A space for evidence-informed wellness resources and ongoing learning!
Welcome!
We’re all definitely feeling the summer heat this month! If you’re like me, you may be looking for lighter, healthier meals to enjoy during these warmer days. One resource worth checking out is Pinch of Yum’s 45 Light + Bright Healthy Summer Dinners, which features plenty of fresh salads, grain bowls, and other seasonal recipes.
If you’re hosting a summer gathering or simply spending time with family and friends, I’ve also been enjoying alcohol-free mocktails lately. The Everygirl has a fun collection of 16 Refreshing Summer Mocktails You'll Want to Sip All Season Long that's perfect for staying cool while celebrating the season.
Summer is also the perfect time to take advantage of the abundance of fresh, locally grown produce. Whether you visit a neighborhood farm stand, your local farmers market, or grow a few vegetables and herbs of your own, choosing seasonal fruits and vegetables is a delicious way to nourish your body while supporting local farmers and communities.
Healthy living doesn't have to be complicated. Small seasonal choices—like filling your plate with fresh produce, staying hydrated, enjoying a refreshing mocktail, and spending quality time with family and friends—can have a meaningful impact on your overall health and well-being.
Wishing you a healthy, happy, and relaxing summer!
As always, stay curious. Stay well. And know that I'm sending positive wellness vibes your way!
Warmly,
Cheryl Leving
Founder, Research for Wellness
Flourish is Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s
new free online community!
This is a closed online community, meaning it “offers a safe and private space for real conversations, real support, and real connection through any stage of the breast cancer experience.”
Available online or via App
health resources with cancer survivors looking for support to create a healthy lifestyle plan moving forward after treatment.
If you have not been impacted by a cancer diagnosis, I hope this library of health-promoting resources
– including links to research studies, articles, apps, and other digital media content –
will inspire you on your own path to reduce cancer risk and create wellness!
Upcoming Online Events
Learning Circle Flex
Applications being accepted by:
Anticancer Lifestyle Program
9 week program starts- September 15th
This upcoming session is free
You’ll learn actionable tools, tips, and information for:
improving your diet
increasing physical activity
managing stress
reducing exposure to toxic chemicals commonly found in the home environment
Menopause & Breast Cancer:
Understanding symptoms and finding support
Presented by: Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Thursday, Aug 13th - 12-1 pm ET / 9-10 am PT
“As if breast cancer and its treatment weren’t enough, menopause can bring another layer of challenges to everyday life. Hot flashes, sleep problems, joint pain, changes in sexual health and desire, and emotional ups and downs can all affect your quality of life.
Join us for practical, evidence-based information, real-life perspective, and live Q&A to help you better understand what is happening, explore your options, and feel more prepared to talk with your healthcare team.
Wellness Research in the News
July 15, 2026 - Loneliness strongly linked to poorer mental health and wellbeing, study finds - Univ. of Bristol, UK
”Loneliness was also found to be linked with worse general health, including experiencing multiple health conditions. Social isolation is associated with lower wellbeing, too.”
July 14, 2026 - Dementia Risk May Also Be Reduced Through Diet - Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
Natural plant compounds known as polyphenols, “… may support nerve cell function through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties while helping counteract harmful processes associated with brain aging.” Some of the compounds in the reviewed studies included EGCG, an antioxidant found in green tea, the flavanols found in cocoa, and curcumin, which is the compound that gives turmeric its characteristic yellow color.
July 14, 2026 - Muscles matter for diabetes risk, new study finds - Curtin University, Australia
”The team found people with both excess body fat and poor muscle health – a condition known as sarcopenic obesity – were more than three-and-a-half times as likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people with healthy body composit
July 13, 2026 - Eating an avocado a day lowers heart disease risk factor for people with obesity - Penn State
”The team found that regular avocado consumption was associated with a reduced concentration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles [‘bad cholesterol’] — proteins that transport cholesterol through the body — in the blood by an amount that corresponds to an approximate 4% reduction in heart disease risk.
July 6, 2026 - A study suggests that the Mediterranean diet is associated with improved psychological well-being - Barcelona Institute for Global Health
”Following the Mediterranean diet may have added benefits for mental health. A new study now links it to greater psychological well-being in people over 50.”
June 26, 2026 - Green Power: How Spinach and Kale Could Cut Risk of Chronic Lung Disease - Edith Cowan University, Australia
”Researchers from ECU's Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute looked at the two main forms of vitamin K in our diet: K1, found in foods like spinach, kale and broccoli, and K2, found in meat, eggs and dairy.” The study “…tracked more than 179,000 adults over a decade and found that people who ate more vitamin K1-rich green vegetables had better lung function and were less likely to develop COPD…"
June 17, 2026 - Strength Training Linked to Lower Heart Disease Risk in Women - American College of Cardiology
”Findings show that heart health is better understood by looking at overall movement habits, rather than focusing on single behaviors alone, and resistance training can result in additional health benefits when incorporated into an active lifestyle.”
May 26, 2026 - Maintaining a healthy heart may require regular doses of positivity - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
”Positive psychology interventions such as mindfulness, gratitude journaling and optimism training can consistently improve blood pressure, inflammation markers and other cardiovascular disease risk factors within a matter of weeks, a recent study found. However, since these benefits are associated with lifestyle changes such as eating healthier and greater physical activity, the researchers suggested that ongoing reinforcements may be needed to stay on course long term.”
Resources for Professionals & Students
Plantrician University
Plant-Based Nutrition Education Portal
For health profession students and clinicians in training.
“Plantrician University is free to confirmed health profession students around the world. It equips and empowers future physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, registered dietitians, public health officials, and other healthcare professionals in training, with the knowledge and tools they need to become advocates and educators for the evidence-based role of plant-based nutrition to prevent and dramatically reduce rates of chronic disease, grow health equity, and improve human and global health.”
Teaching Happiness
with Dr. Laurie Santos
For High School Teachers
A free curriculum hub
Free. Adaptable. Evidence-based.
"Teaching Happiness is designed to help teachers provide their students with evidence-based strategies for increasing their well-being in high school and beyond. Plus, all the resources are free!"
LearnSkin.com
Integrative Medicine Resources
For Dermatology Professionals
How it Works - “LearnSkin provides continuing education activities with an integrative and innovative approach that you won’t find anywhere else. Our content is geared towards healthcare professionals in both Western and Eastern medicine across multiple specialties and subspecialties. Our curriculum encompasses a broad range of educational levels from basic to advanced.”
Membership Options
Free Basic Membership - Limited access to content including articles, podcast episodes, courses, and masterclasses
Premium Membership - Click on Membership Options for more info
$19/Month Reduced Plan For Students
$59 / PER MONTH - Save $209 By Paying Annually