Your Biohack Bulletin

Good Morning Fitlifer,

Hope you're sipping that Green Juice motivation while I drop some knowledge bombs about the pineapple peel phenomenon that's breaking the internet and settling the great raw vs. cooked veggie debate once and for all.

Here's what we're exploring today (5-minute read):

• 🍍 The TikTok Trend That Actually Makes Sense

• 🥬 Raw vs. Cooked Veggies: The Great Nutrient Showdown

• 🚨 This Weeks Breaking Health News

• 🥰 Weekly Giveaway Winner

If you’d like to enter to win the next giveaway, tell us what you want to hear about at the bottom of this newsletter.

🍍 The TikTok Trend That Actually Makes Sense

So, apparently everyone's boiling pineapple peels with cinnamon. For once, social media got the science right. Here's why this isn't just another wellness fad that'll disappear faster than my willpower around donuts.

The magic word here is bromelain - a proteolytic enzyme that's basically nature's anti-inflammatory Swiss army knife. Research in Biotechnology Research International shows bromelain can reduce inflammatory markers by up to 60%.

But here's the kicker: the highest concentrations aren't in the sweet fruit we eat - they're in the tough core and spiky peel we usually toss.

When you boil those peels with cinnamon, you're creating an enzyme extraction that combines bromelain's protein-breaking power with cinnamon's additional anti-inflammatory compounds. A study in Foods journal found this combo can significantly reduce post-meal bloating and support digestive enzyme activity.

The Drew Method: Save your pineapple peels, boil with a cinnamon stick for 15 minutes, strain, and sip. Tastes like tropical comfort food, works like a homemade digestive aid. Plus, you'll feel smugly superior about using food scraps like some kind of sustainability superhero.

🥬 Raw vs. Cooked Veggies: The Great Nutrient Showdown

Time to settle this debate with some actual science instead of Instagram opinions. The truth? Both raw and cooked have their superpowers - it's like asking whether Batman or Superman is better. They're just good at different things.

Team Cooked Champions:

• Spinach: Cooking breaks down oxalates, increasing iron absorption by 55% (Journal of Food Science)

• Carrots: Heat converts more beta-carotene into usable vitamin A - we're talking 5x more bioavailable carotenoids

• Tomatoes: Cooking increases lycopene by 35%, making them cancer-fighting powerhouses

• Asparagus: Heat breaks down tough cell walls, releasing more folate and vitamins A, C, and E

Team Raw Rebels:

• Broccoli: Raw preserves heat-sensitive vitamin C and sulforaphane - cooking can destroy up to 90% of these compounds

• Garlic: Raw allicin is where the antimicrobial magic happens; cooking converts it to less potent compounds

• Onions: Raw quercetin levels are significantly higher, giving you maximum anti-inflammatory bang

• Peppers: Vitamin C content drops by 25% when cooked

Bottom Line: I still cook my garlic and onions because, let's be honest, they taste infinitely better and I'm not trying to clear rooms with my breath.

The key is variety - mix it up, listen to your gut (literally), and remember that any vegetable is better than no vegetable.

👁️ Scientists Uncover Surprising Link Between Diet and Nearsightedness: Researchers studying over 1,000 children found that omega-3 fatty acids may help protect against myopia, while saturated fats may increase risk—kids with more omega-3 in their diet had healthier eye measurements linked to slower vision deterioration.

😴 The Sleep Switch That Builds Muscle, Burns Fat, and Boosts Brainpower: UC Berkeley researchers mapped the brain circuits that control growth hormone during sleep, uncovering a feedback system where sleep fuels hormone release, and the hormone regulates wakefulness—revealing crucial links between poor sleep, obesity, diabetes, and cognitive decline.

🧠 The Midlife Crisis Is Over, but Something Worse Took Its Place: Once a universal feature of human psychology, the "unhappiness hump" in midlife has disappeared, replaced by a new trend where mental health is worst in youth rather than middle age.

Whether you're sipping pineapple peel tea or debating veggie prep methods, the goal is finding what works for YOUR body. Experiment, track how you feel, and don't be afraid to look a little weird in pursuit of optimal health. We’re in this together 🚀 

Stay curious,
Drew Canole

PS: Want to win some Organifi products? Rate the newsletter (below) and let us know what you’re struggling with or want to learn next.