Issue · May 2026New this week: evidence-first longevity readsThe newsletter — one essay, Sunday morningsArchive access — every article, free to readPodcast coming soon — NotebookLM sessionsLetters from readers — reply to any emailIssue · May 2026New this week: evidence-first longevity readsThe newsletter — one essay, Sunday morningsArchive access — every article, free to readPodcast coming soon — NotebookLM sessionsLetters from readers — reply to any email

Health.

Evidence-led reading on health from the HL Benefits desk. Long reads, careful guides, and the boring-but-true positions the research keeps settling on.

In this section
167longreads
Newest
May 32026
Section since
2016archive
Reading time
~8min average
This week's longread

Is BPC-157 Safe? A Full Risk Breakdown for First-Time Users

BPC-157 safety is not settled. Learn what human studies, cancer concerns, and product-quality risks mean before first use.

Read the articleHL Benefits Editorial · May 3, 2026
featuredPhotograph · HL Benefits
§ 01

The latest, in long form.

Browse all 167
featured
CoverHealth

BPC-157 Dosage Guide: How Much, How Often, and When to Stop

BPC-157 has no approved human dose. Learn what common ranges, cycle lengths, and stop rules really mean.

May 2
BPC-157 for Gut Healing: The Research That Has Functional Medicine Doctors Excited
Health

BPC-157 for Gut Healing: The Research That Has Functional Medicine Doctors Excited

The FDA is reconsidering BPC-157 for ulcerative colitis. Here's the gut-specific evidence map — IBD, leaky gut, IBS, ulcers — and what functional clinics actually prescribe.

Apr 30
Sauna Blanket: Infrared Heat Therapy at Home Without a Full Sauna
Health

Sauna Blanket: Infrared Heat Therapy at Home Without a Full Sauna

A research-backed guide to sauna blankets covering what infrared heat actually does to your body, which health claims hold up, and how to use one safely.

Apr 20
Precision Diagnostics: Biomarker Testing, Blood Panels, and At-Home Health Screening
Health

Precision Diagnostics: Biomarker Testing, Blood Panels, and At-Home Health Screening

Seven blood biomarkers predict chronic disease risk years before symptoms appear. A complete guide to which tests matter, platform comparisons, and how often to test.

Apr 19
From the editorMay letterHL Benefits MagazineHL Benefits Editorial Team

We started this section because the conversation about health had become unbearable — too loud, too certain, too often selling something. The boring middle — what the evidence actually supports, repeated across decades, written without a brand to defend — is not a position you can monetize, but it is the position the research keeps quietly settling on.

§ 02

Companion sections.

All sections →
72 articles · ongoing

Food & Nutrition

A companion section to health, with its own evidence-led reading list.

Read the section
33 articles · ongoing

Weight Loss

A companion section to health, with its own evidence-led reading list.

Read the section
29 articles · ongoing

Fitness

A companion section to health, with its own evidence-led reading list.

Read the section
§ 03

Definitive guides.

All guides →
PFAS (Forever Chemicals) in Drinking Water: Health Risks and How to Filter Them Out
Guide

PFAS (Forever Chemicals) in Drinking Water: Health Risks and How to Filter Them Out

PFAS contaminate nearly half of U.S. tap water. Here are the health risks, current regulations, and filters that actually work.

Apr 18
Pet Supplements: CBD, Probiotics, and Joint Support for Dogs and Cats
Guide

Pet Supplements: CBD, Probiotics, and Joint Support for Dogs and Cats

A research-grounded guide to the pet supplements that work, the ones that don't, and why omega-3s beat glucosamine for joint pain.

Apr 17
A note on evidence

A claim about health is not a study. A study is not a meta-analysis. A meta-analysis is not a guideline. The article doesn't fit on a label.

HL Benefits Editorial Team · on the standards we hold ourselves to
§ 04

On our desk this week.

More from the desk →
§ 05

Quick reads.

