Live Better This Week: Walk More, Sit Tall, Eat Smart
Some healthy tips to feel better and live longer
Public Health Without Politics offers health tips, policy insights, and strategies to combat America's chronic disease crisis.
Welcome to this week's edition of Public Health Without Politics. This week, we cover simple but powerful health habits—from the surprising benefits of walking and posture to why fiber and fitness matter.
Plus a book on end-of-life care, a bold idea to end the drug crisis, and a nostalgic look at the Presidential Fitness Test.
Trending in Health this Week
Take a walk! Walking truly is the most underrated health gem there is. A fitness coach this week highlighted how it can burn more belly fat than hours of cardio.
Americans aren’t eating enough fiber. You can add more by eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Bring back the Presidential Physical Fitness Test! President John Kennedy said, ““Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” You probably remember taking this in grade school, but the program was discontinued in 2012. Ohio wants to bring it back to fight childhood obesity.
A new trial found that exercise is “better than drugs” at preventing cancer from returning after treatment.
The New York Times highlighted five keys to a healthy diet: Prioritize whole foods, eat more healthy fats (avocado!), watch out for added sugars, cook more, and learn to love a healthy diet.
Book Review: Being Mortal by Atul Gwande
Being Mortal is a thoughtful book about aging, dying, and how we navigate the final years of life. What stood out is how rarely we talk about death—despite it being something we all have to face—simply because it makes us uncomfortable. Gawande encourages a more honest, compassionate conversation about what truly matters at the end of life.
You can also watch the short documentary here.
In Case You Missed It: My 3-Part Series on the War on Drugs
Over the past few posts, I’ve rolled out a paper I couldn’t get published in any mainstream journal—because it challenges everything we think we know about drug policy.
Part 1: Why persuasion campaigns and prohibition haven’t curbed drug use—not even close.
Part 2: How $1 trillion spent on enforcement gave us more drugs, more deaths, and stronger cartels.
Part 3: What if we could beat drugs not with laws, but with brain tech? From Neuralink to artificial highs, I explore a moonshot solution.
Why Posture Matters for Health and Mood
Mom was right: sit up straight. The Wall Street Journal published a helpful article on the importance of posture for health. Some key takeaways:
Good posture boosts breathing, digestion, mood, and brain function.
It helps you stay mobile and independent as you age.
Awareness is the first step—use mirrors, walls, or posture apps.
It’s not just core strength; flexibility and balance matter too.
Upright posture can improve confidence and reduce anxiety.
PTs can help create a plan to fix bad habits before they cause pain.
Inspirational Quote
“It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man.”
― Benjamin Franklin
Have a great week,
—Richard