Life Kit: Health

By NPR

What's Life Kit: Health about?

Taking care of yourself shouldn't be complicated. We talk to the experts for practical advice to live a long and healthy life, based on science. Subscribe to get episodes from Life Kit on health and wellness.

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Scarfing down your food? He...

09.11.2023

Eating more deliberately can help you make better choices about nourishing your body, says Lilian Cheung, a mindful eating lecturer at Harvard. She shares how to enjoy meals while paying attention.

Life Kit: Health episodes:

09.11.2023 Scarfing down your food? Here's how to slow down and eat more mindfully Eating more deliberately can help you make better choices about nourishing your body, says Lilian Cheung, a mindful eating lecturer at Harvard. She shares how to enjoy meals while paying attention.
08.21.2023 Meal prep made easy What's for dinner? It's a question that can lead to overspending on delivery, unhealthy meals and dread. FitMenCook founder Kevin Curry shares meal prep techniques that can alleviate stress and save money. This episode originally published January 31, 2023.
08.17.2023 Protect your hearing and ears If you find yourself in loud clubs, concerts or cities, you might be doing more damage to your hearing than you think. People of all ages are at risk for noise-induced hearing loss, but few of us know what to ...
08.08.2023 Millennial? Gen Z? It may be time for colorectal cancer screening Colorectal cancer cases are on the rise among young people. In this episode, we explain the risk, symptoms to look out for and how to get screened.
07.31.2023 Minimize your back pain while cooking Many of us will experience back pain at some point in our lives. It might not disappear entirely, but you can find ways to comfortably perform everyday tasks like cooking. This episode offers strategies for minimizing your pain when making ...
07.27.2023 Bring more play into your life Play isn't just fun. Researchers argue it can help you adapt to difficult circumstances, collaborate better and problem-solve. We'll help you figure out your play personality and how to prioritize play in your life.
07.24.2023 Make a salad you want to eat We should all be eating more vegetables. One fast way to do that: toss them in a salad! We'll cover how to make nutritious, affordable, and, most importantly, crave-worthy salads.
07.10.2023 What to do when you're constipated We've got a step-by-step guide for that SOS moment when you haven't pooped in days and days. Plus: tips to help you avoid chronic constipation, and a little toilet pep talk from a gastroenterologist.
06.29.2023 Learning how to swim could save your life. Here's where to start Knowing how to swim can help you have fun at the pool or beach this summer. But it could also save your life. According to the CDC, an average of 11 people die daily from drowning in the U.S. Here ...
06.22.2023 How to start running in the body you have Running is a classic form of exercise for a reason. It gets you from point A to point B, you don't need equipment or a gym membership and it provides cardiovascular benefits. But many people are told that running is ...
06.20.2023 Ultra-processed foods are everywhere. Here's how to avoid them Ultra-processed foods are tasty, cheap and everywhere. But they come with health risks. NPR health correspondent Maria Godoy lays out ways to spot and avoid ultra-processed foods during your next grocery run.
05.29.2023 Pick the best sunscreen for you No matter your skin tone, sunscreen keeps your skin safe from harmful UVA and UVB rays. But to use it right, you need to know a few things: What SPF to use, how often to reapply and the difference between ...
05.23.2023 What to do when you're feeling anxious Anxiety can feel awful and overwhelming. But it can also be a helpful warning signal — telling us when we're in danger or out of alignment with our true feelings. We share tips on how to turn down the dial ...
05.11.2023 Pregnant? Here's how to deal with the new you Pregnancy is hard work – for the body, mind and soul. There are seemingly endless resources for all the physical and logistical aspects of pregnancy but far fewer for renegotiating your sense of self in every part of your life. ...
05.09.2023 5 ways to improve your indoor air quality Want fresher, cleaner air at home? We share practical tips from researchers on how to clean your house (and your air), test your air quality, and change your habits to limit indoor air pollution.
05.02.2023 A better way to talk to your doctor Ever leave the doctor's office confused or with unanswered questions? Talking to doctors and other medical professionals can be hard - whether they're good at their jobs or not. We'll give you the tools to get more out of your ...
03.21.2023 How to have the STIs conversation With Dr. Evalene Dacker, we lay out the science of STIs and then give you language to talk about them and, more broadly, about sex, with a potential partner. Because for something so fun, sex can be hard to talk ...
03.07.2023 The truth about caffeine 75% of Americans consume some kind of caffeine at least once a day. Whether your caffeine of choice is coffee, tea, soda or energy drinks, how do you know that it's working for you and not against you? We speak ...
03.06.2023 The period talk you never got This episode, we hear from two period experts on understanding the science of periods, management techniques and how to know when something is wrong.
02.27.2023 Teeth: an owner's manual Brush twice a day. Remember to floss. Visit the dentist twice a year. We know the drill...or maybe not? In this episode, how to take care of your teeth, from finding good dentist, to home teeth whitening, to the best ...
01.23.2023 Practical tips for exercising in the cold What kind of gear should you wear? How cold is too cold? And how do you stay motivated to say, run outdoors, when the weather is dreary? Athlete and activist Alison Mariella Désir, author of Running While Black, and Dr. ...
10.25.2022 How to wake up early, even if you're a night owl Waking up at dawn with the bakers and the baristas may not be for everyone — especially night owls. Whether you have to wake up early or you'd like to become more of a morning lark, here are a few ...
10.11.2022 Tips for finding relief from IBS More than 25 million Americans have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. While IBS symptoms present in the gut, it turns out that stress and anxiety can actually exacerbate symptoms. Here's how to identify triggers for IBS, eat a diet that decreases gas ...
08.29.2022 Exercises to 'futureproof' your body against chronic pain Vinh Pham, physical therapist and author of "Sit Up Straight: Futureproof Your Body Against Chronic Pain with 12 Simple Movements," explains why mobility exercises and good posture may be your best defense against muscle and joint pain.
06.16.2022 How to stop revenge bedtime procrastination When your days are packed, it can be hard to find some "me time" time to unwind. You might find yourself staying up past your bedtime, scrolling on social media or watching an extra episode of your latest show, That's ...
05.02.2022 How to make the most of your health insurance Using your health insurance doesn't have to be on an "in-case-of-emergency" basis. Learn how to make the most of your coverage by taking advantage of preventative care, strategically timing procedures and getting exercise classes covered.
