Living Better

A fiber found in barley, called beta-glucan, may improve insulin sensitivity, lower blood pressure and increase satiation between meals, research shows. LauriPatterson/Getty Images hide caption

Students help instructional coach Regina Green caramelize onions for a dish featuring fresh greens from the school garden at Watkins Elementary. Allison Aubrey/NPR hide caption

Mikki Smith lets out a cry as she adjusts to the frigid water. It was her first time with the Puget Sound Plungers in Seattle, Washington. Mike Kane for NPR hide caption

A study of nearly 300,000 people in the U.K. found that people who maintained at least five of seven healthy habits cut their risk of depression by 57%. Maria Stavreva/Getty Images hide caption

Jason Silverman, on the exercise bike, and his friend Melissa Mills go to the gym together when they hang out. The pair are part of the Friendship Project in Framingham, Massachusetts. Priyanka Dayal McCluskey/WBUR hide caption

Kame Ogito, 89, gathers seaweed at low tide in Motobu, Okinawa, Japan. Seaweed is part of the plant-based, low-calorie diet that makes Okinawans some of the longest-lived people in the world. David McLain/Dan Buettner hide caption

People with diabetes who were prescribed fruits and vegetables, saw their blood sugar decline significantly. And adults with hypertension saw their blood pressure go down. RyanJLane/Getty Images hide caption

Some people who take Ozempic and Wegovy report it tamps down their cravings for alcohol, and they're drinking less. lucentius/Getty Images hide caption

Sodas like Poppi and Olipop have added prebiotic ingredients intended to help nourish your gut bacteria. Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Poppi hide caption

The author awaits a bowl of ramen noodles in a Tokyo restaurant. Yuki Noguchi/NPR hide caption

Dr. Chris van Tulleken took part in a month-long experiment. He ate 80% of his calories from ultra-processed food. He explains what happened in his new book, Ultra-Processed People. Jonny Storey hide caption