Health Female

Introducing Our Breakout Issue Featuring GRAMMY Award-Winning Singer JoJo

Welcome to Our Breakout Issue Featuring GRAMMY Award-Winning Singer JoJo

Amy Morin, LCSW,
Verywell Mind Editor-in-Chief

Even though I'm an author and a psychotherapist, I am at a loss for words to sum up how I feel about this past year. To say it's been "rough" or "difficult" feels like it trivializes the emotional toll that so many have endured—and continue to endure. What I can say is that this year clearly challenged our collective mental health.

That's why there was no better time for us to release "The Breakout Issue"—our first-ever digital issue—to help dismantle stigma, lift up unheard voices, and celebrate the stories and people who are changing the way we think about mental health. I'm especially excited to present JoJo as Verywell Mind's first cover star. A chart-topping singer at 13, the R&B artist has been sharing her mental health journey for a long time. Now she's releasing new music about it, and talking to us about her struggles too.

There are many different ways to take care of yourself during these tough times, and a lot of new ideas to digest in a world that's ever-changing. We hope this issue gives you a sense of where we've been, where we're headed, and some ways you might be able to find help. We also want to help you understand that no matter what you're going through, you're not alone.

What You'll See in the Issue

GRAMMY-Award winner JoJo opens up about mental health, self-growth, and sharing her struggles through music.
Dr. Ann-Louise T. Lockhart looks back—and ahead—on parenting during the pandemic.
We take deep dives on modern masculinity, neurodiversity, and how COVID-19 has forever changed the way we think about work.
And much more!

READ NOW

THE VERYWELL MIND PODCAST

For a special edition of The Verywell Mind Podcast, JoJo sits down with Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, to talk about how she learned to become mentally strong, why she is so open about her mental health, and how therapy and antidepressants have helped her along the way.

How JoJo Is Taking Charge of Her Mental Health

READ THESE NEXT

You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Healthy Mind newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.

A DOTDASH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10005

Will an Apple a Day Keep COVID Away?

By Daphne Lee, News Editor

I'll refrain from asking how on earth it's October already. Instead, let's talk about food because it's Friday and World Vegetarian Day.

For a while, I quit eating meat after sitting through a brutal lecture on animal cruelty and factory farming. But life isn't worth living if I can no longer have fried chicken. What I can do is to try to be more mindful about what I eat on a daily basis.

Now I probably eat too much tofu, and sometimes I substitute ground pork with shiitake mushrooms just because. And who doesn't love the convenience of sheet pan roasted vegetables on a weeknight?

Today's Top Story

Can a Plant-Based Diet Reduce COVID-19 Risk?

Countless studies have claimed that a plant-based diet can work wonders for our health, like reducing risk of stroke. Since last year, some scientists have also suggested a plant-based diet may lower the risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization.

The journalist in me was very skeptical about these claims because COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets and airborne transmission, and a carrot won't block someone's spit from my face. So we asked the researchers about their studies.

Andrew Chan, MD, MPH, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, says even though diet isn't a primary risk factor for COVID-19, it can predict many health conditions that may worsen a coronavirus infection. There's limited research on the gut microbiome, but healthy gut bacteria derived from a balanced diet could potentially strengthen your immune system.

People who can afford a plant-based diet may also be more likely to have better household conditions or access to care.

The bottom line is that a plant-based diet alone won't make you invincible, but it's indicative of a certain lifestyle. "Diet is one aspect of risk that is important to take into account but it is not the only aspect," Chan says. "We know for sure that the science demonstrates that vaccinations are critical, as is wearing a mask."

Know More

Foods that have a "plant-based" label aren't necessarily healthier, experts say, because you might be tempted to buy a bag of veggie chips over real vegetables. A healthy diet doesn't have to be complicated: Choose fresh produce over processed foods and prioritize basic foods like seeds, nuts, and fruits when you're shopping for groceries.

Feel Better

Ongoing research is evaluating exactly how the microorganisms in our gut work to protect us from illnesses. Fruits and vegetables like apples, bananas, and artichokes are rich in soluble fiber and prebiotics, which may help promote calcium absorption and improve immune functions.

Why does it feel like the seasonal flu shot doesn't always work? Every year, flu shots are updated to counter predicted mutations. But sometimes researchers might miscalculate the mutations and the circulating variants may not be covered in the update.

Afraid of Needles? Vaccines May Be Coming to Your Nose

You might be able to get a COVID-19 shot up your nose rather than having a needle jabbed into your arm. New research shows that a nasal spray may offer even more protection than typical in-arm vaccine injections. Since COVID-19 infection occurs in the nose, scientists are suggesting to concentrate immune response in the same area so it prevents the virus from getting deeper into the body. But it might still take a while before any intranasal vaccine enters the market.

Older Americans Aren't Using Health Savings Account

Healthcare costs can be daunting, especially if you're going into retirement. Only a quarter of Americans aged 50 to 80 have saved money for health care expenses, and only a fraction of them are utilizing tax-free health savings accounts, according to a new poll. In addition to your retirement fund, it might be worth investing in a health savings account, which can grow over time and help pay for future medical services.

Paola de Varona, associate news editor of Verywell Health, is an advocate for early mornings.

Wake up an hour before starting your workday. Use that time to do something that isn't about productivity to stay grounded. I like to take a walk or meditate.

Paola de Varona
Verywell Health Associate News Editor

Keep Reading

	■	Why NBA Players Get the Shot But Don't Advocate for the Vaccine. Washington Post

	■	Burned Out and Restless From the Pandemic, Women Redefine Their Career Ambitions. The Wall Street Journal

	■	Judge John Hodgman on Peeing in the Ocean. The New York Times Magazine

12 Time-Efficient Exercises You're Not Doing (But Should)

Fit Life

12 Time-Efficient Exercises You're Not Doing (But Should)

Good news: You don't need hours to get in a quality, total body workout that includes cardio, strength, balance, core, and stability training. These twelve exercises may be just what you need to work your entire body in a short, intense workout.

READ NOW