04.23.2022 Masks are off on public transit. How to assess risk in a less-masked world Now that a federal judge has thrown out mask mandates on public transportation, many people are wondering, "How safe is it to use these forms of travel if many people aren't masked?" In this episode Life Kit, learn how to ...
03.07.2022 How to pick a birth control that works for you Picking a form of contraception can be overwhelming. It involves understanding how birth control works, your preferences, side effects and more. This episode presents the facts so you can choose the contraception that works for you. (This episode originally aired ...
01.27.2022 How to cope with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) It's getting darker and colder, and there's still a pandemic. Oh, and then there's seasonal affective disorder. Here's how to spot it and what you can do. (This episode originally aired in October 2020.)
01.18.2022 How to talk to your Latinx parents about mental health Shame and stigma play a huge role in discouraging folks in the Latinx community from seeking mental health care — and talking about it with their families. These steps can help you prepare for the conversation with your loved ones.
01.17.2022 Need to make a change in your life? Behavioral science can help When's the best time to start a new habit? And what makes some stick while others fall by the wayside? Behavioral scientist Katy Milkman's new book, How to Change, breaks down the research about how to leverage human nature instead ...
01.15.2022 How to talk about the COVID-19 vaccine with people who are hesitant Infectious disease specialist Dr. Jasmine Marcelin shares how she has conversations about the COVID-19 vaccine with people who have doubts about getting vaccinated. (A version of this episode originally aired on NPR's Short Wave.)
01.08.2022 A pediatrician's advice on omicron, daycare and travel for kids under 5 Amid the omicron surge, there is understandable anxiety among parents, particularly those with kids under 5. In this episode, infectious disease doctor Ibukun Kalu answers listeners' questions on the latest COVID variant, daycare and travel for unvaccinated children.
01.04.2022 How to divest from diet culture In 2021, nearly half of all new year's resolutions in the U.S. were based on weight loss. Why do we set these goals for ourselves? Diet culture, the social expectations that value thinness and appearance above all else, can impact ...
01.03.2022 Mindfulness for beginners It's counterintuitive, but an effective way to manage our negative reactions to life's stressors actually involves slowing down and paying very close attention. Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based-Stress-Reduction, explains how to begin a meditation practice — and how doing ...
12.30.2021 When it comes to exercise, "all movements count" Feeling blocked with it comes to starting an exercise habit? You can actually get the health benefits of exercise with just 22 minutes of exercise a day — and you might be surprised what "counts" as exercise. Kiss your excuses ...
12.27.2021 6 tips on taking a break from drinking Thinking about taking a break from drinking? Here are ways to help you make a plan, navigate tricky social situations and reassess your relationship with alcohol so you can experience the benefits of dry January. (This episode originally aired in ...
12.23.2021 How solitude can help you regulate your mood Everyone needs a little alone time, but during this pandemic, you may have felt like you had too much "me" time or not enough. Let's get that balance back! This episode breaks down research behind what makes even small bouts ...
12.18.2021 What happens in our brain when we grieve — and how it helps us stay afloat When we lose a loved one, it can feel like we've lost a part of ourselves. And for good reason, our brains are learning how to live in this world without someone we care about in it. In this episode, ...
12.13.2021 Omicron variant, COVID booster shots — and how to stay safe during the holidays The holiday season is well underway, and with it, a fresh batch of worries over the latest COVID-19 variant, omicron. For those planning end-of-year celebrations and travel, NPR senior science and health correspondent Maria Godoy breaks down the latest coronavirus ...
11.30.2021 How to decide if freezing your eggs is right for you — and how to get started Freezing your eggs can open doors for your fertility. It's also emotional, time-consuming and expensive. Here are some things to think about before you decide to freeze your eggs — and what to know if you do, including how much ...
11.08.2021 How To Build A Sleep Routine For You And Your Children Getting enough sleep helps you focus, retain information and helps to fortify your immune system. But when it comes to children, they aren't always thinking about these benefits. For parents and caretakers struggling to get their little ones to bed ...
11.04.2021 How to wake up early, even if you're not a morning person Waking up at dawn with the bakers and the baristas may not be for everyone — especially night owls. Whether you have to wake up early, or you'd like to become more of a morning lark, here are a few ...
10.28.2021 How to create a basic skin care routine Your skin is your largest organ. If you want to care for it without getting sucked into a wormhole of pharmacological-sounding mumbo jumbo, this guide to building a basic skin care routine is for you.
10.25.2021 Climate Anxiety Is Real. Here's How To Address It The climate crisis is here, and if you feel climate anxiety, that's a totally normal response. It's easy to feel overwhelmed or numb when you start thinking about the bigger picture, but it's important to let yourself feel all those ...
10.18.2021 How To Choose A Health Insurance Plan Picking health insurance takes a lot of work. It's not a one-size-fits-all type of situation, and there are a lot of confusing terms that come up every year. You also need to consider your general health and finances. So how ...
10.12.2021 5 Tips For Getting Started With Strength Training Strength training is a great way to exercise efficiently while preventing injury. And while it's not that difficult to get into it, it can be intimidating if you don't know what you're doing. That's where we're going to help! In ...
09.28.2021 How You Can Help Someone At Risk Of Suicide Research shows that suicide is preventable. And while surveys have shown that Americans know this, they might not know how to help someone who may be at risk. It's National Suicide Prevention Month, and we're looking at ways you can ...
09.23.2021 Is It Laziness, Or A Sign You Need To Slow Down? We don't question whether our pets, friends or family have earned their right to exist, so why do we sometimes think about our own lives in those terms? What we learn about the value of productivity and the negative connotation ...
09.20.2021 In 'We're Not Broken,' Author Eric Garcia Takes On Myths About Autism Whether you know it or not, you know somebody who is autistic. So if you think autism doesn't affect you, you're wrong, says Eric Garcia. In this episode, Garcia, author of We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation, talks about ...

