Kiss for 6 seconds, eat less bacon and sleep like this to improve your back. 8 health tips to start the week.

Greetings, health enthusiasts! Erin Donnelly and Lauren Tuck here, filling in for Kaitlin Reilly, who is on vacation, which is highly encouraged by our team as taking time off is good for your well-being. According to Pew Research Center, nearly half of all workers who receive paid time off from their jobs are missing out on vacation. Need some ideas? Put on a swimsuit and go to the beach (but wearing sunscreen is a must!), find a hobby or just rot in bed watching the Olympics – there is no right way to take a break. As you plan your next getaway, keep these wellness tips in mind and, as always, check the weather in your area — and your horoscope, if you wish.

Reduce sugar

The next time you add sugar to your breakfast, consider the following: Research from the University of California, San Francisco, found that reducing your daily sugar intake by 10 grams – about just over two teaspoons – can set your body clock back by 2.4 months. For context, a can of soda contains about 39 grams of sugar and a chocolate bar about 25 grams (which means eating a few squares of dessert instead of the whole thing is a step in the right direction). – ED

Eat less bacon

If you needed a little push to reconsider eating bacon, this is it. Research presented at the 2024 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference found that eating processed meat ages the brain, contributing to a higher risk of dementia. What can you do about it? According to researchers at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, replacing a daily serving of processed meat (equivalent to two slices of bacon, one hot dog, two small sausage links, or two ounces of deli meat) with tofu, beans or nuts reduced a person’s risk of dementia by 20%. Something to think about the next time you make a sandwich for lunch. – ED

Avoid cinnamon

At the risk of underwhelming your apple pie or cinnamon toast, it’s worth doing a quick check to make sure the cinnamon powder you’re using is safe. As part of a months-long investigation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a new warning about elevated levels of lead in several ground cinnamon products. If you find a on the list in your spice rack, stop using it and throw it away immediately, as lead toxicity can cause adverse health symptoms, especially in young children. – ED

Move to Germany

My son is 7 months old and still hasn’t slept through the night. My son is, well, starting and I’m tired. I’m moving forward because I live in the United States, but I’m thinking about moving to Germany after learning what recipes harried parents like me can get. As CNN reports, doctors can write an Rx for “Kur,” translated as cure, a four-week break at a spa in one of the country’s 350 spa towns with “Heilbad,” or healing baths. Oh, and it’s also all covered by health insurance. —TL

Hope Scrolling

Is your social media feed a hodgepodge of alarming headlines, heated debates, and influencers you can’t help but compare yourself to? It’s time to tweak this algorithm to something more positive. Experts tell Yahoo Life that hope scrolling (think puppy videos, Team USA TikToks, etc.) can help counteract the negative ways that doom scrolling affects our mental health. Following accounts you consider upbeat (and muting those you don’t) should make your time online more joyful. – ED

Consider changing your non-stick pans

Even using a non-stick frying pan, my omelets are more scrambled. With the “Teflon flu” on the rise, is it time to switch to more traditional cookware? But what is Teflon flu and how worried should I be? (Because really, I need all the help I can get in the kitchen.) According to Poison Centers of America, there were 265 suspected cases of polymer fume fever in 2023, the highest number of cases since 2000, Good Morning America reports. Polymer fume fever is caused by overheating pans coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and symptoms include chest tightness, coughing, difficulty breathing and headaches. The simple answer about gaming? If you have a traditional nonstick frying pan made before 2015, you better start shopping around. But follow these tips — and, experts agree, proceed with caution. —TL

Kiss for 6 seconds

Six seconds is enough to change your mood, so find your partner and do it! Couples therapists and clinical psychologists John and Julie Gottman pioneered the exercise This is all about intentional intimacy. The couple, reports the Associated Press, studied more than 3,000 couples over 30 years and found that six seconds is the golden time to release oxytocin. Is it nonsense? Clear! And the Gottmans know it. But who doesn’t have six seconds to spare for a kiss? It’s worth taking a risk! —TL

Sleep with your spine in a neutral position

Is your back out of whack? The way you sleep could be making everything worse. According to VeryWellHealth, it’s best to sleep with your spine and head in a neutral position—think chin up, shoulders down and in line with your hips, knees relaxed, and back straight. A pillow – placed between your knees while you sleep on your side – can help keep your body properly aligned, which is especially important if you’re prone to back and neck pain. – ED