Health Tips Line

You’re invited to a fancy dinner hosted by your best friend. According to the Evite that just landed in your inbox, it’ll be a great way to connect with your nearest and dearest—maybe even make a new friend or two. There’s just one catch: You’re not invited. Or, rather, you’re invited by scammers to give up your personal information, your money and possibly your identity . Yup, the bad guys have cooked up a new way to con you. If you’ve already lost money to one of these online scams , you’re not alone. According to the most recent data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers lost $15.9 billion to scams in 2025, up from $12.5 billion in 2024. Lois Greisman, associate director of the FTC’s division of marketing practices, testified before the U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee on March 25, 2026, saying, “Reported fraud losses have increased year-over-year in the last six years and have risen nearly 430% since 2020.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet ...

It’s fun to try to decipher the clever sayings people put on their license plates: “2COOL4U,” “FASTDRV” and “ROADRNR” are just a few examples, and these vanity plates might catch your eye on the road. But what really sets a car apart? The plate design itself. While every state has its own standard look, many also offer specialty plates that can make your ride feel even more personal. Each year, states roll out new designs—often tied to schools, charities and local causes. And this year, there’s a common theme for many of them. Ahead, we’ve rounded up which states are introducing new plates in 2026, what they represent, how you can get your hands on one and more. Plus, we’ll give you details on the special celebratory designs popping up nationwide, so keep reading. Get Reader’s Digest ’s Read Up newsletter for more fun facts, cleaning, travel, tech and humor all week long. Which states are getting new license plates this year? Nearly a third of states are getting new license pl...

Having to listen to people eat is the bane of my existence. Truly, I would rather listen to a plane full of screaming babies next to road construction than someone slurping soup. And someone chewing gum next to me makes me so crazy, I have literally offered my open palm to strangers and said, “Please. Just spit it in my hand.” (And they have.) I know. I know. But here we are. I have misophonia—a mental health condition that makes sufferers extremely sensitive to certain repetitive noises, and eating sounds are among the most common triggers. So it was with much dismay that I recently joined a Zoom call for work and discovered that one of the attendees was eating sushi. With her mouth open. And juicily licking her cursed fingers . I couldn’t tell you a single thing that was discussed in that 45-minute meeting because all I could hear was lick , smack , slurp , gulp , swallow . I feel nauseous just thinking about it. So clearly I’m not a fan of people eating on video calls. But—an...

Even if you’ve never driven on Route 66, you’ve definitely heard about it—and you’re probably humming along to the classic song about it right now. (Don’t even try to deny it!) Shaped by open highways and desert stretches, this U.S. route has long been a symbol of easygoing freedom and nostalgia. Built in 1926 to connect small towns with major cities and open up westward travel, it quickly became one of America’s most iconic roads. Even though it was officially decommissioned in 1985 and replaced by interstate routes, plenty of it still survives today as “Historic Route 66” scenic drives that you can explore. And with its 100-year anniversary approaching in 2026—it was named on April 30, 1926, and first opened a few months later on Nov. 11—the “Mother Road” is back in the spotlight once again. That alone is a great reason to plan a road trip … or just dig into some very cool Route 66 facts . Well, you’re about to take a (virtual) joyride through Route 66’s wild history and larger-th...

A routine work assignment goes horribly wrong A group of employees follows procedure to investigate a minor issue, inadvertently onboarding a clingy new addition that their company prioritizes above all else. Answer: Alien   Mixing friend groups under stressful conditions A young man brings together several different social circles to help deal with his inheritance, but the project involves frequent delays, unexpected detours and heated disagreements about what to do next. Answer: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring A couples getaway leads to consequences back home After experiencing some personal issues, a woman sets out looking for answers with her boyfriend. They both return feeling transformed, although his new outlook leads to a series of intense changes at home. Answer: Barbie A rural teen gets recruited by a retiree A bored teenager gets some help from a quirky older man with a strong belief system. The teen receives minimal training be...

As a kid, I once received an extra-large Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Crème Bar as a gift (that’s the one that’s 2.5 times larger than your standard chocolate bar), and I’m fairly certain I ate the entire thing in one sitting. Nowadays, when I come across my former favorite candy , I’ll have a rectangle or two before putting it down because it doesn’t quite hit the same way anymore. In fact, it seems like most candy doesn’t taste as great as we remember. This idea has actually been in the news in recently. In February, Brad Reese, the grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, called out Hershey for changing the recipe his grandfather created and replacing the ingredients with cheaper, less tasty ones. But is this happening across the board? And is it only recipe changes that make our favorite candy taste different? Not necessarily! We talked to Michelle Schwenk, a candy scientist and the president of Bellis Food Solutions, a food and candy development firm, to get to the bott...