Older episodes

Life Kit: Health

What's Life Kit: Health about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Life Kit: Health episodes:

Scarfing down your food? Here's how to slow down and eat more mindfully

Meal prep made easy

Protect your hearing and ears

Millennial? Gen Z? It may be time for colorectal cancer screening

Minimize your back pain while cooking

Bring more play into your life

Make a salad you want to eat

What to do when you're constipated

Learning how to swim could save your life. Here's where to start

How to start running in the body you have

Ultra-processed foods are everywhere. Here's how to avoid them

Pick the best sunscreen for you

What to do when you're feeling anxious

Pregnant? Here's how to deal with the new you

5 ways to improve your indoor air quality

A better way to talk to your doctor

How to have the STIs conversation

The truth about caffeine

The period talk you never got

Teeth: an owner's manual

Practical tips for exercising in the cold

How to wake up early, even if you're a night owl

Tips for finding relief from IBS

Exercises to 'futureproof' your body against chronic pain

How to stop revenge bedtime procrastination

How to make the most of your health insurance

Masks are off on public transit. How to assess risk in a less-masked world

How to pick a birth control that works for you

How to cope with seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

How to talk to your Latinx parents about mental health

Need to make a change in your life? Behavioral science can help

How to talk about the COVID-19 vaccine with people who are hesitant

A pediatrician's advice on omicron, daycare and travel for kids under 5

How to divest from diet culture

Mindfulness for beginners

When it comes to exercise, "all movements count"

6 tips on taking a break from drinking

How solitude can help you regulate your mood

What happens in our brain when we grieve — and how it helps us stay afloat

Omicron variant, COVID booster shots — and how to stay safe during the holidays

How to decide if freezing your eggs is right for you — and how to get started

How To Build A Sleep Routine For You And Your Children

How to wake up early, even if you're not a morning person

How to create a basic skin care routine

Climate Anxiety Is Real. Here's How To Address It

How To Choose A Health Insurance Plan

5 Tips For Getting Started With Strength Training

How You Can Help Someone At Risk Of Suicide

Is It Laziness, Or A Sign You Need To Slow Down?

In 'We're Not Broken,' Author Eric Garcia Takes On Myths About Autism