Health Tips Line

I travel. A lot. As a travel writer, it’s literally my job, and I love everything about exploring the world . Everything, that is, but figuring out currency conversions, especially if I’m country-hopping between spots that don’t use the same currency. (This happened to me recently after taking a two-hour train ride from Budapest, which uses Hungarian forint, to Vienna, which uses euros). But I just discovered a super easy iPhone hack that handles currency conversions in seconds—for free—that was literally right in my pocket. And I’m here to tell you it’s a game changer. So grab your passport and get ready to have your mind blown. Here’s everything you need to know. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter  for more travel, tech, cleaning, humor and fun facts all week long. What is the iPhone currency converter hack? First, get to your home screen, swipe down to search for your calculator, then open it. You’ll see a standard calculator screen. In the bottom-left ...

There are few feelings more satisfying than sinking your teeth into a hot, fresh-off-the-griddle McDonald’s sandwich. And if the fries are right out of the fryer too? Perfection. But sometimes, let’s just say you get the sense that those items have been sitting around for a while. It might not be a huge deal for burgers and fries … but an hours-old Filet-O-Fish? Ick. A seafood sandwich is one you really want to be fresh, and there’s actually a secret ordering trick to make that happen. It entails three magic words that can ensure you get the freshest possible Filet-O-Fish, with its off-center tartar sauce , every single time. Keep reading to find out which three words will score you a fresh Filet-O-Fish—and how this magic phrase can you help you get your other favorite McDonald’s foods fresh too. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more food news, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. How popular is McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish? Though its sa...

Robert De Niro is no stranger to playing mobsters. From Al Capone in The Untouchables to Jimmy Conway in Goodfellas —not to mention Frank Sheeran in The Irishman —he’s built a legendary career portraying some of the most infamous figures in crime history. But in his latest film, The Alto Knights , released on March 21, he takes on a unique challenge: playing two roles in one film, further cementing his status as a Hollywood icon. Directed by Barry Levinson, The Alto Knights is an immersive biographical crime drama that explores the true story of New York crime bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese as they battle for control of the city’s streets in the 1950s. It pulls audiences deep into the world of power, betrayal and ambition. Joining De Niro is Debra Messing, best known for Will & Grace (a TV show classic ), who takes on the role of Frank’s wife Bobbie. Her character navigates the complexities of being married to a powerful mob figure, adding depth to the film’s emotion...

There is one crossroads moment that every air traveler knows all too well: choosing between the TSA PreCheck lane and the standard lane at the airport security checkpoint. This single moment divides couples, splits up friend groups and separates colleagues traveling together on business trips. But is TSA PreCheck really worth the cost? How much time does it actually save you when going through airport security ? A recent survey got to the bottom of this question, and the results might surprise you. Keep reading to find out how much time TSA PreCheck can really save you at the airport and which other benefits may make a membership worthwhile. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more travel, humor, tech and fun facts all week long. How did the survey determine how much time was saved with TSA PreCheck? Determining how much time travelers save with TSA PreCheck is tricky because there are so many variables to consider (time of day, day of the week, airport, et...

If you were to ask me about my favorite book genre, I would find it almost impossible to choose. While I love to lose myself in a fast-paced mystery, I couldn’t live without character-driven contemporary fiction, and fantasy novels that transport me to another world are nothing short of essential. Still, if I had to choose, I’d go with mystery novels , which never fail to make me forget I’m reading at all. Considering the fact that I live in California, that may not be entirely surprising. According to a recent study conducted by Cloudwards, the most popular book genre varies quite a bit across different states and regions in the United States. That’s right: The most popular books in every state could have as much to do with genre as the stories themselves. Curious to find out if your favorite genre also happens to be your state’s top pick? Keep reading to find out which book genre is the most-read in every state and to get recommendations for some of the best books in each catego...

For Costco shoppers, there are certain Kirkland products that always make the shopping list. They’re as integral to our fridges and pantries as eggs and butter because of how well Costco keeps prices low , especially on its famed private-label Kirkland Signature brand. For me, it’s Kirkland paper towels and maybe, just maybe, Kirkland prosecco (if you know, you know). But as much as the warehouse retailer may giveth, it also taketh away. Yep, Costco discontinues Kirkland products from time to time, much to the dismay of its customers. You always hope it won’t happen to one of your favorites, and then—bam!—the next thing you know, Kirkland chocolate chips are a thing of the past. And now shoppers are up in arms over the latest Kirkland casualty. Read on to find out if it’s one of your faves. Get Reader’s Digest ’s   Read Up newsletter for more food news, cleaning, travel, tech, humor and fun facts all week long. Which Kirkland item is being discontinued? According to a slew o...

Your grandma always remembers your birthday (gotta love grandmas!) and faithfully sends a card with a little cash tucked inside. But this year? Nada. No card. No cash. No sparkly sticker-covered envelope. Did Grandma forget? (Never!) Did it get lost in the mail? Or … did some lowlife snatch it right out of your mailbox and is now using your birthday money to buy gas station snacks? You may have been hit by a mail thief—or as they’re known in the wild, porch pirates —and they’re becoming both more prolific and more bold in their crimes. In 2024, more than 58 million people in the U.S. reported stolen packages, adding up to a jaw-dropping $13 billion in losses. Mail theft has exploded in recent years, thanks to a perfect storm of online-shopping overload and a sharp rise in check-fraud scams . It’s gotten so bad that the United States Postal Service (USPS) has been sounding the alarm. “Your mail security is of paramount importance for the Postal Service, and we take it very seriously,...

The other night, I was out to dinner with friends, and we had just finished a feast. Plates were empty, pants were loosened and then—like an angel descending—our waiter rolled up with the dessert cart. Before I could even start drooling, my friend waved him off. “No thanks, I’m still so full from dinner.” The waiter and I both blinked. “What?” we blurted in unison. OK, sure, what she said was logical. But to me, it was completely incomprehensible. I’ve always had a sweet tooth , and satiety has never had anything to do with it. If I do skip dessert, it’s not because I’m full—it’s because of sheer, white-knuckled willpower. And I know I’m definitely not alone. So what gives? How do most of us always magically have room for dessert? Well, science has an answer, and it turns out it’s not magic. It’s your brain playing tricks on you (sort of). A new study published in the journal Science reveals exactly what happens in our bodies when our so-called “dessert stomach” kicks in, even wh...