Health, Wellness & Beauty

Miami – October 14, 2026 -- Girls who added a prebiotic soluble corn fiber powder to their usual diets for 12 months built more bone than girls who took a placebo, according to a clinical trial led by Florida International University nutrition researcher Cristina Palacios. Bone mineral content rose 18.8% in the fiber group, versus 12.9% in the placebo group.

Boys did not see the same bone gain

The effect did not appear in boys. The researchers say one possible explanation is that boys were at a different stage of puberty and skeletal development. The study was not designed to detect differences between boys and girls, so larger trials need to confirm the finding.

New York – October 14, 2026 -- Free brain health pre-screenings, hearing, vision and blood pressure checks, and a walk through Central Park are on offer Saturday, October 17, at the 38th Annual CaringKind Alzheimer's Walk and Brain Health Day. The event takes place at the Naumburg Bandshell. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m., the opening ceremony follows at 10:30 a.m., and participation is free, either in the park or virtually.

Bill Ritter, who has Alzheimer's, helps lead the campaign

ABC and Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter has helped emcee the walk for 28 years. He is now living with the disease and helping lead CaringKind's "Know Your Brain. Walk With Me." campaign, which CaringKind created with launch support from ABC7NY. "Now, it is me who has Alzheimer's," Ritter said.

David Hyde Pierce and ABC7NY's Mike Marza will emcee the event, which honors Ritter and Jed Levine.

Shakopee – October 14, 2026 -- Most laser hair removal patients need between six and eight sessions to see meaningful hair reduction, according to a new HelloNation article that sets out realistic expectations for residents of Shakopee, Minnesota.

Hair growth cycles dictate the schedule

Hair grows in phases, and laser energy can only effectively target follicles during active growth. That is why sessions must be spaced several weeks apart, the article explains. It describes laser hair removal as never a one-visit solution.

The exact number of sessions depends on the area treated, hair thickness and individual biology. Knowing the count upfront helps patients plan both time and budget more accurately.

Sacramento – – October 14, 2026 -- BULT's once-daily men's health system is now on sale nationwide at BULT.com for $90 per month with a subscription. The company says it replaces a shelf of separate supplements with a single daily protocol.

One sachet holds the full daily protocol

Each sachet contains seven capsules and softgels: two Core, three Vitality and two Omega. According to BULT, there are no timing requirements, no AM/PM split dosing and no complicated regimens. The system targets three areas: vascular health, hormone balance and metabolic resilience.

BULT says mismatched supplements can throw minerals out of balance

The company points to a problem it says is rarely discussed: men who combine several supplements can accumulate excess zinc, which can disrupt copper balance and impair mineral absorption. BULT says its zinc-to-copper ratio is engineered for safe long-term daily use.

Grand Rapids – October 14, 2026 -- Eligible Medicare customers can now pay for covered over-the-counter (OTC) products at Meijer using evermore OTC spend cards, the Midwest retailer announced.

Direct integration covers plan-approved items

The new direct integration with evermore lets participating Medicare plan members use supplemental health plan benefits on eligible OTC products and other items approved under their specific plans. Meijer's Jackie Morse, Group Vice President of Pharmacy and Health, described the card as "another simple way" to use health plan benefits while shopping for everyday essentials, healthy foods, and wellness products.

Many Medicare Advantage plans offer supplemental benefits that help seniors buy approved items to support their health and well-being.

NEW YORK – October 14, 2026 -- New Yorkers comparing Medicare Advantage options can now look at a plan that has held a 4-Star overall rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) two years running: MetroPlusHealth.

Three MetroPlusHealth plans carry the 4-Star rating

The rating applies to the MetroPlus Advantage Plan (HMO D-SNP), the MetroPlus Platinum Plan (HMO) and MetroPlus UltraCare (HMO D-SNP). In the 2027 Medicare Star Ratings, MetroPlusHealth earned 4 Stars for Part C and 4.5 Stars for Part D prescription drug coverage. That builds on its 4-Star Medicare Advantage rating for 2026.

Atlanta – October 14, 2026 -- Bright Crowns, a daily wellness practice built specifically for Black children, is now available on the Apple App Store with a free seven-day trial. Families who join by Dec. 31 lock in a Founding Family rate of $69.99 for the first year, and one subscription covers every child in the home.

A five-minute morning routine follows a Breathe, Belong, Become arc

Each session combines breathing, affirmations and examples of inspiring Black figures, past and present. The goal is for a child to settle, remember who they are and where they come from, and leave the house grounded in their own worth.

The app carries kids from morning to bedtime

Bright Crowns is not limited to mornings. It offers confidence boosts before a test or a game, support when a big feeling rises, and sleep stories from the African diaspora at night. The week closes with a reflection that a parent reads aloud to their child.

Arlington, Va. – October 14, 2026 -- People living with ALS can now build an insurance appeal letter for free, step by step, using the new Undeniable Kit from The ALS Association. The kit anchors We Are Undeniable, a national campaign to help families contest denials of prescribed medications, equipment and care.

The kit is modeled on appeals won by the Association's pro bono legal team. The campaign also offers guidance on what to expect at each stage of an appeal, pro bono attorneys for complex cases, and a way for families to report their denials.

Austin – October 14, 2026 -- Triquetra Health has launched Folura, a once-daily hair softgel for men and women with thinning hair, now sold on Amazon and at triquetrahealth.com. Each softgel contains 160 mg of Serevelle saw palmetto extract, the dose used in the trial the company cites.

Folura targets the follicle instead of the visible strand

Triquetra says most hair supplements rely on biotin, collagen and long vitamin lists aimed at hair already on the head. Its argument is that thinning starts deeper, at the follicle, where a shift in hormonal activity gradually shortens the growth cycle and produces finer hair that sheds sooner. Folura is built around a single active ingredient rather than a blend.

New York – – October 14, 2026 -- EltaMD has launched Rapid Recovery Serum and Rapid Recovery Cream, a two-product system for skin after lasers and microneedling that is sold only through participating skin health professionals. Patients need to ask their provider whether it is available.

Two products are built around amino acids and EGF

Both formulas use EltaMD's Amino Acid Restore Complex, developed over more than 15 years of research, plus an EGF (epidermal growth factor) Tripeptide blend. The brand says they support the skin's natural repair process and feel lightweight rather than greasy.

The serum contains 3% Amino Acid Restore Complex and 1% EGF Tripeptide, along with hyaluronic acid, allantoin and cica. The cream contains 2.5% Amino Acid Restore Complex, 0.5% EGF Tripeptide, a 2% lipid blend, ceramides, allantoin and cucumber extract.