Friday, October 30, 2026 · Edition updated 6:00 AM ETFRI, OCT 30 · 6 AM ET editionNext edition in Next --:--:--
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What you can do today: things to limit or avoid

Everyday exposures and habits that research links to worse health, and how strong that evidence is so far. How strong the research on each is so far, and tools that can lower exposure.

What people try

4Quitting smokingStage 4 · Widely recommended · Free help lines; medicines by prescription or over the counterQuitting smoking means stopping cigarette use, and the CDC says it has health benefits at any age.Main risk: For people who use nicotine replacement products to quit, a review found more heart palpitations and chest pain than with placebo.4Drinking less alcoholStage 4 · Widely recommended · FreeDrinking less alcohol means cutting back on how much you drink, which is better for health than drinking more.Main risk: Taking aspirin and drinking raises the risk of stomach or intestinal bleeding.4Ultra-processed foodStage 4 · Widely recommended · Free; a change in eatingUltra-processed foods are tasty, convenient foods that often contain little to no whole foods and use ingredients not found in home kitchens.Main risk: Eating a lot of these foods has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease and other serious health problems.4Too much sittingStage 4 · Widely recommended · FreeToo much sitting means long periods of low-energy time spent sitting, reclining or lying while awake.Main risk: Adults who sit a lot are linked to higher rates of death from any cause, heart disease and cancer.2MicroplasticsStage 2 · Small studies in people · Found in food, water and airMicroplastics are very small pieces of plastic, typically less than five millimeters across in at least one dimension.Main risk: The FDA says there is not enough known about health effects of these particles, and more research is needed.2Air pollution (outdoor and indoor)Stage 2 · Small studies in people · Everywhere; indoor air can be filteredAir pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the air.Main risk: Short-term exposure to higher levels of outdoor air pollution has been linked to reduced lung function, asthma, heart problems and hospital stays.2PFAS ("forever chemicals")Stage 2 · Small studies in people · Found in some drinking water, food packaging and productsPFAS are man-made chemicals used in products worldwide and found in people and animals across the globe.Main risk: Health effects possibly linked to PFAS include higher cholesterol, lower birth weight, weaker vaccine response, some cancers, pregnancy high blood pressure and liver enzyme changes.2BPA and phthalates in plasticsStage 2 · Small studies in people · Found in some plastics, can linings and receiptsBPA is an industrial chemical used to make polycarbonate, a hard, clear plastic found in many consumer products.Main risk: In 2008, the National Toxicology Program said BPA is of "some concern" for the prostate, brain and behavior in fetuses, infants and children.

Products

Sorted by the best research stage of each product's ingredients, then by price. The stage describes research on the ingredient, not proof that the product works.

Devices 7

BritaBrita™ Elite Replacement FiltersPFAS ("forever chemicals")2 This type: small studies in people$19.99ZeroWater · device10 Cup PitcherPFAS ("forever chemicals")2 This type: small studies in people$37.99LevoitLevoit Core® 300-P Air PurifierAir pollution (outdoor and indoor)2 This type: small studies in people$89.99Clearly FilteredFiltered Water PitcherMicroplastics2 This type: small studies in people$110Coway · deviceAirmega Mighty AP-1512HHAir pollution (outdoor and indoor)2 This type: small studies in people$239.99Aquasana3-Stage Claryum® Under Sink Water FilterPFAS ("forever chemicals")2 This type: small studies in people$349.99BlueairBlue Pure 211i MaxAir pollution (outdoor and indoor)2 This type: small studies in people$349.99

Recent research

New study

Air pollution and faster heart aging: a new way to test the idea

The authors propose a framework to tell apart pollution harm to the heart from faster heart aging.

Study in 896 adults with depression and 36,206 without, from UK Biobank

Lifestyle differences may shape how brain aging looks in people with depression

Researchers grouped people with depression by lifestyle and fitness, then looked at their brain age.

New trial

How common lung disease COPD is among adults in Taif, Saudi Arabia

This study looks at how many adults in one city already have COPD, a long-term lung disease.

Study in 69 breast cancer survivors

How activity is measured changes its link to gut bacteria in breast cancer survivors

Researchers compared three ways of measuring activity and fitness with gut bacteria.

New trial

Study of weight and gum disease in Thai adults under 60

This is a plan to study how common high body weight and gum disease are in Thai adults aged 18 to 59.

See all the latest research →

What others are writing

Recent articles from health journalists, hospitals and universities. We link to them; we don't write or endorse them.

news.harvard.edu · Samantha Laine Perfas · Jun 17, 2026

A clearer picture of drinking and disease ↗

Drinking less alcohol: A new review finds some alcohol-related damage can be slowed or reversed by cutting down or quitting drinking.

hsph.harvard.edu · Maya Brownstein · Jun 2, 2026

Alcohol is the root of 62 diseases and a partial cause of dozens more ↗

Drinking less alcohol: The review finds alcohol causes dozens of diseases, and cutting down or quitting can slow or reverse many of them.

med.stanford.edu · John Sanford · Jan 15, 2026

Ultra-processed food: Five things to know ↗

Ultra-processed food: The article explains what ultra-processed food is, why it is linked to poor health, and how to eat healthier around it.

health.harvard.edu · Maureen Salamon · Dec 17, 2025

Quitting smoking in middle age can reduce dementia risk ↗

Quitting smoking: Quitting smoking in middle age may bring dementia risk within a decade down to the level of people who never smoked.

This is general information gathered from the sources listed, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting anything new.