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Sugar Cravings, Antibiotic Resistance, Weighted Vests
Hot days make you crave sugar, fiber fights superbugs, and your friend’s friend’s friend can make you gain weight. Plus how weighted vests trick your body into staying lean.
Tash Jamieson
September 12, 2025
Superpower Signals — 13 September, 2025
Hi team 👋 What do heat waves, high-fat meals, and your best mate’s best mate have in common? (It’s your health). This week: sugar cravings, antibiotic resistance, social contagion — and how weighted vests trick your body into staying lean.
One number:
The National Institute of Health lists chronic inflammation as the cause of most chronic diseases, and specifically lists 9 major complications, including heart-disease, cancer and Alzheimer [NBK493173]. hs-CRP levels are one way to track chronic inflammation.
🍦Sugar intake increases with the heat
When the weather warms past 12 °C, our sugar cravings spike, mostly from sodas and sweet drinks, before tapering off after 30 °C (86 °F) [the research].
Our take: A single 12oz can of regular soda exceeds the daily recommended limit for added sugar for both men and women. Hot days make us crave quick, cold energy — but that sugar injection comes with the increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. The bigger question: as global temperatures climb, will rising heat also fuel a rise in sugar consumption, posing a risk to long-term health and longevity? My favorite rule of thumb, in the Nutrition Facts, keep total sugar to 5 grams or less per serving.
🦠 Fat and fiber shape the gut’s resistome (antibiotic resistance genes)
High-fat diets can disrupt the balance of healthy gut bacteria, giving harmful ones an opportunity to take root, while fiber has the opposite effect [the study].
Our take: Our microbiome shapes immunity, drug response, and defense against superbugs. A diverse gut can hold some harmful bacteria back by up to 1,000-fold. With antibiotic resistance projected to kill 10 million a year by 2050 [the prediction], fiber is one of the simplest ways to keep it strong. Aim for 25–35 g a day, including 8–10 g soluble, to feed good bugs, boost short-chain fatty acids, and block resistance from forming.
👯 Your friend’s friend’s friend just made you gain weight.
A landmark study found that if a friend becomes obese, your risk of gaining weight rises 45%. Even friends of friends increase it by 20%, and their friends by 10% [the study].
Our take: Funny thing about health, it spreads. If your mates start moving more, you probably will too [the science]. Same with food, same with moods [the research]. So why not flip it in your favor? Pull your crew into Superpower and make the good stuff contagious… and get some sick perks while you’re at it [refer a friend].
“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: S.H.E.G.E.M
We love a good acronym. And Tom’s (55, CA, Superpower member since May 2025) morning routine nails it.
S = Stretching: 10-15 minutes
H = Hydration: Glass of room temperature water and a little bit of sea salt
E = Exercise: Weights, hiking, or rucking 30 minutes +
G = Writing: 3 things I am thankful for each day
E = Education: 10-15 pages of non-fiction = 12-15+ books per year
M = Meditation: 10-15 minutes daily
Tom starts with this. But he says it doesn’t all have to happen at once. Spread it across your day.
Good news, because I’m not rucking before sunrise 😴. But here’s the thing: weighted vests aren’t just for building strength. They might also help keep weight off.
Tom and his mate Mark on a 60lb ruck at Lake Chabot.
In one study 37 adults went on a 6-month diet. Both groups dropped 22–25 lbs. But 18 months later? Vest group kept 10 lbs off, and the no-vest group regained almost everything [the research].
Why? A weighted vest ‘tricks’ the body into thinking you haven’t lost weight. Scientists call it the gravitostat hypothesis.
Superpower members have the best life hacks and health stacks. Got one? Reply and we might feature it in the newsletter 🔦
The lab note:
Our optimal range: <0.5 mg/L
What it tests for: Inflammation
What it tells you about your health: Heart disease, cognitive decline, fatigue, joint pain, slow recovery.
In the Bay? Come run with us! This edition of the Superpower Run Club celebrates moms, parents and caregivers, but you don’t need kids (or a stroller) to take part.
🎉 Superpower Run Club (Mom's Edition)
📆 Sunday, October 5
📍Marina District, San Francisco
🏃♀️ Distance: ≈4km
💌 RSVP HERE
Now I’m off to drop the word “gravitostat hypothesis” in casual conversation like I know what it means.
Give Superpower Signals a read and hit reply to let me know what you think. Your feedback shapes where we go next.
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.