All 167
01

Fluoride in Water: Health Effects, Filter Options, and the 2026 Debate

An evidence-based guide to fluoride in drinking water: what the research shows about…

Apr 10
02

Emotional Support Animals: Mental Health Benefits, ESA Letters, and Legal Rights

What the research says about ESAs, how to get a legitimate letter, and what legal…

Apr 10
03

EMF Exposure and Health: What the Research Says About 5G, WiFi, and Your Body

What does current research actually say about EMF exposure from 5G and WiFi? A breakdown…

Apr 9
04

At-Home Sleep Testing: When to Skip the Sleep Lab

Home sleep tests catch 90% of moderate-to-severe sleep apnea cases at a fraction of lab…

Apr 5
05

Air Quality and Health: Indoor Air Pollution, HEPA Filters, and What You Breathe at Home

Indoor air can be 2-5x more polluted than outdoor air. Learn how HEPA filters,…

Apr 5
06

Full-Body MRI Screening: Is Prenuvo Worth $2,500 for Preventive Health?

A $2,499 Prenuvo scan found cancer in 2.2% of patients. But 32% got findings needing…

Apr 1
07

Ozempic Babies: How GLP-1 Drugs Unexpectedly Boost Fertility

GLP-1 drugs are causing surprise pregnancies by restoring ovulation in women with PCOS…

Mar 31
08

DUTCH Test: The Most Comprehensive Hormone Test You Can Do at Home

A guide to the DUTCH dried urine hormone test covering cortisol metabolites, estrogen…

Mar 31
§ 06

From the archive.

All 167
Red Light Therapy: Benefits, Devices, and What the Science Actually Shows
Health

Red Light Therapy: Benefits, Devices, and What the Science Actually Shows

Mar 30
Cortisol Cocktail: What TikTok Gets Right and Wrong About Adrenal Support
Health

Cortisol Cocktail: What TikTok Gets Right and Wrong About Adrenal Support

Mar 30
Uric Acid and Gout Prevention: Diet, Fructose, and the Metabolic Connection
Health

Uric Acid and Gout Prevention: Diet, Fructose, and the Metabolic Connection

Mar 29
Reactive Hypoglycemia: Why Your Blood Sugar Crashes After Meals and What to Do
Health

Reactive Hypoglycemia: Why Your Blood Sugar Crashes After Meals and What to Do

Mar 29
Metabolic Flexibility: How to Train Your Body to Burn Both Fat and Glucose
Health

Metabolic Flexibility: How to Train Your Body to Burn Both Fat and Glucose

Metabolic flexibility is your body's ability to switch between burning fat and glucose. Learn the science of fuel switching and how to restore it.

Mar 29
Grounding (Earthing): What the Science Actually Says
Health

Grounding (Earthing): What the Science Actually Says

A balanced review of earthing research covering inflammation, sleep, cortisol, and blood viscosity studies.

Mar 29
Heart Rate Variability (HRV): How to Track and Improve Your Stress Resilience
Health

Heart Rate Variability (HRV): How to Track and Improve Your Stress Resilience

HRV measures your autonomic nervous system flexibility. Learn what it means, how to track it, and proven ways to improve it.

Mar 29
Mouth Taping for Sleep: What the Research Says About Nasal Breathing at Night
Health

Mouth Taping for Sleep: What the Research Says About Nasal Breathing at Night

What does the research actually say about mouth taping for sleep? We examine the clinical evidence, safety concerns, and who may benefit from nasal breathing at night.

Mar 29
PEMF Therapy: What the Evidence Says About Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Treatment
Health

PEMF Therapy: What the Evidence Says About Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Treatment

An evidence-based review of PEMF therapy covering FDA-cleared bone healing, osteoarthritis pain data, and the gap between clinical devices and consumer products.

Mar 29
Continuous Glucose Monitors for Non-Diabetics: Worth the Hype?
Health

Continuous Glucose Monitors for Non-Diabetics: Worth the Hype?

Are CGMs useful for healthy people? We examine the research on glucose monitors for non-diabetics.

Mar 28

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