The Daily Check-In 12.17

Consuming beets can have beneficial effects on your performance and brain health, according to recent research at Wake Forest University. In fact, the study found drinking a beetroot juice supplement before a workout can make the brains of older people look younger.

When consumed, beet juice produces nitric oxide, which causes an increase of blood flow and oxygen to working tissue. Make it a part of your everyday diet and sip it pre-workout as it’s been shown to delay fatigue in endurance athletes.

“For the foreseeable future, a mask is part of your outfit during your workouts,” says John Rossi, a Tier 3+ trainer at Soho in New York City. “Just like Bluetooth headphones, compression shorts, leggings, or any other accessory or article of clothing that you're willing to pay a premium for, you want to apply that same approach to your mask. In addition to finding one that’s stylish, make sure the mask is made out of a material that can tolerate moisture and will stay secured and (relatively) comfortable throughout your workouts.” Check out the selection at The Shop.

Are you hungry or lonely? New research out of MIT found that 24 hours of being alone makes your brain respond as if you had fasted for the whole day. “Our brains are very sensitive to the experience of being alone, which is particularly relevant in times of social distancing,” says Livia Tomova, Ph.D., the lead author of the paper and now a research fellow at Cambridge University.

While you can’t satisfy hunger with socialization or loneliness with food, past research on animals suggests that over time, people might start to engage in compensatory behaviors, like eating more when they’re lonely. Tomova’s advice: “Be aware of cravings for food without actual hunger cues when feeling lonely over longer durations as this might indicate a compensatory behavior.”