Health Dispatch — Independent health and science reporting

Independent health & science reporting · Reviewed by practicing clinicians

What walking speed says about how long you will live

Why a simple measure of how fast you walk predicts survival in large studies, what it reflects about the body, and whether walking faster actually helps.

Editor's Choice

Ultra-processed foods: a summary of recent research

Rebuilding muscle after 50: what the trials show

Coffee and health: what the large cohort studies show

Nutrition

Omega-3: food sources versus supplements

Is breakfast necessary? What the evidence says

Added sugar: how much is too much

Magnesium: who is actually low, and what the evidence says

Research

Intermittent fasting: what the randomized trials found

Sitting time and health: what the research says

How the gut microbiome responds to diet changes

Creatine beyond the gym: what the research says about memory and aging

Independent health and science reporting

Health Dispatch exists to help ordinary people understand what is actually going on in health, medicine, nutrition, fitness and the new research, technologies and supplements that are showing real results. Our articles are written and reviewed by independent clinicians, and no company or industry group gets a say in what we publish.

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Our Clinicians

Dr. Eleanor Whitcomb, MD

Dr. Eleanor Whitcomb, MDInternal Medicine

Dr. Nathaniel Mercer, MD

Dr. Nathaniel Mercer, MDRheumatology

Dr. Maya Ellison, MD, MPH

Dr. Maya Ellison, MD, MPHPreventive Medicine & Public Health

Meet the full team

Health

Longevity

What walking speed says about how long you will live

A consistent bedtime and why it matters

Building an evening routine that helps you wind down

Health Trends

Cold plunges: what is known so far

Wellness trends in 2026: which are worth trying

Making sense of the numbers on your fitness tracker

Women's Health

Perimenopause: common changes in your 40s

Strength training after 40: where to begin

Iron in the diet: foods that provide it

Fitness

How to get 10,000 steps in a day, and whether you need to

Five strength exercises you can do without equipment

How many rest days you need each week

How to start Pilates at home