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Whats better than one peptide? A whole stack of them, apparently. Peptide stacking is the latest health hack going viral online, promising to optimize workouts and overall well-being. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that help build proteins. As the name suggests, peptide stacking involves taking multiple types of supplementsoften in the form of tablets, powders, or injectionsat once to enhance their effects and target specific fitness goals, such as building muscle, burning fat, boosting testosterone, or aiding recovery. Bodybuilders and biohackers have incorporated peptides into their wellness routines for decades. But now, interest is exploding, with social media feeds and forums flooded by users sharing (and selling) their favorite stacks. Pov: my fridge watching me inject my 20th peptide today, one TikTok user posted (their bio includes a 10% off link). Tried Semax + Dihexa and felt like I unlocked god mode for a few hours, someone wrote on Reddit. Then realized I forgot to eat all day and nearly blacked out. 10/10 focus, 0/10 life management. The fact that many of the touted benefits come from people earning commissions via discount codes or bio links is enough to raise eyebrows. Some of the concerns of what we see trending on social media are the recommended sources that you may find online that arent coming from legitimate compound pharmacies, Brandon Dawson, cofounder of 10X Health System, tells Fast Company. Also, most of these online trends are not tracked by healthcare providers or a team of specialists like you would have at 10X Health. More than 80 peptide therapies have been approved worldwide. Prescription drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro are peptides, as is the popular fitness supplement creatine. Peptide stacking can be a powerful tool in a systems-based functional medicine plan, but its not a shortcut, Dawson adds. Without addressing foundational health pillarssleep, toxins, gut, nutritionpeptides wont reach their full potential and could cause harm if used improperly. Another concern is how peptides are being marketed to teenagers on social media. A 2023 report by the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate linked peptide promotion to the broader looksmaxxing world of workout supplements and steroid-like drugs that prey on young mens insecurities. Youre falling behind bro, read the closed captions of a TikTok video posted earlier this month. Welcome to the world of peptides.
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E-Commerce
Its a tough time to be an adult online in the U.K. right now. Last week’s passage of the Online Safety Act, a law aimed at shielding children from inappropriate (read: adult) content, has brought about a version of the internet that feels more like being back in school. You now essentially need a hall pass, in the form of official ID or a live selfie, to go almost anywhere. The U.K. government clearly aimed the Online Safety Act at restricting access to porn websites. But the laws broad requirementsespecially around age verification and content moderationare sweeping up other parts of the web, too. Because of this, its a great time to be a VPN provider. Usage of these services, which route traffic through other countries to disguise a users location and prevent tracking, has jumped more than 1,000% in the days following the acts passage. Its no wonder VPN downloads soared in the U.K. over the weekend, says Kate Ruane, director of the Free Expression Project at the Center for Democracy & Technology. Privacy and free expression are human rights, and governments should protect them by passing laws to enhance peoples privacy and free expression rights, not endanger them. Theres growing concern that the new rules are causing more harm than they prevent. In trying to keep children away from harmful content, the government may have inadvertently pushed tensor even hundredsof thousands of people toward tools that make lawful tracking and oversight far more difficult. Critics argue the implementation has been more performative than effective, with little meaningful enforcement behind the measures. Even those who represent VPN providers are surprised by the sudden surge in interest. The surge in VPN usage weve observed across the U.K. is a direct response to the Online Safety Acts extensive controls and age verification requirements, says Alexey Kozliuk, chair of the VPN Guild, an industry group. VPNs remain legal in the U.K., but their sudden rise in popularity appears to have taken the government by surprise. Officials are reportedly considering restrictions on advertising the services. While VPNs can offer a layer of privacy, not all are trustworthyespecially free options, which may come with risks like data tracking, harvesting, or malware. Users should look for transparent privacy policies, a strict no-logs policy, robust encryption, and a proven track record, Kozliuk says. Cybersecurity experts share that concern. The purported benefit of protecting private data by avoiding submission to a third-party age verifier is compromised if instead they entrust another third party with their browsing data, says George Loukas, professor of cybersecurity at the University of Greenwich. Of course, there is a variety of more and less reputable VPNs with and without no-logs policies, but I insist that VPNs should be used as cybersecurity tools, not for circumvention of restrictions, he adds. Graeme Stewart, head of public sector at Check Point Software, notes that the U.K.s rush to VPNsand the governments potential pushbackputs the country in dubious company alongside China, Russia, and Iran. That should tell you everything, he says. People are turning to VPNs because they dont trust the system, and who can blame them?
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E-Commerce
This summer’s best evening light show is taking place tonight, so don’t forget to go outside and look up. Although the Perseid meteor shower doesn’t peak until next month, tonight is forecast to be the best time to view stars shoot across the night sky. Here’s why, and what to know about the upcoming meteor showers. What is a meteor shower? Meteor showers, or shooting stars, occur as Earth passes through the trail of dusty debris left by a comet, according to NASA. Meteor showers are usually named after a star or constellation close to where the meteors first appear. What’s happening tonight? Late each summer, the Perseids, and the lesser-known Delta Aquariids, meteor showers appear. This year, they’re forecast to run steadily from late July through early August. The first of the showers, the Southern Delta Aquariid and the Alpha Capricornids, are set to peak tonight, Tuesday, July 29, into tomorrow morning, Wednesday, July 30, according to the Associated Press. Visibility should be good because the moon is only about a quarter full, and sky-watchers could see some 20 to 30 meteors per hour, astronomer Nick Moskovitz of the Lowell Observatory in Arizona told National Public Radio. Perseid meteor shower set to peak in early August Meanwhile, the Perseid meteor shower is forecast to peak on Tuesday, August 12, into Wednesday, August 13, right after a full moon, meaning bright moonlight will likely obscure the view at its peak. NASA viewing tips for meteor showers Our friends at NASA offer these general tips for watching meteor showers: Find a viewing spot away from city or street lights. Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east. You may want to bring a blanket or a lounge chair. Look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient. The show could last awhile, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.
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E-Commerce
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