk because it does last longer than anything else,” writes another. So what gives? What kind of sorcery is Costco engaging in that’s making its milk last longer than milk you’d get literally anywhere else? Well, it might not be actual sorcery, but close enough! Read on to find out what’s behind the magic of Costco’s milk . Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more Costco news, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. Why does Costco milk tend to stay fresh past its sell-by...

Let’s be honest: We’ve all watched a few Hallmark Christmas movies . Maybe more than we can count. And if you’re a fan of these holiday favorites or the channel’s cozy mysteries, chances are you’ve seen Alison Sweeney light up the screen. With more than 30 Hallmark films to her name—including a charming mix of romantic comedies , mysteries and her standout role in the Hannah Swensen series—Sweeney has become a beloved face of the network. So what’s it really like to be a longtime star on one of cable’s most iconic networks? Alison recently shared all these details and more in an exclusive interview with Reader’s Digest . From fun behind-the-scenes stories and what continues to excite her about the characters she plays to her personal wellness journey, she gave us a heartfelt inside look at her career. Read on for the scoop from one of Hallmark’s most popular stars—and see why fans can’t get enough of Alison Sweeney. This video interview took place on June 25, 2025, and has been edi...

Colors and design trends often come and go at a rapid clip, but when it comes to aircraft , clean, crisp white definitely isn’t just the new black. It’s by far the undisputed favorite for airline liveries year after year. Sure, the shade looks sleek and serves as a neutral backdrop for a carrier’s branding, but the many reasons white continues to dominate the runways go way beyond simple aesthetics. Read on for the not-so-colorful facts behind why so many planes take to the skies dressed in white. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter  for more travel, tech, cleaning, humor and fun facts all week long. Are there rules about plane colors? Generally, no. In the United States, the FAA regulates how planes can be painted, including the materials used, and ensures they meet safety protocols. Worldwide, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) sets recommended practices for aircraft visibility and identification but doesn’t prescribe specific paint types o...

In October 2024, the polling company Gallup released a survey containing this question: “In general, how much trust and confidence do you have in the mass media—such as newspapers, TV and radio—when it comes to reporting the news fully, accurately and fairly?” Only 31% answered “a great deal” or “a fair amount,” down from 72% in the 1970s. The true picture is likely even bleaker than the Gallup results suggest. Newspapers , TV and radio are typically staffed by professional journalists with years on the job, trained in properly sourcing and fact-checking their material. But newsrooms are shrinking, and local publications and programs are scarce and getting scarcer. Today, we live in an era when people get infor­mation from a splintered amalgam of sources, many of which make no pretense of following journalistic standards. “Talking heads” are more ubiquitous than ever, with podcasters and influencers freely offering their two cents’ worth (and more!) on topics both slight and ser...

Ladybugs are cannibals These brightly colored beetles sometimes turn to drastic measures when food is scarce. If it’s a matter of survival, certain species of female adult ladybugs, such as the Harlequin ladybug, will eat their own unhatched eggs if they can’t find small insects to munch on. The beetles also have a wicked defense mechanism: When threatened,  ladybugs emit a foul-smelling fluid from their leg joints that helps scare away predators. Starfish have ghoulish eating habits It may come as little surprise that these naturally pink creatures have a few biological eccentricities—they see through tiny “eyespots” at the tip of each arm, for example. But their eating habits qualify as downright grotesque. To consume a mussel or clam, the five-pointed critter pries open the shell, ejects its stomach from its mouth into the shell, digests the animal, then slides its stomach back into its own body. Snails have razor-sharp teeth How terrifying can an animal real...