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Smartwatch Sickness, Ozempic Penis, Cookie Cravings
Your smartwatch might spot sickness before you feel it, “Ozempic penis” isn’t what it sounds like, and your gut bacteria could be behind cookie cravings. Plus: do pimple patches actually work? Yep.
Tash Jamieson
July 11, 2025
🧠 Superpower Signals — July 10, 2025
Howdy readers 👋 This weekend: Your smartwatch knows you're sick before you do, "Ozempic penis" is blowing up (but it's smaller than it sounds), and your gut bacteria might be behind those cookie cravings. Plus, pimple patches… do they actually work? (Yep.)
One number:
⌚ Your Smartwatch Can Sniff Out Sickness
Flu, COVID, mystery lurgy? Your wearable might catch it before you do.
New studies from Stanford, Texas A&M, and Mount Sinai show changes in heart rate variability, resting heart rate, and skin temperature from wearables can flag illness days in advance (the summary).
On Monday, my Oura Ring spotted a temp spike before I even unpacked from the Sydney to SF red-eye flight. Next day, sick. But the exciting future isn’t just personalized health, it’s preemptive public health.
🍆 The Truth About “Ozempic Penis”
Social media is buzzing about "Ozempic penis," with some men taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs claiming they're suddenly "bigger." Even the hosts of The View jumped into the chat [the clip].
GLP-1 drugs may seem miraculous, but they can't actually grow your penis. They simply remove fat from the pubic area, creating an optical illusion of more size.
While a penis-growth peptide is biologically conceivable, it's unlikely to be safe, targeted, or approved anytime soon.
My recommendation would be to improve your personality instead of using peptides to make your penis appear larger. A 10/10 personality goes a long way.
🍪 Your Gut Bacteria Might Be Causing Your Cookie Cravings
Yo-yo dieting doesn’t just mess with your willpower, it rewires your microbiome.
In mice, switching between junk food and regular diets altered gut bacteria, triggering compulsive eating. Transplant those bacteria into healthy mice? Same behavior [the study].
Craving cookies? It could be your gut microbes. They don't just react to your diet, they influence your cravings. Support your gut with diverse plant foods, quality sleep, and fewer disruptors (alcohol, sugar, processed foods, stress) for sustainable weight management.
“Our take” is a quick, off-the-cuff perspective on the health trends catching our eye this week. It might be a personal anecdote, a gut-check, or a philosophical lens. It’s not medical advice, just our two cents. Read with nuance.
Superpowered by you: Pimple patches, hype or hero?
Adult acne sucks. Most acne products make it worse. But one thing that feels gimmicky (and actually works)? Pimple patches.
They’re tiny wound covers that stop you picking, soak up gunk, and help pimples heal faster (if they include active ingredients like hydrocolloid).
We also broke down what actually causes acne (hint: not dirty skin) in the Superpower Journal yesterday.
Have a stellar weekend 🫡
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DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your health or wellness routine.